Posted on 11/30/2006 2:05:10 AM PST by Dallas59
To live peacefully with Muslims and Jews, Christians must put aside the notion that their faith requires the creation of a Christian kingdom on Earth, a Lipscomb University theologian told an interfaith gathering at the university.
"We are not going to get very far in our relationship with Jews or Muslims if we do not let go of this idea," Lipscomb professor Lee Camp said at Tuesday's conference.
The unusual gathering of several dozen clergy and lay people was devoted to resolving religious conflict in Nashville and around the world.
"We need to forsake the Christendom model," Camp said. "The most basic Christian commitment … is that we say we believe in the Lordship of Jesus. But, if we claim that, how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the Lord of all Lords?"
Co-sponsored by the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, the daylong conference was prompted by a desire to begin a dialogue about global religious conflict.
After five years of rising gas prices, disturbing privacy issues that followed the Sept. 11 attacks and the fear of terrorism, it became apparent that everyday life in Nashville is directly affected by religious conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, conference organizers said.
"We felt like the larger community is calling for this," said Larry Bridgesmith, executive director of Lipscomb's newly established Institute for Conflict Management.
Panelists representing different faiths presented their own views on how to begin to bridge the religious divide.
For Kahled Sakalla, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Nashville, some of the answers lie in better education about Islam in the non-Muslim world.
Allah, the God Muslims worship, is the same God Christians and Jews worship, and the Quran recounts the same biblical stories of Mary and Jesus, he said.
"Yes, we have differences, but it's important to focus on commonalities," said Sakalla, one of four panelists representing different faiths who addressed the Lipscomb conference.
Mark Schiftan, rabbi of the Temple in Belle Meade, said he also believes people of faith must begin to look for common ground.
"If all of us believe we were created in God's image, then we have to believe that everyone else is also created in God's image," Schiftan said.
Charles McGowan, president of the Christian group Operation Andrew said: "It's important to us in Nashville that we be proactive. Religious leaders must engage one another if we are going to experience in this city the peace and calm we all desire."
But the issues that have divided the world's religions for millennia are so deep and fundamental — ranging from the question of whether the land of Israel rightfully belongs to the Jews and whether there is one way to salvation — that tackling them will require both dialogue with other faiths and a more introspective look at one's own beliefs, panelists said.
Some liberal theologians have suggested that different faiths are all variations on one another and that beliefs are all basically the same, a position with which Camp deeply disagrees.
Instead, he believes, Christians must not back away from their beliefs but further examine them and their own history.
First, Christians must examine their "sins of omission," he said — such as not taking the time to learn about other religions. Then they must look at their "sins of commission."
"We have such short historical (memory) spans as white Christians," he said. "There is a history of anti-Semitism, the violence and bloodshed of the crusades and cultural imperialism. We have to deal with the reality of what Christians have done, which in some cases has been to kill people."
Camp described himself as a conservative Christian but conceded his opinions may be viewed as "radical" by other evangelical Christians.
Christians must shed the idea that they need to promulgate a worldwide Christianity, he said.
"If I hold to a model of Jesus … what I've committed to in my baptism is loving my enemy," Lee said. "I'm committed to not killing you, but to serving and honoring you. It's an exclusive commitment to the way of Christ, not to the exclusive authority of Christ."
Sakalla said there may never be reconciliation on the fundamental theological divisions.
"Every religion has different teachings," he said. "For Muslims, it's: Do you believe in one God and that Muhammad" is his prophet? "I don't think we can teach individuals that the way you go to heaven in other religions is OK. You have to teach differences." •
Or follow this link.
http://www.lipscomb.edu/filter.asp?SID=4&fi_key=657&co_key=10941
Kind of like the difference between "President" Bush and the "Mr." Bush that the MSM likes to diss him with.
This guy's a maroon. Let's just roll over, give up our faith so that the Muzzies can steamroll us with theirs. Right. Gotcha.
Idiot.
Christians and Jews have lived side by side for eons. Muslims are the ones that must, I repeat, MUST examine their sins of omission.
Which do you choose, Dr. Camp?
this can only be fair if I first can post the prophet mohammeds picture in both faltering and unflatering poses....
,.........but no it is an unfair diatribe spewed by a self castrated 'Peace in our time' 'Chamberlain'.
What a Wuss.
You can be offended all you want, if you want, though that was not the intent.
Thanks for posting this, Louisiana. My blood pressure just dropped 20 points. Now, the questions are "Did a major newspaper lie?" (can't believe THAT would happen /s/) or is it CYA time for Mr. Camp?
Ah, yes. Satan will be pleased. He's been working this angle for millenia.
First, Christians must examine their "sins of omission," he said — such as not taking the time to learn about other religions.
Nowhere in any Bible I have ever read is it a sin not to learn about other religions. As I have stated on a couple of other threads, I've never learned about Pentecostals, but I don't worry about them killing me in a holy war.
"We have such short historical (memory) spans as white Christians," he said. "There is a history of anti-Semitism, the violence and bloodshed of the crusades and cultural imperialism. We have to deal with the reality of what Christians have done, which in some cases has been to kill people."
There's also the history of Christianity being the basis for most American charity. Of Christian thought being the under pinnings of the American Constitution. Of basic Christian decency and Christian leaders being the reason we fought a bloody Civil War over slavery.
Christians must shed the idea that they need to promulgate a worldwide Christianity, he said.
Will do, as soon as Muslims agree to do the same.
There, I feel better now.
how can a Muslim or Jew trust us, if we say Jesus is the Lord of all Lords?"
Following his own logic , why don't those other religions give up their beliefs in their God ? What utter trash this all is .
It is hard to believe that a reporter would so misreport what was said, I do think that is what happened here.
A liberal reporter just making up a story.
Piss on islam.
Is anyone getting the feeling that America has or is becoming the New Middle-East?
iffy??? Nothing "iffy" about it.
And yes, referring to the Pope as "Mr." is offensive.
MM
Few have seen what it really means to know Christ.
Christians are called, not to deny, but to proudly proclaim our Savior before ALL men.
He who would save his life must lose it.
Look, the Pope said: We must get along.
So are y'all getting along?
Seems like we're all getting along.
What's the problem?
As soon as the Muslims admit that their prophet was a pedophile and rapist
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