Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross ... - Patheos
Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? !"
Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World
BRIAN D. M C LAREN
.EW9ORKs"OSTONs.ASHVILLE
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#OPYRIGHT©BY"RIAN$-C,AREN !LLRIGHTSRESERVED)NACCORDANCEWITHTHE53#OPYRIGHT!CTOF THE SCANNING UPLOADING ANDELECTRONICSHARINGOFANYPARTOFTHISBOOKWITHOUTTHE PERMISSIONOFTHEPUBLISHERISUNLAWFULPIRACYANDTHEFTOFTHEAUTHORSINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY)FYOUWOULDLIKETOUSEMATERIALFROMTHEBOOKOTHERTHANFORREVIEW PURPOSES PRIORWRITTENPERMISSIONMUSTBEOBTAINEDBYCONTACTINGTHEPUBLISHER ATPERMISSIONS HBGUSACOM4HANKYOUFORYOURSUPPORTOFTHEAUTHORSRIGHTS 5NLESSOTHERWISENOTED 3CRIPTUREQUOTATIONSAREFROMTHE .%72%6)3%$34!.$!2$6%23)/.")",% COPYRIGHT© BYTHE.ATIONAL#OUNCILOF#HURCHESOF#HRISTINTHE 5NITED3TATESOF!MERICA5SEDBYPERMISSION!LLRIGHTSRESERVED *ERICHO"OOKS (ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP 0ARK!VENUE .EW9ORK .9 WWW*ERICHO"OOKSCOM 0RINTEDINTHE5NITED3TATESOF!MERICA 22$ # &IRSTEDITION3EPTEMBER *ERICHO"OOKSISADIVISIONOF(ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP )NC 4HE*ERICHO"OOKSNAMEANDLOGOARETRADEMARKSOF(ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP )NC 4HE(ACHETTE3PEAKERS"UREAUPROVIDESAWIDERANGEOFAUTHORSFOR SPEAKINGEVENTS4OlNDOUTMORE GOTO WWW(ACHETTE3PEAKERS"UREAUCOMORCALL 4HEPUBLISHERISNOTRESPONSIBLEFORWEBSITESORTHEIRCONTENT THATARENOTOWNEDBYTHEPUBLISHER ,IBRARYOF#ONGRESS#ATALOGING IN 0UBLICATION$ATA -C,AREN "RIAN$ 7HYDID*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSSTHEROAD #HRISTIAN IDENTITYINAMULTI FAITHWORLD"RIAN$-C,ARENSTED PCM 3UMMARYh"RIAN-C,AREN ONEOFTHEESTABLISHEDLEADERSOFTHEEMERGINGCHURCH MOVEMENT INVITESINTERFAITHDIALOGUE SUGGESTINGTOLERANCEANDRESPECTBETWEEN RELIGIONSv0ROVIDEDBYTHEPUBLISHER )NCLUDESBIBLIOGRAPHICALREFERENCES )3". #HRISTIANITYANDOTHERRELIGIONS 2ELIGIONS2ELATIONS )DENTIlCATION2ELIGION ) 4ITLE "2- DC
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Chapter 1
The Scene of a Thousand Jokes ,AUGHTERISONEOFTHEWAYSWECOPEWITHTHEDISCREPANCIESOFOUR LIVES4HEREISADREAMWEALLHAVEFORTHISWORLD ANDTHENTHERE IS WELL THISWORLD4HEREAREEXPECTATIONSWEHAVEOFOURRELIGIONS ANDTHENTHEREAREOURRELIGIONS/URCAPACITYTOLOVE'OD OUR SELVES PEOPLE ANDALLOFLIFEGROWSWITHOURCAPACITYTOLAUGH7E ARERIDICULOUS ANDNOTTOLAUGHATOURRELIGIONS OURWORLDVIEWS AND OUR PHILOSOPHIES THAT IS OURSELVES WOULD BE A FALSE WITNESS 4HISABILITYTOLAUGHINTHEMIDSTOFOURIMPERFECTIONSINTHEPRES ENCEOF'ODISWHATWECALLGRACE —Samir Selmanovic
W
HYDID*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSSTHE ROAD 4HEQUESTION OFCOURSE RECALLSANOLDRIDDLEABOUTACHICKEN4HE RIDDLE GOES BACK AT LEAST TO WHEN IT APPEARED IN A .EW 9ORK
3AMIR3ELMANOVIC It’s Really All About God: How Islam, Atheism, and Judaism Made Me a Better Christian3AN&RANCISCO*OSSEY "ASS PPn3AMIRISECHOING' +#HESTERTON WHOSAID h)TISTHETESTOFAGOODRELIGIONWHETHERYOUCANJOKEABOUTITv "RUCE-AINASKSASIMILARQUESTIONINHISBOOKWhy Jesus Crossed the Road#AROL3TREAM )LL3ALT2IVER (ISSUBTITLESUGGESTSTHEENERGETICDIRECTIONOFHISANSWERLearning to Follow the Unconventional Travel Itinerary of a First-Century Carpenter and His Ragtag Group of Friends as They Hop Fences, Cross Borders, and Generally Go Where Most People Don’t
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
MAGAZINE"YTHES THEJOKEWASSOWELL KNOWNTHATITWASGEN ERATINGRIFFSANDVARIATIONSONTHETHEME 4HEORIGINALRIDDLEEXEMPLIlEShANTI HUMORvAJOKETHATISFUNNY BECAUSEITISNTFUNNY!NTI HUMORWORKSBYSETTINGUPACONVENTION THATLEADSUSTOEXPECTAJOKE ANDTHENREVERSESTHATEXPECTATIONINA HUMOROUSWAY)NTHENEARLYCOUNTLESSh#HICKEN *OKEvRIFFSAND VARIATIONS BEING HATCHED AROUND THE WORLD JOKESTERS BUILD HUMOR UPONTHEANTI HUMOR LIKETHIS Why did the chicken cross the road? 'randpa )NMYDAYWEDIDNTASKWHYTHECHICKENCROSSEDTHE ROAD3OMEBODYTOLDUSTHECHICKENCROSSEDTHEROADTOGETTOTHE OTHERSIDE ANDTHATWASGOODENOUGHFORUS Albert Einstein$IDTHECHICKENREALLYCROSSTHEROAD ORDID THEROADMOVEBENEATHTHECHICKEN 3ir)saac Newton#HICKENSATRESTTENDTOSTAYATREST#HICK ENSINMOTIONTENDTOCROSSTHEROAD A nun)TWASAHABIT Hamlet4HATISNOTTHEQUESTION $onne)TCROSSETHFORTHEE Colonel3anders$ID)MISSONE 3O WHYISITFUNNYTOASKABOUT*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND -OHAMMEDCROSSINGTHEROAD "EFORELOOKINGFORAPUNCHLINE JUST FORFUNTRYTOIMAGINETHESCENEFOUROFHISTORYSGREATESTRELIGIOUS LEADERSNOT lGHTING NOT ARGUING NOT DAMNING AND CONDEMNING ONEANOTHER NOTLAUNCHINGCRUSADESORJIHADS BUTWALKINGTOGETHER MOVINGTOGETHER LEADINGTOGETHER$OESNTTHATALREADYREVERSESOME OFOUREXPECTATIONS !NDDOESNTTHATREVERSALEXPOSEOURUNSPOKEN ,IKETHISONE INPotter’s American MonthlyQ: Why should a chicken not cross a road? A: It would be a fowl proceeding. 7ESEEAGREATFUSIONOFANTI HUMORANDHUMORATWORKINTHISEXAMPLEA pastor, an imam, a rabbi, and a Buddhist monk walk into a bar. The bartender asks, “Is this some kind of joke?”
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
E XPECTATIONTHATDIFFERENTRELIGIONSAREINHERENTLYANDUNCHANGE ABLYINCOMPATIBLE DISHARMONIOUS FRACTIOUS ANDHOSTILETOWARDONE ANOTHER 4HEIMAGEOFTHEFOURMENCROSSINGAROADALSOSURPRISESANDINTER ESTSUSBECAUSEITPUTSTHEFOURINASIMILARSITUATION INACOMMON PREDICAMENT7HATEVERTHEANSWERWILLBE ITWILLBETHESAMEFORALL OFTHEM PERHAPSEVENRENDERINGTHEMCOMPANIONSRATHERTHANCOM PETITORS4HATPOSSIBILITYMAKESCLAIMSONALLOFUSWHOFOLLOWTHEM )F YOURE A #HRISTIAN LIKE ME OF WHATEVER SORT#ATHOLIC 0ROT ESTANT OR %ASTERN /RTHODOX CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL OR MODERATE TRADITIONALORWHATEVERIFYOULOVE*ESUS IFYOUKNOWANDHAVECON lDENCEINHIMAS,ORD 3AVIOR 3ONOF'OD 3ONOF-AN 'ODINCAR NATE 7ORDMADEmESH ANDMORE LETMEASKYOUTOSERIOUSLYCONSIDER THIShow do you think Jesus would treat Moses, Mohammed, and Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) if they came to a crosswalk together? 7OULD*ESUSPUSH-OSESASIDEANDDEMANDTOCROSSlRST CLAIM ING THAT HIS ANCESTORS FAILED RELIGION HAD BEEN FOREVER SUPERSEDED BYHISOWN 7OULDHETRADEINSULTSWITH-OHAMMED CLAIMINGHIS CRUSADERS COULD WHUP -OHAMMEDS JIHADISTS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK DEMANDING THAT -OHAMMED CROSS BEHIND NOT BESIDE HIM 7OULD *ESUSDEMANDTHE"UDDHAKNEELATHISFEETANDDEMONSTRATESUBMIS SIONBEFORELETTINGHIMCROSS /RWOULDHEWALKWITHTHEMAND ONCE ONTHEOTHERSIDE WELCOMEEACHTOATABLEOFFELLOWSHIP NOTDEMAND INGANYSPECIALSTATUSORPRIVILEGES MAYBEEVENTAKINGTHEROLEOFA SERVANTHANGINGUPTHEIRCOATS GETTINGTHEMSOMETHINGTOEATAND DRINK MAKINGSUREEACHFELTWELCOME SAFE ANDATHOME )FHISTHREECOUNTERPARTSREACHEDOUTTHEIRHANDSINFRIENDSHIP ITSPRETTYHARDTOIMAGINETHAThTHEFRIENDOFSINNERSvWOULDCROSSHIS ARMSORTURNHISBACK REFUSINGTORECIPROCATE)TSMUCHMORELIKELY *ESUSWASCRITICIZEDBYHISMOREPURITANCRITICSFORBEINGTOOFRIENDLYWITHhTHEWRONG SORTvOFPEOPLE3EE,UKE
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
HE WOULD EMBRACE THEM WITH OPEN ARMS AND WITHOUT HESITATION PROVING HIMSELF OVER TIME TO BE THE BEST FRIEND THEY EVER HAD )TS PRETTYHARDTOIMAGINE*ESUSCURSINGORhSMITINGvTHEM BUTENTIRELY NATURALTOIMAGINEHIMBLESSINGTHEMANDhDOINGUNTOOTHERSvASHE WOULDWANTTHEMTODOFORHIM)HAVENODOUBTTHAT*ESUSWOULD ACTUALLY PRACTICE THE NEIGHBORLINESS HE PREACHED RATHER THAN FOL LOWINGOUREXAMPLEOFRELIGIOUSSUPREMACY HOSTILITY FEAR ISOLATION MISINFORMATION EXCLUSION ORDEMONIZATION !FTERALL ACCORDINGTOTHEFOUR'OSPELS *ESUSHADEXTRAORDINARY INSIGHTINTOHUMANCHARACTER(ESAWVALUEWHEREOTHERSSAWONLY mAWS(ESAWTHELOVEOFASINFULWOMANWHOANOINTEDHISFEETWITH TEARS AT A BANQUET THE SPIRITUAL THIRST OF AN OFT MARRIED WOMAN AT AWELLIN3AMARIA THEBIGSEEDOFHOPEINALITTLECHAPNAMED:AC CHEUS THEUNDENIABLEFAITHOFA3YROPHOENICIANMOTHER THEmINTY STRENGTH OF LOUDMOUTH 0ETER AND THE DEEP AND SPUNKY WISDOM OF -ARYOF"ETHANY7ITHTHATTRACKRECORDINMIND WECANONLYIMAG INEWHATHEWOULDSEEIN-OHAMMED -OSES ORTHE"UDDHA NOTTO MENTION#ONFUCIUS ,AO4SU .ANAK OR7OVOKA )TSEEMSRIDICULOUSTOIMAGINETHATHEWOULDBEINSECUREAMONG THEM CONSIDERINGTHEMHISRIVALS ORTHATHEWOULDlNDITNECESSARY TOEXTRACTFROMTHEMEXPLICITAGREEMENTONFUNDAMENTALDOCTRINES BEFORECONDESCENDINGTOCROSSAROADWITHTHEM)TSUNTHINKABLE IF ONEOFTHEMCAMETOCONFERWITHHIMBYNIGHTLIKE.ICODEMUS OR INBROADDAYLIGHTLIKETHERICHYOUNGRULER THATHEWOULDINTIMIDATE THEM THREATENTHEM CALLDOWNlREUPONTHEM PATRONIZETHEM OR &OR A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO SOME OF THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS )D RECOMMEND FOR -OHAMMED No God but God BY 2EZA !SLAN .EW 9ORK 2ANDOM (OUSE 5PDATED EDITION FOR-OSES A History of GodBY+AREN!RMSTRONG.EW9ORK"ALLAN TINE FORTHE"UDDHA One DharmaBY*OSEPH'OLDSTEIN.EW9ORK(ARPER/NE FOR7OVOKAOR*ACK7ILSON Neither Wolf nor DogBY+ENT.ERBURN-IDDLE )SLAND .9 .EW 7ORLD /NE OF THE BEST #HRISTIAN RESOURCES INTRODUCING WORLDRELIGIONSIS!DAM(AMILTONSChristianity and World Religions.ASHVILLE 4ENN !BINGDON !LSOESSENTIALREADINGFOR#HRISTIANSISWho Speaks for Islam BY*OHN %SPOSITOAND$AHLIA-OGAHED.EW9ORK'ALLUP0RESS
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
HUMILIATETHEM-AYBEHISFOLLOWERSWOULDPULLOUTASWORDANDSLASH OFFTHEIREARS ORHERDTHEMANDTHEIRFOLLOWERSINTOGHETTOES CONCEN TRATIONCAMPS ORRESERVATIONSWHERETHEIRINmUENCECOULDBELIMITED "UTNEVER*ESUS.EVER !ND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT -OHAMMED -OSES AND THE "UDDHA HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD APPROACH *ESUS AND ONE ANOTHER IF THEY ENCOUNTERED ONE ANOTHER ALONG THE ROAD )S IT A JOKETOTHINKTHEYWOULDRESPECTONEANOTHERANDBEDRAWNTOWARD ONEANOTHERASFRIENDS ALLIES COLLABORATORS )SNTITMORERIDICULOUSTO IMAGINEANYOTHEROUTCOME )CANTHELPBUTTHINKOFRECENTSCENES OF!RCHBISHOP$ESMOND4UTUANDTHE$ALAI,AMA A#HRISTIANAND A"UDDHIST ALMOSTGIDDYINTHEIRFRIENDSHIPANDMUTUALREGARD 3OWHYMIGHT*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSS THEROAD )MAGINEIFTHEANSWERWERE h4OGOTOABARv4HATANSWER WOULDNT BE FUNNY AND MANY IN FACT WOULD lND IT OFFENSIVE "UT WOULDNTTHATOPENTHEWAYFORANOTHERJOKETHATWOULDBEGIN h*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDWALKINTOABARv 7ALKINGINTOABAR OFCOURSE ISTHESCENEOFEVENMOREJOKESTHAN CROSSINGAROAD3OWEMIGHTEXPECTACHUCKLEAS-OHAMMEDORDERS A7AHABICOCKTAILAMIXEDDRINKOFWARMMILK SUGAR ANDHOTTEA SINCEALCOHOLISOFlCIALLYFORBIDDENTO-USLIMS ANDTHE7AHABISARE KNOWNFORTHEIRSTRICTNESSONSUCHMATTERS 7EMIGHTEXPECTASMILE ASTHE"UDDHAMAKESASAGECOMMENTABOUTTHEMINDFULBREAKINGOF THE&IFTH0RECEPT AFTERWHICHHEORDERSAMOJITO THENMAKESATOAST hTOMODERATIONINALLTHINGS INCLUDINGFOLLOWINGTHE&IFTH0RECEPTv /NEANSWERMIGHTBETOESCAPEFROMAMOBOFTHEIRANGRY HYPERCRITICAL ANDHYPO CRITICALFOLLOWERS )TISINDEEDIRONICTHATSOMEWOULDBEFURIOUSABOUTTHEIRRELIGIOUSLEADERSBEINGSEEN WALKINGINTOABARTOGETHER BUTARENOTSOSCANDALIZEDBYTHEFEAR PREJUDICE HATRED ANDVIOLENCEPROMOTEDANDDEFENDEDINTHENAMEOFTHEIRRELIGIONS "UDDHISTSAREREQUIREDTOFOLLOWTENPRECEPTSTHATARESOMETIMESCOMPAREDTOTHE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF *UDAISM -ONKS OF THE 4HERAVADA TRADITION AGREE TO FOLLOW OVERTWOHUNDREDPRECEPTS )NADDITIONTOABSTAININGFROMhINTOXICATINGDRINKSAND
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
!NDPERHAPSTHEREWOULDBEOUTRIGHTLAUGHTERIF-OSESWERETOPART HISMARGARITAAND*ESUSWERETOORDERWATERANDTHEN WITHAWINK TURNITINTOAlNE3TELLENBOSCHPINOTAGE ,IKE THE ROAD WAITING TO BE CROSSED THE BAR IS QUINTESSENTIAL COMEDICSPACE INDEED)TISALSOPRIMESECULARSPACE APLACEFORTHE IMBIBINGOFSPIRITSRATHERTHAN3PIRIT)TSTHEPLACEOFPROFANITY NOT SACREDNESSLEVITY NOTLITURGYANDRELAXATION NOTREVERENCE RIGHT 7HATCOULDTHEPUBPOSSIBLYHAVEINCOMMONWITHTHENARTHEX 4HESCARILYBRILLIANT2OMANTICPOETANDVISIONARY7ILLIAM"LAKE DAREDTOSAYWHATMANYOFUSHAVEPERHAPSTHOUGHTBUTKEPTTOOUR SELVESh!GOODLOCALPUBHASMUCHINCOMMONWITHACHURCH EXCEPT THATAPUBISWARMER ANDTHERESMORECONVERSATIONv"LAKEHADA KEENEYEFORIRONY(EKNEWHOWEASILYCONGREGATIONSCANBECOME COLD HOSTILE PLACES WHERE WE #HRISTIANS INTOXICATE OURSELVES ON UNHOLYSPIRITS(EKNEWHOW DRUNKONDOGMATISM WECANSAYAND DOSHOCKINGLYPROFANEANDUNHOLYTHINGS3OFOR"LAKETHECHURCH CANBECOMEPROFANEANDTHEBARCANBECOMESACRED ASHEPORTRAYED INHISPOEMh4HE,ITTLE6AGABONDv!PRECOCIOUSANDINNOCENTCHILD SPEAKSTOHISMOTHER Dear mother, dear mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm; DRUGSCAUSINGHEEDLESSNESSvTHE&IFTH0RECEPT "UDDHISTSARETOABSTAINFROMhHARM INGLIVINGBEINGS TAKINGTHINGSNOTFREELYGIVEN SEXUALMISCONDUCT FALSE SPEECH TAKINGUNTIMELYMEALS DANCING SINGING MUSICANDWATCHINGGROTESQUE MIME USEOFGARLANDS PERFUMES ANDPERSONALADORNMENT USEOFHIGHSEATS AND ACCEPTING GOLD OR SILVER v 3EE HTTPWWWTHEBIGVIEWCOMBUDDHISM PRECEPTSHTML 4HE NARTHEX THE LOBBY OR PORCH AREA OF A CHURCH IS ITSELF A FASCINATING THEO ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT (ISTORICALLY IT WAS BUILT SO OUTSIDERSTHE UNBAPTIZED OR EXCLUDEDCOULDhEAVESDROPvONTHESERVICE THUSSERVINGASALIMINALSPACEBETWEEN EXCLUSIONANDINCLUSION 4HISQUOTEISWIDELYATTRIBUTEDTO"LAKE BUTTHEPRECISESOURCEISUNKNOWN)TMAY BEACONCLUSIONDRAWNFROMTHEPOEMTHATFOLLOWSINTHETEXT h4HE,ITTLE6AGABONDv
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
Besides I can tell where I am used well, Such usage in Heaven will never do well. But if at the Church they would give us some ale, And a pleasant fire our souls to regale, We’d sing and we’d pray all the livelong day, Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray. Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing, And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring; And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church, Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch. And God, like a father, rejoicing to see His children as pleasant and happy as He, Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel, But kiss him, and give him both drink and apparel. "LAKE OFCOURSE WASNEITHERTHEONLYNORTHElRSTVISIONARYWITH ANEYEFORIRONY*ESUSHIMSELFSPOKEPITHILYANDOFTENABOUTRELIGIOUS ABSURDITY(ESURELYELICITEDSOMELAUGHSWHENHEPORTRAYEDRELIGIOUS LEADERS AS STRAINING AT GNATS AND SWALLOWING CAMELS WHITEWASHING TOMBS SCRUBBING ONLY THE OUTSIDE OF A lLTHY BOWL AND SO ON (IS WHOLEMINISTRYWASAKINDOFGUERRILLATHEATRE PLAYINGCANWESAY DEVILISHLY ONIRONY OVERTURNINGlGURATIVELYASWELLASLITERALLYTHE MONEY LADENTABLESOFTHERELIGIOUSELITE )FTHE4EMPLEHASBEENTURNEDINTOADENOFROBBERSAJOKE IN OTHERWORDSWHERETHENCANTHE3PIRITBEFOUND *ESUSDRAMATIZES THEANSWER4HE3PIRIT DRIVENFROMTHE4EMPLE SHOWSUPINONESUR PRISINGPLACEAFTERANOTHERINTHETREETOPSLIKETHEWIND ONTHE SANDYBANKSOFTHEMUDDY*ORDAN2IVER ONAHILLSIDEINTHEPRESENCE OFTHEBIRDSOFTHEAIRANDTHEmOWERSOFTHElELD AMONGWINEBIBBERS
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
ANDSINNERS BYACRIMESCENEONTHE*ERICHOROAD AMONGROWDYCHIL DRENANDABOISTEROUSCROWD INASTRANGERONTHEROADTO%MMAUS IN THELAST THELEAST ANDTHELOST 'IVENTHEBIZARREANDHOSTILESTATEOFOURRELIGIOUSCOMMUNITIES TOO OFTEN THESE DAYS ISNT A ROADSIDE OR A BAR THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THE3PIRITTOCONVENEASCANDALOUSPARLIAMENTOFTHEWORLDSRELIGIOUS LEADERS $ONTWENEEDSOMEhSECULARvSOCIALSPACEWHEREDIVERSEPEO PLEOFFAITHCANENCOUNTERONEANOTHERWITHSOMELEVELOFPRIVACYAND ANONYMITY )SNTTHEREALSCANDALNOTTHATOURRELIGIOUSLEADERSMIGHT BEIMAGINEDWALKINGACROSSAROADORTALKINGASFRIENDSTOGETHERIN ABAR BUTRATHERTHATTHEIRFOLLOWERSAREFOUNDSPEAKINGAGAINSTONE ANOTHERASENEMIES DAYAFTERDAYINSITUATIONAFTERSITUATION 1UESTIONSLIKETHESEHAVEALWAYSMATTERED"UTINTHEYEARSSINCE MOREANDMOREOFUSAREREALIZINGJUSTHOWMUCHTHEYMATTER 3OTOIMAGINE*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDTAKINGA WALKACROSSAROADOREVENGETTINGTOGETHERASFRIENDSFORAMEALAND CONVERSATIONDOESNTHAVETOINTRODUCEAJOKEITCOULDINTRODUCEONE OFTHEMOSTIMPORTANTCONVERSATIONSPOSSIBLEINTODAYSWORLD !NDALLOVERTHEWORLD THISISTHECONVERSATION#HRISTIANSWANT ANDNEEDTOHAVE)N#APETOWNAND"UJUMBURA IN"ETHLEHEMAND !MSTERDAM IN -OMBASSA AND 3ANTO $OMINGO IN 3ANTIAGO AND +UALA,UMPUR IN3AN&RANCISCOAND0HNOM0ENH )VEHEARDDEEPLY EARNESTANDHIGHLYCOMMITTED#HRISTIANSRAISEQUESTIONSABOUTWHATIT MEANSTOBE#HRISTIANINAMULTI FAITHWORLD4HEYCONVINCEDMETHAT )SHOULDWRITEONTHESUBJECT BUTWHATAPPROACHSHOULD)TAKE )COULD TAKE AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACHINFORMING #HRISTIANS ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS OVERTURNINGMISCONCEPTIONS ANDSHOWINGWHAT#HRISTIANS DOANDDONTHAVEINCOMMONWITHPEOPLEOFOTHERFAITHS)COULDTAKE ANAPOLOGETICOREVANGELISTICAPPROACHSHOWINGWHATISSPECIALAND !ND WEMIGHTADD INACRUCIlEDMANANDAMONGARAGTAGBANDOFHISFOLLOWERS
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
UNIQUEABOUT#HRISTIANITY ENCOURAGINGPEOPLETOBECOMEORREMAIN #HRISTIANSWITHOUT INSULTING OR MISREPRESENTING OTHER RELIGIONS ) COULD TAKE AN APPROACH OF MORAL OUTRAGE VENTING RIGHTEOUS FURY ABOUTRELIGIOUSVIOLENCEANDBIGOTRY)COULDFOLLOWADECONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH GRAPPLINGWITHTHEPROBLEMATICPHILOSOPHICALASSUMPTIONS THATCOMMONLYLEADTOVIOLENCEANDBIGOTRY"UTINTHEEND)FELT) SHOULDTAKEADIFFERENTTACKAPRACTICAL PASTORAL ANDCONSTRUCTIVE ONE FOCUSINGONHOWTODEVELOPAHEALTHY SANE ANDFAITHFUL#HRIS TIANIDENTITYINAMULTI FAITHWORLDLIKEOURS 3IMPLY PUT WE #HRISTIANS ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO TWO THINGS VERY WELL &IRST SOME OF US KNOW HOW TO HAVE A STRONG #HRISTIAN IDENTITYTHATRESPONDSNEGATIVELYTOWARDOTHERRELIGIONS4HESTRON GEROUR #HRISTIAN COMMITMENT THESTRONGEROURAVERSIONOROPPO SITION TO OTHER RELIGIONS 4HE STRONGER OUR #HRISTIAN COMMITMENT THE MORE WE EMPHASIZE OUR DIFFERENCES WITH OTHER FAITHS AND THE MOREWEFRAMETHOSEDIFFERENCESINTERMSOFGOODEVIL RIGHTWRONG AND BETTERWORSE 7E MAY BE FRIENDLY TO INDIVIDUALS OF OTHER RELI GIONS BUT OUR FRIENDSHIP ALWAYS HAS A PRETEXT WE WANT THEM TO SWITCHSIDESANDBEWONOVERTOOURBETTERWAY7ELOVETHEMOR SAYTHATWEDO in spite ofTHEIRRELIGIOUSIDENTITY HOPINGTHATTHEY
4HEBESTSINGLEBOOK)MAWAREOFONTHESUBJECTOF#HRISTIANIDENTITYIS+WAME "EDIAKOS MASTERPIECE Theology and Identity /XFORD 2EGNUM )N ADDITION $IANA "UTLER "ASS HELPFULLY SUMMARIZES AND APPLIES THE WORK OF !NTHONY 7ALLACE AND7ILLIAM-C,OUGHLANINTHElRSTCHAPTEROFChristianity After Religion.EW9ORK (ARPER/NE "UTMUCHMORESCHOLARLYWORKISNEEDEDONTHESUBJECTOF#HRIS TIANIDENTITYITSDESIREDCHARACTERISTICS ITSFORMATION ITSDECLINE ITSHEALTH ITSDYS FUNCTIONS ITS RELATION TO SOLIDARITY AND SO ON /N THE SUBJECT OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM FROMA#HRISTIANPERSPECTIVE #ATHOLICANDFORMERLY#ATHOLIC WRITERSHAVEBEENMOST HELPFULTOMEAMONGTHEM0ETER0HAN 0AUL+NITTER 2AIMON0ANNIKKAR !NTHONY DE-ELLO ,EONARDO"OFF AND*ACQUES$UPUIS3AMIR3ELMANOVIC QUOTEDINTHISCHAP TERSEPIGRAM HASBEENALEADERANDEXAMPLEFORMANYOFUSINTHEEMERGENTCONVERSA TION ASHAVE.ATIVE!MERICAN#HRISTIANSLIKE2ICHARD4WISS 2ANDY7OODLEY 2AY !LDRED AND4ERRY,E"LANC
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
WILLSEETHELIGHTANDABANDONWHOTHEYHAVEBEENTOlNDSHELTER UNDERTHETENTOFWHOWEARE !LTERNATIVELY OTHERS OF US KNOW HOW TO HAVE A MORE POSITIVE ACCEPTINGRESPONSETOOTHERRELIGIONS7ENEVERPROSELYTIZE7EALWAYS SHOW RESPECT FOR OTHER RELIGIONS AND THEIR ADHERENTS 7E ALWAYS MINIMIZEDIFFERENCESANDMAXIMIZECOMMONALITIES"UTWETYPICALLY ACHIEVECOEXISTENCEBYWEAKENINGOUR#HRISTIANIDENTITY7EMAKE ITMATTERLESSTHATtheyARE-USLIMOR(INDUBYMAKINGITMATTERLESS THATweARE#HRISTIAN7EMIGHTEVENSAYTHATWELOVETHEMINSPITE OFour ownRELIGIOUSIDENTITY &ORREASONSTHATWILLBECOMECLEARINTHEPAGESAHEAD )MCON VINCED THAT NEITHER OF THESE RESPONSES IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR TODAYS WORLD3O)WILLEXPLORETHEPOSSIBILITYOFATHIRDOPTION A#HRISTIAN IDENTITYTHATISBOTHSTRONGANDKIND"Ystrong)MEANVIGOROUS VITAL DURABLE MOTIVATING FAITHFUL ATTRACTIVE AND DElNINGAN AUTHEN TIC#HRISTIANIDENTITYTHATMATTERS"Ykind)MEANSOMETHINGFAR MORE ROBUST THAN MERE TOLERANCE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OR COEXIS 4HISKINDOFPSEUDOFRIENDSHIPEXPRESSESTHEhLOVETHESINNER HATETHESINvMIND SET LOVETHE(INDUBUTHATEHIS(INDUISM7E#HRISTIANSCANUNDERSTANDHOWTHISWOULD MAKEA(INDUFEELIFWEIMAGINEHIMSAYING h)LOVEYOUASAPERSON )REALLYDO BUT)HATE #HRISTIANITYv4OACCEPTFRIENDSHIPOFTHISSORTWOULDFEELLIKEABETRAYALOFOURFAITH ASIF TOSAY h4HATSOKAY-YRELIGIONISNTTHATIMPORTANTTOMYIDENTITYANYWAY.OBIGDEAL IFYOUHATEIT ASLONGASYOULIKEMEv-YFRIENDANDMENTOR4ONY#AMPOLOFREQUENTLY POINTSOUTTHATh,OVETHESINNER HATETHESINvISNOTWHAT*ESUSTAUGHTIN-ATTHEWn )NSTEAD *ESUSTAUGHT h,OVETHESINNER ANDHATEYOUROWNSINv)NNew Seeds of Contemplation.EW9ORK.EW$IRECTIONS 4HOMAS-ERTONMADETHESAMEPOINTh3O INSTEADOFLOVINGWHATYOUTHINKISPEACE LOVEOTHER;PEOPLE=ANDLOVE'ODABOVEALL !NDINSTEADOFHATINGTHEPEOPLEYOUTHINKAREWARMAKERS HATETHEAPPETITESANDTHE DISORDERINYOUROWNSOUL WHICHARETHECAUSESOFWAR)FYOULOVEPEACE THENHATEINJUS TICE HATETYRANNY HATEGREEDBUTHATETHESETHINGSINYOURSELF NOTINANOTHERv )NCONTRAST BYweak)MEANAFAITHTHATISNOMINALANDOFLITTLEPRACTICALSIGNIl CANCETOONESWAYOFLIFE7EAKORNOMINALFAITHTENDSTOGROWWEAKER LESSFERTILE MOREBRITTLE ANDMOREDISPOSABLEFROMONEGENERATIONTOTHENEXT WHILEROBUSTFAITH INSPIRESFUTUREGENERATIONSTOKEEPITALIVESOTHATITCANCONTINUETOGROW ADAPT AND PRODUCEMOREANDBETTERFRUITINTHEFUTURE
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
TENCE)MEANBENEVOLENT HOSPITABLE ACCEPTING INTERESTED ANDLOV ING SOTHATTHESTRONGEROUR#HRISTIANFAITH THEMOREGOODWILLWE WILLFEELANDSHOWTOWARDTHOSEOFOTHERFAITHS SEEKINGTOUNDERSTAND ANDAPPRECIATETHEIRRELIGIONFROMTHEIRPOINTOFVIEW-YPURSUIT NOTJUSTINTHISBOOKBUTINMYLIFE ISA#HRISTIANIDENTITYTHATMOVES METOWARDPEOPLEOFOTHERFAITHSINWHOLEHEARTEDLOVE NOTINSPITE OFTHEIRNON #HRISTIANIDENTITYANDNOTINSPITEOFMYOWN#HRISTIAN IDENTITY BUTbecause ofMYIDENTITYASAFOLLOWEROF'ODINTHEWAYOF *ESUS !S IN ALL OF MY BOOKS )M WRITING FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE OF THOUGHTFUL #HRISTIANS ESPECIALLY #HRISTIAN LEADERS RATHER THAN A SPECIALIZEDAUDIENCEOFSCHOLARS%VENTHOUGH)VEBEENSOMEWHAT RESTRAINED IN QUOTING AND FOOTNOTING SCHOLARSHIP IN THESE PAGES ) HOPEITWILLBECLEARTHAT)MYSELFAMANAVIDREADEROFRELEVANTSCHOL ARSHIP7ITHOVERTWODECADESOFMYLIFEINVESTEDASAPASTORINA LOCALCONGREGATION ANDANOTHERDECADEINVESTEDINWRITINGFORAND SPEAKINGWITH#HRISTIANLEADERS )LOVETOBRINGGOODSCHOLARSHIPTO BEARONTHEGRASSROOTSSTRUGGLESFACEDBYPASTORSANDLAYPEOPLEDAYTO DAYINOURMULTI FAITHWORLD )MESPECIALLYMINDFULOFTWOOTHERAUDIENCESAS)WRITE&IRST )M CONSCIOUSOFANEWGENERATIONOFYOUNG#HRISTIANSHIGHSCHOOLAND COLLEGESTUDENTS YOUNGADULTSCOMINGOFAGE ANDEMERGINGLEADERS GRAPPLINGWITHTHEFORMATIONOFTHEIRIDENTITIES)HOPETHEYWILLlND INTHESEPAGESAWAYOFBEINGANDSAYINGWHOLEHEARTEDLY#HRISTIAN )NCONTRAST BYhostile)MEANAFAITHIDENTITYTHATDOESNOTBEARGOODWILLTOWARD OTHERRELIGIONS ULTIMATELYWISHINGTHATOTHERRELIGIONSWOULDDECLINEANDDISAPPEAR OR ATLEASTBEMARGINALIZEDANDMINIMIZED !LSO ASINALLMYBOOKS )VECHANGEDNAMESANDDETAILSINMANYOFTHESTORIESTO PROTECTPERSONALANDORGANIZATIONALANONYMITY )TWILLALSOBECLEARTHATTHEREAREIMPORTANTSCHOLARS)HAVENTYETDISCOVERED AN INEVITABILITYINAlELDTHISIMPORTANT WIDE RANGING ANDFAST GROWING
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
WITHOUTHOSTILITY AND)HOPETHEYWILLPIONEERWAYSOFRAISINGFUTURE GENERATIONSOFCHILDRENANDYOUTHINTHATPATHASWELL!ND)ALSO THINKOFTHEYOUNGNONRELIGIOUSORPOSTRELIGIOUSADULTS)MEETALMOST EVERY WEEKNOT PRACTICING ANY RELIGION BUT DEEPLY INTERESTED IN lNDINGAWAYTOBEHUMANTHATISINFORMEDBYTHEBESTOFOURRELI GIOUSTRADITIONSINCLUDINGTHEHARDLESSONSTOBELEARNEDFROMTHE FAILURESOFTHOSERELIGIOUSTRADITIONS !LTHOUGH)lNDTHEINTEGRATEDVISIONPRESENTEDINTHESEPAGESTO BEBOTHPERSUASIVE COHERENT ANDBEAUTIFUL )EXPECTSOMEREADERSTO lNDTHEBOOKBAFmINGBECAUSEITPROPOSESNOTMINORCHANGESWITHIN THE EXISTING PARADIGM OF #HRISTIAN IDENTITY AND NOT EVEN MAJOR CHANGES BUTRATHERADIFFERENTPARADIGMALTOGETHER)TISTERRIBLYDIF lCULTTOUNDERSTANDADIFFERENTPARADIGMFROMTHEOUTSIDE )EXPECT SOMEREADERSTOSAY h)MWITHYOUINCERTAINCHAPTERS NOTSOMUCHIN OTHERSv2ATHERTHANBEINGDISAPPOINTEDINLESSTHANCOMPLETEAGREE MENTORUNDERSTANDING )LLBEGRATEFULFOREVENSMALLSTEPSWECAN TAKETOGETHERINCHALLENGINGDANGEROUSFEATURESOFTHESTATUSQUOAND OPENINGUPBETTERPOSSIBILITIESFORTHEFUTURE7HEREYOUCANTFOLLOW SOME OF MY PROPOSALS ) PLEAD ONLY THAT YOU PURSUEIN YOUR OWN WAY ACCORDINGTOTHELINESOFREASONINGANDIMAGINATIONTHATSEEM BEST TO YOUTHE BENEVOLENCE THE KINDNESS AND THE LOVE WITHOUT WHICHALLOURWORDSARENOISEANDWEOURSELVESARENOTHING7EARE INCREASINGLYFACEDWITHACHOICE )BELIEVE NOTBETWEENKINDNESSAND HOSTILITY BUTBETWEENKINDNESSANDNONEXISTENCE 4HATISTHECHOICEWEMUSTMAKE THEROADWEMUSTCROSS
4HISURGENTCHOICESUGGESTSANOTHERPOSSIBLEANSWERTOTHETITLESQUESTIONWhy did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed cross the road? Because they hoped we would follow them.
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Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World
BRIAN D. M C LAREN
.EW9ORKs"OSTONs.ASHVILLE
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#OPYRIGHT©BY"RIAN$-C,AREN !LLRIGHTSRESERVED)NACCORDANCEWITHTHE53#OPYRIGHT!CTOF THE SCANNING UPLOADING ANDELECTRONICSHARINGOFANYPARTOFTHISBOOKWITHOUTTHE PERMISSIONOFTHEPUBLISHERISUNLAWFULPIRACYANDTHEFTOFTHEAUTHORSINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY)FYOUWOULDLIKETOUSEMATERIALFROMTHEBOOKOTHERTHANFORREVIEW PURPOSES PRIORWRITTENPERMISSIONMUSTBEOBTAINEDBYCONTACTINGTHEPUBLISHER ATPERMISSIONS HBGUSACOM4HANKYOUFORYOURSUPPORTOFTHEAUTHORSRIGHTS 5NLESSOTHERWISENOTED 3CRIPTUREQUOTATIONSAREFROMTHE .%72%6)3%$34!.$!2$6%23)/.")",% COPYRIGHT© BYTHE.ATIONAL#OUNCILOF#HURCHESOF#HRISTINTHE 5NITED3TATESOF!MERICA5SEDBYPERMISSION!LLRIGHTSRESERVED *ERICHO"OOKS (ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP 0ARK!VENUE .EW9ORK .9 WWW*ERICHO"OOKSCOM 0RINTEDINTHE5NITED3TATESOF!MERICA 22$ # &IRSTEDITION3EPTEMBER *ERICHO"OOKSISADIVISIONOF(ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP )NC 4HE*ERICHO"OOKSNAMEANDLOGOARETRADEMARKSOF(ACHETTE"OOK'ROUP )NC 4HE(ACHETTE3PEAKERS"UREAUPROVIDESAWIDERANGEOFAUTHORSFOR SPEAKINGEVENTS4OlNDOUTMORE GOTO WWW(ACHETTE3PEAKERS"UREAUCOMORCALL 4HEPUBLISHERISNOTRESPONSIBLEFORWEBSITESORTHEIRCONTENT THATARENOTOWNEDBYTHEPUBLISHER ,IBRARYOF#ONGRESS#ATALOGING IN 0UBLICATION$ATA -C,AREN "RIAN$ 7HYDID*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSSTHEROAD #HRISTIAN IDENTITYINAMULTI FAITHWORLD"RIAN$-C,ARENSTED PCM 3UMMARYh"RIAN-C,AREN ONEOFTHEESTABLISHEDLEADERSOFTHEEMERGINGCHURCH MOVEMENT INVITESINTERFAITHDIALOGUE SUGGESTINGTOLERANCEANDRESPECTBETWEEN RELIGIONSv0ROVIDEDBYTHEPUBLISHER )NCLUDESBIBLIOGRAPHICALREFERENCES )3". #HRISTIANITYANDOTHERRELIGIONS 2ELIGIONS2ELATIONS )DENTIlCATION2ELIGION ) 4ITLE "2- DC
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Chapter 1
The Scene of a Thousand Jokes ,AUGHTERISONEOFTHEWAYSWECOPEWITHTHEDISCREPANCIESOFOUR LIVES4HEREISADREAMWEALLHAVEFORTHISWORLD ANDTHENTHERE IS WELL THISWORLD4HEREAREEXPECTATIONSWEHAVEOFOURRELIGIONS ANDTHENTHEREAREOURRELIGIONS/URCAPACITYTOLOVE'OD OUR SELVES PEOPLE ANDALLOFLIFEGROWSWITHOURCAPACITYTOLAUGH7E ARERIDICULOUS ANDNOTTOLAUGHATOURRELIGIONS OURWORLDVIEWS AND OUR PHILOSOPHIES THAT IS OURSELVES WOULD BE A FALSE WITNESS 4HISABILITYTOLAUGHINTHEMIDSTOFOURIMPERFECTIONSINTHEPRES ENCEOF'ODISWHATWECALLGRACE —Samir Selmanovic
W
HYDID*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSSTHE ROAD 4HEQUESTION OFCOURSE RECALLSANOLDRIDDLEABOUTACHICKEN4HE RIDDLE GOES BACK AT LEAST TO WHEN IT APPEARED IN A .EW 9ORK
3AMIR3ELMANOVIC It’s Really All About God: How Islam, Atheism, and Judaism Made Me a Better Christian3AN&RANCISCO*OSSEY "ASS PPn3AMIRISECHOING' +#HESTERTON WHOSAID h)TISTHETESTOFAGOODRELIGIONWHETHERYOUCANJOKEABOUTITv "RUCE-AINASKSASIMILARQUESTIONINHISBOOKWhy Jesus Crossed the Road#AROL3TREAM )LL3ALT2IVER (ISSUBTITLESUGGESTSTHEENERGETICDIRECTIONOFHISANSWERLearning to Follow the Unconventional Travel Itinerary of a First-Century Carpenter and His Ragtag Group of Friends as They Hop Fences, Cross Borders, and Generally Go Where Most People Don’t
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
MAGAZINE"YTHES THEJOKEWASSOWELL KNOWNTHATITWASGEN ERATINGRIFFSANDVARIATIONSONTHETHEME 4HEORIGINALRIDDLEEXEMPLIlEShANTI HUMORvAJOKETHATISFUNNY BECAUSEITISNTFUNNY!NTI HUMORWORKSBYSETTINGUPACONVENTION THATLEADSUSTOEXPECTAJOKE ANDTHENREVERSESTHATEXPECTATIONINA HUMOROUSWAY)NTHENEARLYCOUNTLESSh#HICKEN *OKEvRIFFSAND VARIATIONS BEING HATCHED AROUND THE WORLD JOKESTERS BUILD HUMOR UPONTHEANTI HUMOR LIKETHIS Why did the chicken cross the road? 'randpa )NMYDAYWEDIDNTASKWHYTHECHICKENCROSSEDTHE ROAD3OMEBODYTOLDUSTHECHICKENCROSSEDTHEROADTOGETTOTHE OTHERSIDE ANDTHATWASGOODENOUGHFORUS Albert Einstein$IDTHECHICKENREALLYCROSSTHEROAD ORDID THEROADMOVEBENEATHTHECHICKEN 3ir)saac Newton#HICKENSATRESTTENDTOSTAYATREST#HICK ENSINMOTIONTENDTOCROSSTHEROAD A nun)TWASAHABIT Hamlet4HATISNOTTHEQUESTION $onne)TCROSSETHFORTHEE Colonel3anders$ID)MISSONE 3O WHYISITFUNNYTOASKABOUT*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND -OHAMMEDCROSSINGTHEROAD "EFORELOOKINGFORAPUNCHLINE JUST FORFUNTRYTOIMAGINETHESCENEFOUROFHISTORYSGREATESTRELIGIOUS LEADERSNOT lGHTING NOT ARGUING NOT DAMNING AND CONDEMNING ONEANOTHER NOTLAUNCHINGCRUSADESORJIHADS BUTWALKINGTOGETHER MOVINGTOGETHER LEADINGTOGETHER$OESNTTHATALREADYREVERSESOME OFOUREXPECTATIONS !NDDOESNTTHATREVERSALEXPOSEOURUNSPOKEN ,IKETHISONE INPotter’s American MonthlyQ: Why should a chicken not cross a road? A: It would be a fowl proceeding. 7ESEEAGREATFUSIONOFANTI HUMORANDHUMORATWORKINTHISEXAMPLEA pastor, an imam, a rabbi, and a Buddhist monk walk into a bar. The bartender asks, “Is this some kind of joke?”
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
E XPECTATIONTHATDIFFERENTRELIGIONSAREINHERENTLYANDUNCHANGE ABLYINCOMPATIBLE DISHARMONIOUS FRACTIOUS ANDHOSTILETOWARDONE ANOTHER 4HEIMAGEOFTHEFOURMENCROSSINGAROADALSOSURPRISESANDINTER ESTSUSBECAUSEITPUTSTHEFOURINASIMILARSITUATION INACOMMON PREDICAMENT7HATEVERTHEANSWERWILLBE ITWILLBETHESAMEFORALL OFTHEM PERHAPSEVENRENDERINGTHEMCOMPANIONSRATHERTHANCOM PETITORS4HATPOSSIBILITYMAKESCLAIMSONALLOFUSWHOFOLLOWTHEM )F YOURE A #HRISTIAN LIKE ME OF WHATEVER SORT#ATHOLIC 0ROT ESTANT OR %ASTERN /RTHODOX CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL OR MODERATE TRADITIONALORWHATEVERIFYOULOVE*ESUS IFYOUKNOWANDHAVECON lDENCEINHIMAS,ORD 3AVIOR 3ONOF'OD 3ONOF-AN 'ODINCAR NATE 7ORDMADEmESH ANDMORE LETMEASKYOUTOSERIOUSLYCONSIDER THIShow do you think Jesus would treat Moses, Mohammed, and Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) if they came to a crosswalk together? 7OULD*ESUSPUSH-OSESASIDEANDDEMANDTOCROSSlRST CLAIM ING THAT HIS ANCESTORS FAILED RELIGION HAD BEEN FOREVER SUPERSEDED BYHISOWN 7OULDHETRADEINSULTSWITH-OHAMMED CLAIMINGHIS CRUSADERS COULD WHUP -OHAMMEDS JIHADISTS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK DEMANDING THAT -OHAMMED CROSS BEHIND NOT BESIDE HIM 7OULD *ESUSDEMANDTHE"UDDHAKNEELATHISFEETANDDEMONSTRATESUBMIS SIONBEFORELETTINGHIMCROSS /RWOULDHEWALKWITHTHEMAND ONCE ONTHEOTHERSIDE WELCOMEEACHTOATABLEOFFELLOWSHIP NOTDEMAND INGANYSPECIALSTATUSORPRIVILEGES MAYBEEVENTAKINGTHEROLEOFA SERVANTHANGINGUPTHEIRCOATS GETTINGTHEMSOMETHINGTOEATAND DRINK MAKINGSUREEACHFELTWELCOME SAFE ANDATHOME )FHISTHREECOUNTERPARTSREACHEDOUTTHEIRHANDSINFRIENDSHIP ITSPRETTYHARDTOIMAGINETHAThTHEFRIENDOFSINNERSvWOULDCROSSHIS ARMSORTURNHISBACK REFUSINGTORECIPROCATE)TSMUCHMORELIKELY *ESUSWASCRITICIZEDBYHISMOREPURITANCRITICSFORBEINGTOOFRIENDLYWITHhTHEWRONG SORTvOFPEOPLE3EE,UKE
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
HE WOULD EMBRACE THEM WITH OPEN ARMS AND WITHOUT HESITATION PROVING HIMSELF OVER TIME TO BE THE BEST FRIEND THEY EVER HAD )TS PRETTYHARDTOIMAGINE*ESUSCURSINGORhSMITINGvTHEM BUTENTIRELY NATURALTOIMAGINEHIMBLESSINGTHEMANDhDOINGUNTOOTHERSvASHE WOULDWANTTHEMTODOFORHIM)HAVENODOUBTTHAT*ESUSWOULD ACTUALLY PRACTICE THE NEIGHBORLINESS HE PREACHED RATHER THAN FOL LOWINGOUREXAMPLEOFRELIGIOUSSUPREMACY HOSTILITY FEAR ISOLATION MISINFORMATION EXCLUSION ORDEMONIZATION !FTERALL ACCORDINGTOTHEFOUR'OSPELS *ESUSHADEXTRAORDINARY INSIGHTINTOHUMANCHARACTER(ESAWVALUEWHEREOTHERSSAWONLY mAWS(ESAWTHELOVEOFASINFULWOMANWHOANOINTEDHISFEETWITH TEARS AT A BANQUET THE SPIRITUAL THIRST OF AN OFT MARRIED WOMAN AT AWELLIN3AMARIA THEBIGSEEDOFHOPEINALITTLECHAPNAMED:AC CHEUS THEUNDENIABLEFAITHOFA3YROPHOENICIANMOTHER THEmINTY STRENGTH OF LOUDMOUTH 0ETER AND THE DEEP AND SPUNKY WISDOM OF -ARYOF"ETHANY7ITHTHATTRACKRECORDINMIND WECANONLYIMAG INEWHATHEWOULDSEEIN-OHAMMED -OSES ORTHE"UDDHA NOTTO MENTION#ONFUCIUS ,AO4SU .ANAK OR7OVOKA )TSEEMSRIDICULOUSTOIMAGINETHATHEWOULDBEINSECUREAMONG THEM CONSIDERINGTHEMHISRIVALS ORTHATHEWOULDlNDITNECESSARY TOEXTRACTFROMTHEMEXPLICITAGREEMENTONFUNDAMENTALDOCTRINES BEFORECONDESCENDINGTOCROSSAROADWITHTHEM)TSUNTHINKABLE IF ONEOFTHEMCAMETOCONFERWITHHIMBYNIGHTLIKE.ICODEMUS OR INBROADDAYLIGHTLIKETHERICHYOUNGRULER THATHEWOULDINTIMIDATE THEM THREATENTHEM CALLDOWNlREUPONTHEM PATRONIZETHEM OR &OR A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO SOME OF THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS )D RECOMMEND FOR -OHAMMED No God but God BY 2EZA !SLAN .EW 9ORK 2ANDOM (OUSE 5PDATED EDITION FOR-OSES A History of GodBY+AREN!RMSTRONG.EW9ORK"ALLAN TINE FORTHE"UDDHA One DharmaBY*OSEPH'OLDSTEIN.EW9ORK(ARPER/NE FOR7OVOKAOR*ACK7ILSON Neither Wolf nor DogBY+ENT.ERBURN-IDDLE )SLAND .9 .EW 7ORLD /NE OF THE BEST #HRISTIAN RESOURCES INTRODUCING WORLDRELIGIONSIS!DAM(AMILTONSChristianity and World Religions.ASHVILLE 4ENN !BINGDON !LSOESSENTIALREADINGFOR#HRISTIANSISWho Speaks for Islam BY*OHN %SPOSITOAND$AHLIA-OGAHED.EW9ORK'ALLUP0RESS
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
HUMILIATETHEM-AYBEHISFOLLOWERSWOULDPULLOUTASWORDANDSLASH OFFTHEIREARS ORHERDTHEMANDTHEIRFOLLOWERSINTOGHETTOES CONCEN TRATIONCAMPS ORRESERVATIONSWHERETHEIRINmUENCECOULDBELIMITED "UTNEVER*ESUS.EVER !ND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT -OHAMMED -OSES AND THE "UDDHA HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD APPROACH *ESUS AND ONE ANOTHER IF THEY ENCOUNTERED ONE ANOTHER ALONG THE ROAD )S IT A JOKETOTHINKTHEYWOULDRESPECTONEANOTHERANDBEDRAWNTOWARD ONEANOTHERASFRIENDS ALLIES COLLABORATORS )SNTITMORERIDICULOUSTO IMAGINEANYOTHEROUTCOME )CANTHELPBUTTHINKOFRECENTSCENES OF!RCHBISHOP$ESMOND4UTUANDTHE$ALAI,AMA A#HRISTIANAND A"UDDHIST ALMOSTGIDDYINTHEIRFRIENDSHIPANDMUTUALREGARD 3OWHYMIGHT*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDCROSS THEROAD )MAGINEIFTHEANSWERWERE h4OGOTOABARv4HATANSWER WOULDNT BE FUNNY AND MANY IN FACT WOULD lND IT OFFENSIVE "UT WOULDNTTHATOPENTHEWAYFORANOTHERJOKETHATWOULDBEGIN h*ESUS -OSES THE"UDDHA AND-OHAMMEDWALKINTOABARv 7ALKINGINTOABAR OFCOURSE ISTHESCENEOFEVENMOREJOKESTHAN CROSSINGAROAD3OWEMIGHTEXPECTACHUCKLEAS-OHAMMEDORDERS A7AHABICOCKTAILAMIXEDDRINKOFWARMMILK SUGAR ANDHOTTEA SINCEALCOHOLISOFlCIALLYFORBIDDENTO-USLIMS ANDTHE7AHABISARE KNOWNFORTHEIRSTRICTNESSONSUCHMATTERS 7EMIGHTEXPECTASMILE ASTHE"UDDHAMAKESASAGECOMMENTABOUTTHEMINDFULBREAKINGOF THE&IFTH0RECEPT AFTERWHICHHEORDERSAMOJITO THENMAKESATOAST hTOMODERATIONINALLTHINGS INCLUDINGFOLLOWINGTHE&IFTH0RECEPTv /NEANSWERMIGHTBETOESCAPEFROMAMOBOFTHEIRANGRY HYPERCRITICAL ANDHYPO CRITICALFOLLOWERS )TISINDEEDIRONICTHATSOMEWOULDBEFURIOUSABOUTTHEIRRELIGIOUSLEADERSBEINGSEEN WALKINGINTOABARTOGETHER BUTARENOTSOSCANDALIZEDBYTHEFEAR PREJUDICE HATRED ANDVIOLENCEPROMOTEDANDDEFENDEDINTHENAMEOFTHEIRRELIGIONS "UDDHISTSAREREQUIREDTOFOLLOWTENPRECEPTSTHATARESOMETIMESCOMPAREDTOTHE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF *UDAISM -ONKS OF THE 4HERAVADA TRADITION AGREE TO FOLLOW OVERTWOHUNDREDPRECEPTS )NADDITIONTOABSTAININGFROMhINTOXICATINGDRINKSAND
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
!NDPERHAPSTHEREWOULDBEOUTRIGHTLAUGHTERIF-OSESWERETOPART HISMARGARITAAND*ESUSWERETOORDERWATERANDTHEN WITHAWINK TURNITINTOAlNE3TELLENBOSCHPINOTAGE ,IKE THE ROAD WAITING TO BE CROSSED THE BAR IS QUINTESSENTIAL COMEDICSPACE INDEED)TISALSOPRIMESECULARSPACE APLACEFORTHE IMBIBINGOFSPIRITSRATHERTHAN3PIRIT)TSTHEPLACEOFPROFANITY NOT SACREDNESSLEVITY NOTLITURGYANDRELAXATION NOTREVERENCE RIGHT 7HATCOULDTHEPUBPOSSIBLYHAVEINCOMMONWITHTHENARTHEX 4HESCARILYBRILLIANT2OMANTICPOETANDVISIONARY7ILLIAM"LAKE DAREDTOSAYWHATMANYOFUSHAVEPERHAPSTHOUGHTBUTKEPTTOOUR SELVESh!GOODLOCALPUBHASMUCHINCOMMONWITHACHURCH EXCEPT THATAPUBISWARMER ANDTHERESMORECONVERSATIONv"LAKEHADA KEENEYEFORIRONY(EKNEWHOWEASILYCONGREGATIONSCANBECOME COLD HOSTILE PLACES WHERE WE #HRISTIANS INTOXICATE OURSELVES ON UNHOLYSPIRITS(EKNEWHOW DRUNKONDOGMATISM WECANSAYAND DOSHOCKINGLYPROFANEANDUNHOLYTHINGS3OFOR"LAKETHECHURCH CANBECOMEPROFANEANDTHEBARCANBECOMESACRED ASHEPORTRAYED INHISPOEMh4HE,ITTLE6AGABONDv!PRECOCIOUSANDINNOCENTCHILD SPEAKSTOHISMOTHER Dear mother, dear mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm; DRUGSCAUSINGHEEDLESSNESSvTHE&IFTH0RECEPT "UDDHISTSARETOABSTAINFROMhHARM INGLIVINGBEINGS TAKINGTHINGSNOTFREELYGIVEN SEXUALMISCONDUCT FALSE SPEECH TAKINGUNTIMELYMEALS DANCING SINGING MUSICANDWATCHINGGROTESQUE MIME USEOFGARLANDS PERFUMES ANDPERSONALADORNMENT USEOFHIGHSEATS AND ACCEPTING GOLD OR SILVER v 3EE HTTPWWWTHEBIGVIEWCOMBUDDHISM PRECEPTSHTML 4HE NARTHEX THE LOBBY OR PORCH AREA OF A CHURCH IS ITSELF A FASCINATING THEO ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT (ISTORICALLY IT WAS BUILT SO OUTSIDERSTHE UNBAPTIZED OR EXCLUDEDCOULDhEAVESDROPvONTHESERVICE THUSSERVINGASALIMINALSPACEBETWEEN EXCLUSIONANDINCLUSION 4HISQUOTEISWIDELYATTRIBUTEDTO"LAKE BUTTHEPRECISESOURCEISUNKNOWN)TMAY BEACONCLUSIONDRAWNFROMTHEPOEMTHATFOLLOWSINTHETEXT h4HE,ITTLE6AGABONDv
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The Scene of a Thousand Jokes
Besides I can tell where I am used well, Such usage in Heaven will never do well. But if at the Church they would give us some ale, And a pleasant fire our souls to regale, We’d sing and we’d pray all the livelong day, Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray. Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing, And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring; And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church, Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch. And God, like a father, rejoicing to see His children as pleasant and happy as He, Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the barrel, But kiss him, and give him both drink and apparel. "LAKE OFCOURSE WASNEITHERTHEONLYNORTHElRSTVISIONARYWITH ANEYEFORIRONY*ESUSHIMSELFSPOKEPITHILYANDOFTENABOUTRELIGIOUS ABSURDITY(ESURELYELICITEDSOMELAUGHSWHENHEPORTRAYEDRELIGIOUS LEADERS AS STRAINING AT GNATS AND SWALLOWING CAMELS WHITEWASHING TOMBS SCRUBBING ONLY THE OUTSIDE OF A lLTHY BOWL AND SO ON (IS WHOLEMINISTRYWASAKINDOFGUERRILLATHEATRE PLAYINGCANWESAY DEVILISHLY ONIRONY OVERTURNINGlGURATIVELYASWELLASLITERALLYTHE MONEY LADENTABLESOFTHERELIGIOUSELITE )FTHE4EMPLEHASBEENTURNEDINTOADENOFROBBERSAJOKE IN OTHERWORDSWHERETHENCANTHE3PIRITBEFOUND *ESUSDRAMATIZES THEANSWER4HE3PIRIT DRIVENFROMTHE4EMPLE SHOWSUPINONESUR PRISINGPLACEAFTERANOTHERINTHETREETOPSLIKETHEWIND ONTHE SANDYBANKSOFTHEMUDDY*ORDAN2IVER ONAHILLSIDEINTHEPRESENCE OFTHEBIRDSOFTHEAIRANDTHEmOWERSOFTHElELD AMONGWINEBIBBERS
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
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UNIQUEABOUT#HRISTIANITY ENCOURAGINGPEOPLETOBECOMEORREMAIN #HRISTIANSWITHOUT INSULTING OR MISREPRESENTING OTHER RELIGIONS ) COULD TAKE AN APPROACH OF MORAL OUTRAGE VENTING RIGHTEOUS FURY ABOUTRELIGIOUSVIOLENCEANDBIGOTRY)COULDFOLLOWADECONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH GRAPPLINGWITHTHEPROBLEMATICPHILOSOPHICALASSUMPTIONS THATCOMMONLYLEADTOVIOLENCEANDBIGOTRY"UTINTHEEND)FELT) SHOULDTAKEADIFFERENTTACKAPRACTICAL PASTORAL ANDCONSTRUCTIVE ONE FOCUSINGONHOWTODEVELOPAHEALTHY SANE ANDFAITHFUL#HRIS TIANIDENTITYINAMULTI FAITHWORLDLIKEOURS 3IMPLY PUT WE #HRISTIANS ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO TWO THINGS VERY WELL &IRST SOME OF US KNOW HOW TO HAVE A STRONG #HRISTIAN IDENTITYTHATRESPONDSNEGATIVELYTOWARDOTHERRELIGIONS4HESTRON GEROUR #HRISTIAN COMMITMENT THESTRONGEROURAVERSIONOROPPO SITION TO OTHER RELIGIONS 4HE STRONGER OUR #HRISTIAN COMMITMENT THE MORE WE EMPHASIZE OUR DIFFERENCES WITH OTHER FAITHS AND THE MOREWEFRAMETHOSEDIFFERENCESINTERMSOFGOODEVIL RIGHTWRONG AND BETTERWORSE 7E MAY BE FRIENDLY TO INDIVIDUALS OF OTHER RELI GIONS BUT OUR FRIENDSHIP ALWAYS HAS A PRETEXT WE WANT THEM TO SWITCHSIDESANDBEWONOVERTOOURBETTERWAY7ELOVETHEMOR SAYTHATWEDO in spite ofTHEIRRELIGIOUSIDENTITY HOPINGTHATTHEY
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
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TENCE)MEANBENEVOLENT HOSPITABLE ACCEPTING INTERESTED ANDLOV ING SOTHATTHESTRONGEROUR#HRISTIANFAITH THEMOREGOODWILLWE WILLFEELANDSHOWTOWARDTHOSEOFOTHERFAITHS SEEKINGTOUNDERSTAND ANDAPPRECIATETHEIRRELIGIONFROMTHEIRPOINTOFVIEW-YPURSUIT NOTJUSTINTHISBOOKBUTINMYLIFE ISA#HRISTIANIDENTITYTHATMOVES METOWARDPEOPLEOFOTHERFAITHSINWHOLEHEARTEDLOVE NOTINSPITE OFTHEIRNON #HRISTIANIDENTITYANDNOTINSPITEOFMYOWN#HRISTIAN IDENTITY BUTbecause ofMYIDENTITYASAFOLLOWEROF'ODINTHEWAYOF *ESUS !S IN ALL OF MY BOOKS )M WRITING FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE OF THOUGHTFUL #HRISTIANS ESPECIALLY #HRISTIAN LEADERS RATHER THAN A SPECIALIZEDAUDIENCEOFSCHOLARS%VENTHOUGH)VEBEENSOMEWHAT RESTRAINED IN QUOTING AND FOOTNOTING SCHOLARSHIP IN THESE PAGES ) HOPEITWILLBECLEARTHAT)MYSELFAMANAVIDREADEROFRELEVANTSCHOL ARSHIP7ITHOVERTWODECADESOFMYLIFEINVESTEDASAPASTORINA LOCALCONGREGATION ANDANOTHERDECADEINVESTEDINWRITINGFORAND SPEAKINGWITH#HRISTIANLEADERS )LOVETOBRINGGOODSCHOLARSHIPTO BEARONTHEGRASSROOTSSTRUGGLESFACEDBYPASTORSANDLAYPEOPLEDAYTO DAYINOURMULTI FAITHWORLD )MESPECIALLYMINDFULOFTWOOTHERAUDIENCESAS)WRITE&IRST )M CONSCIOUSOFANEWGENERATIONOFYOUNG#HRISTIANSHIGHSCHOOLAND COLLEGESTUDENTS YOUNGADULTSCOMINGOFAGE ANDEMERGINGLEADERS GRAPPLINGWITHTHEFORMATIONOFTHEIRIDENTITIES)HOPETHEYWILLlND INTHESEPAGESAWAYOFBEINGANDSAYINGWHOLEHEARTEDLY#HRISTIAN )NCONTRAST BYhostile)MEANAFAITHIDENTITYTHATDOESNOTBEARGOODWILLTOWARD OTHERRELIGIONS ULTIMATELYWISHINGTHATOTHERRELIGIONSWOULDDECLINEANDDISAPPEAR OR ATLEASTBEMARGINALIZEDANDMINIMIZED !LSO ASINALLMYBOOKS )VECHANGEDNAMESANDDETAILSINMANYOFTHESTORIESTO PROTECTPERSONALANDORGANIZATIONALANONYMITY )TWILLALSOBECLEARTHATTHEREAREIMPORTANTSCHOLARS)HAVENTYETDISCOVERED AN INEVITABILITYINAlELDTHISIMPORTANT WIDE RANGING ANDFAST GROWING
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Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
WITHOUTHOSTILITY AND)HOPETHEYWILLPIONEERWAYSOFRAISINGFUTURE GENERATIONSOFCHILDRENANDYOUTHINTHATPATHASWELL!ND)ALSO THINKOFTHEYOUNGNONRELIGIOUSORPOSTRELIGIOUSADULTS)MEETALMOST EVERY WEEKNOT PRACTICING ANY RELIGION BUT DEEPLY INTERESTED IN lNDINGAWAYTOBEHUMANTHATISINFORMEDBYTHEBESTOFOURRELI GIOUSTRADITIONSINCLUDINGTHEHARDLESSONSTOBELEARNEDFROMTHE FAILURESOFTHOSERELIGIOUSTRADITIONS !LTHOUGH)lNDTHEINTEGRATEDVISIONPRESENTEDINTHESEPAGESTO BEBOTHPERSUASIVE COHERENT ANDBEAUTIFUL )EXPECTSOMEREADERSTO lNDTHEBOOKBAFmINGBECAUSEITPROPOSESNOTMINORCHANGESWITHIN THE EXISTING PARADIGM OF #HRISTIAN IDENTITY AND NOT EVEN MAJOR CHANGES BUTRATHERADIFFERENTPARADIGMALTOGETHER)TISTERRIBLYDIF lCULTTOUNDERSTANDADIFFERENTPARADIGMFROMTHEOUTSIDE )EXPECT SOMEREADERSTOSAY h)MWITHYOUINCERTAINCHAPTERS NOTSOMUCHIN OTHERSv2ATHERTHANBEINGDISAPPOINTEDINLESSTHANCOMPLETEAGREE MENTORUNDERSTANDING )LLBEGRATEFULFOREVENSMALLSTEPSWECAN TAKETOGETHERINCHALLENGINGDANGEROUSFEATURESOFTHESTATUSQUOAND OPENINGUPBETTERPOSSIBILITIESFORTHEFUTURE7HEREYOUCANTFOLLOW SOME OF MY PROPOSALS ) PLEAD ONLY THAT YOU PURSUEIN YOUR OWN WAY ACCORDINGTOTHELINESOFREASONINGANDIMAGINATIONTHATSEEM BEST TO YOUTHE BENEVOLENCE THE KINDNESS AND THE LOVE WITHOUT WHICHALLOURWORDSARENOISEANDWEOURSELVESARENOTHING7EARE INCREASINGLYFACEDWITHACHOICE )BELIEVE NOTBETWEENKINDNESSAND HOSTILITY BUTBETWEENKINDNESSANDNONEXISTENCE 4HATISTHECHOICEWEMUSTMAKE THEROADWEMUSTCROSS
4HISURGENTCHOICESUGGESTSANOTHERPOSSIBLEANSWERTOTHETITLESQUESTIONWhy did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed cross the road? Because they hoped we would follow them.
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