To the Editor:
Re “He Coined a Term for the Way Many Christians Feel” (information article, March 11):
In Ruth Graham’s profile of the influential Christian creator Aaron Renn, I acknowledged my very own relationship with conservative Christianity within the mannequin Mr. Renn proposes — a present-day “damaging world,” during which being Christian not affords social privilege.
However Mr. Renn’s framework works just for white Christians. Black Christians might by no means be described as having fun with a “constructive world” within the Nineteen Sixties. Maybe this explains the conservative, usually Christian, campaign to erase the historical past and accomplishments of individuals of shade from faculties and libraries.
Mr. Renn means that the instance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. doesn’t disrupt his mannequin as a result of Dr. King’s persecution was about race, not Christianity. Completely flawed. Dr. King was persecuted by white Christians for his Christian values: equality, financial justice, peace, security and entry to the vote. Dr. King dreamed that everybody may love their neighbors as themselves.
I left this faith of affection years in the past, heartbroken. True religion ought to by no means be entwined with white supremacy, misogyny or animus towards any group or particular person in want. At the moment’s “damaging world” has been crafted by non secular individuals unwilling to like their neighbors.
Certainly, Jesus weeps.
C. Sullivan
Colorado Springs
To the Editor:
What a disappointment to learn the lengthy profile of Aaron Renn and see “conventional Christian ethical views” outlined virtually solely by means of the slender lens of sexuality and gender. For these aware of Scripture, it’s clear that Jesus centered on generosity, therapeutic, loving one’s neighbor and welcoming the stranger, whereas the Ten Commandments are famously against killing and mendacity.
By slicing worldwide support, our present evangelical-endorsed administration is killing others in nice numbers, and it tells lies as usually because the president requires it. Ideologues of Mr. Renn’s persuasion may think much less “hostility” being directed towards them if they might concentrate on these sorts of very public and devastating sins as a substitute of demonizing individuals’s private lives and fabricating theologies to justify the comforts of white patriarchy.
Any decline of their “privileged standing” shouldn’t be mourned by the remainder of America. And it was the Christian proper, not the secular or Christian left, that returned to the White Home the boorishness and cruelty that Mr. Renn bemoans.
(Rev.) Jim Foti
Minneapolis
The author is a Unitarian Universalist minister and a doctoral pupil at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
To the Editor:
When studying Aaron Renn’s views a couple of purported “damaging world” for Christians at the moment, I’m tempted to answer, “Attempt strolling a mile in my sneakers.” Or the sneakers of any L.G.B.T.Q. individual on this nation, or around the globe.
We are able to let you know a couple of damaging world, particularly, for queer individuals of shade. Since Constantine within the fourth century, Christianity has been married to secular energy within the West — it nonetheless is at the moment — and that has made life tough for anybody who doesn’t toe the road of the Christian worldview. At the moment, one of many targets of Challenge 2025 is to erase queer individuals and tradition from America solely.
There’s been a Christian bias in america all alongside, giving individuals of that faith actual privilege. In the event that they’re feeling below siege it’s solely as a result of the nation was simply beginning to reside as much as its personal ultimate of a separation between church and state, and the view that non secular sway ends the place one other’s rights are eclipsed.
However as we see with President Trump and his campaign, the true objective of many Christians on this nation is to blur and in the end get rid of that boundary, with a view to resolidify non secular energy and privilege.
Donald Mengay
Santa Fe, N.M.
The author is the creator of a sequence of books concerning the intersection of race, faith and queer id in America.
To the Editor:
For many of Western historical past, Christians have dominated society and authorities. In America at the moment, Federalist Society and Heritage Basis zealots have exploited Christian grievance for their very own tradition wars agenda.
At its greatest, faith ritualizes human irrationality and supplies moral strictures to our most harmful impulses. At its greatest, politics helps translate the Golden Rule into authorities insurance policies to take care of the final welfare of the individuals.
As a substitute, non secular extremists and the Republican Social gathering are instituting a Christian nationalism abhorrent to practitioners and patriots alike. As a result of it violates the biblical and constitutional notions — of justice as equity — on which our secular society is based.
Annlinn Kruger
Bar Harbor, Maine
Poverty Kills
To the Editor:
Re “House by House, She Steels for Grim Battle With Chronic Illness” (entrance web page, March 3):
Persistent poverty is the fourth main reason behind loss of life in america, killing 10 instances as many individuals as homicides. Let that sink in. On the planet’s largest economic system, the place American households maintain extra wealth than another nation, poverty is a serious killer.
Eli Saslow’s highly effective article places a human face on this disaster. In Mingo County, W.Va., the place the poverty charge nears 30 %, life expectancy has fallen to 67 years — the nationwide common in 1950. Many years of coverage decisions have left locations like Mingo behind, with each useful resource, together with its residents, exploited for revenue.
And but, slightly than tackling poverty, Home Republicans are gutting the security internet. President Trump’s “large lovely” finances threatens applications like Medicaid and the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program, that are essential to serving to these in want.
The individuals of Mingo County — and each group trapped in poverty — deserve higher.
However at the moment, it’s greed, not empathy, that drives policymaking. If the president’s finances is enacted together with the reckless dismantling of presidency infrastructure being led by Elon Musk and his so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity, poverty received’t simply worsen — it could possibly be pushed again to ranges unseen in many years. Extra lives will likely be misplaced, and our nation’s progress will likely be undone.
Let’s make America empathetic once more. Precise lives depend upon it.
Robin Stephenson
Williamsburg, Va.
The place Are Our Ex-Presidents?
To the Editor:
The place are the voices of our former presidents? They’ve a accountability to steer a coalition supportive of the Structure and the rule of legislation. They need to be talking out successfully concerning the present abuse of energy on this administration.
Gretchen Goethner
Bridgeport, Conn.
Girls Touring Alone
To the Editor:
Re “Travel 101: Tips for Solo Women Travelers” (Right here to Assist, March 13):
This small function presents a capsule of what it’s prefer to be a lady even now in 2025: If you find yourself alone, restrict the place you go, the place you keep, what you do and the place you dine. Pay attention to your environment, and ensure your whereabouts is understood by others always.
The pleasure of solitude is a privilege ladies who’re alone can seldom get pleasure from, whether or not touring or simply participating in on a regular basis actions, like going for a stroll in a park or operating on a fantastic however secluded path.
We’re used to it, after all, however wouldn’t or not it’s nice if options like “Suggestions for Solo Girls Vacationers” didn’t have to be written?
Karin Kramer Baldwin
Petaluma, Calif.
