The Question: John McCain's spiritual guide, televangelist Rod Parsley, calls Islam a "false religion" that should be "destroyed." Should McCain renounce Parsley? Will Islam be an issue in this year's U.S. presidential election?

If Islam is a "false religion" then so too must Christianity and Judaism. Pastor Parsley unfortunately demonstrates a level of ignorance that is both dangerous and divisive in understanding the faithful and historic connection between the three great Abrahamic, monotheistic religions of the world, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Such thinking demonstrates a level of Islamaphobia that inflames the current divide between creative dialogue with Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Continue »

I believe it is a move from sickness TO health. The greatest time of measured growth for institutional, denominational-based religion when growth was carefully measured was during the post World War II era. Conformity and church membership and belonging was at the center of community life. The institutional church of that period was "theologically light." The institutional church was not yet challenged by the radicalization of the 1960's. There were no shopping malls, no youth sports on Sundays and there was normally only one wage earner in a family and no "turn key" kids. People had more free time, and community life revolved around church life. Institutionalized religion mirrored a life style where "issues" were not really part of the theological discourse in church life.

Continue »

Such leadership is extremely important, especially given the instantaneous forms of communications available to denominational and global religious communities. A leader who is an introvert will have a difficult time engaging with the challenges, conflicts, needs and demands of his or her constituencies. An extrovert can generate engagement and enthusiasm for a common goal or mission. A narcissist will provide lots of support and engagement with those who agree with him or her but will usually close the door on those they disagree with. As the "family systems" researcher Peter Steinke so often reminds us, narcissists are usually found in the professions of musicians, actors and clergy and at times a mixture of some or all.

What ever happened to Christmas? I mean once Halloween is over it seems as if every merchant, every shopping mall, every airport concourse is decorated with the politically correct “Happy Holidays” message.

And what’s with the demise of Christmas Trees? Now they’re called Holiday Trees. My brother lives in a small Massachusetts town where public Commons go way back to the time of the British Occupation of Boston and its suburbs. Last year he phoned me, ready to gas up a chain saw and march down to the Common to defoliate what, for the first time in the history of that town was called the town’s “holiday tree.” I pursued him to write a letter to the editor in the local paper instead and save his chain saw for something less physically taxing. It worked! The letter provoked a cry from the old timers in town who said: “Enough of this foolishness.” We’ll have a Christmas tree, and a Menorah on the Common and that’s that.” No doubt someone will sue the town if not this year then next about the use of public property for religious purposes, but “come on now, get a life.”

Continue »

Responding to alleviate suffering poverty, disease, homelessness, natural disasters, and the demeaning of the human condition by internal or external forces is a requirement that is directed to the broad Christian Community through the core teachings of Jesus.

Jesus was acutely aware that the poor would always be with us but that did not mean that we should not engage in the hard work of ending poverty.

Churches by themselves or broad Christian denominations globally cannot end such conditions that demean, demoralize and destroy the creatures of God....but we can be the "weavers" that bring faith-based organizations, non-profits, the corporate sector and government agencies worldwide together to address, relieve and possibly alleviate such conditions.

Dangers inherent in such efforts however are that large, unaffiliated churches and even huge traditional denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Communion would see such aid, support and relief as a way of gaining converts in exchange for services rendered.

The question raises the very essence of the nature of God.

The belief that God is the causal agent in natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the religious fanaticism of 9/11 and acts as a grand puppeteer is just plain bad theology. It is a severely flawed theology which lends itself to the belief that human beings are mere actors on the stage of life, with God sharing the roles of both producer and director.

Katrina was a natural disaster and not a punishing act of God. 9/11 was the act of a few people who chose to interpret their flawed theology by acts of violence which were clearly a contradiction of the teachings of the Great Prophet.

Continue »

The concept of "don't ask don't tell," has been a painful failure for the U.S. military and has no place in the Episcopal Church.

One's sexual orientation in the Episcopal Church may not be used as a prohibition against ordination and same-sex relationships may not be used as a qualifier for ordination to either the priesthood or deaconate.

The issue of human sexuality should be based on loving, healthy relationships and not on sexual mechanics or in inappropriate proof-texting of Holy Scripture.

Celibacy is a gift from God and should not be used as a requirement for one's response to God's call to serve in the ordained or lay ministries of the Episcopal Church.

It is a sad state of affairs when the religious community spends so much time on this issue when the deterioration of the human condition continues to plague God's children throughout the world.

We spend too much time confessing the so-called sexual sins of others instead of addressing with vigor and human resources that are needed to address the sins of omission that demean the lives of so many throughout the Global Community as defined by the Millenium Development Goals.

The United States is not a theocracy, and never has been! Some would have us believe that “One Nation under God” really means that we are a nation whose God is Christian and therefore we are a Christian nation. This is the hidden agenda underlying this complaint. To be sure, the vision of the early founders of this Nation was based on their understanding of Providence as defined by Christianity. Their vision however was severely limited in that they were not clear at all about the theological concepts and complexities of monotheism. They did not have the prolonged access of their Christianity to the balances of the occidental and oriental influences of Islam and other religions and belief systems. And their exposure to Judaism was warped by European anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

What some may believe, that a Hindu chaplain opening a session of the United States Senate with prayer has somehow violated the notion of “One Nation under God,” is absurd. It points to those who hold a view that fails to understand the theological complexities and make-up of the current religious population of the United States. It is a point of view that is theologically intolerant, xenophobic, religiously narrow, and dangerous. It borders on the heresy of an American theocracy that could lead to a totalitarian view of acceptable religious expression. It is a failure to understand that there are more than just one set of religious constructs and beliefs that can provide pathways to enlightenment for some and for others a personal relationship with a living God.

War is the ultimate definition of human failure!

Faith is not lost during war but rather what is lost is faith in human nature, reason, compassion, decision making, justice, and the rule of law.

If we possesses faith in God through whatever our diverse religious traditions might be we are constantly reminded to rise to a higher level of being where we are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

War calls people of faith to address their failure as a Holy creation and to repent or "turn around" behavior that demeans the very nature of creation. In the 21st Century, no one has the right to take another person's life in the name of God!

Continue »

There is absolutely no way to explain the horror of indiscriminate killing other than to say that it raises the broad issues of increasing violence especially among the young.

Continue »

Candidates have used their personal religious views in past presidential campaigns and I see that this election will be no different. Candidates will continue to do so at their own peril however.

Continue »

On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln, wearied by a bloody Civil War that threatened to destroy the Union, proclaimed a day of National Thanksgiving. He did so with a heavy heart, reminding the people of America that this great land, even as it was engaged in a war against itself had much to be thankful for.

Continue »