If This Is A Christian Nation, Why Are Kindness and Compassion In Such Short Supply?

I respect religion...but I don't need it

My religion is kindness.

- Abraham Lincoln

Don’t be a dick.

- Jack Cluth

I’ve never been shy about my theological orientation (or lack of one). I don’t believe in a higher power, including the Christian God. There are many reasons for this, but I’ve always echoed the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who once said, “I love Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ.”

Granted, I’m not about to use a broad brush to brand all Christians as hypocritical and intolerant. But enough of them talk the talk without walking the walk to make it clear that it’s something I want no part of.

There were times in the past when I wished I possessed the certainty of those who believed in the Christian God, but there are too many inconsistencies to get past. Logically, I can’t put those contradictions aside and replace them with faith.

For instance, there’s the belief among some Christians that the Bible is the inerrant and actual Word of God. This flies in the face of the truth that the Bible was transcribed, translated, and re-translated by numerous hands over several hundreds of years. The history of how the Bible came to be what it is today argues against the belief that it’s the inerrant word of God, which is heretical to many.

Then there are the numerous contradictions within Scripture itself. I’m not a theologian, so I’m not going to relay them here, but it’s no secret that contradictions are rife throughout the Bible. Christians may have pat and easy explanations for that, but it’s still nonsensical and wholly illogical.

So what, exactly, DO I believe? Well, it’s actually relatively simple. My philosophy of life can be boiled down to four simple words- “Don’t be a dick.” Sure, you can wax philosophical about the importance of kindness to your fellow human beings…yada, yada, yada…but what it really comes down to is “don’t be a dick.” Simple. Easy to remember. Low bar. And it doesn’t require a lot of energy to process.

Of course, if you’re looking for a deeper philosophy offered by someone more intelligent and far wiser than myself, you don’t have to look far.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible to be kind.

- The Dalai Lama

I could go on, but I think you smell what I’m cooking, right? Especially in these times, when cruelty seems to be the first order of business for about half the population. Kindness has become more important and more necessary than ever, if for no other reason than it so often seems to be in such short supply.

It really isn’t difficult to be kind. In fact, I’ve found that it’s easier and far less taxing to be nice to someone than to be a jerk. After all, it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown, right? You burn less energy being kind than you do being mean. It’s just simple physics. Beyond that, though, being kind is a great way to feel better about yourself. Who doesn’t feel good when they have a smile on their face?

One of my favorite ways to show a little kindness is to servers at restaurants. I put myself through my last year of college by waiting tables, so I have a soft spot in my heart for servers. I remember the long hours on my feet, the demanding customers, the jerky bosses, the propositions from gay men, and the often meager tips. Unless the server attending to my table is a total doofus, I’ll normally leave a tip in the neighborhood of 25%. I figure the server will appreciate a few extra bucks far more than I’ll miss them. It’s also a way for me to honor a time in my life when I barely had two nickels to rub together.

I like to make certain I smile a cashiers in grocery stores. Even if they don’t reciprocate, I can feel as if I’ve made an effort to acknowledge them and the job they’re doing.

Whatever you choose and/or however you might choose to do it, being kind requires little effort. It also doesn’t require one to be religious. Kindness is something that can be done out of faith, but it’s not a prerequisite.

If your religious faith is what leads you to be kind to others, then more power to you. I’m not someone whose impulse to be kind is borne out of any religious doctrine, but whatever pushes you to be kind to others is OK by me. However you get there, this world needs more of it.

I don’t begrudge the faith of those who sincerely endeavor to live their faith. I applaud it. The world would be a far better place if more of those who call themselves religious were serious about living the teachings of their faith. The problem, of course, is that there are far too many who wield their faith as a club with which to bludgeon those they consider to be “less than.”

When all is said and done, I’m far less interested in who you worship and/or how you pray than how you live your live. Dogma does nothing for me. Are you a kind person? Do you practice compassion? Do you forgive those who trespass against you?

Ultimately, I believe that how a person lives their live and how they treat others says far more about their faith than any words ever could. But I also believe that no religion has a corner on kindness and compassion, because kindness and compassion know no faith and yet respect all.

As for me, I’ll stick with “Don’t be a dick.” A four-word mantra is easy to remember and it keeps things simple. Be kind. Practice compassion. Love my fellow human beings. I don’t always hit the mark, but I’d like to think I hit it more often than not.

Kindness costs nothing, but it might just be priceless to the person on the receiving end.

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