Jimmy Carter on Religio-political Fundamentalism:
"There is a remarkable trend toward fundamentalism in all religions- including the different denominations of Christianity as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. Increasingly, "true believers" are inclined to begin a process of deciding: 'Since I am aligned with God, I am superior and my beliefs should prevail. Anyone who disagrees with me is inherently 'wrong'. The next step is to view others as 'inherently inferior'. The ultimate step is to consider others as 'subhuman', then their lives are not significant. That tendency has created, throughout the world, intense religious conflicts. Those Christians who resist the inclination toward fundamentalism and who truly follow the nature, actions, and words of Jesus Christ should encompass people who are different from us with care, generousity, forgiveness, compassion, and unselfish love. It is not easy to do this.
It is natural human inclination to encapsulate ourselves in a superior fashion with people who are just like us- and to assume that we are fulfilling the mandate of our lives if we just confine our love to our own family or to people who are similar and compatible. Breaking through this barrier and reaching out to others is what should personify a Christian and what emulates the perfect example that Christ set for us." - Excerpt from 'Our Endangered Values'
This passage comes from a Christian man with an amazing worldview who has often been misjudged and misunderstood. I highly respect former President Carter and agree with the point he's making here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
i left a comment for you at human's blog- based on your comments from the pictures post. i am glad to come here and find that you are a fellow free thinker because i had the feeling you thought that i was a war monger. i am not. i am fighting to regain my country from the very fundamentalists of which you have posted about. it is a fight of ideologies and politics but it will take the involvement of everyone. you caught me in a moment of despair at human's because this is something that seems insurmountable. i know that many people are trying to save america and we can all work together.
A religion that inherintly devides humans cannot be from The One God which created them all equal.
religious emotions are one of the greatest mobilizing force. History shows it - not just the 200 yr old, but centuries year old history!
While it is importand to love all people and reach out to others it is important also hold to our values. God clearly lays out how to come to Him, what sin is, how to live our lives. It says that no one shall come to the Father but through Christ. People today want to say that you can make it to God/heaven through any course of religion and it just is not true. Morality can be found in other religions, but not salvation. I don't think stating that Christ is the only way for salvation is saying that you are superior, it is just what God has told us.
Maybe I missed the point?
Being a follwer of Christ, does not mean we are superior to anyone. We should continue to love and respect one another, but hold true to our beliefs and not shy away from them because absolutes are not "PC" these days.
Hello Everyone! Great thoughts. I would like to answer everyone individually, but I'm exhausted after a FULL day of classes.
I will say that yes, sticking to our values is 100% A okay! We should never water down our faith. Pushing what we believe on others is not right, or looking down on others for not choosing the path we have chosen is where fundamentalism often goes wrong. I believe it is possible to live out our beliefs with passion and still extend the hand of friendship to those who don't believe the same. :o)
Blessings to you all- you enhance my life!
Hi Inheritor,
If we blame religion for this world's ills, it throws the baby out with the bathwater.
There is religion built upon self-justification, self-preservation, pride of opinion, superiority and exclusivism. Then there is religion based on self-sacrifice and humility. I've seen them both. The one is ugly and detestable and the other is beautiful and our only hope.
That beauty is not gained through atheistic or agnostic humanism and ethics. It truly loves and humanism and ethics have not the capacity to truly love.
Christlikeness is that religion built upon self-sacrifice. He was religious. As His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath. (Lk. 4:16) He gave the Mosaic ceremonial laws to Moses. (1Cor. 10:4,9) He loves truth and worship and a religious service He designed because it helps teach us about His Father.
But He had much to say to the religious Jews all through the book of Isaiah, and the first half of it wasn't good. Yet He doesn't give up on us, but corrects us so we can represent Him properly in the religion He gives.
Hey TL ,
I didn't mean to seem as if I took offense to what you are saying. I think it is ultimately important to love all people and share our faith with them. Not to hold it over them in some superior manner. I just notice that sometimes people seem to think it is wrong to call sin for what it is in the name of tolerance. That was my only point.
You have an amazing perspective on life and I always enjoy reading your posts. They are always so edifying.
Okay, I finally have time to write here before I head to the gym:
Inheritor, unfortunately I largely agree with your premise. I have seen the best and worst of religion. Sadly, the worst is what leaves the deepest and most painful impressions. The best doesn't quite make up for the worst. I am still sorting things out...
Brian, yes, I'm sorry I had to resort to blocking Anonymous posts, but I was getting trashed majorly and unfairly on my own blog. I don't mind if someone disagrees with me, but this person was obviously trying to start something. Jimmy Carter was not the strongest President ever, but he is an amazing person!
Lisa, you hit the nail on the head. "Beliefs are important. Love tops that." Good thinking!
Betmo, I wrote that comment in the heat of despair over the pictures. Only then did I visit your blog to see what angle you were coming from. Sorry if I came across as harsh.
Brainsyke, you are correct. The children of Abraham are the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. Abraham taught both of his sons to worship the true God. They and their descendants approach religion in very different ways, but I believe it is possible to live in peace. Hard, but not impossible...
David, appreciate your thoughts. I may not always agree with your premises, but know that I respect you. Understand that I am still learning and growing, but I trust God will reveal His truth to me. Wherever I am wrong, He has my permission to change me. Life continues to remain interesting! :o)
I hope you don't mind if I share a quote that I think gives a practical example of what you are talking about. It is by George Grant, from his book "The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for political action." He says, "Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less... Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land -- of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ." I'm not exactly sure where this is in the Bible, but it shows the attitude of the fundamentalists. It is rather alarming.
Post a Comment