Judging Books By Their Covers

A film has made its way to my attention which causes me much consternation. The film speaks of judging a book. That is fine if you are a literary critic, or if you have something to say that goes beyond just destroying it or its reputation.

There is a man who seeks to do just that. He wants to take a tricky situation, in which there are already too many extremists, and add a further extremism. He offers his opinion as a chosen servant of Jesus Christ, and displays the same hospitality as Caiphas. He seems to want to wage a war of his own, make his name, make his fortune perhaps, by stoking the glowing embers of a fire that he just can't seem to want to let die.

It is an act of generosity and love that is required when regarding the sacred scriptures of any faith. I am not a Muslim, but I do not mean my Muslim brothers and sister any harm. Neither am I a Jew or a Hindu. As a decent citizen, I would not seek to insult something that people help very dear. It can only bring one result - anger and angry reaction. What do I gain by doing that? Nothing. 

I do not recognise the man in this film as called by God. A God who 'is love' does not set fires that will burn people. I do not condone any acts of extremism by members of any faith - all are poor, all harm, all fail to communicate a message except for hatred. They all divide people from other people, they end conversation and dialogue. This 'Christian' man does not speak for me.

Christians and Jews

Once again, it has been my good fortune to be considering some work with an organisation that seeks to increase understanding between Christians and Jews. I am glad of the invite. 

Until my visit to Jerusalem last October (see my separate, contextual blog), I must confess that my working knowledge of Judaism was text-bookish and informed by some stories that were around 2000 years old. I have since learned a great deal.

Added to this is the fraught issue of Israel and Palestine where lines seem to me at times to be blurred between Jew (religious) and Jew (Israeli), and in some cases there are clear distinctions. I receive regular pieces of correspondence from a Christian Jerusalemite with much to say about the treatment of Christians in Jerusalem and indeed the whole of Palestine. One day I must respond to him, and to challenge much that he says that troubles me. 

I am trying hard to piece all of this together. In my heart, I recognise that Jews and Christians share the same root system. We have lots in common, not least of all the great slab of Scripture that we share. Of course, we are different, but so much is similar. Jesus Christ was himself a Jew - and although he taught away from that corpus of Law, was nonetheless, an observant. 

There is too, the anti-Semitism that permeated much early Christian thinking. I understand, even if I do not share, the emotions of those who sought to judge the 'murderers of Christ' - ever mindful that the Grand Plan of our salvation demanded that the Jews did exactly what they did. I want to work out how my Christian ancestry and its world-view affect me in my time.  

In essence, I am excited about the possibilities for Jewish-Christian relationships. I believe it is one that can be a strong voice against oppression for either community. I have enjoyed worshipping with a Jewish community in Jerusalem. We are, after all, using the same words, about the same God. It seems important to me to have a feel for, a sympathy and understanding for, and dialogue with the Jewish community. I regard them as nothing less than brother and sisters in faith. 

I'll keep you all posted!

When Silly Collides with Daft

I am engaged in a very fruitful, reciprocal and helpful dialogue with some atheists. I can report, dear readers, that they haven't disemboweled me, eaten my children, placed inverted burning crosses on my unmown lawn - they have engaged in dialogue. They are, dear readers, normal human people who have the same hopes and fears and an appetite (this lot at least) for talking about what it is that we don't share - a faith.

On the other hand, you have the British Humanist Association whose glossy website is most illuminating. Did you know, that if you wanted to do away with that vile and arcane religious behaviour of having Godparents for your little bundles of love, you can. The BHA offer a choice - an OddParent; yes it's true. I have heard about a BHA funeral which made use of a beautiful poem called 'Love' - itself a straight extraction from 1 Corinthians 13. 

Let us not forget the less-than-balanced Christians (there are other religions available) who percieve atheist along the lines that this image illustrates. There is a perception in the minds of some, if not many, that atheists are the Anti-Christ! In the interests of accuracy and decency, I have to dispel that myth here and now - they are just different to us Christians in terms of belief. They have families and they have the same needs, hopes and dreams that we all have. 

I see a problem when these two camps come together. The Humanists are formed on the premis of 'not, no, isn't' about religion - what a life, spending it denying something as true. What a negative and fruitless existence, if I may be so bold. Some Christians grouping are formed on the premis of 'threat, bad, attack' about atheists - what a life, spending it defending against a broadly non-existent attack.

In my dialogue with the group of atheists I have met, I have learned that there is much common ground. The BHA have to admit that a considerable part of their philosophy, in that is moulded againt religion, actually owes much to religion for its form and expression. Christians have also to admit that debate has to be healthy. Blind faith is as silly as blind atheism is daft, especially when there is a shared existence that both can enjoy and talk about for years - and that is how it is to be human, how it is to love other humans, how it is to feel pain and anger, how it is we feel about our faith or its lack. Dialogue enhances us all - it draws us all closer together. Excepting Prof Dawkins who seem incapable of listening, we can all grow stronger and better of we stop and listen to other voices - especially those that don't say the same words that we do.