Confession of Christian theologians and ethicists

[chelaque liberal]

Someone else shared this information in a reply to another thread. I think it deserves it's own thread and I didn't see it. My thanks to that poster (sorry for not remembering who you are.) I have been having a lot of trouble with the religiosity that our foreign policy has taken on and the what I perceive as contradiction to the spiritual values I learned as a child. This give me some reassurance.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38676

"As the debate over the war on terrorism continues, 200 Christian theologians and ethicists today issued a new "Confession." Because of a deep and growing concern about an emerging national "theology of war," the increasingly frequent language of "righteous empire," and official claims of "divine appointment" for a nation in a "war" on terrorism, more than 200 seminary and college professors have signed "Confessing Christ in a World of Violence."


http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=confession_signers

"Our world is wracked with violence and war. But Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God" (Matt. 5:9). Innocent people, at home and abroad, are increasingly threatened by terrorist attacks. But Jesus said: "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). These words, which have never been easy, seem all the more difficult today.

Nevertheless, a time comes when silence is betrayal. How many churches have heard sermons on these texts since the terrorist atrocities of September 11? Where is the serious debate about what it means to confess Christ in a world of violence? Does Christian "realism" mean resigning ourselves to an endless future of "pre-emptive wars"? Does it mean turning a blind eye to torture and massive civilian casualties? Does it mean acting out of fear and resentment rather than intelligence and restraint?

Faithfully confessing Christ is the church's task, and never more so than when its confession is co-opted by militarism and nationalism."

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[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Excellent!

[knowbody0]

2. about time !!!

[lawladyprof]

4. Man's inhumanity to man

All these people who act as if the carnage of 9/11 was something unheard of betray a deep ignorance of history. People have been brutally killing and maiming other people, especially innocents/ noncombatents, for thousands of years. When Jesus said, "turn the other cheek" and "forgive those who persecute you" he was not talking about some antiseptic and insignificant harm. He was talking in the context of an Empire and an era that made an art form of cruelty. To cry great "changed everything" tears over the suffering of 3000 of our fellow citizens ignores and consquently denigrates the pain, suffering, and fear of countless human beings through the ages.

Nothing changed on 9/11 except our naivete about our invulnerability.

[MatrixEscape]

3. Ahhh ...

A small light doth shine brightly amidst incredible clouds of darkness.

A blow against the raging hypocrisy.