Religion and we
In any confrontation between the great religions of the world, it is important for the participants to find the sort of language that avoids abuse and prejudice so that disagreements do not become battlegrounds and true debate may forward the kind of relationships that can heal wounds, create understanding and not feel threatened by the 'straight' talking that can spur us to correct our own faults. The world is waiting impatiently for the religions 'to get their act together' so that they - and, indeed, all people of goodwill - can discover how to work together for justice and peace in the smallest villages and the highest courts of nations.
However, there is some language that does not help in this process. Think of 'extremists' and 'fundamentalists'. All of us, surely, want to be 'extremely' or 'fundamentally' right rather than wrong. Taking the image of the washing line, most religions have a variety of choices, about precisely where to peg our identity, at least to be going on with. However, there is a point at which some people fall off the end of the washing line and what words do we use to describe them?
We can find the words to communicate with the truly religious but conducting a debate with those who are going off the rails is much harder. We must try because, when religious people go badly wrong, things can get extremely dangerous. They can become self-righteous, humourless and paranoid, separate into squabbling sects, dominate the gullible, wound the vulnerable, reject scholarship and use the techniques of 'brainwashing' to persuade (usually) the young to destroy their own and others' lives. We all have them - or have had them in our histories. However, we must go on believing that, even for them and their victims, salvation is possible and so we must use language to plead, encourage and negotiate with them to shift them from where they are to where they should be - back onto the washing line, free to choose a place between the tolerable parameters of orthodoxy where they can repent, heal and mature…. but what language is that?
The words 'conservative' and 'liberal' are also stale and overused. Of course we want to 'conserve' all that is good about the past and its traditions and want to celebrate that 'liberality' that is the generosity of spirit that most of our saints bear witness to - but what words can replace these?
It is even hard to find the right words for the balanced, intelligent and devout practice of the religions, the way celebrated by our great scholars, poets and teachers. The language of 'moderation' can be so boring! The right practice of religion should, surely, stir the blood and inspire the soul.
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