6 Comments

  1. Thank you Stephen for your article in the Oct 10 Journal. I don’t usually follow politics nor do I read the religion section of the paper. Your comments did resonate with me and hope many more people read the article with their hearts. I am a freelance spirit that only aligns with the aspects of various faiths that speak of peace and harmony and I reject anything that represents marginalization and violence. Like you said violence truly is an old and tired solution. There is a need for the community to be less partisan and for humanity in general to lay down the sword. We need to be more patriotic to the heart which is connected to the oneness of life whereas the mind is to connected to society and all the aspects of separation

  2. Hello Steve,

    I just read your latest contribution in “Offerings” and found it thought provoking. I recently read a book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin titled: Three Cups of Tea”. I think this true story is a practical example of rejecting nationalism and reaching out to meet the needs of people. I hope you get a chance to read it as well.

    Warm greetings,

    Wilma Korthuis

  3. Thank you Gary! Your thought: “There is a need for the community to be less partisan and for humanity in general to lay down the sword.” hits home, and is dream, vision, goal we need to pursue without growing weary. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

  4. I always like your stuff – and agree that our nationalistic tendencies are a form of idolatry, and that Jesus transcended so many of the distinctions we like to draw among ourselves. Then, though, my thoughts carried on to a question: Is it possible to love Canada without being nationalistic?

  5. Thanks for your comment Sam. But your question, while valid, is out of turn. Perhaps the first question should be: Is it possible to love all nations as well as our own? Or as Jesus put it, are we able to love our neighbours as ourselves? If so, then the answer to your question is, yes. But the only way to draw close to this way of loving, is to find ourselves looking through the eyes of the one who trancendes All, “the distinctions we like to draw among ourselves.” There’s the rub, and my undoing–even as it is my aim.

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