My frequent contributor Carl returned to my inbox this week, asking me what I mean by Christinsanity:

Thank you for explaining what “Christinsanity” is. However, the one exception I find with your explanation is that you apply it to “most of today’s Christians.” True Christians–those who closely follow the teachings of Jesus Christ–do not, for instance, see the need to worship in large, ornate edifices that only appeal to the eye and do nothing for the spiritual welfare of the individual. In downtown L.A., there is a multi-million dollar Catholic cathedral that is supported, in part, by less than well-to-do Hispanics. Instead of being enlightened by the teachings of Jesus, these poor folks are subjected to a pageant of marching altar boys, huge choirs, confusing ceremonies and elaborately robed old men speaking in Latin, a language that most people cannot comprehend. And you must know, that pageant isn’t free. The people who attend that church know very little about the Bible or about what Jesus taught his followers. If they had, they would want no part of an organization that preaches love and at the same time encourages young men and women to take up armed conflict with people of another nation, many of whom belong to the same religion. Would a disciple of Jesus associate with an organization that is notorious for sheltering pedophile priests so it does not look bad in the eyes of the community? I think not.

This may be the best thing you’ve ever written. It almost sounds like something I would write.

But still, how do these modern-day Pharisees gain power? It is not solely from their flock; it is from the acceptance and latitude we as a society grant them. There needs to be more “true Christians” like you publicly condemning the Jerry Falwells, Pat Robertsons, and James Dobsons out there. They are giving you guys a bad name.

I suggest that “true Christians” would boycott all the religious broadcasting networks. “True Christians” would never participate in the anti-abortion rallies, the Terri Schiavo sit-ins, or the Promise Keepers events, for support of those actions contribute to the support of their leaders, whom you’ve singled out as “Pharisees”.

Jesus’ formula for salvation involves conforming oneself to God’s standards of conduct and morality. Under the transforming influence of God’s Word, lifelong habits of lying and deception give way to honesty and truthfulness. Immoral practices, such as adultery and fornication, are abandoned and replaced by chaste moral conduct. This is not a temporary abstinence based on emotion but a permanent change resulting from careful study and application of God’s Word.

But you write that as if there is no hope for permanent positive morality without Jesus. Are you saying that immoral fallible humans are doomed to immoral practices without the intercession of God’s Word? How shallow is that, to say that a man cannot be moral without the threat of retribution in the afterlife?

Is that all that keeps you in check — the Bible? Without the Bible you’d be adulterizin’ and a-fornicatin’ and lyin’ and deceivin’? I’ve managed four years of faithful marriage without cracking open a Bible even once! How did I manage that without Jesus?

Hey, if it takes belief in ghosts and invisible superheroes and 2,000 year old Jewish mythology keeps you from raping, pillaging, and plundering, great. Whatever it takes to keep you on the righteous path. But to say that others cannot be righteous without following your exact path, seems a bit, well…

How unpleasant to be in the company of someone who sets himself up as judge, always looking for faults, scrutinizing and policing everyone around him. Really, no one has the authority to impose on others his opinions and self-made rules.

…yeah, unpleasant. So I wonder, can an atheist like me be truly moral in your eyes? I examine all of my beliefs and ethics concerning interaction within society, and they seem fairly “Christian” to me (do unto others, judge not, yada yada…) If I behave in a truly Christ-like manner without subscribing to the belief in deity, am I moral?

And what about the morality of agnostics, Wiccans, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindi, Scientologists, and so on? Can they be truly moral? My guess is that yes, one can be moral without being Christian, but one cannot ascend to heaven without being Christian. Wow, what a reward for being moral; descent into the eternal lake of fire.

That’s something which has been bugging me about Christinsanity since my early Sunday School days. The slave laborers of the Great Wall of China were bound for hell because they never heard of Jesus. One could be a perfectly moral Buddhist and be bound for hell, but a serial killer who sincerely accepts Jesus as savior and repents on death row is bound for heaven. That’s also what I mean by Christinsanity (and maybe I didn’t include it in my previous definition): a belief system that rewards membership in the club over actual morality, a belief system that denies scientifically-verifiable fact in favor of literal interpretation of mythological text written by the scientifically ignorant ancients, and a belief system that by its very definition discounts as worthless the belief systems of others.

According to one Bible encyclopedia, a self-righteous person “considers himself either morally upright or in right standing with God because of his adherence to the letter of legal requirements without regard to their spirit.”

You mean like adhering to the letter of Leviticus regarding gays without regard to the spirit of Jesus’ “love thy neighbor”?

Another work describes the self-righteous as “excessively religious people who spend all their time seeking out wickedness in others.”

Which describes to a tee nearly every email from a self-described Christian opposing me on issues of gay rights, abortion, stem cell research, pornography, censorship, drug legalization, and religious influence on government.

Balanced Christians realize that many aspects of daily life fall into the realm of personal decisions. Especially must those who have a tendency to be perfectionists and demanding avoid judging others.

Nearly everything falls in to the realm of personal decisions. Any decision that effects only you and consenting adults who choose to participate would fit that description.