Though most of our [Methodist] theological schools already teach (and sometimes require) classes in the beliefs and practices of other religions, this approach is not enough. Methodist students learning about the religious “other” is one thing. But Methodists learning alongside those of other religious persuasions is something else altogether.I hope you have a few minutes to read it. And as always, I look forward to any thoughts and comments you may have.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Methodist and Multifaith
In next week's United Methodist Reporter (the denomination's national newspaper), I have an editorial on the future of Methodist higher education. Entitled "Being Methodist and Multifaith", the article outlines what I -- as a life-long Methodist and long-time college administrator -- see on the horizon for theological education. Here's a brief quote:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
Dr. Campbell,
I am bit confused by Claremont's approach to being a multifaith theological school. Are you proposing a school that addresses the understandings of different Christian denominations, as implied by your article, or different faiths (e.g., Islam, Buddhism) as implied by the term, multifaith? Since this is an area where there could have been, one has to be a bit suspicious that this ambiguity is intentional. Certainly, there is benefit in understanding how different denominations understand the Christian faith, although liberal protestants have so distorted basic denominational beliefs that there is little de facto difference between liberal Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopalian beliefs. However, if you intend to teach Islam or Buddhism as truth, then in the interest of truth in advertising, you should disassociate yourself from the Methodist church. People are confused enough about what Methodists believe beyond open minds, open doors, open hearts (a remarkably ill conceived tag line as education should be the process of moving from ignorant lazy open mindedness to a firm embrace of truth) that they do not need United Methodist affiliated Universities confusing them further. Likewise, if your theological school is to form Methodist pastors, it should focus on the truth as proclaimed by John Wesley rather than Islam, Buddhism, or other faiths. To do otherwise would be the equivalent of teaching astrology to your astronomy students or Lysenkoism to your biology students.
Blessings
Dr. Campbell,
If the intent of training United Methodist pastors along side those of other faiths means teaching and espousing religions other than Christianity as true, then not only are we departing from Christ's teachings but also those of John Wesley's and the denomination which supports your school of theology. I speak for many who do not approve of such a measure and feel that in so doing you are breaking with Christian teaching and United Methodist tradition. In that case, if that is your belief, you should leave your post and find one where your beliefs are accepted. There is a lesson to be learned in the story of Solomon marrying outside his faith and allowing practices of other religions to take place after the Jews were forbidden by the commandments and prophets to engage in practices which upheld other beliefs about God/Gods. Also, remember that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Teaching a class about a religion is not the same as teaching that a religion is true. I cannot imagine Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or any other faith admitting that along with their faith Christianity is also true. As C.S. Lewis and many others familiar with logical reasoning concur, it is not possible that all the religions can be true. There are only two choices. A thing can only be true or not true but not both at the same time. While it may be true that all the religions may hold some teachings in common such as the "golden rule," the cornerstone teachings of Christianity, that Christ is the Son of the only living God and that He is the means by which we have eternal life is exclusive of the acceptance of other religions as other religions exclude the tenants of Christianity as truth. Within my realm of experience, I do not know other Christians who do not treat members of other faiths in an inhumane or disrespectful or even unfriendly manner. Actually, the reverse has been true in my experience. It is Christians who among other faiths are often ostracised and discounted. I know there are those who profess to be Christians who would commit violence against others but in so doing, they disobey Christ. That we must make such a move as you desire for your school of theology, in order for our denomination to survive, is an unfounded speculation. To the contrary, movements throughout history have shown that when they took on outside interests their interests were sacraficed to the outside interest. If we move to integrate our faith with other faiths, the faithful will leave and we will lose more than we have to gain. Moreover, we will no longer be United Methodists as we know it but more Unitarian Universalists who believe any and all beliefs. There are some things which should not be compromised and our Christian faith and its teachings is one of those things. Christ warns us that this will not be easy while we are in the world and up against it.
Dear Angela,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with me and other readers by putting your comment on my blog. Blogs are great places to share our disagreements, so as a matter of principal, when we simply disagree I will not argue. Our differing views should be sufficiently apparent that readers can see where our views diverge. I will, however, provide some perspective on matters related to what we are attempting and, in doing so, give elements of our rationale in taking this new direction.
I see that a major concern relates to our effort to create a multi-religious school. This is a new idea in theological education and constitutes both the key to our new direction and the matter of most concern to readers. New ideas often do create concern because, by their nature, they are unfamiliar and not well understood. In fact, the concern you reflect is reminiscent of the perceived threat that many had to the ecumenical movement in the mid-twentieth century. Now more than half a century later, for those denominations that have participated in this movement the Christian family has been brought closer together. An example of this is the joint communion recently entered into by the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Similarly, all of our United Methodist related seminaries have student bodies characterized by multiple denominations—a circumstance that has in no way weakened the distinctiveness or faithfulness of United Methodist students.
The Board of Trustees of Claremont School of Theology have taken this action (to be not only ecumenical but also multi-religious) for the purpose of creating a campus where tomorrow’s religious leaders can not only deepen their faith in their own traditions but can also learn first-hand to understand differing cultural heritages, to respect each other’s right to believe differently, and to collaborate across religious boundaries to solve problems that span religious boundaries. The School of Theology, of course, will continue to educate leaders for service to Christian churches, agencies, educational institutions, and other areas as it has for many years. But educating religious leaders in the isolation of their own traditions has not proven effective in reducing religious inspired conflict, so we are attempting to develop a better way. And we believe that a mature, theologically diverse, and global denomination like United Methodism is well equipped to lead the way in developing such a model.
I might add that this is particularly important in America where no religion has been “established” by the State and where religious pluralism is growing. If we take steps now to create educational models that will lead to harmony and understanding among Americans of different religious traditions, we will not only enjoy the benefits (which could include avoiding conflict, fighting hunger, reducing homelessness, and so on) but also develop institutions that can be duplicated elsewhere in the world.
Again, thanks for writing, and I hope you will write again.
Jerry D. Campbell
Post a Comment