All wait to see the results.
Many Christian groups are weighing in with suggestions on how he can practice his preaching. A coalition of Christian leaders has sent the president-elect a letter urging him to “make achievement of Israeli-Palestinian peace an immediate priority” during his first year in office (see p. 9). Others are urging Mr. Obama to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and end the war. Still others are asking him to enact healthcare reform, a green revolution, fewer abortions, fewer abortion restrictions — the list is endless. Each idea grows out of genuine desire to see justice, mercy, ethics, and morality promoted in the country and worldwide.
Might we add one other plea? How about exercising the office of the president to change the climate for religious expression around the world? Two approaches are needed.
Freedom of religious conviction needs to become the norm, not the exception. Families everywhere frown when their child goes off to join the Moonies or the Sunnis, the Krishnas or the Quakers, or for that matter, the UCCs or the PCAs or even the PC(USA)s. That’s understandable. But when government steps in and coerces religious subscription, violence erupts.
We have witnessed such violence in the November terror attack on Mumbai, the murders of Christians in Orissa, the detentions of house church leaders in China, blatant persecutions in Middle Eastern countries, new legislation restricting religious expression in Kazakhstan. A more subtle violence takes place in the hearts and minds of folks whose faith gets so force-fed that its real nutrients can’t be absorbed into their system. Faith thrives best where unfaith is allowed, where questions can be asked, where doubts can be expressed, where alternative faith structures can be contemplated.
The world needs a person of faith and of worldwide esteem to urge all governments to allow for freedom of religion — including the freedom to convert from one religion to another.
Another freedom ought to be promoted here and elsewhere: a freedom from sacrilege. Worldwide, people need not see their faith mocked and desecrated.
Tolerance toward other faith convictions cannot be legislated, but a culture of mutual deference can be cultivated. Back in the 1970s, pundits and academics finally heard the voices of feminists and minorities. Their repeated cry, “Stop leaving us out,” gave birth to the use of inclusive language. Some institutions, especially universities, made gender inclusion a requirement for students’ papers to earn an “A.” The term political correctness, was invented. The comic strip “PC” kept readers laughing. But gradually vocabularies changed — without new laws being written. Men became people, mankind became humanity, awareness of “the other” deepened, and many attitudes followed.
Attitudes toward faith didn’t change much. Many people of faith continued to be served a steady diet of ridicule and scorn for their beliefs. Artists like Andres Serrano (“Piss Christ”) and comedian/movie maker Bill Maher (“Religulous”) have been expressing attitudes exactly opposite to the inclusiveness that political correctness has promoted — and such scorn has been deemed legitimate entertainment, since it’s just directed at people of faith.
Christians have often barked loudly while threatening little bite. Muslim reactions to mockery have turned violent. That violence cannot be excused. But the feeling of dismay and anger is understandable. A more respectful attitude toward persons of faith, all persons of all faiths — one that sets a better tone of civility and mutual regard — could be promoted by the same folks, many Presbyterians included, who have promoted sensitivity and inclusiveness toward the less powerful.
Such an attitudinal change could be advanced by a popular president who can appeal to his fellow Americans and to other nations’ leaders with cache, passion, eloquence, and verve. Barack Obama could play such a role, if he is willing.
— JHH
