Religious Diversity

In a sermon just a few months ago, I cited a couple facts from Diana Eck's A New Religious America (2001): 1) There are presently more than three hundred temples in Los Angeles, home to the greatest variety of Buddhists in the world; 2) There are more American Muslims than there are American Episcopalians, Jews, or Presbyterians; and 3) The U.S. has become the most religiously diverse country in the world.

In light of this week being the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I asked on Monday's radio show why so many of us are afraid of religious diversity. I claimed that religious diversity is not only a fact of American life (as shown by Diana Eck's book), but that it is a GOOD THING, and it's been a part of American life from the beginning. (Was not the "First Thanksgiving" an interfaith gathering?)

So, as I like to ask, what do you think? Is religious diversity a good thing? Why do so many Americans--specifically American Christians--find it threatening? How do scripture's call to welcome the stranger and Jesus' reminder to love our neighbor play into relating to folks of other faiths? And finally, what does our state of inter-religious understanding mean for the U.S. as a society?

(In case there are local people in Benson who don't see relevance to any of these questions, let us recall that Minnesota has the distinction of sending the first known Muslim person as a representative to the U.S. Congress--Keith Ellison.)

"Christian" Advertising

I know it's been quite a while since my last post. I never got around to posting anything on various Christmas-themed topics I had in mind. (You know how that time of year gets.)

But it's a new year, and time for a new post. On the radio show this past week, we talked about the use of Christian symbols in business advertising. Perhaps you've seen the Christian fish on a billboard here and there, or even received a business card with the fish or the cross printed on it. (I know I have.) In a nutshell, I explained that I find the practice disgusting.

In a similar manner, it was once considered disrespectful to use the American flag in advertising. Of course, that guideline seems to have been widely forgotten. Is the same thing happening to symbols of Christianity?

Using a Christian symbol does not tell me one thing about any so-called "Christian" values you or your business possesses. It tells me nothing about your commitment to welcoming strangers or loving enemies, honoring creation or serving the poor. (The current inhabitant of the White House--among the most vocally Christian of any U.S. president--is a case in point.) What it does tell me is that you're willing to advertise with religious imagery to make a buck. Sounds a bit like making a graven image to me.

As I mentioned on Monday's radio show, if you hand me a business card with a Christian symbol on it, it will find its way to the trash can. If your business has a billboard that exploits religious symbols, I will make a point of not patronizing your establishment.

But that's enough of what I think. Any thoughts on the matter? Is it really exploitation to use religious imagery in this manner? Am I just too opinionated as I frequently am? Chime in and let me know!

-Pastor Chris