A Thanksgiving Prayer

My life has been greatly changed for the positive by the writings of Dominic Crossan. Because of what I've learned, I've been able to remain an intellectually honest Christian, rather than having to chuck the Institutional part of what has become of Jesus' life and teachings. For this, I give THANKS.
My Thanksgiving came after a week in Georgia. First, several days at Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia. Koinonia is where Habitat for Humanity got its start, and also offered integrated fellowship with local tenant farming families (colored) and local 'new-to-farming' families (non-colored) - in the 1940s! Faith conversations were a priority, with some disagreements and healthy discussion - though everyone involved was Baptist! Responses from the town ranged from angry boycotting - to the Ku Klux Klan, with gunshot and bombs included. The leaders' responses were totally based on the philosophy of nonviolence. We gave thanks many times while we were there.

The weekend before Thanksgiving Day, I was still in Georgia, but at Ft. Benning in Columbus, with 20,000 other folks - of all religions and none - protesting the infamous torture training at the School of the Americas there. It was incredibly uplifting to be among so many Americans and Latin Americans who believe so strongly that the oppression and torture, killing, and 'disappearing' of peoples by military power MUST BE STOPPED! We gave thanks many times, while we were there.

Then it was time to get together with family to prepare for Thanksgiving. Busying ourselves with cooking, setting tables, etc. was fine. Because, you see, I couldn't talk with the family about where I'd been and what I'd been doing the week before. The Thanksgiving prayers offered by my family members are thanks for personal salvation and the providence of God in Jesus. Period.

Nevertheless, we love one another. We just can't talk about 'religion or politics'. So we give thanks in different ways, for different things, and go on with our lives. I'm sure this is true in many families. Some prefer to talk about things they disagree about, anyway. Others take offense if opinions different to theirs are voiced - because 'the BIBLE says...' .

I give thanks for the example of folks at Koinonia Farms, at the School of the Americas Watch rally, and in all religious or non-religious movements for peace and non-violence.
I give thanks that humans care for one another in their families - and in the wider family of humanity.

make that "one of the great examples".

Crossan has not labeled Christianity to be a hoax, only 67% of it is. The remaining 33%, however, forms one of great examples of human compassion, wisdom and sacrifice.

And thanks to John Crossan for reminding us on this day of thanksgiving that there is much work ahead of us in attaining our ideals and making them reality.
And reminding us also of the quiet, gentle people amongst us who demonstrate to all a faith that is alive, a life that glories in cooperation rather than competetion, and above all the serenity that comes with forgiveness.

I'm still waiting for Crossan, a distinguished biblical scholar, to admit publicly what his research has established: that Christianity is a great hoax.

Well said. I think all too often we forget that we celebrate this holiday because people fled religious oppression and survived their first season in the new land by sticking together in community with those around them, even though those groups were so different. Thank you for reiterating what it is to be American.