{"id":3384,"date":"2015-02-13T10:33:27","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T17:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithfuldemocrats\/?p=3384"},"modified":"2015-02-13T10:35:34","modified_gmt":"2015-02-13T17:35:34","slug":"teaching-faith-and-humility-to-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithfuldemocrats\/2015\/02\/teaching-faith-and-humility-to-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching faith and humility to Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I was having dinner about 18 months ago in D.C. with some friends when they asked me why I care so much about religion, faith and politics. I told them that when both sides stop talking, will not work together and would rather throw mud than praise, there are only two options to bridge the divide.<\/p>\n

Aside from a giant kegger on the National Mall<\/a>, sharing of one\u2019s faith, religion and values is the next best step. One of the few times both Democrats and Republicans occupy the same space voluntarily is during prayer in faith community. Talk of religion and faith, when done right, can turn divisive rhetoric into productive discussion and ideas. It reminds people of the values inherent in every religion: peace, love and justice.<\/p>\n

To put this idea into practice, the historic seminary and graduate school, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York<\/a>, organized a non-partisan training session for members of Congress<\/a> on topics including the cleverly titled, \u2018Not Just on Sundays: How to Talk about your own Faith\u2019 and \u2018Policy Panel: How Policy and Faith Interact.\u2019 There was even a public session held in D.C. that you watch for yourself.<\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/new.livestream.com\/unionseminary\/events\/3760743\"<\/a>
View the Public Session of the Union Theological Seminary faith training.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cJust as King Solomon knew that you couldn\u2019t cut a baby in half and expect it to live, we know that you can\u2019t separate faith, values, and politics and expect our democracy to thrive,\u201d said Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary in a written statement advertising the event.<\/p>\n

With a Republican-controlled Congress able to dictate immigration reform, environmental issues, Obamacare and really almost any issue they want, these sessions were especially apt.<\/p>\n

Eleison\u2019s<\/a> own Burns Strider<\/a> said many elected officials are eager for this type of unconventional training.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t argue with a packed room on a snowy day in January. It\u2019s clear that the progressive community in DC is hungry for dialogue and closer relationships with America\u2019s faith community. What Union is doing is really important and I\u2019m happy that it\u2019s them because I have a lot of faith in Serene and her team. Their passion and resolve to bring folks together is powerful.\u201d Strider said.<\/p>\n

It is disappointing all lawmakers didn\u2019t attend \u2013 not to mention everyone in the media \u2014 because just 10 days later, many leading conservative and secular minds criticized President Barack Obama in a hypocritical and unjust way after delivering one of his most insightful and compelling speeches about understanding, humility and religious extremism.<\/p>\n

During the 63rd<\/sup> National Prayer Breakfast<\/a> this month, the President shared unequivocal language about the horrible deeds perpetrated by those claiming religious certainty by murdering journalists in Paris and school children in Pakistan. He expressed doubt over how to reconcile religion that drives us to do right while the same teachings create fanatics using their faith as a wedge and excuse to kill.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities \u2014 the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends?\u201d the President asked.<\/a><\/p>\n

His answer: humility.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt \u2014 not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn\u2019t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn\u2019t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth,\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n

And this is where the conservatives unleashed their attacks because this followed his now widespread remarks that Christianity is not without sin, referencing the horrible atrocities of the Crusades, Inquisition, Jim Crow laws and slavery. The reactions were less than civil with some headlines completely out of context, claiming the President equated ISIS with Christianity. Even GOP leaders such as former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore called the President out of touch with American values by offending every Christian in the United States.<\/p>\n

Really? This is the level of hyperbolic discourse the country needs?<\/p>\n

EJ Dionne<\/a> wrote the best reaction, \u201cGood grief. Do Obama\u2019s critics think that Christians reduce their credibility by acknowledging their imperfections? Is it disrespectful of Christ to admit that Christians regularly fall short of His teachings? That would make St. Augustine a heretic.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is an argument that linking atrocities from past millennia and last month don\u2019t have that much in common. But declaring their horrible outcomes without similarity is also incorrect.<\/p>\n

If we forget where we come from, there is no way to move forward. And recognizing the struggles facing our 21st<\/sup> Century nation as complicated and gray is not weak. It\u2019s bold to understand these problems aren\u2019t black and white, left or right, Christian or Muslim. Killing every terrorist isn\u2019t possible, nor will it solve the problem of religious extremism. Keeping out every immigrant isn\u2019t possible, nor does it address the need to be our brother\u2019s and sister\u2019s keeper.<\/p>\n

Starting in a place of doubt allows for creative solutions to complicated problems. But I think I\u2019m going to revise my hypothesis. Both alcohol and prayer are needed to bridge the Washington divide. The first round is on me. Bring your rosary, too.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

Joseph Gidjunis is the former Director of the Young Democrats of America Faith & Values Initiative and an award-winning photojournalist who owns JPG Photography in Philadelphia. He serves as a remote fellow for Eleison. He is married with two wonderful dogs.<\/span><\/em>
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I was having dinner about 18 months ago in D.C. with some friends when they asked me why I care so much about religion, faith and politics. 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