How to be Christian and alternative to boot

by m

There are so many alternative Christian mooks out there. Not an easy road to travel! This article about being Christian and alternative is just for you xxx

When the Mookychicks asked me to write an article about being a modern, alternative Christian, I immediately agreed. It didn't seem like a difficult task. I dress in black, prefer darkwave/metal music and a disproportionate number of my books have 'magic' in the title. Yet the Christian faith has been an important part of me all my life.

I felt I could present this seemingly-paradoxal situation and explain how being an alternative Christian, if we want to attach some labels, really wasn't all that strange.However, when thinking about what to write, I felt trepidation. I wasn't - scratch that - I'm still not sure if I can act as an ambassador for my faith. I'm no saint. I'm certainly not the best example of a follower of Christ. But I'm going to give it a go, anyway.

Please note that there exist many different sects and branches of Christianity. While all have the same basic principles, there are important differences between the faiths. I am Roman Catholic, which traces directly back to Jesus Christ and Peter, the first pope. So what I say is, to me, in line with the current edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And now that the disclaimers are out of the way...

God is Love

Love. That is, at it simplest, the pith of Catholic law. God made us out of love and unconditionally loves every person. We are called to love Him in return with our heart, soul and mind. This is the first commandment. The second commandment is to love humanity: Family, strangers, old, young, friends, enemies, black, white, beige, yellow, green, neighbours, foreigners, rich, poor, ugly, pretty, everyone. All other commandments (not to steal, not to commit adultery) are summed up in the statement "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."

Loving the world from inside garden walls or behind locked doors isn't enough, either. In the words of St. James, "Faith without works is dead." It is necessary - certainly to me - to have faith, but it is equally necessary to act on it. What good is it to tell a starving man you love him? Some good, yes, but not nearly as much good as acting on the professed love and giving him bread. Jesus told his disciples to "Love each other, even as I have loved you." Jesus loved us to death, and past death, and he acted on the love by caring for the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the outcast, the unjustly accused, the imprisoned. To be Christian is to follow in the example of Christ, so we too feel called to literally feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

Alternative Christian

With those as the basis for the religion, it shouldn't seem like one's personal interests or appearance should matter. And it doesn't, for the most part. When I was in middle school, and beginning to become entranced with gothic/new romantic fashion, my mother did express some doubts. I explained that it was simply the aesthetics that fascinated me and not sacrificing goats to demons. Once we had that understanding, she was perfectly fine with my attire, as long as it remained relatively modest. Of course, I dress much more mundanely when attending Mass because I don't want to draw attention to myself. I've never had issues with family or friends doubting my faith because of my wardrobe. I think this is because actions speak louder than the words on a t-shirt, and I try to live out what I believe.

Over the past several years I have had difficulties reconciling my intense interest in the occult with the Catholic dogma. The Church does say, clearly, that both practical magic and superstition get dangerously close to and often become idolatry, regardless of whether or not they work. So, for the most part, I avoid magic and spiritual practices that run contrary to Catholicism and claim to be real. A few years ago, when 'The Golden Compass' was released in theatres, I had another conversation with my mother. She expressed concern at my interest in the work of Philip Pullman. I explained that yes, I did like reading his books, but treated them as fiction; yes, he expressed dissenting views, but so did Greek mythology. Again, once she understood my viewpoint, she didn't have a problem.

Sometimes, especially when browsing the internet, it is tricky to make the distinction between the fictional and the allegedly real; navigating away from the page or closing the book is usually my tactic. It's not the most enlightened thing to do, but I prefer to avoid situations that could result in the temptation to act against Catholic principles or, more likely, to act so accidentally.

There is far, far more to Christianity than what I've mentioned so far. My goal in writing this article is that it might lead someone to learn more. At the very least, I hope I've managed to show how one of the most traditional religions isn't nearly as 'conservative' as it's perceived to be.

As conversations with my mother suggest, an open-minded stance can make all the difference to tolerance and understanding replacing fear and mistrust.

A Christian goth, or any Christians who listen to metal, dress in black and have a fascination with the occult may find themselves in the company of people who are finding it hard to reconcile the Christian faith and the alternative outlook. However, if people don't talk to each other, or at least retain an open mind, alternative Christians stand in danger of being villified on both sides - attracting mistrust from mainstream Christians who doubt their faith, and an equal degree of doubt from non-Christian alternatives who can't understand why someone should look and sound alternative yet 'chain' themselves to a monotheistic faith.

As an alternative Christian, you have to think deeply and honestly about who you are and what you believe in. Not only because it's good for you, but also because you're bound to be questioned about it by a curious third party at the drop of a hat. Even if it is an elegant gothic pillbox hat with funereal crepe. It may sometimes be hard to stick your neck out and fly your pirate colours, but to me it's worth it.

Following the law of God before the law of man and society? I think that could be called pretty radical.

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