The Sum of All Christian Fears
By Adam Graham (07/23/07)
Imagine a world where children are taken from their families in order to stop them from turning their children into terrorists. Now imagine that on the list of potential terrorists whose children must be taken or re-educated are home schoolers, active pro-lifers, and many other average Evangelical Christians.
This is the all-too-believable plot behind Jodi Cowles novel, “The Minor Protection Act” (TMPA) in which a President of the United States, with help from a slick attorney, gets a bill passed through Congress that has federal agents remove children from their traditionalist Christian homes and families to stop the children from learning “intolerance” that leads to “hate crimes” and “terrorism.”
The seminal scene in the book when a child is taken from her Christian parents and placed into foster care with a lesbian couple. The scene in that brief word picture explains how traditionalist Christians see the Culture War better than hundreds of essays have.
The book paints a credible Orwellian picture of the near future. Cowles world is driven by opinion polls and a President with his own weekly emotionally manipulative talk show. While Cowles can be criticized on literary points such as character development, as well as for an ending that can be charitably described as rushed, the book transcends its weaknesses by painting a compelling portrayal of where our country may be headed. For Evangelical Christians, the book amounts to a call to engage culture and stand up for biblical values while they have the opportunity. For liberals, the book offers keen insight into the greatest concerns of Evangelical Christians about the liberal agenda.
Here are some thoughts I had while reading TMPA.
1) Thought crimes: The Christians featured in TMPA were not guilty of actual violent crimes against anyone, but of “hate crimes” which in TMPA includes a Christian teenager who tells a lesbian that homosexuality is wrong. This is a relevant concern. While the current hate crimes bill ostensibly only adds higher penalties to crimes against homosexuals, foreign hate crimes laws have provisions that punish speech and recently a Swedish pastor spent years in criminal proceedings after preaching against homosexuality in his own pulpit. Leftist groups have offered little reassurance that such draconian measures aren't planned for the future.
2) Those fighting words. Terms like “The Religious Reich,” “The American Taliban,” and “Christian Sharia Law” are throw away lines on leftist blogs. Recently, Richard Dawkins pondered taking away other people's children, "It's one thing to say people should be free to believe whatever they like, but should they be free to impose their beliefs on their children? Is there something to be said for society to be stepping in? What about bringing up children to believe manifest falsehoods?”
One thing Cowles can't be accused of is demonizing political opponents. Even the lesbian couples that are charged by the state with raising kidnapped Christian Children are portrayed as fairly decent folks. Each character who plays their part in the President's plot has understandable, even sympathetic motives.
This is perhaps the most chilling part of the story. Were they demon possessed or utterly evil Hitlerian figures, we could perhaps laugh the scenario off as paranoia. However, Cowles's characters are simply acting on the basic premises and words of cultural liberals and elitists.
If pro-lifers are basically terrorists, if Christian fundamentalism is harmful to our world, if disapproval of homosexuality is the same as racism, why on Earth shouldn't the government take away these children? Thoughts and ideas have consequences, and for me, TMPA brought this point home.
3) The target minority: A point made against a scenario like Cowles's is that Christians make up the majority of the country (87%). But of that numbers, less than half regularly attend church and practice their faith. A smaller number than those who attend church are those who believe in the basic fundamentals of the Faith, and a still smaller number are willing to stand outfront as leaders for other Christians to follow. 2,000 years later, strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter is a true principle. In TMPA, the children taken result in other parents being intimidated into silence.
4) Payment for abortion: While a minor plot point in the story, Cowles's vision of what the future of embryonic stem cell research is worth noting. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from abortions, with the young women paid to abort as well as told they are saving humanity. This was one of the most believable twists in the story. While today, Embryonic Stem Cell Research advocates claim they only wish to have taxpayer dollars fund ESCR from existing stockpiles from fertility clinics. Of course, these stockpiles will run dry fairly quickly and then other means will be required.
Overall, The Minor Protection Act is a thought-provoking work that serves an important purpose by forcing readers to look beyond the political arguments of the moment and take a closer look at where the road we're on might lead.
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