Answers to Life's Big Questions

Faith in the Public Square

Lompoc Record

May 4, 2008

Religion is becoming an increasingly public affair. It figures strongly in political campaigns and discussions of science. Although deeply personal, religion isn't simply a private matter, because if we're deeply religious our faith will influence every aspect of our lives. As influential as it might be, there is no such thing as a generic, one-size-fits-all kind of religion. Religion and spirituality address similar questions, but the answers provided are as different as the religions themselves. At times our religious offerings can be quite profound, while at other times they are extremely shallow. Just as there are expressions that are angry and violent, there are others that peaceful, gentle, and compassionate.

Whether it's organized or not, religion has not disappeared, despite advances in education, technology, and scientific discovery. Many of the questions it once addressed. It no longer deals with. That said, we seem drawn to religious faith because it helps us deal with questions of identity and purpose. Sometimes the answers given are flippant and shallow, and require us to challenge the authorities. Years ago, Tom Skinner, an African-American evangelist and social critic, responded to the raging slogan of the day, “If Jesus is the answer, then what are the questions?” That's a very good question to ask, because too often we try to provide answers before listening to the questions.

Many of us, especially if we grow up in a religious setting, accept without much thought the traditions of our faith community, even if they're shallow or self-serving. This is the attitude taken by Bree Van de Kamp in a recent episode of Desperate Housewives.Yes, that's right, Desperate Housewives - not the sort of place one would expect to find a sophisticated discussion of religion, but to my astonishment the writers of the show treated faith questions with a degree of seriousness I wouldn't have expected. If you follow the show, you know that the character of Lynette Scavo has faced a series of challenges that include cancer, seeing a friend being killed by a tornado, along with significant marriage issues. Having gotten to that point in life without any significant religious training or background, she begins to wrestle with spiritual questions. As she does so, she spies the prissy Bree Van de Kamp and her new husband heading off to church. Filled with questions, she decides to go to church and looks to Bree for guidance. “Where are we going?” she asks. Once at church this uninitiated seeker, who doesn't understand protocol, does something highly unusual. Lynette stands up in the middle of the sermon and presses the preacher with a series of questions. Such behavior would be shocking in most of our congregations, and I'm sure that if someone did what she did in that scene during my sermon, it would startle me, even as it startled this preacher. The highly embarrassed Bree later assures Lynette that such behavior is inappropriate, and besides “church is a place for answers - not questions.” Later in the show, the pastor makes it clear that the opposite is true - church is for questions.

The issue raised by this show, which isn't known for its wholesomeness, is our apparent contentment with a shallow spirituality that fails to wrestle with the deep issues of life.While it unmasks this superficial spirituality, it reminds us that significant numbers of people are wrestling with spiritual questions that require more than pat answers.They've heard that “Jesus is the answer” (you can substitute other religious leaders for Jesus), but they'd like to ask their question before getting the answer. They want to be taken seriously as seekers after truth.As the show ends, Lynette and Bree are seen have a serious conversation about faith. While the closing credits roll, we see them sitting on the porch reading the bible together, wrestling with those questions that dogged Lynette.

At the beginning of the conversation, Bree may have believed that church is a place for clear-cut and long-established answers, rather than deep and difficult questions, but in the end she discovers that: “Faith shouldn't be blind. You don't threaten it by asking questions, you make it stronger.” Indeed! And to think that such a statement comes from the mouth of a TV character is all the more amazing!

Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org). He blogs at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and may be contacted at faithinthepublicsquare@gmail.com or c/o First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, 93438.

May 4, 2008