So now FOX News anchor Brit Hume is saying that criticism of his call last Sunday for golfer Tiger Woods to dump Buddhism and convert to Christianity is just another form of “anti-Christian bigotry.” Hume told CNSNews.com yesterday:
“It is certainly true in secular America today that the most controversial two words you can ever utter in a public space are ‘Jesus Christ.’”
That’s absurd. He really thinks that’s true in a country in which the vast majority of people are Christians? But it’s typical of the way religious-righters today portray themselves as victims.
Hume’s statement reminds us of what supporters of Don McLeroy were saying last spring when the Texas Senate refused to approve his renomination as chair of the State Board of Education. Some dishonestly said opponents of McLeroy’s renomination were attacking “his personal religious beliefs” and his “Biblical worldview of creation.” State Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, outrageously suggested that McLeroy opponents wanted to establish a “religious test” for office. They all conveniently ignored how the state board under McLeroy’s chairmanship had become a dysfunctional, deeply divided mess in which board members — including McLeroy — spent much of their time promoting personal political agendas rather than focusing on making sure Texas students get a sound education.
So now Hume is using the same tactic in a pathetic attempt to deflect criticism of his suggestion on national television that Woods should reject his own personal faith and become a Christian to find forgiveness for his marital scandal. Hume even suggests that people who disagree might not really be Christians themselves (emphasis added below):
When asked to speculate about the reasons for the mainstream media’s vitriolic reception of Christianity, Hume initially expressed bewilderment.
“I’m somewhat at a loss to explain it because so many of the people who purport to be aghast at such mentions [of Jesus Christ] are themselves at least nominally Christian. But there it is,” Hume said.
“Nominally Christian”? Does Hume doubt their faith because they think what he did was wrong? We saw the same thing during the State Board of Education’s debate over science standards. One creationist attacked the morality of state board members who support teaching the real science of evolution. Other creationists — including board members — were even more vicious in their attacks on the faith of their opponents.
In his CNSNews.com interview, Hume continued:
“There is certainly a level of anti-Christian bigotry that may have something to do with the fact that on certain issues, the views of Christians are against theirs on certain matters such as abortion and others, but I can’t account for all of it. It is a striking reality, however.”
Hume has it wrong here, of course. Religious-righters feel perfectly comfortable attacking the faith of other people — including fellow Christians — who don’t share their political or theological points of view. And when they are criticized for doing so, they claim to be victims of “anti-Christian bigotry.” That’s the truly “striking reality.”
