A Response to Pluralism

The following conversations was between a Sojourn Lakeview Elder(Zack Reuter) and a friend of his.

Zack,  I thought you would find this interesting.  Seems to me the future is multi-cultural and multi-faith.  A program like this would be very healthy and welcoming.
Best wishes,
A Friend

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87809254&sc=emaf



Friend,

Thanks for passing this story along.  I heard it mentioned on NPR on the way to work last week but didn't get to actually hear the piece.  I'm glad you took the time to send it my way.

I found it fascinating from a cultural observation perspective.  It also reminded me of a paper I wrote on John Hick’s theory of religious pluralism.  A few thoughts:

A) In the absence of a culturally dominating religious presence, there seems to be a recognition of the need for virtue grounded in something beyond ourselves

B) There also seems to be a desire for open-minded curiosity with regard to different religious beliefs, which I heartily applaud (also, acceptance of individuals with different beliefs).  These parents obviously don’t want their children to take a separatist approach to life, and that is commendable.

C) Yet I also noticed that these virtues were quietly equated with a form of pluralism, the belief that all religions are experiencing the same divine being (illustrated by the lamp exercise).  The participants are now Muslim-pluralists, Jewish-pluralists, Protestant-pluralists, etc.  It seems to me that such an approach actually undermines tolerance, acceptance, and diversity, as it only wants diversity on its own terms.  Foundationally it says, “Conformity is the basis of unity.”  For example, one mother says she wants her son Luka to learn about and accept all religions: "What I really want for Luka is when he grows up and someone says to him, 'I'm Baha'i' or 'I'm Zoroastrian' — if he doesn't know, for him to say, 'Well, tell me about that."  But what if the Zoroastrian made a different exclusive truth claim?  Would he be welcomed in such a group?  Not likely.  In reality, this group is only multi-faith in that it re-invents each faith in order to conform it to a pluralistic view.  In trying to unite the world’s religions, the pluralist actually undermines them to the great offense of each. To me, this seems to be the height of arrogance: “Although Jesus, Muhammed, Moses, Buddha, etc. and their historical followers have claimed to speak for different gods (or no god at all), I the enlightened pluralist have really figured them all out, and they are illuminated by the same divine being.”

D) This brand of inclusivism is actually exclusivism in disguise.  While these classes present themselves as multi-faith, in reality they have already committed themselves to a single doctrine: pluralism.  The journalist picked up on this: “He begins strumming and the kids join in, perhaps not realizing they are crooning a theological message.  We are drops ... of one ocean. We are waves… of one sea. Won't you come and join us in our quest for unity.  It's the way of life for you and me," they sing.  Note that the last phrase is an exclusive claim to truth: “It’s THE way of life for you and me.”  They assume (by faith) a very particular view of God, namely that he doesn’t care what you believe about him.  They then advance this view as superior to all the rest.  This is at best inconsistent and at worst hypocritical, since they are doing the very thing they forbid others to do!  To say that all religions are equally valid is itself a very white, Western view based in the European Enlightenment’s idea of knowledge and values (it is neo-Kantian).  Why should that view be privileged over anyone else’s?  This strikes me as cultural imperialism, not open-minded curiosity.

E) Teaching virtue for virtue's sake seems to create another form of elitism.  In the article, I noticed this in the kids who were correcting their parents.  This is actually true of any system of belief with moralism at its core (essentially telling people to "be good").  If you perceive yourself as able to follow the rules (be honest, be patient, be obedient, etc.), you inevitably begin to feel superior to others whom you perceive do not follow the same rules.  Moral elitism is a trap that many Christians and other religious people fall into at times.

F) While this Bah’ai class sounds healthy on the surface, it actually discourages critical thinking.  I would much prefer a dialog which allows authentic diversity and critical interaction between beliefs.  I also think personal acceptance, tolerance, and diversity of belief are better fostered in an environment where conformity is not a prerequisite, such as an open relational dialogue, Q&A session, lecture, or worship gathering.  Protestants such as myself, for example, might learn to think more deeply about the doctrine of the Trinity by having to answer the questions of a strict Muslim monotheist.  I can say from experience that lectures and books by skeptics have refined my thinking and my position on subjects like the doctrine of creation.


I hadn’t planned on this becoming an article of its own, but I thought it was important to deconstruct.  I really have no problem with exclusive claims to religious truth; I don’t think they necessitate or even encourage conflict, separatism, or violence (certainly our friendship is evidence to the affirmative).  In fact, I think exclusive claims to truth are inevitable unless one is content with saying only, “I don’t know,” essentially taking no position at all.  I believe exclusive truth claims.  I just wish pluralists (like the ones teaching this class) would be honest about the fact that they are doing the same thing.

For someone who values acceptance, diversity, healthy thinking, and humility, the Christian gospel actually provides a promising alternative.  For example, when properly understood the gospel is antithetical to moral elitism.  It is predicated upon one’s inability to “be good” and upon unmerited acceptance and transformation by God.  Where moralism/religion says “I am accepted because I’m virtuous,” the gospel says, “I am virtuous because I am accepted.”  Since any virtue is from God and for God, the gospel produces humility.  The gospel-centered Christian identifies with the poor in spirit rather than looking down upon them.  

Second, the gospel provides a paradigm for authentic diversity.  Whereas diversity for pluralism is predicated upon everyone believing the same thing, the gospel models unconditional acceptance.  At great personal cost to himself, God takes the initiative to accept people who have corrupted virtue and differing beliefs.   Because God accepted me unconditionally while I was his enemy, I can love and accept others without added conditions (even those I disagree with or consider enemies).  This is one reason why Christianity is historically unique in its ability to thrive in different cultures.  True Islam and Hinduism, for example, effectively require you to abandon your culture.  At its core, the gospel is a multi-cultural message.

The future will certainly be multi-cultural and multi-faith.  Ironically, pluralism undermines this mosaic by making conformity to common belief a prerequisite.  It is true that Christianity has often been misunderstood, ill-practiced, and abused.  When this happens, Christians become arrogant, intolerant, and culturally imperialistic.  I’m sure your knowledge of the church in Latin America brings many examples to mind.  However I think the gospel of Christianity, rightly understood and practiced, produces a healthy environment where people are humbly accepted and ideas are authentically and thoughtfully discussed.

Thoughts?  Thanks again for the article, very thought-provoking.  Thanks also for reading my response.  This would be interesting to discuss sometime.

-Zack

Truth Claims

Should the Christian faith claim to be the only way to God? Talk about a conversation starter. Everyone seems to have an answer to this question. Let me start by saying I approach this question with great humility. I have struggled with this question most of my life. It bothers me that so many go through life without asking the hard questions of their worldview. Believers and skeptics should not only ask the hard questions, but do the honest and hard work of seeking answers. I want to say that I came to Christianity as a skeptic. I have sustained my Christian faith not by ignoring tough questions but by doubting. Questions that lead me to wrestle with my doubts, and those of family and friends. I believe that process is critical to a healthy faith. Christians must learn to respect and understand those who doubt (since one is not born Christian, at some point you did not believe). This alone should lead to humility. As I seek to answer the question of exclusive truth claims I do so as someone who was and at times is a skeptic.

First I wish to submit that everyone has a worldview. Every human being has something that they are building their identity on. Something that they are willing to bet their life on. Not only do we all have a worldview, we try to convert others to our view. Phillip Pullman, atheist and author of the Golden Compass, said, “I find (my) books upholding certain values, I think are important.” Pullman like all humanity has a value system that he thinks is important and he desires to promote. The person not trying to convert you to Christianity may be trying to convert you to pluralism (the belief that there are many ways to God) or atheism (the belief that there is no God). These examples are but a few of the things we may try to get the Christian, Orthodox Jew or Muslim to “convert” to. Lesslie Newbigin captures this idea of “converting” folks to pluralism with this example:

“The famous story of the blind men and the elephant is often quoted to neutralize the affirmation of the great religions. None of the blind men are able to grasp the full reality of the elephant, and in the same way, no religion can get a hold of more than part of the truth. But the story can only be told from the point of view of [one] who is not blind and who sees the whole elephant. The story (then) is told by one who claims to see and know the full truth which all the world’s religions are groping after… There is an appearance of humility in the protestation that the truth is much greater than any one of us can grasp, but if this is used to invalidate all claims to discern the truth, it is in fact an arrogant claim to a kind of knowledge which is superior to [all others]… We have to ask: “What is the vantage ground from which you claim to be able to relativize all the absolute claims which these different scriptures make?”

I want to give the person who objects to Christianity as “the way” to God something to think about. First, the assumption that no one can be sure about religious truth or about God is a very definite post-Enlightenment view of reality and can’t be proven. Pluralism and atheism both require a tenet of faith. Second, you are betting your eternal destiny (and trying to convince others) of the belief that there is no God or there are many ways to God. You are trying to say doctrinal beliefs are not valid (atheism/truth claim) or my doctrinal beliefs are valid (pluralism/truth claim). Finally, when folks say “Don’t try to convert others,” they are promoting their relativistic view of spiritual truth as superior to Christian or Muslim truth. This of course is inconsistent. When a Christian or a Muslim tries to convert someone, they are consistent with the principles of their faith.

Second, these implicit “faith” commitments, lead us to our decision making. Our atheistic, pluralistic, or Christian thoughts determine our moral choices, clarify priorities, etc. They help us answer the question “How should I live?” They also influence our concept of right and wrong and how we “judge” others. Before anyone thinks they do not have “moral” standards and don’t “judge” others, let me bring up two names: President George W. Bush and President Barack H. Obama. I do not seek to get into a political discussion. I just want you to realize the way in which you judge these two men and their agendas. Take for example a few conversations I have on a regular basis:

James: ”So you think we should not legislate morality?”
Other: ”No we should not. Who is to say what is moral? How can we know what is right?”
James: ”Like abortion?”
Other: ”Yes”
James: ”Why?”
Other: “Because no one has a right to tell a women what to do with her body!”
James: ”So it is the women’s moral right?”
Other: ”Yes”
James: ”Who decides that moral right?”

or this conversation

James: “I believe in land conservation and am concerned at corporate greed and the destruction of the planet.”
Other: ”Me too”
James: ”I think we need tighter restrictions on companies that abuse or planet”
Other: “I think we need more laws”

I am not trying to take a political stance with these examples. They are meant to show that we take our “beliefs” seriously. So serious in fact that we will claim the ability to legislate them and force others to live under their rule.

Finally, we all bet our life on our belief system. The atheist is so sure that there is not a God, that he or she will risk eternity. That is a strong stance of faith to wager the “unknown” of the afterlife on a belief that there is no afterlife. Once again, I want to point out that we can’t “prove” that the atheist is right. Ultimately we all bet our life on something: no God, many Gods, Christ. We ultimately all try to share our worldview in hopes of bringing people to our understanding. My hope for the world is not a society that tells everyone to leave their truth claims at the door (how unbelievably dull we would be) but one that tells the Christian, Muslim, pluralist, atheist, and others to bring their truth claims. Let’s have healthy and humble debate.

Friendship

Thoughts from my Sermon Sunday.

We live in a culture dominated by consumer driven friendship. What do I mean? The friendship or relationship is only good so far as it meets "our needs." I submit we need to get back to conventional relationships. O. K. before you think I am talking about "Leave it to Beaver" land, I'm not. I talking about diving back to Aristotle. He thought friendships should be about "moral good." Now that everyone is totally freaked out by words like conventional and moral good, let me unpack this a bit. The gospel can help guide us in our friendships.

Often we are conceited in relationships. Conceit is born out of "glory hunger." We are all starved for Glory. We long to see the mountains and the ocean. Something in our heart dances when we see a sunset. When was the last time your heart danced at a microwave dinner or the sight of Wal-Mart? Because we are starved for glory, we try to feed the "God sized hole in us" with power or punishment.

1. Don't look down on people-Often conceit leads to a superiority complex. We start looking down at others. We get angry and judgmental when people crtitize us. We go around saying "I would NEVER do, what they have done." We build up the self at the expense of our friends. The sad thing is that creates and inferiority in those around us.

2. Don't look down on yourself-They start to look down on themselves. They will clam up and avoid confrontation. They get embarressed and intimitated around certain groups of people. The grow into a sense of never being able to accoplish what others have done.

3. Look to the Gospel-Both thoughts need gospel correction. Both are self absorbed. At the root they are built on self. The gospel gives us a new identity. One built on Christ. It says to the Superior person that earns everything, that is better than everyone-hold on! We are all broken, all sinners. We are on an equal playing field. It says to the inferior person,that is hurt and feels worthless and unloved. You have value, you are more loved than you could ever imagine. It creates humility and boldness in the Christian. It allows us to start to really look at one another. We start living for Christ and the moral good-not ourselves.

Trip

1. I can’t believe how flat it is in SE Missouri.
2. I am thankful for being raised in SE Missouri.
3. Knox’s still has the best Cherry Coke in the world.
4. My Grannies could still bend me over and spank the crap out of me.
5. My Grannies are thoughtful women.
6. Ted Drew’s is the best custard in the world.
7. Ted Drew’s would make me weigh 300 pounds if I lived in STL.
8. I love Forest Park.
9. There is nothing like a dirt road in a corn or cotton field.
10. I still like to drive down Ward Ave. listening to Hair Bands.
11. I wish I had spent more time with certain folks in HS and less with others.
12. I wish I still had my Thriller jacket from grade school.
13. My Granny Culver takes good care of my Grandfather’s grave.
14. They should alphabetize graveyards.
15. I can’t believe I rode in a circle so many times. Long live the “loop.”
16. Mountain Music is special.
17. Mountain Music folks are also special.
18. Good friends are all around, great friends are few.
19. In a demented way I miss country music and pick up trucks.
20. Arkansas lakes are glorious.
21. I have three talkative kids.
22. I have a wonderful wife.
23. I like catfish.
24. I like clover.
25. I miss bugs that light up.
26. C-Ville looks naked since the twister.
27. I miss dirt tracks and race cars.
28. The mid-south had the most amazing BBQ hands down.
29. Memphis is a magical place.
30. There is nothing like a cold RC, lunchmeat sandwich and chips.

Schools Out

My kids wrap up the school year this week. My hope is that learning continues. Much like when we get out of Sunday gathered we should continue in God's Word, prayer and fellowship. Here are some pics from the year.

Boxer

We have a dog named Max. He is a fantastic dog. Max's most noticeable trait would be his elongated tongue. It is always, and I mean always, hanging out of his mouth. He also has a disdain for water. This is so weird. We had a lab mix before Max. You could not keep her out of the water. Max comes along and you would think he was the Wicked Witch of the West. You can almost hear him say as water comes near, "I'm melting, I'm melting." This weekend I had the privilege to throw his butt in the swimming pool. There is nothing like the tormenting of our pets to bring out the kid in each of us. It was awesome. He would run, I would pursue, he would succumb to my command. He would look at me with his cute puppy dog eyes and I would let him fly, "SPLASH." He would frantically swim to the nearest piece of dry land. I would laugh, the kids would laugh, the other dog would laugh (thinking that's funny, it wouldn't be funny if it was me). Max would climb out, shake and wag his tail. He would take off to my wife to protect him from the mean man with the big bathtub. He is an awesome dog.

Loneliness

Philip Slater in "The Pursuit of Loneliness" suggests three desires that are deeply and uniquely frustrated by American culture.

1. The Desire for community-the wish to live in trust, cooperation, and friendship with those around one.

2. The Desire for engagement-the wish to come directly to grips with one's social and physical environment.

3. The Desire for dependence-the wish to share responsibility for the control of one's impulses and the direction of one's life.

Slater wrote the book in the 70's, in a time of funky clothes and less media. I was born in the 70's and until recently have not entered many conversations acknowledging these frustrations. Slater goes on to point out that we are active in creating these frustrations for ourselves and others. I don't agree with all Slater's thoughts but concede these three frustrations and our own work to create the barriers. Imagine, one of the few things that can strengthen us as people, we frustrate. Its like starving and choosing a candy bar instead of a nutritious meal. What seems so good, "self", actually frustrates one of the things we need most, "community." This past week we continued through our series in Nehemiah. I am constantly challenged by their hunger for community. The thing is, they remove the things that frustrate their lives. As they renew their faith, their families, their culture, and their city many destructive patterns are erased. We all need community, engagement, dependence. I spur the reader on to consider three things in the days to come.

1. Learn to trust. Lead an open and honest life. As we learn to share the real us, no matter how frightening, others will share the real them, no matter how frightening. I put forth that if we all live more openly, we all feel less crazy. This honesty will develop deeper friendships and more authentic community. No more Stepford wives welcome. Current Christian community in particular struggles to be its messy self. Lets learn to confess our struggles to each other. Lets learn to work together, not just with those like us, but those different from us.

2. Learn to enjoy Creation and Humanity. Despite the horrific images on the news. Despite the fall. We live in a world fashioned by an Artist. All around us there are signs of beauty, hope and truth. We must each come to terms with the struggle of our age, yet we must work to create the world that ought to be. We have all been given the task to fight back the thorns. We all must strive to create. There is something about hard work, the Arts, healing wounds, that helps us come to terms with the broken element of our world. These things bring out the wellspring of hope. So go today and work hard, create beauty and help heal the hurting. Things as facile as doing a simple task with excellence, writing down a thought, or helping the least of these can help us fight back the thorns and enjoy this beautiful planet and all its inhabitants.

3. Ask for help. In America people are often "frontier people." We will conquer, we will control, the man is always out to get us, big brother trying to look over our shoulder. Our rugged independence, mixed with our paranoia often leads to an anti-dependent community. I long for the day to both bare and share my struggles. Who among us hasn't had a time when we need the other. Someone to listen, to help. But let's go further. Let's not just consume the help when it is most needed. Lets learn to really live in community. Sharing responsibilities, holding one another in check. What if we really experienced bold love. Someone to say, "don't buy that new SUV." Someone to say, "Don't have that next drink." Someone to say, "Treat the children with dignity." We all need help. I have a suspicion that we are created for community. We are created to be dependent and provide help for each other. Try this day, this week, this month to ask and give help.

Loneliness comes in many forms and fashions. It sits at the bar stool as the life of the party, it parades through the mall with a fake tan and botox, it sits unbathed and begs for food, it shoots its neighbor, it struggles to find significance and purpose. The erosion of loneliness will not come from the government, the pope, or the local self help guru. It will come from true community. It will come as we become open and honest, engaging one another and allowing for common dependence.