This column by Frank Bruni is typical of how people burned by “religion” want to think of religion. Just as someone in that category would accuse those in “religion” to have their nice, neat categories… Bruni demonstrates his nice, neat categories as well.

He isn’t a fan of Christianity. And he sets up the typical stereotypes.

“How can someone who is ‘pro-life’ also be for war, or not say anything when people are exploited all over the world?”

Set up the categories and knock down the straw man. Piece of cake.

What happens when those nice, neat categories cease to exist? Then, what is a liberal to do?

What happens when you have your categories against religion because of the straw man you’ve set up, and then you meet someone who doesn’t fit that picture?

All of a sudden you are face to face with someone who loves God (shudder), is pro-life (“Grow a brain, will you, pal?”)… and is also a pacifist?

Uh-oh.

What happens when that “pro-life” moron also gives to the poor and takes up the cause of minorities?

Uh-oh.

What happens is you have to look for other categories to set up so you can go on railing against “religion.”

Go ahead. Keep setting up the categories. It’s easy to do.

I’ve done it as a “mean-spirited conservative.” I’m just as good at that as you are.

But what happens when you quick looking at the categories, at the “mean” people who have set up the “religion” you hate… and you look straight at Jesus?

It is my belief that this is the place NONE of us really want to go. We like our categories far too much.

It is my contention, and experience, that when we will look fully at Jesus, all of a sudden categories melt away and we begin to see people again. What’s more, we’ll see Jesus… then ourselves… and realize we’re as hardened as the people we’ve set up in other categories. That is the examination we don’t want to take place in our lives. Which is why we go right back to setting up our hardened categories.

When Mr. Bruni truly meets “religious” people who are pro-life, anti-war, anti-capital punishment, etc., he will get his categories jolted. Then, he will have to set up new categories so he can go on hiding… or he can face this beautiful Jesus… and his ugly self… and find out what happens.

I’ve faced my ugly self. I am not disparaging Mr. Bruni. I just know where he doesn’t want to go.