Springtime guarantees several things for State Street: The fruit stand will migrate home with southern produce. The man in the orange jumpsuit will no longer fear that his lips will freeze to his piccolo. Sex Out Loud will promote a safe mating season. But above all, State Street will host the return of the evangelists.
With accusatory fingers and unwieldy signs, the evangelists will usher in springtime with spectacle. Each year, the evangelists contradict their supposed goal of converting the masses by turning them away from Christianity. They instigate outrage for the emotional compensation that comes from feeling holier than the majority. They do this because they do not represent Christianity; they represent themselves.
According to Charles Hallisey, head of the UW-Madison Religious Studies Department, many evangelists confirm their worth and that of their religion by inciting public scorn. You can prove to yourself that you are not of the world by having people be scandalized by you,\ Hallisey said.
In general, the State Street zealots do not intend to convert the audience.
Rather, they aim to cause personal crises for targeted individuals—homosexuals, ""angry women"" and ""worldly people"" among many.
Such broad categories intentionally insult nearly all people. When audience members attempt to justify such ""godless"" behavior, it fuels the evangelists' belief in their holiness above others.
Although the evangelists would likely say they witness on State Street to spread the truth, Hallisey said he believes ""there is a confirmation of their sense of truth in the rejection of the audience by giving offense.""
As evangelists pepper crowds with insults, debates erupt. The crowd's scorn elevates the evangelists' sense of self-worth to a Jesus-like proportion. Indeed, their sermons evoke responses reminiscent of the crowds who reviled Jesus and his prophets.
In the New Testament, Peter warns: ""If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ... If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.""
Thus, the evangelists feed on this tenet; by receiving scrutiny, they feel holy. And though they draw from Scripture, such distorted attempts at witnessing do not glorify their Lord.
Nationwide, street evangelists have diversified witnessing approaches. Bands of zealots heckle funerals of soldiers lost in Iraq on the grounds that God punishes the troops because the United States does not condemn gays.
Wisconsin and eight other states have passed legislation to prevent these groups from disrupting funerals, but the legislation treads lightly in the realm of free speech and intends only to preserve the reverence of the occasion.
In reference to these groups, Hallisey said, ""What's happening on State Street is on a spectrum with a kind of phenomenon of American religiosity that strong emotions are proof of real religion.""
Yet, the goals and edicts of Christianity remain wholly unfulfilled by these evangelists. They deliberately demean others to foster their own self-worth. They fail to truly emulate Jesus, who chose the lowest sinners of society as his prophets and preached the necessity of loving one's neighbor.
Although they may concede the sin of all men (even themselves) in word, their actions demonstrate an arrogant sense of superiority. Most disconcerting, they stereotype Christians as intolerant zealots, giving non-believers another reason to reject Christianity.
These Christians are fueled to offend others by a psychological motivation to feel righteous, and the only solution to their psychosis is to ignore or condemn their efforts. According to Hallisey, a day of witnessing resulting in complete crowd conversion would likely be a ""terrible day.""
As State Street thaws and witnessing heats up, the crowd will determine the evangelists' ultimate sense of truth and worth. Under the protections of the First Amendment and religious freedom they will likely succeed to provoke audience outrage—the bottom-line measure of success.
Overall, crowds should ask big questions, entertain possible alternatives, but refrain from stereotyping Christians on the actions of these few individuals. Remember, they glorify themselves, not the Christian Savior.
Jill Klosterman is a sophomore majoring in journalism and political science. Her column appears every Thursday. We value your feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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