Salam - Shalom - Peace
It was a wonderful moment for Progressive Christianity as Dr. Ann Holmes Redding recently spoke passionately from the pulpit of The Riverside Church in New York City - one of America’s largest and most highly and internationally regarded congregations.
It happened late this month just after Redding had been defrocked by the American Episcopal church because she felt the call to become a Muslim in addition to being a Christian priest.
Redding chose to enrich her faith and her ethical and spiritual leadership ability with those elements of Islam that are progressive, liberal and fully compatible with the best of Christian thinking.
It is wonderful that some can celebrate her journey – even join in with her, despite the foolish sanctions of her own denomination. Both Christianity and Islam (and global peacemakers generally) have so much to gain from leaders like this.
Hmmm … I wonder what would happen if all the Christians and Muslims and Jewish people began to really identify with each other, learn from each other and make peace?
I guess at least some of the leaders in the Episcopal church wouldn’t really like it very much ... hmmmm.
Three cheers for harmony and inclusiveness and moving forward. Zero cheers for fear, barriers and total stupidity.
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You have raised a important point on interfaith discussions - there are many theories - for example my mentor JohnCobb wrote on how one could be a Buddhist christian - his point, though, was mutual transformation - one remained in ones trajectory but their understanding was expanded because each bring a different insight - there is difference and that had to be honored. There are real differences but that does not mean one is the 'truth' and we learn from difference and my trajectory is changed by the engagement of the other - but there may be a problem in trying to claim both at the same time -which is different from a adjective modifier. 
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I sometimes think that learning new faith traditions or belief systems is a bit like language acquisition. One can have a "mother/native" language and then learn another.
Learning the second language usually dramatically enhances one's ability in (or understanding of) their own language. (If you know French ... suddenly you understand much, much better the nuances of a lot of English words - words which may have Latin or French roots). Still ... you don't ever lose your first language. It isn't diluted ... just strengthened.
One can indeed "claim" more than one language at once - be able to speak/understand/be enriched by a diversity of languages. In fact, one's thinking is usually improved greatly through language acquisition.
I think it can be the same with faith/ethics/justice traditions. We don't dilute our understandings - we enrich them.
I believe that Dr. Redding bettered herself by broadening her spiritual life and understandings and that it is wonderful that many stand behind her - unequivocally.
I applaud Dr Redding's courage especially at this time as many Muslims face increasing anti-Islam sentiments in many areas of the Western world.Also, love your right hand column!
May the deities be with you.
Om Shanti.
Thank you for your comment! So true!Om Shanti right back atcha!
(Hope you've been enjoying getting into "Buddha" by Karen Armstrong! I'm thinking maybe you are liking it ... given the eastern spiritual nature of your fab sign off).
:-)
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