Skip to main content

Are we evolving too fast for God?

Painting depicting creation of Adam
Image: Wikipedia

I think many would agree that Christianity as a religion has evolved over the years. As we have evolved as people and as societies, so has the way in which we practice religion. One could argue that the core tenets and message of Christianity have remained largely the same since biblical times but the other, somewhat complementary aspects of religion have been influenced by time and culture. The distinction between religion, the faith and religion, the practices, may not always be a clear cut one.

There are a number of issues today that challenge our understanding of scripture and what is acceptable within Christianity. Some are as old as the issue of salvation for non-Christians while some are as contemporary as the ethics of stem cell research and recombinant DNA technology. Is there any wiggle room in interpretation for these matters? Or is God’s word cast in stone? - [pun intended]  

Let us consider the fact that the Israelites in earlier parts of the scripture were regarded as God’s chosen people. Going through the bible from the Old Testament, one got this feeling that the Israelites believed - and many still believe - that they are exclusively God’s own people. I do not possess the theological acumen to be able to illustrate this point succinctly, but what I’m trying to bring out is that later on in the new testament, it was apparent that God calls all people of all races, without favouring one over the other.

Now, against this backdrop - never mind how shaky it may seem - is there a possibility that hot bed issues like stem cell research and same sex relationships can be included in the canon of morally acceptable within Christianity as a religion? Many would reply with an emphatic no, quickly pointing to scripture where such things have been expressly forbidden by God. Is it however a stance worth re- considering?

Christianity has been known to back track or soft-pedal - albeit not exclusively - on some traditional stances based on more cogent interpretations or realizations. Issues such as women wearing trousers, not eating certain type of food and one even as contentious as tithes, that hitherto had biblical backing, have all to varying degrees, been reconsidered in a new light without a compromise of faith. Some may argue that some of these issues are more black and white than others, as they are explicitly proscribed in the bible. It is worthy to note that there are two main commandments from teachings in the New Testament centered on love of God and love of neighbour; can a case really be brought against acts that infringe neither? 

Sometimes, I struggle to reconcile what my faith and teachings thereof, unambiguously forbid on the one hand and on the other, viewing truly decent people who also happen to be queer, as moral anomalies. I consider how stem cell science application can change the lives of so many people but fear where and if we can draw the line. Perhaps there are no straight forward answers, but it is my humble submission that humanity benefits when we put in the effort to try to understand each other better. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

African Champion

Image source:punchng.com Stumbling on a news snippet of the most recent interaction between Israel Adesanya and defending UFC middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, at a pre-fight press conference, it cast my mind back to an earlier  take   on identity. Du Plessis became champion by defeating Sean Strickland whom Adesanya had lost the belt to in 2023. Du Plessis has described himself as the first African UFC champion, side stepping Israel Adesanya, Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman, other previous UFC champions whom he says are only of African decent. Du Plessis, for explication is caucasian South African while the others mentioned are black with Nigerian and Cameroonian heritages. He backs up his claim with the explanation that not only is he born and raised in Africa but he also trains with his team in Africa and has always lived and still lives in Africa. This is in contrast with the others, Israel Adesanya for instance who fights as a New Zealander in the UFC. The t...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Am 'Brave'

Image: Expressworks I never gave much thought to the whole brouhaha surrounding Bruce Jenner’s evolution into Caitlyn, I had lumped it into the category of one of those bizarre things that happen frequently in the west. Granted, such things now happen pretty much everywhere else, but I dare say the west has always been known to glamorise such feats.  What got me thinking a little bit more about the whole story was how some groups of people started to praise Bruce for his bravery and courage.  I actually had to look up the meaning of bravery as I began to write this piece. Bravery is described as courageous behaviour or character, bravery was described with synonyms such as  brave spirit or conduct, courage, valour. Yet another source describes it as the quality that allows someone to do things that are dangerous or frightening. I did this so that I could understand why 'bravery' was most used to describe the actions carried out by this sixty five year old ex Olympian...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Fourth Man

Image: Pinclipart The short blade glistened in the sun, it made his eyes water He couldn’t figure out why he hesitated, what made him contemplate WHY!!! He doubted whether he had the right to; he wondered if it was right The cause seemed lost to him He thought of home for a second, the farm where he grew up, it made him feel at peace, such irony; contemplating peace with a dagger in hand The man kneeling before him had hair like that of Ahmid, his younger brother; whom he would give his life for in a heartbeat. He knew now he couldn’t go through with it, a task he had performed with precision many times before, with such swiftness, with such detachment but also with such fear. A morning of ironies it seemed. He found empathy at the most ill opportune of times, courage made his eyes water, bravery made his hands tremble and love made his heart bleed The fourth man in a line of ten, twenty men, ten with seconds to live.  Perhaps now, eleven.
Post a Comment
Read more