Progressive Muslims and Christians

A new group of Muslims is gaining followers in the U.S.: Muslims for Progressive Values. These Muslims believe that traditional practice of Islam is outdated, and they practice a more progressive form of Islam. They might marry outside the Muslim faith, they might be homosexual without repercussions, they might even drink alcohol. Women lead prayers, gay imams perform marriages, and men and women pray side by side. The Muslims for Progressive Values believe Islam needs to move forward, out of the past and into the future.

Christian churches are also moving forward and becoming more liberal. The Presbyterian Church, United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church allow gay and women clergy. The United Methodist Church ordains women. 


Both of these movements are gravitating towards a liberal approach to their religion; they're moving away from the traditional practice.


Article:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/progressive-muslims-launch-gay-friendly-women-led-mosques_n_1368460.html?page=1

"Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner?"

In light of the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr. discusses homosexuality and the idea of "hate the sin, love the sinner." Christians who condemn homosexuality as a sin explain that they still unconditionally love everyone with the statement: "hate the sin, love the sinner." Though Christians claim they  love homosexuals (just not their sexual orientation), homosexuals feel separated from churches that condemn their sexual orientation and from their parents who've been taught to hate homosexuality. Flippin wonders if these Christians are truly following in Jesus' footsteps, when Jesus showed compassion towards everyone, even an adulterer who was to be stoned. In Flippin's mind, turning away homosexuals and condemning their behavior  is far from compassionate, and it's not what Jesus would do. In new York, Pastor Heidi Neumark created a shelter specifically for homeless LGBTQ youth/young adults. The goal of this shelter is to help people transition out of the shelters and become independent, productive adults. I think Neumark, her shelter, and churches who are open and affirming allow homosexuals to feel safe and loved, and offer shelter from the onslaught of hatred towards homosexuals. In my opinion, the issue of homosexuality and Christianity boils down to whether you think Jesus' compassion and love for everyone outweighs the evidence that Jesus believed homosexuality to be a sin.

Article:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reverend-william-e-flippin-jr/hate-the-sin-love-the-sin_b_1364510.html

Chinese Police Raid Underground Christian Newspapers

On March 26, Chinese police raided the offices of two underground Christian newspapers, A Kernel of Wheat and A Foreign Land, seizing four important employees. These newspapers are part of the House Church movement, a group of 40 million Chinese who practice Christianity in private because the government doesn't approve of their religious practices. The House Church movement is comprised of an underground network of Christians who meet in private homes for worship. Chinese Christians have been forced into this set-up because the Chinese government disallows Christians to register larger spaces for worship and repeatedly cracks down on open-air gatherings. The political atmosphere is tense in China at the moment, and so is the religious atmosphere if Christians are being prevented from practicing and Christian newspapers are being persecuted.

I had no idea that the Chinese government was intolerant of Christianity. The intolerance seems to be increasing the tension in a nation that's already feeling stressed. As I mentioned in my last blog, I'm a strong believer in religious tolerance.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/chinese-police-raid-underground-christian-newspapers_n_1386490.html

Chats with CU Missionaries

I've been approached a lot recently by the Christian missionaries on the CU campus. They're very nice and interesting to talk to, but the concept of approaching random people on campus with the purpose of encouraging them to change their beliefs seems a little odd to me. 

I was first approached by a woman (Becky) who didn't fully embrace God and the Christian faith until college. She gave up boys and partying and explained how she felt guilty about rejecting a Father who was perfect and good. Then Becky explained how God had led her to her fiancee, and how God had also spoken to Becky's fiancee and guided him to her. I found her story interesting and beautiful, but it bothered me that she continued pressuring me to come to her Bible study and church after I explained that I wasn't religious and didn't feel compelled to become religious. 

A few days later, I was approached by another young woman who continued to pressure me after I explained that I'd already spoken with one of her missionary colleagues and that I wasn't interested in attending church. Like Becky, she was also kind and polite, but it bothers me when people try to enforce their religion on someone else. 

A religious friend of mine also tried to convert me and explained that she wanted to help me enrich my life through God. God had made my friend's life beautiful, and she wanted to help me find that path as well. The gestures of my friend and the missionaries are kind, but I think a kinder gesture is religious tolerance. I would have appreciated the missionaries much more if they had briefly explained their opinions and listened to my beliefs and then dropped the subject. Instead they continued to pressure me, which only frustrated me instead of encouraging me to change my beliefs. Thinking about all the wars and suffering caused by religious differences makes me very sad, and I think if we could practice more religious tolerance in our daily lives, we could practice religious tolerance in wider situations.