It should be the beginning of a joke and, in a way, I suppose it is: a Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jainist and Christian all walk into Lambeth Palace; they look at the Christian and decide he doesn\u2019t belong.<\/p>\n
From here<\/a>:<\/p>\n The Archbishop of Canterbury last night hosted a reception for inter-religious and community leaders at Lambeth Palace.<\/p>\n Speaking at the annual event, which brings together members different faith groups to foster relationships, Archbishop Justin Welby reflected on the theme of reconciliation, which is one of his ministry priorities.<\/p>\n The event was attended by a wide range of people from Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jain and Christian traditions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I can think of a number of reasons why Welby might do this, none of which have anything to do with the hope of converting anyone, least of all the visitors, to Christianity.<\/p>\n The first is to demonstrate the pride with which Western Anglicanism holds firm to the proposition that it doesn\u2019t much matter what anyone believes, so long as we can all get along.<\/p>\n The second is to disabuse those who are under the mistaken impression that the Anglican trinitarian god has three persons named Diversity, Inclusion and Equality; no, the one true Anglican god is now named Reconciliation<\/em>.<\/p>\n The third is related to the first and second. If Jesus had simply learned to get along with everyone, to reconcile<\/em> with them, he wouldn’t have ended up on that embarrassing\u00a0 cross, removing a major stumbling block in our getting along with Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Buddhists and Jainists.<\/p>\n Fourth, Justin Welby has finally realised that it is easier to find agreement between Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Buddhists and Jainists than between Anglicans.<\/p>\n I write in jest, of course. To be absolutely serious, Welby himself tells us what this was really all about: the need to create a space that is relational:\u00a0 <\/em>a convenient void into which one can jettison unwanted relations. What could be clearer than that?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It should be the beginning of a joke and, in a way, I suppose it is: a Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jainist and Christian all walk into Lambeth Palace; they look at the Christian and decide he doesn\u2019t … Continue reading