A throwaway item on the Today programme this morning suggested that Tony Blair, casting around for something to do after stepping down as Prime Minister of Great Britain, may create a foundation to foster more understanding between christianity, judaism and islam. Whilst it may just be a rumour it has that ring of plausibility that all good rumour-mongers look for.
There are of course plenty who will point out that Mr Blair has done much in the recent past to unite muslims, christians, atheists and everybody else thank you. But I suspect that isn't quite the type of unity he's after.
Tony is as we all know a 'committed christian' but he is a modern faithful type who wants to invite all the other sects round for a cuppa and "can't we all just y'know, get along?"
I've never quite understood this stance - if your faith is right everybody else is going to hell. End of story.
I think this is why Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church cause discomfort to other christians. The WBC are by anybody's reckoning a tiny, marginal bunch. But when they insist that their interpretation of their god's word is correct and every other man jack of you is going to hell, people tend to feel a little uneasy.
"So that means it's 23 people sitting on gods right hand side and 6.5 billion don't get in?"
WBC: "Yup"
They cause embarassment not because their ideas are ker-razy, but because they are so dam close to the acceptable face of religiosity, just delivered with a wide-eyed zeal and assurance that scares folk.
To suggest that a particular issue that Fred Phelps preaches about is not valid, or un-christian turns a lens onto less extreme christians and asks all sorts of difficult questions about scriptural interpretation that they'd really rather not answer.
Anyhoo, Tony seems awfully keen that he has a legacy (I think you'll have one T, don't worry) so I'm going to open a foundation to create dialogue between Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Isn't it time that they just got along?
3 comments:
I concur.
I've had a number of conversations with my wife and friends about their "Cafeteria Christianity", where they pick and choose which tenets they buy into, and which they can completely disregard.
My response is, in their denomination (like most), practioners are not permitted to "roll their own." And in the eyes of the church, they were definitely "sinners", and most likely "heretics".
"Whatever," they shrug. Religion is, to them, a coat you wear. A social obligation. Like mumbling through the National Anthem.
I abandoned organized religion well before I abandoned the idea of faith. And it was the zeal of the practioners (at the extreme end) and the utter ambivalence, at the other that did the trick.
No one, at either end, seemed to give much thought to what they were doing, why they were doing it, or whether they truly believed, intellectually, in the things they're saying.
As far as Phelps goes, he is a fucktard. But I appreciate it when the racists and homophobes wear their colors. Easier to aim my truck.
Well put sir. That rather nicely highlights one, of many, idiotic aspects of religion.
As far as the aspect of "Cafeteria Christianity" goes I think that is inherent in the way most religions work. Be it the Bible or the Koran, they contain plenty of contradictory statements which leave them open to wildly differing interpretations. This why moderate followers of "insert religion here" can feel confident in their devoutness as well as fundamentalist fruitcakes. As long as there's a smörgåsbord of contradiction available they'll pick and chose as they wish.
I firmly believe that people bring their personality to religion and not vice versa.
I guess it is Sam's Club, not some cafeteria which will unite us all. The last two times I have been there, I have encountered a diminutive Asian with shaven poll and full saffron robation. Pushing his way past head-scarved ladies, by the way. We may be divided by funny costumes and gag hats, but we are united in the search for a bargain. I am not sure what god wants but I know I want 29 cents off on that bag o' chips...
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