Small men and their smaller gods

Note: the opinions and views expressed in this post do not represent any employer, past, present or future nor any institution whether ecclesiastical, government, nonprofit, or private.  

I’m sure by now most of us have heard the speech given by Harrison Butker (henceforth known as Taylor Swift’s Boyfriend’s teammate, the smallest man to ever live, or the man who gave a speech). There has been lots of discussion about whether he is expressing “authentic” Catholicism, or Christianity, there have been some amazing clapbacks from women showing their successes in education and the workforce, and there have been pushback from stay-at-home mothers who are glad they chose to stay at home, but still don’t appreciate a man declaring what a woman’s purpose in life is. There have also been some interesting discussions about the ways in which the radical traditionalist Catholic movement is nothing more than Christian white supremacy and nationalism wrapped up in Latin rituals. All are very good and very important points. 

What I want to talk about is how the god espoused by, “the smallest man who ever lived” and others like him, is a weak, ineffectual, tyrannical god. And I would argue that worshipping this god is akin to idolatry. 

The small god endorsed by small men (and women) is a god who claims to be all-powerful and all-knowing, that is separate and above humankind, and yet can’t seem to imagine a world outside of the narrow imaginations and limitations of humanity. This god, who allegedly is perfect, sinless, and powerful is in practicality too weak and impotent to reimagine a new world. Instead, this god reinforces the violent and oppressive status quo.  

This god can neither create nor imagine a new or better world and by extension those that worship this god are unable to do so as well. This god is the manifestation of the insecurities and incompetencies of men (and women) like Butker. Fear about being found to be irrelevant and fear of not maintaining power and control over others. It’s not surprising that the god of small men (and women) is just that: small, incompetent, cruel, and is powerless to be better nor inspire humanity to do better.  

 Now some people might say, “well this man and those like him don’t represent ‘real’ Christians.” Instead, the “real” Christians are the more progressive, mainline protestants/Catholics. I disagree on two counts. First Christianity as an institution, has repeatedly worshipped a cruel, vindictive, oppressive god. Christians from throughout the political and theological spectrum, from various denominations and branches, have created images of god that are nothing short of blasphemous.  

Secondly, because these harmful and oppressive images of god are so engrained within Christianity, oftentimes the more “progressive” forms, aren’t in practice much better than their conservative peers. Differences can be attributed to the more “enlightened” forms of Christianity being better at presenting a kinder, more progressive face of oppression.  Those like the small man who gave the commencement speech, are pretty clear about worshipping this oppressive god. They aren’t ashamed of their tyrannical beliefs and instead proclaim them for all to hear, and double down when receiving pushback.  

Those who are part of the allegedly more enlightened mainstream/mainline Christian traditions often are the first to publicly eschew beliefs that are rightfully ridiculed as harmful, but in practice, it’s not always easy to differentiate them from their more vocal to side with oppression peers.  

So while I am glad leaders from various denominations and branches are speaking out against Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s teammates’ speech, it also feels a bit performative. Coming from those part of forms of Christianity that claim to value their women religious and yet still deny women the ability to be priests, the words of condemnation ring hollow. 

 From denominations that do affirm women in leadership positions the condemnation against this man’s speech holds a bit more weight, but barely. After all some of these denominations still pay women substantially less than their male counterparts. They will praise women while still ensuring the stained-glass ceiling remains in place. They may, perhaps open up the space to one or two women, who they then parade on their social media, in their newsletters, in their denominational website, but every other woman after them is left in the cold.  

The reality is that the small god on display during the commencement speech, is the same small god worshipped by the religious right and Christian nationalists, and it is the same small god that is on display in the mainline churches that often talk a good talk but whose actions reveal the belief in a limited god.  

My fellow Christians, to claim to worship a “big” god while then endorsing the very human structures of violence and oppression is blasphemous. Part of having faith means that when we can’t imagine a better world when we are marred down by the structures of evil and violence in this world, we trust in a God who is without limits, who can envision a better world, and who will work with us to create it.  

Yes, let’s call out Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s teammate for being the smallest man who has ever lived, but let’s not stop there. Let’s examine the ways in which we worship a limited and incompetent god, and let’s reject that idolatry.  

Image: Yellow and pink background. Text: “The small god endorsed by small men is a weak, ineffectual, tyrannical god.” The words “small god” are circled in red and the words “small men” is underlined in black.