"Speaking to the nation...Barack Obama rejected the kind of politics that 'uses religion as a wedge and patriotism as a bludgeon.' His words highlight the way faith has once again become a divisive force in American politics...With the intense focus on controversial preachers and on cases where religious doctrine appears to divide voters, most notably on issues of abortion and homosexuality, we have lost sight of the ways in which turning back to America's founding values - including faith - can once again unite us in the face of common problems.
America's founders believed that religious faith was compatible with other cherished values: liberty, democracy, justice, equality, tolerance, humility.
We need to recognize the ways in which Christianity and other religious traditions support or even command such modern principles as liberty, justice, tolerance and equality. Those values are the foundation of a society based on the pursuit of the common good for all members of a community - friends and strangers alike.
World history is rife with killing inspired by faith; just as our present American politics often pits worshipers of one faith against those of another in a less bloody but no less ardent combat. We have all heard ample divisive rhetoric from the pulpit, and we cannot fail to note the arrogance that often seems to underlie it, rather than an appropriate humility.
But that is certainly not the only kind of faith. The faith of our founders, and the genius of the system that their faith helped to inspire, can also outline a politics of common moral purpose. It is open to all of us to choose that better path.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/20/opinion/edslaughter.php
No comments:
Post a Comment