Hello again and peace.

I'm afraid I'm going to break a couple of my informal rules, first by talking about myself, and second by talking overtly about religion.  It's OK though - these things need to be said before I get back into the blog.

When I last left you, I found myself in a quandry about what to do.  I had meant to follow up, but personal issues got in the way, and after a while I wanted to post again, but I really had lost my thread of thought.  So here are some of my thoughts from this summer.

First, I have mentioned in this space before that I am a Christian.  I am happy with my life in Christ, and consider myself dedicated to my Christianity.  It greatly informs my attitudes toward peace, form my belief that peace is ultimately going to be the state of mankind (here I need to promise some of my friends to let Immanuel Kant rest for a while longer :-) ).  It also informs me that working for peace is a vocation of mine, and I ignore that vocation at my own peril.  I think Jesus Christ has allowed me a little enjoyment in writing this to encourage me to keep going.

Now, if my inspiration is coming from Christ, why have I been so reluctant to be more open in this forum about that inspiration?  Let me explain.

The first reason is humility.  I am no Elmer Gantry, preaching until my tongue is on fire, then living a compromised personal life.  If I am to evangelize for Christ, my manner would be to learn about Jesus and consider his message.  Then, if you feel like you'd like to talk to me about Him, I'd be glad to do so.  Secondly, I am the epitome of the popular bumper sticker, "Christians aren't perfect - Just forgiven".  I am a classic 'screw-up' sometimes. My friends who read this can stop nodding so vigorously now.  I try to live the life I'm supposed to, but like everyone else, I occasionally need some wiggle room.

The second reason is my distaste for stereotyping.  Some days I feel lonely in the community of my fellow Christians, when I place a priority on social justice, peace, and love for my neighbors, in accord with the Great Commandment.  I couldn't care less if your theology is based on a tradition of hierarchal interpretations, a list of demands nailed to a door 500 years ago, or a 'literal' reading of the Bible, as long as you heed the Great Commandment.  I care a lot about my own theology, but that's my own business.

The stereotyping issue, at least in the US, stems from a tradition of evangelical zeal, which is a good thing, overlaid with a demand for protestant orthodoxy (I couldn't resist the oxymoron there), that equates modern American Christianity with some sort of Calvinist political right, which is neither good nor bad, until one starts to make it a litmus test for being a 'true Christian'.  In fact the whole litmus test thing is destructive, and sends people away who otherwise share an honest affinity for Christ and his teachings. 

Let me be clear that  I view Christianity as very demanding of anyone who decides to follow Jesus.  Nonetheless, that heavy demand is the burden of that person alone, and not subject to the bias of anyone else.  There is one truth and one good, but no onein this life is bestowed with enough wisdom to determine what that is in its entirety.

I am dwelling on the stereotyping issue because it has a profound impact on the work of peace.  Peace is not the solitary domain of  a few left-leaning Christians in long hair and sandals in Massachusetts, but the solemn responsibility of everyone who dares to take up the cross.

The third reason is the Great Commandment itself.  I am called to love my neighbors.  I believe that I have about 7 billion neighbors.  They include despised felons in prison, immigrants, poor people, the Taliban, as well as personal friends, my church 'family', my actual family, and people I admire.  There are no conditions to being a neighbor.  Sadly, I fall short of loving every one of them, but I really try hard.  Promoting peace is my best chance for improving my Christian response.  Of course, the Great Commandment is really two commandments.  I am also called to love God with my whole heart and soul.  Working for peace is critical to this effort as well; in fact, I find the two components of the Great Commandment so deeply interrelated that I view them as a single command.  Feel free and comment on that peice of theology, I'm interested in how other Christians approach this.  The love of God portion of the Commandment however, gives rise to my fourth and ultimate reason for hesitating to make this a 'Christian' blog, even though I hope by now you have an appreciation for how Christ informs my writings for peace.

The fourth and most important reason to stay secular in this blog (OK, today firmly excluded!) is that although I am Christian, and can read the Nicene Creed without a stutter more days than not (apologies to any of my fellow Christians that have no regard for the Council of Nicea - just making a point), the mysteries of God are more wonderful than any of us imagine.  As such, I think it is short-sighted to think that Christianity is the sole fountain of theological truth.  Please remember that Judaism and Islam worship the same Father as Christians.  Even beyond that, other religious traditions have profound truths which we can attain wisdom from.  Buddhism's Eightfold Path, for instance is perfectly compatible with Christianity, makes no claim of divinity, and is well worth studying and applying to one's own life.  Reaching even farther, past the bounds of metaphysics, scientific truths, even with regard to the origins of the universe, can inform us as members of Christ's communion.  With many caveats, I will even assert that some atheistic thought is worth study.  The point is, that as Christians we are commanded to seek peace, but we do not OWN peace.  The wellspring for peaceful ambitions can be derived from God, philosophy, humanism, any other kind of -ism, or just personal conviction.  Christianity is my principle driver, but if you want to help find peace, and it's not where you're coming from, I have one word for you - "Welcome!"