Is Christianity Really Such A Great Deal?

Recently, Ann Coulter wrote a column defending Brit Hume’s assertion that Christianity offers the best way for golfer Tiger Woods to recover from his adulterous affairs.  In the column, she basically wrote a religious tract on behalf of Christianity describing it as the “best deal in the universe”.  After reading it in the Florida Times Union, I was wondering if I had stumbled onto the religion section of the paper.  But no, I was definitely reading the page reserved for news commentary and op-eds.

So does Coulter make a good case for Christianity as the “best deal in the universe”?  I think not.  Coulter argues that Christianity is about redemption and forgiveness.  Clearly, Woods betrayed his wife by having multiple affairs with other women.  However, if ever he needs forgiveness and redemption, he needs to get these from his wife.  It is difficult to see how Jesus dying on Woods’ behalf so that his sins are wiped clean leads to his taking personal responsibility for his mistakes.  If anything, it reduces the incentives for people like Woods to accept responsibility for their actions and reconcile with those people that they have wronged.  It is like saying that God wiped my sins clean so why shouldn’t you forgive me even when I have done nothing to deserve a change of heart from you?  Forgiveness must be earned, not given away freely.

Coulter argues that once you accept Jesus into your heart, you will have no choice but to give your life up to God and stop doing sinful things like adultery.   According to a 2005 Christianity Today article, that is not necessarily so.   Most of the “moral failings” mentioned in the article are not of much concern to your typical freethinker.  I personally don’t care if born again Christians are just as likely as non-Christians to divorce.  To me, if you are in a bad marriage, get out of it.  Nor am I concerned that cohabitation before marriage is practiced by 25 percent of born again Christians according to a 2001 poll.  I say good for them.  The article does points to behavior like racism that does have serious consequences.  In this case, twenty percent of Southern Baptists object to black neighbors according to a 1989 poll.  Overall, it is apparent from the article that the moral behavior of Christians often mirrors the society in which they live.