A Response To My Friend James Wilt

Dear James,

When I read your article A Fall From Grace I deeply resonated with the frustration and pain the Christian religion has caused you. I too have had a two year relationship ended because of Christian misperceptions of sexuality and marriage. I have also had close Christian friends attack me for dating outside of my faith. On a deeper level, this is a misunderstanding of the most fundamental Christian principle: Grace.

And James I think you are closer to this then I have ever seen you. Your realization of Christianity’s corrupted “anthropocentric belief system” is a profound one. You see Christianity is never meant to be centrally about us, but about God and what he does for us. The mantra of mature evolutionists that we stop seeing ourselves as “special” but should work towards cooperative and communal adaptation with nature is a strong one. It is also not as far away from the Christian tradition as you might think. The central tenet of Christianity is not meant to be about us fulfilling a "divine mission" but is most centrally about a shepherd who would sacrifice his life for one lost sheep. It is most centrally about a God who chooses an obstinate and ever failing nation and refuses to abandon them, in spite of their ignorance and betrayal. This is a God who suffers for us and therefore understands our suffering; all of us; humans, lions, and lambs.

The central goal of the human ideal is not our human fulfillment of it, but how it exposes our need for God, and his promise of loving reunion for all creation. Redemption is not a slow evolutionary process. It is and it isn't. We are all paradoxically found and lost. At home yet homeless. I am glad your new direction has humbled you, and I pray that if you feel the need for Christ’s unconditional grace in your life, you will see he never left you. I realize this may sound arrogant, but hopefully it is also comforting. In my own attempt to run away from Christ, this has always brought be back.

Your Friend,

Jesse

In Redemption of Saint Augustine and the Muslim Brotherhood

Throughout time the ideology of power has infected the original

ethos of Muslim and Christian communities in a variety of ways.

But if one looks closely, we can see grains of truth scattered

throughout the different adaptations and formulations of Muslim

and Christian theology...

Does Jesus see Muhammad as a true Prophet?

Muhammad begins with a message of right living and peace, but once he is thrust into the dilemma of his people being killed en masse, he and his community must decide wether or not fighting in self defense is the right thing to do.....

Does Allah Support Violence and Invasion?

Both the Bible and the Quran have often been used to support

violence and invasion throughout history. And both refer to the

supposive Canaanite genocide and invasion of their land as a

decree given directly by God. In a world of Christian colonization

and controversial wars like in Iraq and Afghanistan, can the Bible

and the Quran be faithfully read against violence? Can they share 

in illuminating a just, merciful, and peaceful God? 

Through the Eyes of Children

Leaders of man-made power structures will always be willing to

exploit the most vulnerable people in society (ei: children and

immigrants) for their own unquenchable desire for power and

wealth. The early Christians and Muslims defended vulnerable

people like children and made them essential to the plan of

salvation...