Sidebar Site Navigation UW Religion Today Column for May 6-12:
Morality: The Face of Public Christianity May 3, 2012 — By Paul
V.M. Flesher A non-Christian who read recent newspapers to learn
about Christianity might arrive at the following picture:
Christianity believes that marriage is between a man and woman,
so no marriage between members of the same sex. Christianity
believes life begins at conception, so no abortion and no stem
cell research. Christianity believes that God created the
universe, so evolution should not be taught. Sexual activity
belongs in marriage, so no premarital sex. In this picture,
Christianity is about actions that people should or should not
do; it is about morality. What is missing from this public
Christianity are the religion's core features. Salvation,
Scripture, faith and belief have disappeared from public view.
How did this happen? The story begins in the early 1500s, with
the Protestant Reformation. Prior to that, the Christianity of
Western Europe was Catholic and center