Comments on: The Evangelical Ecumenist

By: Carol S. Wright

Carol S. Wright — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:13:54 +0000

The concept of rendering unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s is somewhat enigmatic. Some scholars believe that Jesus was speaking in code to ward off the suspicions of the Roman authoriries. If Jesus was saying that everything belongs to God and that we have received everything we are and have from Him, then we owe nothing to Caesar and should render all we are and have unto God alone.

By: Ilse Raymond

Ilse Raymond — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:23:03 +0000

I thouroughly enjoyed reading the comments of Regina. I have a number of “nones” as friends and a daughter-in-law who is Hindu and am forever trying to widen my circle of acceptance. I’m sorry I missed the Dalai Lama but certainly appreciate his openess. My Catholic upbringing, which helped me through the war and a stressful life, will remain with me and the idea of heaven is comforting.

By: Carole Spearin McCauley

Carole Spearin McCauley — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:47:29 +0000

I missed Richard Cizik’s event on Terry Gross’s show but am glad to know his stands on gay marriage, environmental events, and other topics. A small group of religious or political bigots should not determine public policy in this country, or what is the separation of church and state for or about? Why our ancestors left Europe!

By: Will McDonough

Will McDonough — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:09:18 +0000

I took Professor Davis’ “Introduction to Religious Ethics” class as a freshman in the fall of 2003. Having lived another decade now, how I wish I could go back and sit with his students for but an hour (props to Parini’s dissection of “erat hora”) in the comfort of Twilight Hall.

By: Greg Metzger

Greg Metzger — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:35:35 +0000

Richard Cizik is a gift to Church and State. I am so glad you all had him on campus. His book New Evangelical Manifesto is quite good.

By: Regina

Regina — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:35:53 +0000

I applaud Cizik’s courage in speaking up for everyone’s shared issues of climate, contraception, and social justice (although I understand he is anti-choice and, while supportive of civil unions, is against gay marriage). Good for him for taking the evangelical heat and using it to transmute fear into greater openness.

However, I would encourage him to rethink the evangelical opportunity we “nones” present. No doubt some people with no religious affiliation are looking for one, and better Cizik reach them with his message before some bloated reactionary does. But I’ve known scores of fellow travelers who arrived at their unaffiliated religious status by opening many doors rather than just slamming one. We have spent years studying the theology of our

“home” religions to discern what we can’t accept and why not; we’ve studied religious history, canons, and beliefs to see how political and fallible–how human–are their origins.
Rather than “unrooted” as Cizik suggests, many of us have sunk our roots into fertile territory: the development of compassion and connection with fellow humans and all beings of our planet. Does that require belief in a deity? Another recent visitor to Middlebury, from the Buddhist tradition (whose cosmology hums along just fine without a creator), answered that question. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama was asked, “Are both people of faith and people without religion equally capable of cultivating hope, wisdom and compassion?” he answered, “Oh yes! There’s no question.”

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