Comments on: Men of imagination: The Imam and the Pastor http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:26:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Stephen T Berg http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22734 Stephen T Berg Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:09:55 +0000 http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22734 Jeff, you do muddy the waters, always with the salient questions. I agree completely that peaceful behaviour should be an unremarkable aspect of their lives. They are, after all, Pastor and Imam. Unfortunately--and this the documentary brings out obviously better than my post-- the deep seated tribal/socio-religious world they inhabit almost makes rivalry "natural." The remarkable thing is their overcoming that milieu. So I think these men are remarkable both in spite of and because of their faith. In spite of--because the baser elements within their faiths (whether native or not is another debatable issue) conspire to have them continue the hostility. And because of--because they both claim that the primary teaching of their faith is non-violent and it's this "discovery" that's enabled each to reach out to the other. I guess the "even" (good catch) that makes us cringe points to those base elements of "uber-faith." Jeff, you do muddy the waters, always with the salient questions.

I agree completely that peaceful behaviour should be an unremarkable aspect of their lives. They are, after all, Pastor and Imam. Unfortunately–and this the documentary brings out obviously better than my post– the deep seated tribal/socio-religious world they inhabit almost makes rivalry “natural.” The remarkable thing is their overcoming that milieu.

So I think these men are remarkable both in spite of and because of their faith. In spite of–because the baser elements within their faiths (whether native or not is another debatable issue) conspire to have them continue the hostility. And because of–because they both claim that the primary teaching of their faith is non-violent and it’s this “discovery” that’s enabled each to reach out to the other.

I guess the “even” (good catch) that makes us cringe points to those base elements of “uber-faith.”

]]> By: Jeff http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22731 Jeff Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:48:31 +0000 http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22731 Thanks for your continuing brilliance and depth Mr. Mercy. However, when you note that "this exchange of humanity goes on even as they speak of the teachings of their diverse faiths", that word "even" causes me to cringe. It's sad that theirs is a "remarkable" journey. Shouldn't their peaceful behaviour be the norm, especially for religious leaders? It's not, I think, because their respective faiths continue to claim to be the only way to God. Could it be that these men are remarkable in spite of their faith, not because of it. Thanks for your continuing brilliance and depth Mr. Mercy. However, when you note that “this exchange of humanity goes on even as they speak of the teachings of their diverse faiths”, that word “even” causes me to cringe. It’s sad that theirs is a “remarkable” journey. Shouldn’t their peaceful behaviour be the norm, especially for religious leaders? It’s not, I think, because their respective faiths continue to claim to be the only way to God. Could it be that these men are remarkable in spite of their faith, not because of it.

]]> By: Annie Middleton http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22705 Annie Middleton Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:41:03 +0000 http://growmercy.org/2008/04/12/men-of-imagination-the-imam-and-the-pastor/#comment-22705 I enjoyed this blog and several of your photos. I've been looking up "mercy." I enjoyed this blog and several of your photos. I’ve been looking up “mercy.”

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