It Borders Something Naughty, But I Might Like It

Jim Wallis is a man that is in close contact to a lot of books I read. It seems he's usually writing the forward or mentioned in many books, mainly because of his political and social action involvement.

I have never read one of his books yet, although I recently bought God's Politics.

This interview sounds like it should be wrong. "Religion has no monopoly on morality." I guess this goes to suggest that those who are not religious can be more moral than those who are. I do believe this to be true. Certainly some very immoral things were done in the name or religion, but also some great things and even healing things were done in the name of a same or different religion or no religion.

I think Jim is on to something straight from the Bible. Maybe you can see it in Jesus a bit, like when he talks to the Samaritan woman, using the whole "living water" analogy, rather than insisting on religious doctrine (even though some is present); also appealing to her morality by mentioning the man she lives with whom she isn't married to.

You see it eve more with Paul, who travels all over the place and meets all kinds of peoples who have varying beliefs and histories. He speaks of morality rather than religion when he warns not to do anything that will cause someone else to stumble. Everyone has their own practices that help them live right, don't mess with that, but join them. He also welds together religious outlooks by finding commonalities. You might say he makes his faith flexible to incorporate others rather than mandating a need for religious conversion in order to participate.

Wallis is very correct that you will exclude and divide people if you make this primarily about a religion (religious right vs. left). If this is people of faith who are foremost about restoring righteousness and beauty to the world, and they are opening to everyone who can comprehend the moral truths of life, then no one is left out. We all will have en equal opportunity to venture into something very spiritual, but not so religiously exclusive.

I'm sure this will spark some major thoughts, but mostly disagreements. Please share with some comments!