In your blog entry above you mention how different Christian groups may address similar content in very different ways. In my travels in various countries I often visit a local church or celebration. In an Anglican church in Wandsworth Commons, near London, where I went for Evensong, I saw on the bulletin board a notice suggesting that parishioners worry less about the sexual orientation of their ministry (currently a hot topic among Anglican and Episcopalian parishioners)and help hungry children around the world. Oh that more people, even those of limited financial means, could take a greater interest in helping others, rather than worry about differences in how to translate dictums from their preferred versions of the bible. For example, I help pay the school expenses each year for the children of a hotel security guard in The Gambia who invited me to his home (when I was birdwatching there) to celebrate with him and the people in his compound the end of Ramadan - a truly fabulous "back-door" experience.

Posted by: Barbara - Jun 08, 2009 1:51 PM

Correction, Rick. The test of Jubilee in Leviticus did NOT call for a reductribution of land. It called for a return of the land to the person and tribe that owned the land at the beginning of the 50 year period. The price was also based on the time left until the next Jubilee. And the land remained within Israel.

Posted by: Alan - Jun 08, 2009 2:53 PM

After many years as a Catholic, and then many more as a Lutheran, it still does not seem logical to me that God would favor any piece of the Earth as belonging to any religious sect. I have traveled Europe over 4 decades and have experienced the discomfort of realizing that the religious and foreign policy perspective of the large majority of people in the U.S.is born of ignorance. Should we accept the right of Palestine (or Israel)to exist as a Muslim (or Jewish) state? Should we accept the right of any religion to claim a peice of this planet, to the detriment of non-members of that religion? I can't believe that God cares who lives where, but instead cares how we care how others live.

Posted by: Joe - Jun 08, 2009 6:49 PM

Uh Jim did you even read ricks post? You complain that he did not begin with Israels right to exist while his first sentence on the subject said that we have a solemn commitment to protect Israels security. His statement on the wall was also pragmatic saying that there is a rational and need for the wall. All he was saying was that looking at things from the perspective of other people is helpful.

Posted by: Glenn - Jun 11, 2009 8:56 AM

I used to be a firm Israeli supporter. But the more I see of the persecution of the Palestinians - continuing growth of illegal settlements, building a wall with no consideration for the land rights of existing inhabitants, humiliating treatment at proliferating checkpoints, blockading Gaza - the more I sympathize with the Palestinians. I am continually amazed at the strength of the Israeli lobby in the US, given its small size. Of course, my distaste for theocracy doesn't help me support Israel, either.

Posted by: Kathy_C - Jun 15, 2009 9:50 PM

Rick, I say I completely agree with you on this. As a Christian, traveling should open our eyes and make us a bit uncomfortable. It should stir our hearts and change us as our eyes are opened to the rest of the world. It should lead us to love and humility. All of these you are correct about. But you can't take these pangs of the human soul and translate them into politics and govt. If so, you lost out on the purpose of these meoments - to change you and those around you, not the way we do govt.

Posted by: Jeremy B - Jun 16, 2009 11:27 AM

As I am about to leave for Rome, Greece and Crete, I have to say that I don't need to travel to Europe to have my eyes opened to the gap between rich and poor. My wife's aunt is a Catholic nun who helps migrant workers in FL to learn English, reading and writing skills. In addition, growing up in Boston, you learn that there are good and bad in all groups. If you need a trip to Europe to learn this I guess you have lived a pretty good life.

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