Blocking the Possibility for a Strong, Wide-Ranging, and Tangible Solution to the (Im)Migrant Crisis

Abstract

This chapter shows why rigid adherence to dogmatic religious belief comes at the price of free, independent thinking, and flexibility to adapt to new challenges. Accordingly, solving the (im)migration problem will take more than a clarion call for a major political pivot rooted in either Christian values or the biblical moralism of theistic religion. This is particularly true of an Evangelicalism that is often tied to a radical fidelity to Christ and/or the Bible and is elevated as a form of patriotic moralism in the service of partisan politics. For a “my-way-or-the-highway” faith not only blocks the possibility for a strong, wide-ranging, and tangible solution to the (im)migrant crisis, but strongly argues for the case that a true believer could also end-up persecuting the poor immigrant. So, it is NOT simply the case that ANY flaws or bad intentions are attributable JUST to some PEOPLE CLAIMING (or perhaps trying) TO BE followers of Christ or Christianity itself. Logically speaking, we are committing an Either/Or Fallacy when we assume that there are only two possible choices.