In my previous column I expressed enthusiasm about the level, and indeed the very existence, of debate in the Anglican Communion over the ordination of gay clergy. How healthy it must be, I thought, to be able to air these opinions and pull apart holy small print. Far better to address the issues then leave them unchallenged.
Such a thing, if you recall me saying, has yet to happen in Islam, a religion that espouses jihad. Muslims don’t really want to talk about it even though the concept has been used to devastating effect. Discussing jihad, its meaning then and now, would provide a great deal of enlightenment for both people inside and outside the faith. It would also show that Muslims are unafraid of tackling this controversial ideology. Not talking about it makes Muslims look scared and stupid.
Talking is something that Anglicans are good at. But I kind of wish they’d do something else. For at least four years the threat of a schism has been hanging over the communion and people write about walking apart and falling off fences but the key word here is threat. Unless I’m deaf I’ve not heard the crack of a rupture so it leaves me thinking that this much-hyped schism, which by all accounts should have happened months ago, is the longest and slowest break-up in history.
[blockquote]Unless I’m deaf I’ve not heard the crack of a rupture so it leaves me thinking that this much-hyped schism, which by all accounts should have happened months ago, is the longest and slowest break-up in history.[/blockquote]
I have heard it described as “kind of like watching a slow motion trainwreck”. Or maybe NASCAR’s Greatest Crashes in slo-mo. Whatever, it is getting somewhat tedious, I agree.
the snarkster
In some respects, I have to agree with her, but if she thinks it is frustrating as a reporter, she ought to try being an orthodox or conservative Anglican priest in a very liberal diocese. You watch the +PB make decisions and garner to herself power that no one knows where she got it, but perhaps is afraid to confront her with the question, and you watch her make diocesan bishops renig on the promises or agreements they have made with parishes, and watch the ABC waiver back and forth on just where the Anglican Communion should stand on issues that are clearly against what scripture says. Then there is other leadership on the Exec. Council who claim to be faithful clergy but, who are espousing and promoting violating scripture, tradition and reason, and who back a +PB who says that Jesus is ONE of the ways to God, and deny Jesus’ own teaching that HE is the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE, and that NO ONE comes to the Father but by Him. I guess there are a variety of ways to interpret what a FAITHFUL CLERGY PERSON is in the world today. Inclusive, that word which did not exist until recently, but I assume was meant to mean, “Welcoming Everyone”, has now taken on the meaning of: “welcoming everyone one who agrees with the liberal factions, and agrees that perversion is normal and acceptable.” WOW, it all blows my mind!
Well said, Rev. J. My feelings exactly.
Closure is for doors.
Well said Rev J especially this point — I can’t believe they still adhere to this word after all of the exclusivity they have promoted!
[blockquote] Inclusive, that word which did not exist until recently, but I assume was meant to mean, “Welcoming Everyoneâ€, has now taken on the meaning of: “welcoming everyone one who agrees with the liberal factions, and agrees that perversion is normal and acceptable.†WOW, it all blows my mind! [/blockquote]
Inclusive is a snare and a delusion, like tolerance. TEC isn’t really inclusive, as every conservative knows. The only group that can ever be called truly inclusive, is one that has no standards of any sort. (To hold a standard is, after all, always to exclude those who do not agree with that standard.)The only perfectly tolerant man is one who has no standards of his own to that all behavior is one to him. TEC has standards; we know that because those who don’t agree with it get punished asap. TEC calls itself inclusive, but that merely its jargon because it wishes to include elements that the continuing Anglican church excludes. This is not very difficult to grasp./
Anyway, schism has already taken place. After all dying doesn’t have to make a sound, but y ou can tell when life has left the body.
Larry
:coolsmirk: I understand inclusive may be offensive to some, however you should know that some of us use the word with its true meaning. Equally offensive for some of the more growth oriented folks is the word evangelical, which at one time did not mean extrememly conservative but rather had more to do with evangelism (You know, Go Forth into the World….). We all need to begin acting with more grace, as though we really are infused by the love of God to do His will in the world. Sorry to ramble.
Riazat Butt is a young woman of ethnic and religious minority background without much knowlege of Christian theology or church history, so this makes her the ideal person to be the ‘Guardian’ correspondent on religion. Her predecessor in this post, Stephen Bates, a nominal Catholic who sometimes graced this blog with advertisements for his book promoting homosexuality in the Church of England, has since announced that he has abandoned religious faith – somewhat to the chagrin of his supporters club ‘Thinking Anglicans’, who haven’t grasped that he was only charting the inevitable path for them, as Richard Holloway did previously, had they but courage equal to desire.
I hope that Riazat, who calls herself a Muslim, will do some serious investigation into the real doctrine of Islam and its relation to Christianity – a risky task, I admit. Maybe she should try reading Robert Spencer’s books and columns (freely available – still! – on jihadwatch.org).
It is interesting to hear an outsider’s viewpoint. You never know how people will perform until given the job and I hope that Ms Butt will develop as she settles into her job and I trust learns more about the areas she is covering.
Frankly the UK benchmark is set low so I wish her well.