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February 11, 2009
US Churches' Attempts to do SOMETHING About Gaza
There's been a ceasefire in Gaza for a few weeks now, but one of my readers recently brought to my attention the responses to two christian sects to the Israeli attacks: this condemnation of them from the Episcopal church, and this offer of $21,000 in "hygiene kits" and blankets from the LDS church.
It's a fairly significant difference, but not surprising if you consider each source:
after all, one is an enterprise that seeks to understand and do Christ's will in the present, and thus offers women and homosexuals full fellowship in its organization (like this person or this person) in addition to condemning violence and warmongering, while the other is "the only true and living church on the face of the earth," and thus run by old straight white guys (plus maybe a few closeted homosexuals and a token man of color or two, because those are the people God prefers to talk to) interested in maintaining the status quo and, because they know they're the only ones on the earth God really approves of and communicates to, free from any responsibility to ask themselves if they are truly behaving in Christlike ways.
But I guess considering how bellicose and reactionary the Mormon church has been in the past, $21,000 in blankets and shampoo is a major improvement, and we should be grateful for progress wherever it appears.
Posted by holly at February 11, 2009 11:08 AM
I guess killing isn't considered a moral issue in the LDS Church. I recently heard Jimmy Carter reminding Christians that they worshiped the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of War. Isn't that a novel idea.
I recently heard Jimmy Carter reminding Christians that they worshiped the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of War.
very succinct and accurate statement from Mr. Carter. I hope it sunk in a few places.