The worst thing about a Hitler or bin Laden is that, in addition to the damage they do in their own lifetimes, generations of demagogues can use their example to mindlessly keep us attacking dangers only their “experts” can see. Once we have frightened our “enemy” into the same type of mindless knee-jerk reactions, we use their words and responses as proof of our original premise that they are insane and must be attacked before they attack us. It is a sad circle of thought humanity has trodden since our animal beginnings.
The U.S. denounces the killing of civilians, however, in the war against terrorism it has sometimes seemed necessary to use or risk violence against civilians to send a political message. Does anyone still remember the definition of the word “terrorism?” Oh, yeah, it means to use violence against civilians to send a political message.
In the fog of war, nations say one thing and do another. Even a war begun with good intentions unleashes the whirlwinds of our primordial nature. Whether or not we are able to destroy our enemy, war usually destroys what is best within us.
To read the article, “Obama’s Drone Program Includes Targeting Rescuers and Funerals,” click
here
9. Can you recommend some writers on Christianity and religion in general whom you particularly admire.
I was a musician for a while and discovered that those who can talk about music usually can’t make it. Sadly, the same is true for religion. Most theology induces my gagging reflex because religion isn’t supposed to be a special topic of its own. To hear someone talk about religion is like watching someone chew with their mouth open. I would much rather see them absorb the teachings and then demonstrate them in acts of courage and compassion.
Adult religion shouldn’t in the foreground of our lives. It is more the wonder behind our science, the passion behind our art, and the compassion behind our ethics. I love the writings of MLK, Gandhi and Tolstoy. But I also love an atheist like Carl Sagan who turns science into a hymn. Richard Dawkins has some nice celebrations of nature. Anyone who tunes their instrument to the chord of nature, and becomes a friend of humankind is singing the one hymn written in every human heart.
For the entire article, click here
Sermon from our MLK series, to listen, click here
Part 8 of my interview with Alex Doherty of the New Left Project.
8. Much of the religious life consists of ritual. What is the point of religious rituals? What is meant to be achieved by them?
I used to hate rituals. I felt manipulated by them. What I have come to realize is, when they are done voluntarily, rituals can be a way our body comes to understand the symbols in our heads. When birds want to mate they don’t say it with words, they dance. It is written in their bodies. When bees want to tell of far away honey they, too, dance. Our bodies respond to certain movements in a powerful way that rational language cannot touch. People often think of religious rituals as acts of socialization, but their more important function is to integrate individuals and communities to the circle of life and to help us move through life passages like puberty, marriage and death. One of the things that makes Americans so easy to frighten is that we do not have rituals that help our bodies understand that death is a part of life and is not to be. Instead of asking people to live without rituals, I believe we should teach the kind of rituals that would help people to recognize the earth as our home, and every human as a part of our family.
For the entire article, click here.
It is hard for soldiers to speak against their civilian leaders, but these are times when everyone must be heard. It is obscene to remain silent while young soldiers are sent to kill and die, by old men with nothing to lose. For article, click here
Part 5 of my interview with Alex Doherty of New Left Project. I will post the whole interview at the end of the series.
What is wrong with capitalism from a Christian standpoint?
Theoretically, a Christian could support many types of government, but the core insights of the religion are basically socialist and even, I think, anarchist. Jesus began his ministry by saying “I’ve come to preach good news to the poor, and to announce the acceptable year of God.” That statement would have been understood as announcing the year of Jubilee, which meant a release of prisoners and a redistribution of the wealth. To pretend Jesus wasn’t political doesn’t make any sense. The Romans wouldn’t have killed him for being a religious leader. Crucifixion was primarily reserved for insurrectionists. The fact that the Romans put “King of the Jews” on his cross was not a religious taunt. It was a threat to any movement of liberation among the people.
Of course, the ancient world didn’t have the word “capitalism” in the modern sense, but they had a word for making money off of interest owed you by your neighbor. It was called “usury” and it was considered a sin. It is a mistake to reduce any religion down to a political position. And it is also wrong to force any religious sectarian viewpoint into the public sphere. But, I would say any Christian who leaves the fate of the poor to market forces has renounced Christ in every meaningful sense.
for entire interview click here
When conservative religious groups come together to deprive others of civil rights they are using their own first amendment protection as a kind of safe haven from which to harass and attack others. This boycott of Starbucks to punish them for supporting gay marriage is a perfect example. Do not let anyone tell you these groups are exercising their right of personal religion. When such groups enter the public sphere and attack our neighbors, they are fair game for criticism. In fact, we have a civic duty to oppose them. click here for story
No one likes to be self-critical, but the alternative is a kind of false consciousness. I have been very disappointed to realize that my liberal friends could be just as dishonest as my conservative friends when it comes to holding their own political party accountable. Obama is pretending he is going to get tough on Wall Street. He probably even believes it, but as you can see from this article, bringing Wall Street to justice might require him to arrest some of his own cabinet members. The fleecing of America was a bi-partisan effort. We must face the truth: the real dividing line is never between left and right ideology. Marx was right about this one: The real struggle is between labor and capital. click here
This is an interview I did with Alex Doherty. I’ll publish the whole article at the end of the week. The link is found below.
5. Your Church took the unusual step of accepting a confirmed atheist – the writer and activist Robert Jensen – as a member of your congregation. Why did you accept him as a part of your Church? How was his acceptance viewed within and outside St. Andrews?
Robert Jensen was an example of someone who had rejected religion for all the right reasons. When I heard his speeches I felt prophetic principles beneath his distain for religion. He hated religion for the same reason that the prophets hated the religion of their day.
When Dr. Jensen joined our church, people inside our church were delighted, but many outside the church we quite upset. It was a bit strange. I received hate mail from theists and he received hate mail from atheists. We were ordered to take him off the roles by next higher level of the church but we refused. Bob has been a tremendous addition to our church and has allowed people to feel much freer in rejecting supernaturalism and challenging the dominant religion of our nation which is, of course. capitalism.
6. What is your opinion of the so-called New Atheists? – in particular Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins.
I have great affinity for atheists like Robert Ingersoll, but some of the people writing bestselling books are like the televangelists of atheism. They completely misunderstand what intelligent religious people are saying. If you assume that the worst of religion represents the rest, then laughing at us is easy. It is easy to refute Pat Robertson, but I’ve yet to hear a convincing argument that the world was poorer because Martin Luther King and Gandhi were religious. Who can’t refute flat earth religion? I’m sure they are good people, but reading their books feels like getting lynched by people who don’t know how to tie a knot.
When I read an atheist like Bertrand Russell I get a very different feeling. His indignation against religion came straight out of his concern for humankind so he knew where to put the scalpel. I also love Monty Python’s attacks on bad religion. The New Atheist’s feel more like high school bullies making fun of the slow and weak. I agree with most of what they say, but their cruelty toward their frightened and superstitious brothers and sisters is counterproductive. When confronted with ignorance a fool ridicules and a sage teaches.
original article can be found at the New Left Project found here
here