Stanley Hauerwas once wrote an essay that provocatively asked "Why Gays (as a Group) Are Morally Superior to Christians (as a Group)." In short, his piece argued that (at the time) homosexuals being banned from the military - a particular moral achievement for Hauerwas - was something that Christians had failed to achieve.
We all know that on January 20th at the inauguration of Barack Obama, Rick Warren, the conservative pastor and author from California, will offer the invocation. His selection caused consternation among progressive Christians and non-Christians alike because of his support for Prop 8 in California and comments that many see as equating incest and homosexuality. Today, it was announced that Gene Robinson, the first openly gay person to be ordained a bishop in the ECUSA, will participate in the first event attended by the president-elect on Jan 18th.
So, in the coming days, you'll have Warren and Robinson participating in a singular function to pray for a place called the United States of America. In the coming days, there will be this little glimmer of unity, something that has been lacking for a long time, but particularly evidenced in the recent schismatic formation of the Anglican Church in North America which separates itself from the ECUSA. It should be clear that church unity - that for which Jesus prayed - is a more important virtue than getting a stance on human sexuality right. It should be clear that lack of church unity, schism, is a greater sin than homosexuality could possibly be. Well, at least in the coming days, there will be this little glimmer of unity, Christians from these unnaturally divided camps together in a particular task. It's sad that being American brings these Christians together rather than being Christian...so much for family values.
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1.12.2009
theology | Why (On Jan 18-20th) It's Morally Superior To Be American Than Christian
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3 comments:
Well put. Though you could also have titled this post "Why Barack Obama is morally superior to Jesus Christ".
I disagree
reetings.
I stumbled upon your blog. And this posting's provocative title.
This seeming quandary has always been part and parcel to the state of grace within the Christian tradition.
As a practicing traditional (i.e., with the Latin language, and a strong preference for the Tridentine Mass), coupled with a radically left-wing politic, I walk each day through many conundrums and apparent paradoxes.
I have come to a personal understanding of the strong polarities involved in institutional religion.
But that is not to simply abandon the wisdom and the grace found in tradition, ritual, and the Blessed Sacraments. Nor is it a reason to become a lemming.
I believe that it is through balancing the gravitational pulls of the polarities of one's faith and one's church, along with practices such as lectio divina, graced by the Holy Ghost, that one moves forward with grace, purpose, compassion, and forgiveness.
Books that may be of interest to your readers, given the subjects touched in this posting, might be:
The Catholic Imagination, by Andrew Greeley.
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality,
by Daniel A. Helminiak.
Quantum Theology, by Diarmuid O'Murchu.
Faith and Violence, by Thomas Merton.
Verses 1-12 of Chapter 7, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (Douay-Rheims)
In the Roman Catholic Church, theology is controlled by the Vatican, the Papacy, and the Curia. And there is a reason for that strong, dominant force. But that does not disallow for comparative religious studies. And for refining and challenging that theology with the insights of other
fellow travelers.
Peace, in the Triune God. Maranatha.
Κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστὲ ἐλέησον, Κύριε ἐλέησον.
Ecce Agnus Dei. Ecce qui tollis peccata mundi.
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