SENTINEL WATCH March 12, 2007 Issue

ANGER DOES NOT DEFINE US

RUTH WALKER

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY made headlines last fall with its analysis of "America's Four Gods." The findings came out of a study titled "American Piety in the 21st Century: New Insights to the Depth and Complexity of Religion in the US."

Researchers posited four types of God with which people might identify. Type A was an "Authoritarian God" engaged in human affairs and providing guidance, but also capable of meting out punishment to the unfaithful or ungodly. Those holding this concept "also tend to feel that God is quite angry." The Type B "Benevolent God" was also engaged but less angry or willing to punish. Type C was a "Critical God," less engaged but ready to punish in a world to come. And Type D was "Distant"—neither angry nor engaged, merely a "force" setting "laws of nature in motion."

The majority concept, with 31.4 percent of the "vote," was the Type A, "Authoritarian" Deity. It all made me want to write in another concept, of a God whose totality and goodness completely crowd evil and anger out of the universe.

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