Here's an update to the article I linked above:
“Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledges consensus is near-impossible after public criticism over declaration against gay sex”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/05/justin-welby-says-it-is-very-difficult-to-hold-church-together-over-sexuality“The archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged the near-impossibility of a divided global Anglican church reaching a consensus on issues of sexuality, after he faced sharp criticism for affirming a 1998 declaration that gay sex is a sin.
“The conservative Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, which claims to represent 75% of all Anglicans, said it “cannot accept a plurality of views on essential truths”.
“Justin Badi, the archbishop of South Sudan, told a press conference on Friday: “We [the Global South] represent the global face of Anglicanism. We sound the clarion call to return to biblical faithfulness.”
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Too many people settle into the notion that they are the ones qualified to determine what the “essential truths” and "biblical faithfulness" are. Many lose sight of the fact that a lot of our understanding comes from interpretation, especially when it comes to scriptures, as evidenced by the different takes resulting in the myriad of denominations around the world.
Also, it’s all too easy to have an us v them attitude but the basics, to me, include the fact, from a religious viewpoint, that we’re made how we were made:
Psalm 100:3: “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (NIV)
To me this is reflected in this well known Anglican hymn:
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
'Twas God that made them all
Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colors
And made their tiny wings
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
'Twas God that made them all
The purple headed mountains
The rivers running by
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
'Twas God that made them all
The cold wind in the winter
The pleasant summer sun
The ripe fruits in the garden
He made them every one
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
'Twas God that made them all
He gave us eyes to see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is the Almighty
Who has made all things well
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
'Twas God that made them all
On another note, re ways in which religions and their peoples need to take stock and revise previous understandings and teachings, here’s an article about issues of racism within EV circles:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2017/12/red-and-yellow-black-and-white-evangelicals-miss-another-wakeup-call.htmlThe writer states:
“The very nature of evangelicalism, or at least conservative evangelicalism, is certainty—a belief that all of the answers have already been obtained. Many white evangelicals are so certain that they are not racist that they automatically close their ears to criticism. Their inclination toward interpreting criticism from outsiders as spiritual attack makes it only more difficult for them to engage productively with critique.”
“Evangelical missions work and Christian school curriculum has long been mired in stereotypes about peoples and groups that play up their “heathenness” and portray their cultures as dark and mired in sin. Again we see a problem of certainty—evangelical missionaries come into communities with the purpose of giving pre-formed answers to other cultures. They don’t come to listen, or to engage in cultural exchange. They come for something that goes one way. They come to preach, and to dispense wisdom.”
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“The problem of certainty” – that insight goes a long way towards explaining why leaders in some denominations/churches are reluctant, slow or unwilling to change or at least consider other viewpoints, to be open to admitting past errors or adopt new understandings. Once you have taught for decades or centuries that “this is the way” (or “this is the place”) it’s difficult to backtrack. Understandable but unfortunate as it has led, and continues to lead, to so many negative outcomes.
It’s often a point of pride to be as immovable as a gigantic boulder. But what if you’ve made a mistake? Hard to admit when you’ve dug in so deep but it’s possible, with a will to be open to necessary change. I guess preaching infallibility, though, does place one firmly between the proverbial rock and the very hard place.
As an aside: I didn't realize until I read the 2nd article linked above that the Christian song the writer discusses is considered racist. I've heard it all my life. It's so familiar I barely hear the words, just the tune and the 'spirit' of it. In fact, I nearly quoted it in this post as an example of how our differences, whatever they may be, are God-given (if you're of the Christian faith, or that has been my impression of that faith). Colour me clueless, literally, as I didn't realize the colours in the song are referring to races or skin colours.
Besides, some of those lyrics are used as titles in one of my favourite book/TV series about the Yorkshire vet. So they're all warm and fuzzy, no?
Reading is good. You can learn something new at least once a day.
And now I can't get that chorus out of my head: "red and yellow, black and white".
Yow.
I know we're mainly discussing Mormonism here at RfM and the ways in which it traumatizes its followers, BICs and converts alike, as we can all testify to (sometimes literally). I find it useful too to see comparisons between religions and ways in which Mormonism is the same as well as different or even unique. Some of the main issues are similar and it can be instructive to see it in another place besides the one we are most familiar with. It can be comforting and helpful in some ways to see the wider scope of similar issues. I also find it useful to see the origins and roots of certain teachings, pronouncements, mandates, actions and outcomes.
For instance, it's kind of an aha for me to see "the problem of certainty" discussed because that alone explains a whole lot.
ETA: I meant to mention in there somewhere this phrase from the article as well: "Their inclination toward interpreting criticism from outsiders as spiritual attack..."
This happens frequently, as we know. It's a good explanation for the words, attitudes and reactions that occur when questions are asked or disagreement or criticism arises.
Between being "certain" they have the truth, the only truth, and reverting to an instant defence mode that perceived criticism (i.e. 'questions', in my experience) evokes, those two mechanisms explain a lot about the reactions one can get to simple "challenges" such as merely asking a question or mentioning a different idea or especially interpretation.
I have experienced these reactions both as a JW and within Mormonism, where in both places questions were met with negative attitudes and failure to respond in any way that could bring enlightenment or even just a simple, and true, response.
If questions are threatening that should be a sure cue to check things out.
Some of us have to learn that the hard way.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2022 06:12PM by Nightingale.