New Hope Down Under (by Jim Wallis)
Though it is winter in Australia, the sun was shining on Sydney Harbor, one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in the world. With the dramatic architectural lines of the famous Sydney Opera House outlined against the sky-blue horizon and reflecting on the glistening sea, I couldn't wait to hop the ferry to Manley and from there walk to the crashing ocean to watch the surfers climb the waves. I love this place, and though I was suffering a bit of jet lag from the 18-hour trip from Washington, D.C., I knew this first day would be my best chance to get out on the water before the busy schedule began. I am here to do the Australian book and speaking tour for The Great Awakening -- which has a different title in both Australia and the U.K., Seven Ways to Change the World -- and to meet with the country's church and political leaders.
As the ferry headed across the harbor, I remembered fondly the first time I had seen these waters. I was rushing around the city of Sydney doing speaking and interviews, and I kept asking my hosts if we could go down to look at the harbor between appointments. Two of my guides were Aboriginals and began laughing at me. When I asked what was so funny, they told me that this harbor was a sacred place to the Indigenous People of Australia and that my attraction to it was spiritual. And, indeed, it still feels that way.
This time the ferry was packed with young people wearing backpacks. They were leftovers from World Youth Day, which had just concluded in Sydney. The event was highlighted with a historic visit from Pope Benedict XVI. Almost 300,000 young pilgrims had come to this land called "down under" from around the world, and the main mass had drawn 500,000 worshipers. This is a very secular country, but everybody was talking about the positive impact the presence of so many young people was having on the city of Sydney and all around Australia. Stories of warm welcomes, bright smiles, wonderful conversations, open spirits, and, most of all, a real sense of hope filled the streets and the massive media coverage of the event.
With all the problems of institutional religion, including in the Catholic church, many have been expecting that more and more young people would be turning "secular."
Indeed, my first media interviewers here asked about the attraction of the "new atheism" as a reaction against the failures of religion and of the American Religious Right in particular. But I kept getting nodding heads from reporters when I pointed out that the answer to bad religion isn't necessarily secularism -- it's perhaps better religion.
In the pope's homily, he addressed the challenges of secularism, greed, materialism, and injustice, while pointing to the alternative the gospel provides:
Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed. A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships.
In his welcome to the Pontiff, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, himself a confessing Christian, impressed the crowd with his own "homily":
Your Holiness, you are also welcome in Australia, a welcome guest for the wider Australian Christian community. You are also welcome in Australia on behalf of those Australians of other faiths and indeed for the general Australian community at large.
Your Holiness, you are welcome as an apostle of peace in an age where in an increasingly interdependent world peace is a much-needed voice among us all. You are welcome as a voice for the world's poor. You are also welcome as a voice of hope at a time in our planet's dealings when hope is most needed of all.
The kids on the boat were an absolute pleasure to watch and to be around, which isn't always the case with all aspects of youth culture. They were happy, even joyful, and thoroughly enjoying the spectacular harbor vistas before us. Apparently, my young Aboriginal hosts had been right decades ago about this sacred place.
I've often said that there are two great hungers in our world today: the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice. The connection between the two is compelling, especially for this new generation. You could see that in these young faces and hear it in their conversations. While the beauty of Sydney Harbor has been described as almost magical, this day's combination of God's stunning creation and the possibilities of the next generation seemed to me more spiritual -- and very hopeful.
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Comments
I hope you're right. My personal impression of the generations since the baby boomers is that the materialism and obsession with sex may, if anything, have deepened.
Yet I think the point is to do what we can while we can, not predict the future. And I think that's what true prophecy is - creation and not prediction. Doing things to make waves, to try to set things in motion...
Paul - Original Faith
Posted by: Paul Maurice Martin | July 28, 2008 11:44 AM
what is social justice? roger
Posted by: roger | July 28, 2008 1:55 PM
Roger,
Isn't it when people of privilege get together and talk about how bad things are for other people? They hold rallies, give speeches, attend conferences in exotic locations, etc... :)
Posted by: Eric | July 28, 2008 2:40 PM
Good to hear you're tryin' to keep it up... wish you well down there... your piece reminds me to "Escape from the Black Hole" I've been reading lately... promises a powerful ending... I'm looking forward to it... cheers!!!!!!!
Posted by: R-O-L-A-I-D-S | July 28, 2008 3:23 PM
Paul: While it is pretty clear what the negative impacts are around excessive materialism, what is wrong with obsession with sex? I think my wife and I are obsessed with sex with no obvious negative consequences.
Obsessive thoughts about almost anything (including sex) is not necessarily a bad thing, taking actions on those thoughts outside the proper contexts (e.g. marriage) is where the problems occur. Too many of our youth are harmed by excessive focus on controlling their thoughts, many of which are natural and cannot realistically be controlled, and not enough focus on controlling their reactions to thoughts!
Posted by: Doc | July 28, 2008 4:53 PM
While it is pretty clear what the negative impacts are around excessive materialism, what is wrong with obsession with sex? I think my wife and I are obsessed with sex with no obvious negative consequences.
You start to see it everywhere, even in places where it wasn't intended, and either act impulsively or want to stamp it out. I know one guy in my church who's on a "modesty" kick, no doubt fed by his own struggles with sexual addiction -- because he really can't deal with his own obsession he's become very unbalanced.
Posted by: Rick | July 28, 2008 6:16 PM
"Indeed, my first media interviewers here asked about the attraction of the "new atheism" as a reaction against the failures of religion and of the American Religious Right in particular. But I kept getting nodding heads from reporters when I pointed out that the answer to bad religion isn't necessarily secularism -- it's perhaps better religion."
Just had to get that bomb in against your nemesis "the American Religious Right,", didn't you? I will ask again as I have frequently on your site (without a clear response) -- who are the "American Religious Right," and why are they so bad? If its Jerry, James, et al, then say so. Unless you intend to insult the millions of "religious" people who hold political views considered to be right of center, myself one of them.
a "better religion."? Would that be YOUR religion?
Christ never asked anyone to be religious. He expected others to follow Him and heed his Word. Your career of calling out the "failures" of a group of people to practice what you would see as "good" religin is similar to what the Pharisees did, who were excellent at pointing out other's shortcomings and failures and even blasphemy at not following the Word of God as handed down by Moses.
Posted by: Noodle Beach | July 28, 2008 8:15 PM
I will ask again as I have frequently on your site (without a clear response) -- who are the "American Religious Right," and why are they so bad?
The American Religious Right is any group of conservative ideologues that uses the Christian faith for the sake of maintaining power and authority and denounces anyone who disagrees with it. It's not limited to the "usual suspects"; I consider World magazine (which would totally deny it) "religious right." Essentially, its goal is to become the religious establishment.
Your career of calling out the "failures" of a group of people to practice what you would see as "good" religion is similar to what the Pharisees did, who were excellent at pointing out other's shortcomings and failures and even blasphemy at not following the Word of God as handed down by Moses.
Hardly -- that's just what the "religious right" does because its scope is limited to only certain "moral" issues it identifies as specifically Christian. Anyway, the prophetic will challenge the established order, which is why those on the "right" can't stand Wallis -- he reported on this blog four years ago that Jerry Falwell insulted him "as evangelical as an oak tree"; World magazine both slammed "God's Politics" and slandered Ron Sider; and the owner of another Christian blog that I frequent said, in a recent exchange I had with him, that both men were "devoid of Biblical truth." See, respect has to cut both ways, but it's rarely come from the right.
Posted by: Rick | July 29, 2008 10:41 AM
Who are the "American Religious Right," and why are they so bad?
-----------------------------------------------------
These are people who believe that their way is the only way. I went to a Baptist school and felt them full force. As someone who disagreed with George Bush, this set me at odds with Bible teachers who would,
"That night when Al Gore was elected president, I was ill. Just the fact that a liberal was in the white house made me ill - but that night, God changed the election because he knew that George Bush would be the man to go into Iraq to spread the Gospel to the long lost Iraqi souls" (I'm serious, this is no overstatement)
When I interjected and said I don't believe it's in God's will for there to be innocent bloodshedding (as what was happening extensively in 2004), she said, "Well that's coming from a non-believer's point of view." The fact that someone could disagree with George Bush questioned my faith in God. Sounds reminiscent of the golden lamb, doesn't it?
The problem with the Religious Right is that they have politicized their faith and have set themselves at odds with other Christians, both home and worldwide, who believe that American policies are substituting the Christian faith. They believe that their political views are the litmus test to be a true Christian or not.
Now, this is not to deny the faith of Christians who are conservative or liberal or anywhere in between - each may maintain their political views - however there is not place for Christianity to be politicized and all of us (liberal or conservative) must keep that in mind.
Posted by: Drew | July 29, 2008 1:52 PM
"what is social justice? roger"
The book of Amos is helpful.
Posted by: carl copas | July 29, 2008 3:54 PM
"The American Religious Right is any group of conservative ideologues that uses the Christian faith for the sake of maintaining power and authority and denounces anyone who disagrees with it."
Then the term is too kind for the group you describe, and I believe too broad; it insinuates extremism for anyone who is a conservative Christian, and that is inaccurate.
Why not be more accurate? I can think of several terms: those who use faith for their own purposes, those who use the Bible to further their politics.
Nevertheless, I can understand the backlash against idealogy and the desire for a descriptive to define a certain group.
Posted by: Noodle Beach | July 29, 2008 10:19 PM
Rick - sorry you and Mr. Wallis have had bad experiences with Jerry and a conservative blogger. But how long will God's Politics continue to criticize what Jerry et al have done in the past? I would like to see a good example of an issue today from say the FOF web site, that you believe illustrates your point about using Christian politics to maintain power and authority. I'm not saying there isn't one -- I would just like to see one because I am truly interested. I was on the FOF site yesterday and there is so much material I didn't know where to start.
Posted by: Noodle Beach | July 29, 2008 10:28 PM
You can't find blatant examples on FOF website of politicizing their faith, as they tend to omit any message that could be viewed as extreme political innuendo. However, it shows up in other ways, ie, when founder James Dobson takes 30 seconds of radio time to explain why he's 'sitting the election out' if McCain is the presumptive GOP nominee. You hear it briefly in fundraising appeals when he states 'pro-homosexual lobby' is trying to degrade traditional marriage. It is there, however subtle, which is why I stopped listening to Dobson many years ago. I don't identify with the rich, privileged white man who feels compelled to tell the rest the proper way to live, and has made a lare fortune doing so.
Posted by: Jack | July 30, 2008 11:10 AM
For anyone who thinks this idea that "God is on our side" is exclusive to the Right, check out this story from Barack H Obama's own campaign website: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/michaelwhack/CVBJ
Read it and tell me this arrogant dude doesn't have a real "Christ complex"! Kinda scary!!
Posted by: Al N | August 6, 2008 2:29 PM
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