I was just curious as to your take on the desirability to remain civil in public discourse. What do you think of these ideas listed below?
1) We commit that our dialogue with each other will reflect the spirit of the Scriptures, where our posture toward each other is to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
2) We believe that each of us, and our fellow human beings, are created in the image of God. The respect we owe to God should be reflected in the honor and respect we show to each other in our common humanity, particularly in how we speak to each other. “With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God …. this ought not to be so” (James 3:9, 10).
3) We pledge that when we disagree, we will do so respectfully, without falsely impugning the other’s motives, attacking the other’s character, or questioning the other’s faith, and recognizing in humility that in our limited, human opinions, “we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will therefore “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
4) We will ever be mindful of the language we use in expressing our disagreements, being neither arrogant nor boastful in our beliefs: “Before destruction one’s heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).
5) We recognize that we cannot function together as citizens of the same community, whether local or national, unless we are mindful of how we treat each other in pursuit of the common good in the common life we share together. Each of us must therefore “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25).
6) We commit to pray for our political leaders—those with whom we may agree, as well as those with whom we may disagree. “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made … for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
7) We believe that it is more difficult to hate others, even our adversaries and our enemies, when we are praying for them. We commit to pray for each other, those with whom we agree and those with whom we may disagree, so that together we may strive to be faithful witnesses to our Lord, who prayed “ that they may be one” (John 17:22).
This would certainly interfere with business as usual, would it not?
is naturally going to create discussion based on difference of opinion.
there's enough money for free college and health care, it's not a matter of HAVING the money, it's a matter of priorities. and this country feels death and murder of foreigners through war is more important than the health and well being of its own citizens.
I like it, Moksha, but it is part and parcel of the way I was raised so it seems a restatement of the obvious. (That does NOT mean I necessarily obey that upbringing all the time, merely that I already know all this.) I think it's a sad reflection on our culture that such basics need to be spelled out to adults. Weren't ALL of us raised to treat everyone with respect?
"No matter how big and bad you are, when a two-year-old hands you a toy phone, you answer it." ~ (common sense)
"Never place a period where God has placed a comma." ~ Gracie Allen
"I care not for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it." ~ Abraham Lincoln
"I was gonna post something that would tell you the difference between Hindus and Sikhs and Muslims but I realized that you don't need to know anything about somebody's religion to know that you shouldn't shoot them." ~ Eric Parsons
I like it, Moksha, but it is part and parcel of the way I was raised so it seems a restatement of the obvious. (That does NOT mean I necessarily obey that upbringing all the time, merely that I already know all this.) I think it's a sad reflection on our culture that such basics need to be spelled out to adults. Weren't ALL of us raised to treat everyone with respect?
I think it is the ONLY means we have to combat the jackalopes who protest at military funerals.
to unite around civility is great because if 95% of the religous community could all be joining hands it makes it more obvious who ISN'T trying to be peace builders... which then paints them as bullies.
join the club or stand out like a sore thumb.
when we all join together against racism, it wipes out any ability for the KKK to recruit.
there's enough money for free college and health care, it's not a matter of HAVING the money, it's a matter of priorities. and this country feels death and murder of foreigners through war is more important than the health and well being of its own citizens.
I like it, Moksha, but it is part and parcel of the way I was raised so it seems a restatement of the obvious. (That does NOT mean I necessarily obey that upbringing all the time, merely that I already know all this.) I think it's a sad reflection on our culture that such basics need to be spelled out to adults. Weren't ALL of us raised to treat everyone with respect?
I think it is the ONLY means we have to combat the jackalopes who protest at military funerals.
to unite around civility is great because if 95% of the religous community could all be joining hands it makes it more obvious who ISN'T trying to be peace builders... which then paints them as bullies.
join the club or stand out like a sore thumb.
when we all join together against racism, it wipes out any ability for the KKK to recruit.
I would be willing to go to jail to beat the bejesus out of people who show up to other people's funerals - especially those of servicemen who've died - and desecrate the living and the dead. I just think such actions are so low, they need more than a denunciation. I think, in this respect, John Brown had the right idea.