My Response

Last updated on: August 6, 2011 at 10:27 am by John Beckett

My Response 2011-08-06T10:27:00-06:00 John Beckett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today is “The Response” – a fundamentalist Christian gathering in Houston that has called for a day of prayer and fasting in response to what they see is a great moral crisis in the United States. It has attracted extra attention because Texas governor and likely US presidential candidate Rick Perry is the headliner.

Given the publicity Perry has generated for this event, I assume you’re already familiar with the problems of The Response. I want to talk about my impressions and my own response.

First, I agree with the organizers of The Response that the United States is in crisis. But the problems of our country aren’t due to people not following the “right” religion – they’re caused by a lack of compassion, a lack of rational analysis and thought, too much money in the political process, and a political leadership more interested in winning elections than in governing.

Everyone has the right to express their opinions, even those whose opinions we find hateful. But they shouldn’t be surprised or offended when hate speech is labeled as such.

As a universalist, I respect those who act in the manner their religion prescribes. I even respect those who proselytize, so long as they do it politely. I don’t respect those who would deny those same rights to others.

Citizens who serve in government do not give up their First Amendment rights. Citizen Perry is free to attend all the exclusivist rallies he likes. But Governor Perry is wrong to use the power of his office to promote one religion over another. If he thinks the country needs a day of prayer, he should call for everyone to pray, not just those who pray like he does. And Presidential Candidate Perry should know that while endorsing this event may bring in millions of dollars from his far-right base, that base isn’t as big in the rest of the country as it is in Texas. It may play well in South Carolina, but he can write off New Hampshire and maybe Iowa too.

I find the “Day of Debauchery and Gluttony” amusing. Ask the ancient Celts – there is great power in satire. But that’s not really what I feel called to do.

Today, I’m going to work on my sermon for August 21 at Denton UU. It’s titled “The Sacred Earth” and it’s inspired by Bron Taylor’s book Dark Green Religion. The religion our society needs in the 21st century isn’t fundamentalist Christianity, it’s a religion that honors the Earth as sacred, either theistically or non-theistically.

I’m going to meditate and pray, as I do almost every day. As I do, I’ll include special prayers for our country and our state – especially prayers for rain.

Tomorrow I’m going to services at Denton UU, where I’ll meet with a bunch of friends, listen to Amy Martin talk about what Pagans have in common with the spiritual-but-not-religious, and recommit myself to the values of justice, compassion, and the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

And Monday I’ll go back to work and continue doing what I’m called to do while I do what I have to do.

“Spiritual warfare” calls for a variety of responses. The best response to The Response is to live our religion openly and honestly, with integrity and generosity.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 2, 2011

Doing Something About the Weather

Next Post

August 7, 2011 None of the Above

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Community CUUPS Druidry Foundations and Context Gods and Goddesses Magic Myth Nature Ritual Spiritual Practice Theology Travel Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

An angel Daniel The chief guard King Darius