Enough already

Published on February 8, 2004 By Urban Faery In Blogging

This is the e-mail response I got from the Jesus Week coordinator after I clarified why I found the statement “Absolute Truth” offensive:

"Thanks for replying so quickly. I think you are right that the idea of "Truth" can seem derogatory when one religion is contrasted with another.
Oddly enough, the word "absolute" entirely modifies this connotation of truth; "absolute" means that something exists or is measured independently with NO relation to something else (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 2003).

In fact, Jesus never said that it is merely his words that are true, but that he is truth itself ie. total and complete, definite and without any doubt or uncertainty, not limited or restricted (Oxford Dictionary - "absolute").

Christianity is actually not a religion or mere practice at all, but a relationship with the unique, absolute and true person of Jesus Christ, God and human in one being.

What are your thoughts on this? If you would like to continue this discussion in person that would be great, or if you feel more comfortable sticking to e-mail that works to."

But wait! Doesn’t her explanation prove my point that Jesus Week leaves no openness for the possibility of other beliefs? I understand being set on your faith, but it seems like she is so set on her own truth that she is completely unaware that other belief systems even exist! So I think I’m just going to leave it alone. I’ve tried to explain three times, and I’ve already won the battle by having the shirts discontinued, so I don’t need this.

And as a response to the comments I got on my last posting… It doesn’t bother me that people have a faith, or believe in something. In fact I think it’s great. I just don’t like when people refuse to be open minded about other possibilities. As I said in my letter I sent out, I totally encourage celebrating your own faith, I just don’t think it’s fair to force it on to others.

Comments

messybuu

on Feb 08, 2004

I applaud them for not watering down their religion with political correctness. Decisiveness fits better into religions than fence-sitting. I doubt anybody who reads Jesus Week would have as much faith if after everything they said, they went: "But we might be totally wrong and the opposite might be totally right and the evidence for both sides is inconclusive." The only belief I think would lend itself to openmindedness about all other possibilities is a belief of complete neutrality.

Urban Faery

on Feb 08, 2004

However it is one thing for a club to be firm in their beliefs and quite another to force their beliefs on others. I think it's great for people to belive strongly in something, but when holding an event that is campus-wide, it is important to realize that there are other students on campus who may not share your beliefs. I would hope that my contact with the Jesus Week coordinators will help them to realize that there are ways to celebrate your faith without aggressively putting down all other faiths. It is not a matter of political correctness, it is a matter of respect. If I declared a Jewish week and made my slogan "The chosen religion" you'd bet people would be on my ass to change it!

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