December 2008 Archives

Catholic Blogger David Gibson has created a fun pool to predict all things Roman Catholic in 2009.  He writes:

Inspired by William Safire's annual Office Pool of predictions for the coming year, I am herewith inaugurating a "Catholic Pool" for 2009. Safire's 2009 NYT pool column ran last Sunday, and you have to hand it to him for keeping it going even though he has an almost unbroken record of guessing wrong. Perhaps it is wishful thinking on his part; perhaps it is the peril of being a conservative in a bad decade (or generation) for Republicans.

In any case, I shall not be critical, as I am jumping into the deep end myself. And I'll even go all the way and post my answers in the "extended" reading tab at the end. Feel free to post comments and suggestions, but above all, record your own answers. We'll check back in a year...

It was the best of religion, it was the worst of religion in 2008.  Let's concentrate on the worst.  The following are the ten stories that made us want to roll our eyes, curl up into a ball or raise our fist.  Hopefully we will be among those who learn from history - and not repeat it. 

10. Jews feel the financial and image pain of Wall Streeter Bernie Maddoff as his money lies damage Yeshiva University and Elie Weisel as well as smaller stakeholders. 

9. Sarah Palin's witchcraft video. 

8. Rev. Jeremiah Wright appears at the Washington Press Club. By playing the fool Wright makes his defenders, including Barack Obama, look foolish. 

7. Prosperity Gospelers add to the foreclosure crisis by preaching that Jesus had provided poor congregants with a house they could not afford. 

6. Elizabeth Dole runs the "There is No God" campaign ad accusing opponent Kay Hagen (who teaches Sunday School) of atheism. 

5. The Catholic Church, Mormons and Rick Warren join in a theologically unlikely alliance to pass Proposition 8 and revoke the right of Gays and Lesbians to marry.  Rick Warren is tapped by Obama to offer the invocation at his inauguration.

4. The anti-Muslim rhetoric in the presidential election, coupled with a persistent belief that Barack Obama was a Muslim topped off by the Obama campaign insistience on the candidate's Christian faith rather than condemning the religion-baitng.

3. Buddhist Monks and nuns are slaughtered in Tibet as China cracks down in anticipation of the Olympics and similar violence in Burma by the dictatorship.

2. Islamist terrorists take the city of Mumbai Hostage killing people of all faith and especially targeting Jews.  

1. With all of the power of the world religions in 2008 we did not muster the political will to stop the daily starvation of thousands of our fellow human beings.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center sent out this message about the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

Today the starkest choice of values and visions of the future was laid before the Jewish people throughout the world.

On the one hand, Jews throughout the world were reading in synagogue the Prophetic vision of Zechariah, no stranger to exile and humiliation, writing from the midst of the Babylonian Captivity 2500 years ago   and looking forward to the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the relighting of its Menorah --- both of which had been destroyed by Babylonian militarism.  

This rebuilding and relighting, Zechariah proclaimed, must be achieved not by mobilizing might and power against Babylonia but by drawing on the Infinite Spirit, God's power.   A vision reinforced by the Rabbis who chose the passage to be read on the holy day that might easily fall into a celebration of the military might and power of the Maccabees.

On the other hand  ---  on the very same day!! -- at least 225 Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombs in one more attempt to quell by might and power the use of violence  (on a much smaller scale) by Hamas, in what Hamas sees as itself a retaliation against the Israeli blockade and semi-starvation of the people of Gaza.

There is plenty to bewail and plenty to examine in the details of this crossroads-moment in the history between our two Families of Abraham. Tonight  (Saturday night) I cannot gather the strength to do this -- having just, after  a pleasant Shabbat of synagogue and family dreidling, discovered this crushing news.  We will look more deeeply together into these choices, in the next several days.

But what I can do now is simply ask us all to face the choices, to experience the deadly vertigo of choice between these choices.

A hard but necessary moment to send you the blessings of shalom, salaam, peace.  ---  Arthur

On December 19, Brian McClaren published a well-intentioned post on this site suggesting that Christians put aside all their political and cultural differences and focus on their common faith in Jesus Christ. 

Creator God,

On this Holy Night, still our frentic pace, and calm our worried minds so that we might experience the miracle and wonder of Christmas.  Send your Holy Spirit to pierce the shadows of these uncertain times, rekindle our hope for the future, and guide us by the shining star of Bethlehem to the humble manger where your Love made flesh awaits. 

Thank you for the beauty of this world and for the simple, true blessings of family, friends and loved ones.  Guided by your spirit of compassion, help us to be loving, forgiving and gentle with one another.  May the life giving spirit of Christ sanctify our celebration so that this might truly be a Holy day and bring us closer together as families and as a community.     

In this world confounded by the false glitter of materialism and afflicted by the sin of greed, help us to repent of our selfishness and callousness. As we worship your son, born in a manger because there was no room for him at the inn, help us to see in Jesus all who lack the basic dignities of shelter, food, employment and healthcare.  We remember especially those who are out of work or who have lost their homes in this time of economic crisis.  May we be in solidarity with the suffering of others and each work to usher in your reign of justice, peace and good will on earth as it is in heaven.   

We remember all those serving in our military in Iraq and Afghanistan.  May they find joy and know that our thoughts and prayers are with them and with the people of those war torn nations.  We pray for Israel and Palestine, the Congo, and cities around the world where violence and strife tear and the fabric of life. As we worship the one called the Prince of Peace, we pray that the day come soon when swords are beaten into plowshares and sisters and brothers of every nations, race, and religion live in peace.      

Loving God, On this Christmas Eve we give you thanks for your son who loved the outcaste, healed the lame, preached Good News to the poor, was crucified and rose again; who was born so that we might be born again.  May our lives reflect our gratitude.

Amen