One of the main issues that causes divisions among us is that of ideological differences. We cannot avoid having ideological differences, as we all, for a variety of reasons, believe the way we do. We all have a set of beliefs in the area of politics, social issues, and religion. Some of our beliefs are shaped and formed in our home environments, others in our communities of faith, and yet others, through the educational system.
It is my purpose here, not to advocate for a particular ideology, but rather, to have us examine and question ourselves as to why we believe the way we do. In the area of religious and theological belief systems, we tend to become defensive, and even at some points aggressive when confronted with a set of beliefs that is different from ours. We tend to demonize people whose ideology is contrary to ours, and we dismiss them with derogatory terms as "apostate, heretical, false, etc." A common cliché and slogan of dismissal among conservative evangelical Christians is the term "liberal." It is used to dismiss outright any belief system that does not conform to the traditional view of an "inspired" book such as the Bible. So-called "liberals," in turn, dismiss conservative evangelicals as "obscurantists," i.e. living in the Dark Ages or living with outmoded ideas.
How can we bridge the ideological gap that exists between Christians? I am not a proponent of any one abdicating or surrendering their beliefs just for the sake of accommodation. That would not be ethical. One has to hold on to beliefs which emerge out of true conviction, and not out of accommodation to social or popular expectations. I propose the following, though not expecting that it will be a perfect solution to the problem of ideological barriers.
1. Examine thoroughly the background of those beliefs which are different from yours. In other words, acquaint yourself with the historical emergence of those beliefs, in terms of how they started, with whom, where, and the reasons for them. In this way, you will have a better idea why people believe the way they do.
2. Examine your own belief system in the same way as above, i.e. who, why, what, when, how, and where, rather than just accept or hold on to them blindly.
3. Give room to the possibility that there is truth outside of your theological "box," i.e. don't be so bigoted and narrow-minded, and dogmatic. If you stay stuck in your ideological box, you will miss out on the opportunity to find great truths in other boxes.
4. If you use the Bible as the main source of your beliefs and practices, do not simply quote it or use it for proof-texting. Acquaint yourself with the cultural and historical background of each biblical segment that you read. Identify that background and it will help you to see what you read in a much broader light.
5. Be willing to engage in open dialogue with others, especially with those whose beliefs are different. Since none of us has monopoly on the truth, we all have a lot to learn from each other.
6. Respect the right of others to believe as they do. Give them the same respect that you expect from them for your beliefs.
7. Be "liberal" in the strictest sense of the word. By this I mean be open to a wide variety of perspectives. If the sacred text that we revere and honor so much, itself reflects a variety of theological perspectives, who are we, then to be adverse and closed to different perspectives.
Feel free to comment on this essay. Your input will really be valuable and appreciated.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona
Wouldn't it be nice if people with different views on issues (theological or otherwise) could work together to make better outcomes. I believe that people of good will can work together following a formulation such as you suggest; in particular, I recommend the use of your points 3, 5, and 6.
ReplyDeleteBut I wonder why good will is so often in short supply. And I wonder why it seems that people who move into positions of leadership and authority exhibit more purity of thought and less good will than their constituents. It would be wise if we examined how we pick our leaders.
Gary Dudley
Brother Gary: Thank you so very much for your reply. As always, your contributions and responses are so insightful. I can't help but wonder, relative to your question, if people in positions of leadership and authority believe that purity of thought or what some would call "sound doctrine," outweighs the need to have good will. I think that in essence, they end up making an idol out of purity of thought. They put principles over the person, which is precisely what Jesus censored the leaders of His time for. I think that your comment on the need for being wise on how we pick and select our leaders is so apropos. Thank you for your ongoing contributions.
DeleteGrace and peace,
Juan Carmona