Some years ago there was something of a fad among Christians, at least here in North America, who liked to ask the question “if Christianity were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
Others have taken up this exercise, including from time to time, Unitarian Universalists. If being a UU were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
In some ways it is a bit over the top, at least I tend to see it that way; a safe question with no actual real world consequences no matter what the response. Sort of falling into the cheap grace bucket. Sure, I’d confess my faith in the face of lions. Sure. Why not? When there are no real lions around.
On the other hand, if engaged with a little humility and a real desire to look into one’s own heart such a question can be an opportunity to stop and reflect deeply. I believe the questions of religion are bottom line things, about life and death, meaning and purpose. So, what about it? What if your faith were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict?
And most importantly, what would that evidence look like? There’s a thought experiment…
And, as something worth hanging in the back of a mind while considering such a thing, on this day a while ago, on the 25th of February in 1566, Francesco Sega de Rovigo was executed for the crime of being an antiTrinitarian and belonging to the outlawed Unitarian society in Venice, Italy. He was tied up, weighed down with stones and thrown into the sea.
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