Saturday, April 21, 2012

One is very likely to share the faith of one's parents. 

For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—  a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10:35-36, quoting Micah 7:6)

Tribalism is an especially pernicious idol because it often assumes religious disguise.

Enticing religious accouterments are used to adorn ugly tribal prejudice.

But the conflict between idol worship and authentic worship is seldom fully obscured.

Too often we thoughtlessly adopt the idolatry of our family or tribe without asking questions, especially without asking religious questions.

Yet...

I love Armenian hymns and Russian pageantry and Greek icons and Jewish traditions.

I value Buddhist discipline, Islamic hospitality, and the subtle wisdom of the I Ching.

I celebrate my own Anglican customs.

The diversity of these essentially tribal traditions must also reflect the expansiveness of my God.

It is a conundrum.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. (Confucius, Analects XV.24)

You should forgive and overlook: Do you not like God to forgive you? And Allah is The Merciful Forgiving. — Qur’an (Surah 24, "The Light," v. 22)

Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. —Udanavarga 5:18

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