Lunch Hour Perspective

It is Wednesday. As Mary “officially” returns to school (those of us who know true teachers know that they are never really off the job) the summer fades into happy memories as the stark reality of fall’s presidential election looms larger. Dad and his colleagues always expressed concern over the consequences of theological illiteracy which is sadly being borne out in the current campaign. The “religious” overtones also validate a related concern over the blurring of Church and State. What does God “think” about abortion? What does God “think” about war? What does God “think” about anything? Albert Einstein once famously mused, “I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details;” but that is hardly the same thing as Rick Warren moderating a contemporary inquisition of the candidates’ orthodoxy. I know. I’ve been there. People who lack the ability to think critically are prone to accept the boilerplate answers that organized religion is all too eager to dispense. The Religious Right has built its empire upon the sands of theological ignorance which will probably stand until it is finally washed away by genuine enlightenment. Remember that guy Jesus? He fared no better with the orthodox conservatives of his own time, a genuine irony in light of the claim made by today’s Religious Right (which, as I’ve said before, is neither) to be his followers. As far as I can tell, Jesus encouraged people to think for themselves in the context of their personal relationship with God. We will do well to bear that in mind as we look to our next—and perhaps last—best hope to truly become the Whole People of God.