It's Not My Fault! Or, Is It?

The following in an excerpt of a book I'm reading by Stephen R. Holmes entitled, Listening to the Past: The Place of Tradition in Theology. Upon reading this, part of me wants to recoil in horror of the insinuations made by the piece and the other part of me wants to say a hearty "Amen." You read it for yourself and tell me what you think. If nothing else, it should definitely provoke thought; it certainly did for me. 

Reflecting upon the thought of Jonathan Edwards, the eighteenth century philosopher and reformed theologian (remembered most for his unfortunate sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"), Holmes recounts some of Edward's thought on free will and freedom of choice: 

"...The prophets of this brave new world are Darwin, Marx, and Freud, whose followers will tell anyone foolish enough to listen that it was, notoriously, 'not your fault', it was biological instinct, or inevitable social forces, or 'subconscious urges', and so what is needed is more awareness of the 'self' which such themes define. If the first consequence of such positions is to alienate me from the society of which I  am a part, the second is to alienate me from my now-isolated individual 'self'. When 'I' am alienated from 'myself' the response is counselling, the new universal liturgical practice of the self-absorbed Western world. As if Narcissus needed to become more 'self-aware'!

With the axioms set for the  discussion, however, the cure is worse than the disease. What will happen  if I finally 'find' my 'self' in counseling or therapy? I will become fully aware of my self-alienation. Seeing all the  causes of my actions, and so knowing why I do each thing I do, I will realise that I am almost totally unfree (according to this definition of freedom). My social background and my parents' failures and psychic make-up conspire to make me act in this way; I see myself doing it, and I understand why I do it, but I cannot change it; I can merely observe the causes of my actions. The result under the terms of the argument is the standard one observed in those who have 'successfully' completed counselling or therapy: they have 'learnt to forgive themselves'. Their actions have not changed, but they now understand what causes these actions, see that they are freely chosen with the definition of freedom that is being advanced, and so do not hold themselves culpable. 'Their doctrine [of freedom] excuses all evil inclinations', says Edwards, 'because in such inclinations, they are not self-determined.' Thus perhaps the one great 'triumph' of Christian pastoral theology this century: we have learnt how to convince sinners with tender consciences that they have no need of Christ's atoning work." [92-3] (Holmes adapts much of the above from The Works of Jonathan Edwards. vol 1: Freedom of the Will, edited by Paul Ramsey, Yale University Press, 1957

Now obviously, there are certain facets and insinuations in there that I wholeheartedly disagree with. The values of counseling for those who really need it can not be overstated. But, I do often wonder about the nature of our  therapeutic culture and how unhealthy the lack of personal responsibility is. I know this is not popular and certainly not politically correct, but as a society we have to find a way to strike a balance between personal acccountability and a reasonable appraisal of mitigating circumstances.   

Pope says humanity needs 'saving' from homosexuality

Pope says humanity needs 'saving' from homosexuality - Telegraph

His remarks were immediately denounced as "totally irresponsible and unacceptable in any shape or form" by the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.

Its chief executive, the Rev Sharon Ferguson, said: "It is more the case that we need to be saved from his comments. It is comments like this that justify homophobic bullying that goes on in schools and it is comments like this that justify gay bashing.

"There are still so many instances of people being killed around the world, including in western society, purely and simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

"When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way because they feel that they are doing God's work in ridding the world of these people."

I absolutely HATE bringing attention to something so negative right here on the eve of our Advent celebration. Certainly there are more pleasant things to concentrate upon during this wonderful time of year. The Pope is Pope to all Catholics, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, many of whom struggle with their sexual disposition as it relates to the church. I would not expect anything different, in terms of ideology, from the Pope. However, I do not understand the choice to further ostracize a not so insignificant group of people who are often persecuted from within and without.

Obviously, the reaction by gay and lesbian groups is predictable and in my opinion, justified. In much of the world this debate is carried on in somewhat of a civilized manner; however, there are many Catholics living in societies that are much less civilized that would be very prone to use the Pope's rhetoric here to justify social cleansing of undesirables. How horrifying it would be if some group took the Pope's language as a mandate and even one gay, lesbian, or transgendered person was injured or killed. By virtue of his position as the Vicar of Christ, the representative of the man who loved sinners and publicans, ate with tax collectors and befriended prostitutes and Samaritans, Pope Benedict should chose his words more carefully and with more grace.

Another issue I have here is the dangerous theoretical separation between the saving of our environment and the protection and care of the human species. Our environment is on a fast track to annihilation and when this occurs, humankind as we know it will be no more. Consequently, saving the rain forest, protecting our planet against global warming and the wholesale destruction of our world by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the like is, by very definition, attending to and safeguarding the very existence of humanity.

I would not want Pope Benedict's job for nothing, but if I had it I hope I would chose my remarks more carefully. The Catholic faith is one that I have grown to appreciate; its unique appeal to authority and its clarity on many issues, whether or not I agree with them or not, is often refreshing to me. Over the years I have grown to respect Papal authority in matters of faith and doctrine, but in this issue, I can not help but plead for the utilization of less exclusive language and care in issuing what could easily be mistaken as decrees by much of the world's population whose religious practices are often saturated with superstition, prejudice, and bigotry.

Many Poses, One Portrait: God defined by the World's Religions

My growing understanding of God as transcendent is fascinating to me. I think I am beginning to understand what Ghandi is saying here:

"After long study and experience, I have come to the conclusion that all religions are true; all religions have some error in them; all religions are almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism, in as much as all human beings should be as dear to one as one's own close relatives. My own veneration for other faiths is the same as that for my own faith; therefore no thought of conversion is possible." (M. K. Gandhi, All Men Are Brothers: Life and Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi as told in his own words, Paris, UNESCO 1958, p 60.) [retrieved from Wikipedia article on Universalism]

If God transcends all human understanding, defies human language to define and articulate; if the human mind is limited in its ability to comprehend what God is, then how naive is it to believe that one religion is in and of itself capable of embodying all the truth that is God? Wow! Now there's a question for you!

As my personal understanding of the relevance of religion continues to expand, I am beginning to believe that not only are all the world's religions representations of this single transcendent being/force etc, but all of them are necessary to depict all that God is. Just as Ghandi says that all religions have errors, including his own in this indictment, all religions have some facet of truth which when unified, gives us a clearer and more comprehensive portrait of who God is; albeit, even this is an obscure portrait of the divine. However, with such an understanding, it behooves me to search for truth in all faiths, building as comprehensive a composite of the divine as possible.

I recently began reading a book that I've had on my shelf for sometime entitled, Listening to the Past by Stephen R. Holmes. This book seeks to validate the role of historical theology (Christian) and the importance of tradition in the development of Christian dogma. One thing that drew my attention to the book was a statement made on the back cover:

"...theology is an irreducibly communal task."

The idea that come to mind when I read this small statement is obviously not contextually accurate to what Holmes is trying to get at in the book. But, the statement is nonetheless applicable to the idea here that all religions bear the task of revealing the divine. It is, indeed, a communal task; from the world's inception to the present, the balance of man's search and pursuit of God as expressed in the world's religions is a communal effort to explain and reveal the One that transcends all things yet is immanent in all things as well.

I am sure that I have not done these thoughts justice. I do, however, hope that it has invoked some communal resolve to continue our quest to know God through the various faith perspectives of our fellow human inhabitants of this temporal space.

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog - Exploring Faiths

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog - Exploring Faiths


The link above takes you to the Institute for Interfaith Dialog where you can explore the beliefs of five of the world's major religions:

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism

This is a great concise resource for those wanting to know more about any of these faiths. These introductions provide enough information for one to embark on a spiritually enriching study of any one or all of these different faiths.

Can faith help heal our divide? - Opinion - USATODAY.com

Can faith help heal our divide? - Opinion - USATODAY.com

USA Today Columnist, Oliver  Thomas, makes the following statement while writing about the current divisions in America and the need for genuine Community: 

If genuine community is to occur, it will require sacrifice on the part of both winners and losers. Winners must be willing to reach across the chasm that divides us and welcome losers to choice seats at the table. Losers — rather than allowing themselves to steep in their bitterness, awaiting the first opportunity to pounce on the new president — must accept the responsibility of shared leadership. Of being the loyal opposition. John McCain set the tone for this beautifully on election night.Graciousness will be called for all around, as will be compromise — that essential lubricant of our life together. Ours is a world of half loaves, but alas, it is still bread.Here's the interesting thing. America's faith communities are well positioned to lead the way, to set the example for the rest of us. They are, after all, the places where millions of Americans go to find community. There, Republicans, Democrats and independents weekly kneel beside each other to acknowledge their shared humanity and their common commitment to a transcendent God and the truths that transcend our political and ideological differences. Truth. Justice. Love of neighbor.

He goes on to say:

While national leaders must set the proper tone, wars are won in the trenches. Local pastors, priests, imams and rabbis will be called upon to do much of the heavy lifting. For example, getting attached to one another might mean getting unattached to things. Clergy can remind us that the things that give our lives meaning rarely cost money. They do, however, cost. We will need to become better listeners. And less judgmental. We might even relax our grip on the notion that all of life must be adversarial. Perhaps cooperation, rather than competition, is the pathway to this new American dream.

Thomas makes some excellent points in this column. He asserts that we should learn to concentrate on those fundamental beliefs and needs that we all hold in common  rather than being divided by the things that we disagree upon. He contends that there is much work to do in the future of the United States and it can not be done without a deep sense of community and the responsibility to one another that such an understanding breeds. 

Communities of Faith can indeed help lead the way in this endeavor. I agree with Thomas that they are uniquely qualified to help the broader community to come together and pursue community building practices such as the Golden Rule. This will be good not only for our nation but for communities of faith as well. We all need to learn how to sit at the same table and listen to one another's concerns and ideas. Only then can we build a world conducive for everyone rather than a select few. 

Moving on up...

Well, I think I am about to win the award for the most unmanaged blog on Blogger. But, the move is complete and we are officially in our new home; new for us, that is, not new in general. Here are some pictures we took yesterday. I know this isn't a personal blog but surely some of you will enjoy. :) Flatter me a bit and I promise we will resume our regularly scheduled programming shortly.

You will notice that there are some tree pictures in the mix. These are in a cemetery right across the street from our house. It was cloudy and the pictures do not do justice to the beauty of these two trees. One is an evergreen and the other is an oak (I think). Both are rather unique to me because of their height, fatness, and overall symmetry. Trees in NC generally grow tall but lack the width seen in hardwoods in the Midwest. Both these trees are tall and wide which is why I love them. I can not wait to see the oak during the spring.

Moving Day!

The actual moving phase of our move is underway. I am signing in for the last time before I unplug and pack up the computer. If anyone is reading out there in the blogdom, whisper a word of prayer. Hopefully, if everything goes well, I'll be back pecking by tomorrow. 

Wish us well! 

Episcopal Schism: Both Sides' Leaders Unsure Of Next Step -- Courant.com

Episcopal Schism: Both Sides' Leaders Unsure Of Next Step -- Courant.com

The North American schism is not news but it has officially, for practical intents and purposes, happened. I was out running an errand this afternoon and my local NPR station was talking about it. The broadcast was highlighting how the schism would affect churches in the Charlotte, NC area. One break away church was interviewed and then an Episcopal USA church was interviewed as well. There were two things in this broadcast that really caught attention. 

First, it was acknowledged that in spite of the schism, most of these Anglican churches will praying similar prayers, having essentially the same order of service, dictated by the same Book of Common Prayer. I find this extremely interesting; if you visited both churches being unaware of each respective church's position on the homosexual issue, and you based your opinion solely upon the worship environment, you would likely leave each church not being aware of any significant difference. 

Secondly, each church highlighted in the broadcast was asked what their church mission was; that is, what was important to them as a body of believers in their community. Each church answered with essentially the same answer. They were concerned about the people around them who were hurting and in need of help and ministry. Neither church answered with the desire to be a bastion of some ideological position.

So, they both worship the same and they are both reaching out the same people, being concerned about the world around them. Consequently, what is this schism doing effectively to the Anglican church in North America? It is weakening their ability to carry out their stated purpose to minister to a hurting world with the love of God. These dividing churches are not just buildings or people with different ideals, they are resources, monetarily and physically, as people with hands to serve and touch a world in need and peril. 

There is allot more I would love to say here to these two groups. I am not a cradle Anglican but I love the Communion; I love the Book of Common Prayer. I am proud to be an Anglican and look forward to many years of worship and ministry within the Communion. But it really grieves my heart that this divide is happening, happening in front of a world that needs the church,  of all places, to be a place safe from contention and strife, hate and bigotry. 

United we stand, divied we fall. That is an old but powerful principle that I think should be heeded here. Perhaps, each side should go back and read the parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30). 

Ecumenical Buddhism: Religions and their Lunisolar, Lunar, and Solar Calendars

Ecumenical Buddhism: Religions and their Lunisolar, Lunar, and Solar Calendars

Ecumenical Buddhism is one of the most interesting blogs I have ran across in a long time. I have really enjoyed following it lately and reading over its large list of postings. Today, a post (linked above) was added that explains the history of different types of calendars and how they are or have been implemented by various religions throughout history. Follow the link above to read this post; there is also a link included in the original post to a Wikipedia article on the same subject that goes a bit more in depth about these calendars and their historical relationship to varied religions. 

At the end of the post, the following statement is made:

"...without realizing it, most Christians do use a lunisolar calendar in the determination of Easter."

This is stated after establishing the fact that a lunisolar calendar  has been and still is used by much of the East and is still employed by the Hebrew, Hindu, Buddhist, and numerous other religions. I do not want to reduce the post to this one statement, but it definitely spoke volumes to me as I read it. 

Anyone familiar with Christian history must realize that the date of Easter has long been the subject of much controversy. Even today, and despite much work at reconciliation by groups such as the World Council of Churches, the Eastern branch of the church and the Western  branch still celebrate Easter on different dates (most years). Ironically, the reason for the controversy is related to calendars: which one  should be used to calculate dates in the ecclesiastical year? The Julian or the Gregorian? Who knows? 

Anyways, before I get too side tracked with history and begin to show my nerdy side, let me just say that the fact that Christians use a calendar predominately associated with other faiths to establish the date of its crowning and most important festival is very indicative of the history of the Christian faith. From its very inception, it has been a compendium of many faiths and sects. This syncretic action has defined much of what Christianity is, does, and believes. It is very important for us to understand this and if this is fully understood, perhaps ecumenism and multifaith endeavors will seem more consistent with the inherent spirit of historical Christianity. 

Lastly, the Christianization (Wikipedia has a great article on Christianization; go read it here.) of pagan symbols, terms, practice, geography, deities, etc, makes up a great part of what Christianity is today. Its simply inseparable. There is a huge segment of Christianity that would rather deny this truth; particularly much of Protestantism. But, one can not effectively argue against substantiated history. With all this said, let me ask a question that speaks to the heart of what this blog stands for and what I believe to be a very beneficial practice in my spiritual journey. If Christianity as a whole can take elements of other faiths and use it to enhance itself and/or make itself more palatable to those around her, why can not I, as a Christain and person of faith do the same? I know how I answer that question. How do you? 

 

Life, Blogging, and Other Things...

Staying sane when your apple cart is turned upside down!

I am sorry that I've not posted much lately. Things have been rather hectic in my personal life. Currently, our family is renting and the house we've lived in for the last two years is simply not big enough for us anymore. Consequently, we are moving. Now, I must admit that I hate to move. I am a person of routine and moving simply messes any routine up completely. It's so hard for me to keep a good attitude when having to do something that I despise.

Fortunately, though, the Lord has shown us favor and what appeared to be a daunting task is turning out to be a miracle. Yes, I'm a liberal, but I do still believe in miracles! You can't define me that rigidly. Only a week into the search for new lodging, we found a perfect place that is not only much larger than where we now live, but its $100 a month cheaper! (Its been a long time since I've constructed this many sentences with exclamation points) My usual discomfort for the process of moving has been greatly mitigated by these developments.

The expense of this move is coming at a bad time and bearing its cost is very uncomfortable, especially with Christmas so close. Even though we are saving money per month on the rent, the transferring of utilities and such is not free. Nor is the rental of a truck and moving accessories, as well as new blinds and curtains and paint and stuff that normally accompany a move into a new place. To be honest, we really did not know how we were going to pull it off but having to sign a new lease here, etc, made it incumbent upon us to make the move.

Here is where the real miracle takes place. This past Saturday morning, less than a day after we signed the new lease and at a time when we were definitely feeling the pressure of it all, we got a package of Christmas presents for the kids and a Christmas card in the mail from a person who is like a mother to my wife and a grandmother to my children. She is a middle-aged lady who just recently lost her life's companion and soul mate for 30+ years to cancer. When I say recent, I am talking about less than a month ago.

In the card, this lady confirmed her love for our family, reiterated the fact that her late husband looked at my wife as his daughter (he left two daughters behind) and our children as his grandkids. She stated that she had received a little bit of money after her husband's death and wanted to share it with all her daughters, including my wife. To our complete and utter amazement, we unfolded an enclosed check to see that it was written for 2000 dollars. Once again, the cynic in me is so likely to say that these things don't just happen often and when they do its more than likely a matter of chance. But, the faith in me knows that the Divine, whom I call Jesus, is looking out for us, knowing our needs and making preparations for them before we are even aware ourselves.

I can only thank God for the grace that he is showing to me and my family during this season of Advent. We are more aware of what we have to be thankful for today than ever. Our entire family is conscious of God and his love being bestowed upon us in all things.

Don't touch that dial!

Although I have been distracted and much of what I've wanted to post has been left on the sidelines waiting to be called into play, we will be resuming our regular scheduled programs momentarily. I have two post in the construction phase; so, I have not been altogether neglectful. Without giving too much away, let me share with you a few ideas that I will be discussing in the near future.

First, the subject of spiritual maturity has been heavy on my mind of late. How is it defined by most of the world's major religions? What criterion establishes the standard for this maturity? Is there any common ground on this subject among different religions; can you reconcile what Christianity believes about it with what the Hindu or Muslim believes? How closely can we walk together in our pursuit of it?

Secondly, I hope to pick up a social issue that has occupied a significant portion of my thinking over the past few days. My son likes to create graphic designs and is becoming quite a talented amateur. Also, he seems to have fallen into the practice of abstract art. One such creation of his recently invoked some thoughts and questions on the issue of same sex parenting.

I know this can be a delicate matter. As a heterosexual parent, I am aware that I may have certain preconceived notions and even prejudices that I am not even conscious of that may affect my ability to speak to the issue in a fair and equitable manner. Consequently, I hope to approach this subject with caution and reasonable discretion. Its my intention to run the post by several gay people of faith that I know in an effort to approach this subject in a way that will be true to my own feelings and yet respectful of others as well.

Participation in this last discussion will be paramount. It is not and never will be a stipulation that we all must agree to participate in this blog. We all come from different backgrounds, have our own ideas regarding faith, and are all in different places in our spirituality. Tension is not always a bad thing; I have learned more from people I disagree with than people just like me. This is the very reason why I have created this blog and seek to establish an environment where divergent ideas can intersect and learning from one another can take place.

Where are all the good authors when you need them?

Speaking of divergent ideas, we are still in need of people who will volunteer to join the team of authors for this blog. If you are a person of faith and are willing to share your ideas in a respectful yet definitive manner, we really want to hear from you! We have no limit set on how many can participate and no legitimate faith will be denied. If you have something positive to say about the divine, religion, faith, etc, then we really need to hear from you!


Is the mission too lofty?
I've thought allot recently of whether or not I was trying to create too lofty of a mission with this blog. Is it too much to expect religious people from divergent backgrounds to come here and play together in the same sandbox? To be completely honest, I am sure that it is not possible for many. Being more of a universalist/pluralist myself, I welcome different views; they don't threaten me or my faith like they do others. And, its certainly not my intent to try and make people see the world the way I do. Too many people like me and the world is doomed to chase its own tail in perpetuity!

But, our world is becoming more connected all the time. We can now discuss issues of faith with people from places and cultures thousands of miles away from where we sit at our computers. We have the benefit, the privilege, to partake of ideas and participate in religious discussions that just twenty years ago was completely unreachable for the common person. This opens up an entirely new world of exploration and learning for those willing and secure enough in their own beliefs to explore. A world that until recently was relegated to the arena of conjecture and speculation. We can now get the word straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

Doing so does not mean that you have to lay aside your own beliefs or violate some written code of loyalty. It simply means that you are open to the idea that there may be more to the Divine and more to learn than the knowledge you currently posses. If your capable of accepting this statement then your capable of entering the discussion.

Unfortunately, this will be more than some are capable of giving. Being right is very important to certain groups of religious people. Uncertainty and unexplored territory breeds fear in the hearts of some–the very idea that their body of beliefs could be somewhat incomplete, even in the slightest, is extremely threatening to some. To accept that their dogma could be enhanced or supplemented by another faith's explanation of, let's say, the Golden Rule, insinuates to them that their beliefs are not secure. If everything they have been taught is not true in the most minute detail then nothing is true and their faith is worthless to them.

Personally, I think this is an infelicitous approach to faith and one that is bound to render the adherent incapable of stretching their faith and having their ideas honed by interaction. I couldn't live this way; in fact, I used too think I had all the answers and the idea that I didn't was horrifying to me. But, I could not maintain this approach because of the premium I place upon education and learning. I know this sounds condescending to the group of people who will not be able to participate in our discussions, but if it is, my intent is not malicious and its coming from someone who has at least lived on both sides of the fence. This gives me a unique perspective and legitimacy upon which to offer my opinion and criticisms.

With all this said, I must admit that my initial ideas and ideal for this site was a bit too lofty and naive. In a perfect world, we could all get along regardless of our differences. In a perfect world, we could all agree to disagree and go on. But, this isn't a perfect world and in real life things don't always work the way we want them too. In real life, some people whose view and opinions would be valuable and helpful in some areas here will be reluctant to participate for fear that by doing so they are condoning religious pluralism or ecumenicalism to which they are opposed. Consequently, this site will be more populated with moderate to liberal religious practitioners, which is fine company, in my opinion.

Site Changes

As I updated last evening, I've decided to change the name of the site. I think this name is consistent with the ideas first introduced here and better reflects our overall intention. I'm not sure if I will change the URL or not. I don't think it would be a problem to do so since the site is so new, but a URL is just that, and its really not that important.

If you have any suggestions on this issue or any other issue related to changes or anything you would like to see added to the site, please drop me an email and let me know.

Name Change!

Our name has changed! I think this name reflects the evolving vision of this site more accurately. Please be patient while I update the entire site to reflect this change. The URL will also change. I've got to take care of a few things before I can make that happen. So, bear with me, please. 

I have not been able to post this week. I will do my best to update you later today.