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Author: Bob Francis
Having just emerged from Christmas weekend, the idea of religious diversity is on my mind. Each year at this time, it seems like some of the classic “culture war” bug-a-boos raise their heads. Is it “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas?” Where exactly can one set up a nativity scene? Is Kwanzaa now among the set of occasions included in this season of “holidays?”
Answering such questions is one of the challenges we face in a religiously diverse society. I’m guessing that most folks can see the value of separating church and state and practicing religious non-discrimination and tolerance in the civil sphere of our shared life. It makes sense to me, and as someone who works in an interfaith context, it also seems important to err on the side of inclusion in my public expressions of holiday cheer.
However, nativity scene placement and proper holiday greetings aside, I’m more interested in what we do with religious diversity in an existential sense. I certainly want us all to get along, but how should we understand the different truth claims of different faith traditions? Are all religions equal, or is one more “right” than another (or even the right one)? Is each religion just a different cultural expression of the same basic human impulses for meaning, or are some gods true while others are false? Do all paths lead to the same end? Is there any external standard against which truth claims can be measured?
Over the holidays, I had a great conversation with some friends about these questions. Needless to say, we didn’t reach any consensus, but the conversation was better than a second viewing of the stop-action animated Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (good as the first viewing was). Some among us, seeing how religious dogmatism has lead to intolerance, oppression, and even bloodshed, were very hesitant to concede that any religion should claim exclusivity or superiority. Isn’t that just arrogance? On what basis can any of us claim that one religion is right while all others are wrong? I had a friend once say that any truth claim is an act of violence, a sentiment with which some in my conversation might agree.
But others, while acknowledging past wrongs in the name of religion, also had trouble with the alternative of there being no basis for making any distinctions between different religions at all. After all, we all have values’ systems – whether religiously grounded or not – and make truth claims that we think should be valid for more people than just ourselves. In that sense, aren’t we all guilty of the same “arrogance” of which religion stands so often accused? And what do we do when religions (or non-religions) make competing claims? Can all beliefs, even ones that seem in direct contradiction, be equally correct at once? If not, on what basis can we decide between competing claims? And besides, aren’t those who claim that no religion is universally valid making a universal claim about truth and reality themselves?
Hopefully, when we wish people “Happy Holidays,” we’re not just offering a generic, politically correct greeting, but we’re wishing others a fruitful and meaningful celebration of their holy days, whatever they may be. For me, that greeting also prompts some of the deeper questions above, as well as the quandary of how one might make religiously-grounded truth claims in a diverse society while still seeking respect and peace.
I know it’s weighty, but maybe you’ll find that few moments pondering these questions this season is a nice diversion from family chit chat and deciding whether or not you have room for one more cookie.
Oh… and Happy Holidays!
image by zizzybaloobah (rights)
December 30th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Very thought-provoking post!
Although it’s much less profound than the writing here, I have to say that I appreciate the Miss Manners take on “Happy Holidays”: “‘Happy holidays’” is the general greeting because [not everyone is] Christian, but all do get legal holidays for Christmas and New Year’s Day.”
It’s quite unfortunate that more and more employees now have to work on these days, (though we’d hardly want all our ambulance drivers and firefighters to take the the day off) but the sentiment of a simple, shared public holiday is a helpful one.
I thought of this not only because I’m partial to clear-cut answers on burning etiquette questions, but also because questioning value systems more broadly raises a lot more questions about our shared life- in our own community and globally. Religion has long been wrapped up in forming our value systems, but we now can point to nearly universally held truth claims that aren’t exclusive to one religion, or to religion more broadly. If we say *any* truth claim is an act of violence, what do we do with truth claims like “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”? Perhaps there are times when we need to make some arrogant claims about truth- which I think the conversationalists would agree to!
And if we have some shared values, and even shared values across religions, its fascinating to think of what makes religions different- why do we follow the path we’ve chosen? And can we claim that our religion is true without claiming another one (or refusing to claim one) is false?
I think this could be the first article in a series- thanks for these thoughts and sparking more.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:16 am
I have no reply to this. May we continue to ponder. Would that we all could just wish the best to another by having enough time to be in a conversation about what celebrations the other person is having to understand what an appropriate greeting would be. Does that make any sense?