Two Nations Under God
an article by Tony Dominski

The Soujourners website has been a voice for liberal Christians who have been active on Culture of Peace issues. With a lot of recent national press coverage, it has been challenging the notion held by religious fundamentalists that the war in Iraq is justified on moral grounds.

Sojourners was established in 1971, as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer a voice and vision for change through social justice and spiritual renewal. Sojourners is composed of a diverse group of evangelical, Catholic, and Protestant Christians, as well as others who work on peace and justice issues. Their website is worth following as U.S. religious groups continue to debate the morality of war, sexual expression, and social justice.

In a website article, “We are all human beings”, Sheila Provencher, of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, writes from Iraq about the wartime experience of civilians. She laments how the United States has dehumanized its enemies in preparation for killing them.

Another article, “God-talk and moral values”, by Soujourners’ director David Batston, probes the reasons for the differences in world view and values among Christians in the United States. This article sheds some gloomy light on the religious politics of the last election.

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

In the quest for religious tolerance
should religious leaders be held accountable to promote inter-faith harmony?

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RELIGION AND CULTURE OF PEACE

LATEST READER COMMENT:

Tony, David- I don't know whether this book deserves a full review as a follow up to your article on the quest for religious tolerance. Its title is rather forbidding, [I]A Moral Ontology for a Theistic Ethic. The sub-title "Gathering the Nations in Love and Justice" is more inviting. The back cover has this statement"In the wake of ethnic religious strife post Sept. 11th, this book argues for a common morality built on the inclusivity of love, community, and justice that can transcend sectarian and parochial boundaries." The author is Frank Kirkpatrick, acting dean of Trinity College. Perhaps he could be invited to write an article describing why he wrote this book.
I think we should ask does this book advance the 6th peace key, rediscovering solidarity. - Helen

This report was posted on December 15, 2004. The moderator is Danielle Bauer.

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