Thoughts on the New Year 2010

As the year 2010 has begun, we begin to have perspective on the first decade of the 21st century. For our country, this decade is largely defined by the attack on September 11, 2001, and the two wars we began in the years since. Although there are many achievements and acts of courage, beauty, and love from this decade to be treasured, I know that many of us hope for better years ahead on the large scale. And we are not alone.

On Christmas, my wife, Betsy, gave me a book written by Eboo Patel, who is the founder of Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that seeks to foster interfaith dialogue and good relationships among young people. He recognizes that religion is a central element in much of the conflict and hatred of recent years, and that young people are being actively recruited to continue down that road. Patel wants to help people stand on the other side of what he calls the “faith line.” In his view, the faith line does not separate Christians from Muslims, or pit any one religion against the other. Rather, people of any religion who seek to live together peacefully, with respect for each other’s dignity, are on one side of the faith line, while those of any religion who view their own religion in totalitarian terms are on the other side of the line. The shape of our future hinges on which side prevails.

Similar work is being done with a movement gathered around the “Charter for Compassion.” This Charter was developed by people of many faiths in response to the advocacy of religious historian Karen Armstrong. The third paragraph of the charter reads as follows:

“We therefore call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion; to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate; to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures; to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity; to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.”

I’m not suggesting that we join up with this movement; I believe that we are, because of our faithfulness to the way of Jesus Christ, already a part of it.