Nominalism

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When I joined the army in '57 and they were stamping my vital statistics onto my metal dogtags, I was registered as PROT in the matter of religion. NONE was not an option then. One was a Protestant by default. I've often wondered since how many other Nominal Protestants there are--people who don't believe any of that nonsense but don't want to stick their necks out and draw down whatever lightnings are reserved for troublemakers. It's not as though they were Galileos up against the Holy Inquisition; rather they were like Catholic husbands in the Mafia. Religion was women's business, Hail Mary and all that jazz. Church was for weddings and funerals, a form of etiquette for special occasions. Lip service. Nominalism.
Fundamentalists will have none of that. They know what Jesus said about those who are lukewarm. They demand zeal. Total immersion. Shouting in church and speaking in tongues. There are messhalls in the Army nowadays where you've got to join the other guys in saying grace or risk ostracism. Catholics (some chaplains would have it) are not Christians at all, so sing Halleluijah come on get happy, get ready for Armageddon and the Rapture.
It's time that Nominalists took a stand. They should print up their own teeshirts saying that Jesus is nice and God is a warm puppy. Say YES to compromise! Let's be diverse together! And so on. And if anyone asks you what you are
and where you believe it, just place your hand on your heart and say PROT. And wink.

(Original Post) (http://tomsdisch.livejournal.com/178226.html)