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A Church Beyond Belief

A Strange Religious Unity

2/24/2015

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More than ever, religion seems to be the source of conflict. Long-standing “culture wars” between conservatives and liberals have become entrenched. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and every major religion have felt the impact. Fault lines have appeared over interpretations of scripture, moral standards, leadership, and doctrine. Bitter division is widespread.

The result has been a readiness to divide and to vilify opponents. Oddly there is a common source for these religious fractures. Liberal or conservative, there is widespread emphasis on religious authenticity, on claims for pure belief and practice. There is also a readiness to condemn those who disagree. The mix of narrow standards and rejection of difference has escalated. Opportunities to reconcile are hard to find.

Authentic religion for some represents literal interpretation of scripture or tenacious loyalty to certain dogmas. Authentic religion for others promises inclusion or emphasis on social justice. But whether strict norms or adaptation to new cultural circumstances are your emphasis, the logic is the same. My side has the authentic faith, yours doesn’t.

Yet there are odd and welcome opportunities for unity. Recently a few Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders from Richmond, Virginia traveled together to the Middle East. It could have been uncomfortable for a rabbi visiting Jordan, and an imam in west Jerusalem.

But there was generous hospitality everywhere. And the group found common ground. There was little reference to doctrine; there was much reference to families and to issues facing central Virginia. We assumed we were moderates, or such a trip would not have worked.

We also assumed each of us intends to be faithful. But by being together we found we could be authentic together without competition. Often we taught each other. More often we laughed and shared experiences. It was not difficult. It was the benefit of being together. “Love of God and love of neighbor” came alive.

William L. Sachs 

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Maher, Muslims & Misunderstanding

10/11/2014

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Building on our “Religious Trend of the Week,” we turn to Bill Maher and his recent rant against Islam. Maher, flanked by Sam Harris, has fanned the flames of those who condemn Islam in its entirety. However, there is a deep-seated problem with the basis of his argument.

It’s not that there isn’t a problem with religious violence in the name of Islam. In Qatar, a “Doha Debate” revealed that Muslims believe they need to do more to combat extremism within Islam. And it’s not that there is a lack of knowledge about Islam--though there is probably more misinformation about Islam than any other world religion. The problem is with what people do with this knowledge.

Maher, and others like him, take what knowledge they have and make it prescriptive. That is, if the Quran says it, then all Muslims must believe it or do it. This simply isn’t how religion works.

Religions are communities of interpretation where culture shapes our understanding of what faith inspires and requires of us. As Reza Aslan said in response to Maher, “It is a fallacy to believe that people of faith derive their values primarily from their Scriptures. The opposite is true. People of faith insert their values into their Scriptures.” (We must acknowledge that people from within some faith traditions do not necessarily view it this way.)

The fact is that we will not know what values Muslims, Christians, Hindus, or those of any religion, hold until we get to know them. Until we allow people to speak for themselves, rather than prescribing what we think they must believe, our misunderstandings will persist.

It is not enough to listen to one voice. One can never represent all. There are many ways to embrace and embody the religions of the world. So in the end, if one wants to understand Islam, put down the Quran and go meet Muslims. 


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Tendency No. 4: Ignoring Pluralism

9/5/2014

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Number four of the five things that distance churches from the people they seek to reach: ignoring pluralism.

Mark Chaves, in his book American Religion, notes an important cultural trend: “Americans have become more accepting of religious diversity and more appreciative of religions other than their own.” This has two implications for congregations. First, berating another’s faith to bolster your own alienates people. And second, people expect that communities of faith should draw upon the breadth of spiritual resources available in the world.

This doesn’t mean that congregations must become “design your own faith” centers. But it does mean there must be an openness to engage how another’s beliefs and practices relate to the core of what our own tradition embodies. We no longer live in religious enclaves, and therefore a central part of faith formation is to help people be religious inter-religiously.

If you’re one of those who recognize the need but struggle with how this can be done (as many do!), we encourage you to explore Scriptural Reasoning. It provides a way for an interfaith group to read their sacred texts together, not to seek consensus but to create understanding and friendship.



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    William L. Sachs
    Michael S. Bos

    Rethinking the place of belonging and belief 

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