This week's obituary for Peter Gomes, professor, theologian, and minister at Harvard University, contained a quote from him that has been posted frequently on facebook and Twitter. And while I worry that the term "fundamentalism" can mean many things to many people, I think the quote worth repeating here. “Religious fundamentalism is dangerous because it cannot accept ambiguity and diversity and is therefore inherently intolerant... Such intolerance, in the name of virtue, is ruthless and uses political power to destroy what it cannot convert.” (from a 1992 op-ed piece by Gomes in The New York Times)
I think that one of the worst examples of faith, and therefore a terrible hindrance to sharing faith, is faith with no room for doubt or ambiguity. Sometimes this faith seems to be so tenuous that the slightest doubt would cause it to crumble, and so its defense is to become so rigid that all other formulations are simply wrong.
In today's reading's Paul speaks of boasting of his weakness, and Jesus says, "For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" Surely all human theologies and faith formulations fall far short of the glory of God. There is much we do not know or see clearly, as Paul himself says in his famous words about seeing "in a mirror dimly." Surely all of us have enough trouble with our own eyes to be cautious about correcting others' faulty vision.
As I read Jesus' words on judging, it seems to me that they forbid any absolute fundamentalism, any insistence that my understanding is exactly how things are, and no other formulation can be considered. And if that is true, then certainty is actually an enemy of faith. A little doubt, and the humility that goes with it, leads to a closer walk with Jesus.
Click to learn more about the Daily Lectionary.
No comments:
Post a Comment