Escape from Christendom
by Robert Burnell, 1980
The Journey
In my dream I see the lone figure of a man following a road. As the sun sets
beneath the hills, a city comes into view. Nearing it, the traveler sees what
appears to be a large group of churches. Spires and crosses pierce the
skyline. His pace quickens. Is this his destination? He passes an imposing
structure, a neon sign flashing “Cathedral of the Future.” Farther on a
floodlit stadium supports a billboard boasting that fifty thousand people
crowd into evangelistic meetings there three nights a week. Beyond this,
modest “New Testament” chapels and Hebrew Christian synagogues
cluster together on the street front.
“Is this the City of God?” I hear the traveler ask a woman at the information
booth in the central square.
“No this is Christian City, “she replies.
“But I thought this road led to the City of God!” He exclaims with great
disappointment.
“That's what we all thought when we arrived,” she answers, her tone
sympathetic.
“This road continues up the mountain, doesn't it?” He asks.
“I wouldn't know, really,” she answers blankly.
I watched the man turn away from her and trudge on up the mountain in the
gathering darkness.