Lost in the coverage of the Israel-Hamas war is the plight of the Palestinian Christians. Who is telling their story during this time of conflict? They are caught between two forces and trace their heritage back to the first church in Jerusalem.
Once again we can follow the related thread of directionless confusion that results when we attempt to divorce a moral framework from any real foundation.
We seem to be able to agree that "it's good to be good, and it's nice to be nice", but, without and real basis for these beliefs, they just become so much vapor that easily vanishes when exposed to reality.
We call genuine believers deceptive when they declare where their journey has led them. We respond that her conclusions are not necessary and we can all come to the same place through "enlightened self interest".
It's easy to see the results of this kind of baseless morality when we excuse horrific murderers and blame innocent victims. Would the same people blame the US for the 9/11 attacks and regard the terrorists as victims?
The bottom line is; we simply can't regard ourselves as the final arbiters of all that is good and right in our world. Until we're willing to acknowledge that 1) There is a God, and 2) We're not him, we will still inhabit a world of chaos and confusion. One where baby murderers are heroes and raped women are the guilty.
Our self-congratulations for being enlightened and progressive is nothing more than the same old problem of deciding for ourselves that the fruit is good to eat and can make us wise, despite all the loving, caring warnings that to take and eat means certain death.
Lost in the coverage of the Israel-Hamas war is the plight of the Palestinian Christians. Who is telling their story during this time of conflict? They are caught between two forces and trace their heritage back to the first church in Jerusalem.
Thanks for this ensemble of helpful reflections.
After reading Ali's essay, I agree with you that she has become a serious Christian. She admits to being a learning and growing one!!
Esther Aikens
Once again we can follow the related thread of directionless confusion that results when we attempt to divorce a moral framework from any real foundation.
We seem to be able to agree that "it's good to be good, and it's nice to be nice", but, without and real basis for these beliefs, they just become so much vapor that easily vanishes when exposed to reality.
We call genuine believers deceptive when they declare where their journey has led them. We respond that her conclusions are not necessary and we can all come to the same place through "enlightened self interest".
It's easy to see the results of this kind of baseless morality when we excuse horrific murderers and blame innocent victims. Would the same people blame the US for the 9/11 attacks and regard the terrorists as victims?
The bottom line is; we simply can't regard ourselves as the final arbiters of all that is good and right in our world. Until we're willing to acknowledge that 1) There is a God, and 2) We're not him, we will still inhabit a world of chaos and confusion. One where baby murderers are heroes and raped women are the guilty.
Our self-congratulations for being enlightened and progressive is nothing more than the same old problem of deciding for ourselves that the fruit is good to eat and can make us wise, despite all the loving, caring warnings that to take and eat means certain death.
Thank you for the leads at NPR and Al Jazeera