There’s a dingy Chinese restaurant called “The Candlelight” near the corner of Glisan and 72nd in Northeast Portland. The area surrounding it is dead industrial with a few unfortunate houses spotted along empty streets. Inside the aptly named diner, the lighting is dim and orangey-red. The dinner area is empty, but the lounge in back hums with activity.
Last Saturday, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would choose this venue over any other bar in Portland, but I was meeting a friend there to watch the Oregon game against USC. This was strange in the first place, because Chris never cared about sports of any kind (neither did I, for that matter) but he was there with another young man – a big Oregon fan.
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6 comments:
Hey there, happened to stumble across this blog. It looks like you and your new friend have fallen into what the new pope calls "moral relativism."
I can understand if Tim asked *you* personally about your thoughts on homosexuality. Then *you* personally could express uncertainty and all that jazz. But what about when someone asks you as a representative of your faith? Isn't honesty the best policy?
I'm fascinated by this discussion because as a practicing American Muslim, my friends and I run into these types of questions all the time...
Hi Shabina,
I'm honored by your visit.
My friends and I, as well as my larger church body, discuss ideas about Moral Relativism a lot. I do think that there is a danger in such a slippery slope, but that hasn't yet kept me from exploring the outer reaches of existentialism.
Why? God help me, I believe that Black and White Theology leaves little room for compassion. I have this theory that while God certainly DOES see things in Black and White, we limited humans can see only grey... compassion especially is grey, because compassion keeps us from judging one-another. Love gives us the reason for compassion.
You are not the first to call me a relativist, and I'm not offended, I think your query is valid, intelligent, and important, but I do believe in absolute right-and-wrong. In my defense, Tim DID ask what I thought about homosexuality, not what the Bible said about it.
You're right though, as I said in the last paragraph, there is a heavy burden of responsibility on any woman or man who chooses to represent or testify of their faith.
I wonder, too, if part of my discussion with Tim seemed dishonest to you - that perhaps I was hiding my "true feelings." If so, I can understand suspicions from a Muslim viewpoint. I recently published a short editorial on an article from ModernMuslima.com about the unscrupulous nature of Christian "contextualized evangelism." I would agree with the account (www.modernmuslima.com/SecretWar.htm) and think many Christians DO use manipulative and dishonest tactics to "appeal" to nonbelievers.
My editorial is at...
www.off-the-map.org/idealab/articles/idl0508-2-seeuscoming.html I would be curious to see if you approve of my response.
Blessings to you, and again, thank you for your visit.
Hi Pete, I really liked your editorial. It takes courage to publicly say you don't agree with certain "selling Jesus" strategies employed by other Christians.
Muslims have been wrestling with this a lot lately - how to denounce certain actions as the individual beliefs of a few, and not representative of Islam as a whole. A lot of people think talking about our issues publicly is treason, calling it "airing dirty laundry." But I think if we all are going to start trusting each other, then we've got to suck it up and put all our cards on the table.
I disagree with you, though, that God sees things only in black and white. There are lots of stories in Muslim scripture and history (as I'm sure there are in the Bible) about God not rewarding people who do good deeds because their intentions were bad, or vice versa. So while Islam doesn't tip-toe around certain ideological issues, it does leave room for shades of gray. In the end, God knows best.
Peace to you, too!
Shabina
Mmmm, good point. I like that... you're right, if God has compassion, and certainly if God sees our innermost hidden sins, then he sees the greys that make us up.
Love a little interfaith dialogue!
Hey there
Thanks for commenting on my blog the other day. Good new post. I ALWAYS fall into that "what do i say!?" place, because strangely, what I personally think about homosexuality lines up nearly perfectly with you, yet the Bible seems to be mixed up about it. It teaches love for all and judgement for none...yet it says it is wrong. I think compassion and a nonjudgmental attitude is foremost our duty as believers. I'm grateful we're not expected to uphold the law for everyone else. My upbringing was a rather legalistic form of Christianity, and it's only recently that it has "clicked" with me that it's all God's work in me, and I'm just a willing vessel, and that is ALL. Simple and obvious to most, but when you're brought up to do do do and seek seek seek, being told to just be willing and allow is revolutionary. I have enjoyed reading the comments between you and Shabina as well...and I think she has something with God not always being what we call "black and white" because he is aware of so much more than just our actions.
Interesting thoughts. I think there it is always problematic to suggest that "The Bible says this or that" as if the Bible was a monolithic text rather than a library of writings from different writers from different times and places. It would be intellectually dishonest to discuss what the Bible "says" about homosexuality without taking into account the cultural and historical context of the time. I will say, when I consider such a context, I don't believe that the biblical texts say one single thing about homosexuality as we understand it today. It only speaks to destructive and objectifying sexual behavior, which could apply to any persons, regardless of sexual orientation.
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