Changing the Image of Religion: The New Faith Coalition

The day after the inauguration, I will be joining with Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Christian leaders at the National Prayer Service for our new president. Each of us will look different, sound different and hold different beliefs, but each of us will humbly offer words of hope and blessing for our country and its leaders. Pastors and their place in the inaugural ceremonies have made quite a stir over the past few weeks. Questions have been raised about beliefs, politics, symbolism and representation. People on both sides of the aisle have been elated and enraged. The media, for the most part, has framed it as a left vs. right, conservative vs. liberal struggle and has been quick to call winners and losers.

What this controversy has revealed and will soon become more clear is that the same old categories just don't fit anymore. No matter all of the differences that the religious leaders assembled might have with one another, there is a common ground that has brought us all together. This common ground is the common good -- for our country and our world.

A very new and, yet, very old role for religion is now emerging -- the defense of the poor and vulnerable. A new generation of believers and trailblazing religious leaders are making sure that the agenda of the faith community is broader and deeper than it has been for several decades. Like the religious leaders for the inauguration, we don't all agree but we have found place where we can stand together.

This past election provided a picture of what some of this shift will look like, especially within the Christian community. Three factors are key to understand it.

First, the leadership of the African-American and Hispanic churches has come to the fore. We now see a surge of energy among black and Latino Christians who were galvanized by a campaign and a candidate who better spoke to their aspirations and values. They mark a growing shift within the religious landscape toward marrying social conservatism with a deep commitment to social justice.

Second, a new generation of white evangelical pastors and students cast a "post-Religious Right ballot" this election. For those Christians, sanctity of life now includes poverty, human trafficking, genocide, war, and even climate change. Healthy families are a top concern, but they don't think that gay and lesbian rights somehow cause family breakdown. They believe that the 30,000 children who die each day globally would touch the heart of Christ more than gay marriage amendments in Ohio or California.

Third, among Catholics and other people of faith, we've seen a broadening of the agenda with fewer single issue voters. "Pro-life" voters are realizing that their faith calls for a consistent ethic of life from "womb to tomb." For some, this means no longer pursuing a strategy of criminalizing abortion but a more pragmatic strategy of serious abortion reduction, It is becoming a common ground that could break the ideological deadlock of the past 30 years.

Christians of color, younger white Christians, "new evangelical" pastors and leaders, and progressive Catholics and Protestants from many denominations are now spending more time looking for allies than enemies. They are finding them especially among new voices and leaders in both Jewish and Muslim communities. They have learned many lessons from the mistakes of the "Religious Right" and aren't about to repeat them, by simply becoming a new "Religious Left." When asked if they are liberal or conservative, many answer "yes," depending on the issue. They will be capable of both supporting and challenging, when necessary, a new president and administration. And because they don't easily fit the political categories of left and right, they could become bridge-builders, bringing a divided nation together on the really big and politically transcendent issues like poverty, human rights, climate change, energy transformation, the dignity of human life, and the urgency of peace. This is just what the new president is calling for.

On January 21st, as I stand behind the pulpit at the National Cathedral and pray with a diverse group of religious leaders with whom I can find common ground, I will also pray that all of this could change the image of religion in the United States, reflecting the changes already occurring in faith communities around the world. It may not even be too much to hope that religion could gradually change from the sectarian and divisive force that it all too often is, to becoming a catalyst for social justice and even a force for the healing of the nations -- the way it was supposed to be.

Jim Wallis is the author of The Great Awakening, Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners and blogs at www.godspolitics.com.

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Comments

[talkstocoyotes]

"Second, a new generation of white evangelical pastors and students cast a "post-Religious Right ballot" this election. For those Christians, sanctity of life now includes poverty, human trafficking, genocide, war, and even climate change. Healthy families are a top concern, but they don't think that gay and lesbian rights somehow cause family breakdown."

Mr. Wallis was very careful not to mention where these folks were when the State of California was allowed to decide on a civil right by popular vote. Or that Obama's Inauguration was opened by an invited minister who insisted on an aggressively sectarian prayer.

IMO, this is meaningless sentimentality on Mr. Wallis' part unless organized religion organizes on the side of the civil rights movement of this new century, the first half of it anyway -- and none of us had better hold their breath waiting for that. Our esteemed clergy is quite comfortable nowadays condemning racism decades after all the major battles were won, and decades from now I'm sure they'll all be claiming to have been "gay friendly" all along. But for now, look for increasingly creative efforts to explain why one group is still being singled out as The One Great Exception.

[Rock Serve]

I'm pleased, FINALLY, that a President throws a bone to the "non-believers" of America. His speech was good but for me it became great when he gave recognition to we who hold the opinion that there is no credible evidence for the existence of a creator most call "god."

Thank you Mr. President for indicating that this is our country too and I hope, yes atheists have hope too, that we will have a place at the table in your administration and hope that you'll see fit to REBUILD THAT WALL as the Freedom From Religion Foundation's ad in the Washington Post on 1-20-09 asked you to do. That precious wall of keeping church and state separate has been crumbling under the weight of Bush's Office Of Faith Based Initiatives . . .

Thank you sir.

[ANGEL53545]

sorry but washington dc in filled with atheists. you are in good company so to speak.

[onagadori]

Are those the only religions being represented? What about buddhists? Are any of their sects going to be present? What about Wiccans or native Elders? How many Taoist preists will be present? Sikh? Jain? Bonpo? How many Aboriginal Elders will sing to the Rainbow Serpent and enter the Dream Time? How many Zoroastrians or Shinto or Mayan Elders will speak? Will it just be the four; Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hindu? If so, even representing the majority of the worlds faithful, it poorly represents the fact of humasn religious traditions residing on Earth, even now.

[JohnBisceglia]

I keep thinking the same thing. Even of "THE 4", Christianity gets WAY TOO MUCH face time in America.

[talkstocoyotes]

"Will it just be the four; Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hindu? "

This is a predictable pattern: religious pluralism is wonderful, as long as the only religions included have 1) large membership numbers and 2) origins so ancient that any relevance to contemporary life must be extracted like a pearl from a luckless oyster.

In other words, proclaiming religious pluralism and confining it to Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hindu is safe. Not in the same ballpark was considering that some of the lesser-known faith paths can have something to say as well.

[KofTX]

Really? What if we took every step of progress and zoomed out to such a degree that it really didn't look like progress at all. Would there still be a point in trying? Would the definition of success only be reserved for perfection? Human history has taught us that progress is a journey to be perfected by our descendants. We have to learn to embrace virtues like patience. President Obama (or any of us for that matter) can't tear down in one day what has taken thousands of years build. A step forward is just that---a step. Think about it people.

[KOisGod]

Until Man stops praying and worshipping the Golden Calf, and starts seeking God as a personal experience of deep love and thrilling Joy, he will fight with himself and his brothers and sisters to defend dellusion.

YOU will not find God in some building, or in some book. You will find HER in deep meditation, whispering to you, "come child, put down your sticks and stones, and sit in my lap by the still waters of peace and love, still the storms of anger and replace your discord with ever new JOY."

[RationalDubSteppa]

Really?? I mean the golden calf and the god you so speak off are really one in the same. IMO if u really want to see some change your better off ditching the fantasises and fairy tales associated with space gods and thetans are whatever and pick up a science book.

[prostock69]

While you are praying for a new image for religion. I'll be "praying" for an end to religion along with it's unproven superstiti­ous/supern­atural beliefs that are a cancer on our society. Religion has done more in holding back man's progress towards civility than any other dogma or ideology.

[ANGEL53545]

you sound like hitler and marxs

[RationalDubSteppa]

Spoken like someone who can't tell the difference between Fascism and Communism. You religious folks are so predictable it would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[JohnBisceglia]

Mr. Wallis, I hold the Religious Left guilty of CRIMINAL NEGLECT. While the Religious Right has been attacking minorities and causing harm and suffering (while ignoring poverty and social injustice), the Left has been SILENT. While the Religious Right has been demonizing gays, polluting Jesus Christ's name, and establishing what is surely an overwhelmingly UN-christian community of those who fear and hate, the Left has been SILENT.

When the Religious Left comes forward and publisly declares that Jesus loves gays AND our sexual expression (an expression of our LOVE-Orientation), only THEN will I respect Christianity.

Until then, it's brand name remains a dirty, disgusting, hate group.

[prostock69]

Agree!

[alphonsegaston]

John B, I am a member of a church wirh a lesbian pastor who lives with her partner. Our church, along with a number of other mainline Protestant churches of various denominations, fought for the right to practice our 'leftist Christianity' and stay within our denominational groups. Some lost, some won through a difficult compromise, and all were conducted in public. Television, national and local, visited our specific church. We were picketed on Sunday mornings. Fundamentalist churches sent members to disrupt our services. What can be more public than all that?

[talkstocoyotes]

I'm glad you're a member of such a congregation; but that doesn't cancel out the deafening silence from "leftist Christianity."

[JohnBisceglia]

Hi alphonsegaston,

As with all generalizations, I realize there are churches like yours, but when we look at national numbers, the RAUCOUS from the "Right" totally overpowers the Left's voice in all matters Queer. Oprah almost fell off her chair when she heard a religious person say "Gay is a Gift from God".

I'm not sure how the rest of the country is, but I was very fortunate to be involved with many churches and spiritual centers in Seattle, and these "New Thought" churches (non-denom­inational, interfaith) offered something I haven't seen in many other churches (I've been involved in quite a few as a church organist/pianist since I was 13...Catholic, Protestant, etc.).

For myself (ex-Catholic with all THAT baggage!), I've had to reject ANY church where I have to "make my case" for equality. But again, here in the Pacific NW there are many places to worship where one feels included instead of "tolerated".

Your church reminds me one in Seattle (short-lived, but nice) that was pretty much 95% gay; 80% women. We had a HOOT in our worship music, getting into Rickie Byars, Karen Drucker, had some drummers and Native American flute.....sweet. Best of luck with your church in 2009 and beyond!!! We will have to keep up with the Christian Right as they push back in the upcoming years.

[JacksonJones]

The test of whether you (the author) will be effective will be whether you can agree to pursue your ends without trying to make the legal code mirror the code of any religion. The religious community's behavior with respect to Proposition 8 in California is not a hopeful sign, and the arguments that they presented, e.g., that allowing gay couples to marry will undermine the marriages of heterosexual couples, are just plain wrong (dare I say dishonest). Religious people are certainly within their rights to advocate for things that they favor, but there are many things that one has a right to do that do not lead down the path of harmony with your neighbors or to a good reputation for being the uniting force that you seem to want to be.

[ENOS]

Christianity holds in its very core teachings, the princples of love, peace, and forgivness. I understand that for some the concept of God is unbelievable, which is more a philosophical standing than anything else. Still, as humans we benefit from the ancient teachings of truth that Christ taught the world. Many things have been done in his name, good and bad, because within all humans there is good and bad. If there were no relegions, the problems and evils of the world would still exist. Let's not blame religion for the world's problems. Let's take personal accountabillity. It is every human's duty ( religious, or non-religious) to live up to those highest principles, for the sake of God, Planet, Family, and Community.

[prostock69]

Actually, we (unbelievers) are not "some", we are MANY as in 1/2 the earth's population. The reason why god is unbelievable has nothing to do with philosophical standing. It has EVERYTHING to do with rational thinking overcoming ancient superstitious beliefs, knowledge of ancient history, knowledge of ancient paganism, science, and the complete and utter lack of evidence for the existence of a god.

Other than that, I agree with the last two sentences of your post. We need to start taking responsibility for our actions. We need to quit giving credit to a god for saving people in plane crashes. We need to quit blaming satan/devil for the evil in this world. It's all caused by humans. There are no supernatural forces in this world. Just the ones that live in our imaginations.

[ANGEL53545]

i will pray that your eyes will opened

[Spinzone]

I agree with many of your comments. Let's hope human rights are given to those not yet born. One encouraging sign that I saw this weekend was, finally, the depicition of a Catholic Priest in a positive way. Hollywood finally got it right. Most Priests are like the Priest in Gran Torino. The left Hollywood Catholic haters (Bill Maher, etc.) will hopefully see that their views of Priests are based on a small percentage of Priests. Obama has changed the perceptions of many, the vast majority for the positive - hopefully, more Huffington Post bloggers will see that their hate speech and hatred of the right is non-productive.

[lewes17266]

Jim Wallis, I wish you well. Wrong teaching has prevailed for so long. For years the millionaire televangelists crowded out Jesus and misused scripture and exploited their power for political maneuvering and personal gain and now "Christian" connotes hatred and bigotry instead of love and acceptance. We all know that God does not send terrorists, tornadoes and meteors to punish us for our sins, yet the very people who speak such lies are given a microphone again and again and again.

[ga4ry]

Do I see a crack in the dam? You all gather together in order to join forces, and it seems, arrange a play date for your assorted gods and prophets.
But in oorder to do this you must ignore, or re-translate your core beliefs. Not the feed the poor help the weak beliefs, but the I am the only god and all others are false beliefs.
Your gods do not play well with other supreme beings, and I am happy to see that thier followers are stepping up to bat and teaching them not to smite every Tom, Dick and Jehovah on the block.
Now if you could get them to stop asking for money from those who cant afford it and selling real estate in the great beyond, we might really have something here.

[davism97]

The only way Christians and Muslims can get along is if they ignore their own beliefs while they're together. What they are temporarily embracing in order to work together is a secular humanism. The fact is, if you want to follow Christianity or Islam AS IT IS WRITTEN, then you have to be a member of the religious right. There is no compromise in the Bible or Koran.

[newmexicogold]

"There is no compromise in the Bible or Koran."

Maybe not in your copy, which has changed from it's original every time it is translated or interpreted.

Islam was built on the foundation of Abraham and Jesus; that there is but one God, not several, and no idols. Christianity and Islam were not militarized until governments took them as their dogma. While both contain the provision to evangilize, neither condone 'convert or die.'

Learn Greek and Latin. Get educated. Read the Complutensian Polyglot by Desiderius Erasmus, and the Codex Vaticanus. Compare those texts to the modern. Then you will be qualified to speak on the subject of peace and co-operation between religions.

[Westy1941]

Yay! As a registered secular humanist (and atheist) I am overjoyed to see these words. And you are right - there IS NO COMPROMISE. You either believe or you don't.

[MJinCanada]

That is nonsense. A comparison of all faiths shows that they are rooted in the same beliefs: humility (as in not being a bossy SOB but respecting others), charity (as in offering to share with those in need rather than trying to look good) and honesty (true ethical behaviour).

It's the dogmatic "I'm right so you're wrong" pigheaded fundamentalism that keeps people of different religions from finding commonalities.

[Thevail]

Good Luck and Goddess bless!

I want to see religion become JUST like a great pair of jeans...

Something everyone has, and nobody has arguments about, and that everyone picks to best suit themselves and their lives.

And that leaves lots of room for people to have ones that are: patched, faded, slightly too expensive, fashionable, or even different ones for all occassions!

I personally have decided to worship Santa. He's got a simple moral code "naughty or nice", and expects you to know where you stand on the scale. He doesn't demand perfection..just nice..I'm OK with that, it's attainable.
There is no punishment involved in being naughty, just an absence of reward..and another chance next year.

As far as hierarchy it's all based on age.
The age of belief..under 8
The age of supporting the faith of others although you yourself do not believe 9-21
The age of being santa's clergy (elves) who deliver the presents and presence of Santa to the Believers. 21+

[OtayPanky]

Thevail: I want to see religion become JUST like a great pair of jeans...

===

As long as we don't have to have convocations and endless speeches so that the Levites, the Wrangler-ites and Lee-ites will finally stop clubbing one another like baby seals, I'm OK with that.

[MJinCanada]

Spandex is the work of the Devil!

[DrJenniferHoward]

This discussion sheds light on what's important today and how it's becoming necessary for different faiths to honor each other.

How do we challenge ourselves to learn about people who are different from us while still growing in our own beliefs? How do we see beyond the dogma and into the essence of other people’s beliefs? How do we discover that there is beauty and unity in the essence of all religions? Consider this: What leaders of great faiths have tried to convey is their window into an experience of truth. That kernel, in its core, comes from the same place. What Jesus said, what Moses said, what Mohammed said, what Buddha said, as well as others, at its essence has both beauty and truth. Taking the dogma too literally, after interpretations and usually many translations, can lead to a kind of insular righteousness.

This is an excerpt from Dr. Jennifer Howard's article, How to Value Change, http://www.drjenniferhoward.com/show_article.asp?article_id=7&ctr=0

[ANGEL53545]

I take what jesus says as gospel. not what bubba says or mohammed says. in all other religions there are some truths. but some truth is not good enough, because they lead to deception in the true faith.

[DC]

Let's keep religion where it belongs -- in the home or place of worship and out of government and in our face.

[OtayPanky]

Precisely. Your religion, your gender preference and your favorite color mean nothing to me, nor should mine mean anything to you.