Course: Culture, gospel and church
Prof: Don Posterski (yes-- he is the author of this book)
When we are probing how to deal with diversity in this book, one of the section headings strike me: defend the cultural space of the others. As a Christian, we are often walled by oppositions that are against values in our religion: same sex marriage, law in place to prohibit languages with discrimination that might lead to making bible reading illegal in public. We are often so busy defending ourselves from all the bows and arrows from the liberalism. We are striving and voicing to be treated equally and justly in the name of freedom. However, while we attempts to protect our sacred ground and defending our own right, we as Christians have never thought of defending other cultures or religions’ right – it is not equivalent to “promoting other religions”, yet it is on the basis of doing what is just, as we loves others as ourselves and not lending a hand to oppress a group.
I wholeheartedly believe, giving space to the others keeps them within the smelling range -- keeps them in the smelling range of the fragrance of our Lord.
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4 comments:
good pt, I agree.
regarding liberalism. I was reminded by J.I. Packer that liberal theology has three presuppositions :
i. natural religiosity in human;
ii. natural capacity for goodwill toward others;
iii.see Christianity as a force to enhance the above.
I have been warned by a very mature Christian about J.I., telling me that "don't listen to him, his time has gone", as he often perceived by other as a fundamentalist, rather conservative, and so on. But after i met him, i don't easily put this person aside cos' 1. he believes totally in what he said and his life reflects upon it. 2. unlike other fundamentalists, this guy is an Oxford Phd, and he is a real intellectual. After all, he was named by NYT as one of the most influential theologians in the 20th Century, alongside with Karl Barth wor =P
ps. will you consider to turn on the RSS? it helps people to keep track of your updates ga~
I think one of the problem about Christianity is that we want to convert everyone to be the same as us, so it will be best if ppl in other religion face the most difficulty that they can...
As they are already being view as wrong from the first place, following the wrong path, so they "deserve" it...
I agree how we should defend their rights, if it is socially unjust... but it is basically because we don't understand more about other religion (let alone our own that well) that we don't know what values we have in common and share...
Pat,
is JI Packer one of your professors in seminary? it is one of the exciting things about seminary that you can meet authors of books that might be impacts or inspired you =)
I did not have the privilege as you to meet Mr. Packer in person, and have only read a couple chapters of his "knowing God" a good while ago. the impression he left me with was a very solid, pure ground on christianity, whether it is to our taste or not. as a science grad what I found amazing is that these great teachers in theology school, teach with their lives. as little as one course, you can't teach it without living it yourself. u just simply can't fake it.
talking about "life influencing life"!
josi,
not only we want to convert ppl from other religions to be like us, but also EVERYONE to be like us. from denomination to denomination, from church to church, even, individual to individual.
one beautiful thing I learned from Don. we are to take permission from others, and we are to give permission to others as well. God allows and likes varieties to blossoms... just look at all the plants in nature! mm, if the nature shall be a reflection of our desired human society, we will all probably die in a shot due to monogenicity =P
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