Buddhist<\/a>, Christian, Muslim, or Jew.<\/p>\nAt the same time, concern about\u00a0weakening the authority of our faith\u00a0or creating divisiveness may delay our speaking out when things have truly gotten out of hand.\u00a0\u00a0Things tend to\u00a0gradually worsen, so extreme situations can creep up on us while we\u2019re not looking. Suddenly we find ourselves treasuring a faith that is completely inconsistent with what is going on around us.<\/p>\n
As Buddhists we chant, \u201cbeings are numberless, I vow to save them all,\u201d while the political and economic machinery around us propels us down a path that is leading to widespread suffering and destruction. As Christians we read\u00a0that at the time of judgment Christ will remind us, \u201cwhatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,\u201d while we participate in systems that richly reward those who already have money but grind down and crush those who do not. As a secular person with strong values we appreciate that humans depend on an infinitely complex ecological system, while we watch vast areas of the planet turned into wastelands in order to continue our dependence on oil. As Muslims we have been called upon to be upholders of justice while news of the shooting deaths of unarmed black Americans has become commonplace.<\/p>\n
At what point has a situation become so extreme we have<\/em> to speak out, and act, as people of faith?\u00a0This question has to be answered by individuals and communities on a case-by-case basis, and can be quite challenging. However, just because it\u2019s challenging doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t<\/em> a point where we need to take a public stand with every ounce of strength we have \u2013 and our faith is the source of much of that strength, so it will naturally be part of our stand.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week one of the largest Zen Centers in the U.S. published an open letter urging California governor Jerry Brown to ban hydraulic fracking in the state. I was thrilled, but not all Zen folks will be, even if they agree on this particular issue.\u00a0Speaking out as people of faith can be powerful, but it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2173,"featured_media":798,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[13,14,21,27,40,58,59,60,65],"class_list":["post-796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spiritual-practice-suffering-compassion","tag-activism","tag-bodhisattva","tag-conscience","tag-engaged-buddhism","tag-ideals","tag-social-action","tag-social-responsibility","tag-spiritual-practice","tag-zen"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Fracking](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/522\/2015\/02\/Fracking-Isnt-Zen-300x269.jpg\")
<\/a>Last week one of the largest Zen Centers in the U.S. published an open letter urging California governor Jerry Brown to ban hydraulic fracking in the state<\/a>. I was thrilled, but not all Zen folks will be, even if they agree on this particular issue.\u00a0Speaking out as people of faith can be powerful, but it can also be divisive and confusing. When and where do we \u2013 as individuals and as faith communities \u2013 take a public stand?<\/p>\n