Dr. Dyron Daughrity, Pepperdine University
I listen to WAMC FM, our local public broadcasting station, throughout the day. One of the new programs is a morning show called The Academic Minute. A different professor speaks briefly about his or her particular academic interest on each spot. The other day Dr. Dyron Daughrity, professor of religion at Pepperdine University spoke, about his interest -- World Christianity.
As we Episcopalians wrangle over a new covenant for living together, it may be helpful to hear the advice of a non-Anglican. An important purpose of connecting with other Christians around the world is to learn "how to relate, how to live peaceably with one another, how to be neighborly." Here are his thoughts, which can also be heard at the Academic Minute website:
"Christianity is easily the largest religion in the world right now, a fact that's often overlooked. The world population is around 7 billion; about one-third of those people are Christian. Christianity is also very culturally diverse. Of the world's eight cultural blocks, Christianity is the largest religion in six of them.
"Perhaps now, more than at any other time in history, humans need to understand each other's beliefs, and learn from each other. Christians in America need to understand other religions, but they also need to understand the world's Christians. Christians living abroad can be important reservoirs of knowledge if North Americans just talked with them.
"For example, Nigerian Christians understand Islam. About half of that country is Christian and about half is Islamic. And they coexist peacefully most of the time. North American Christians should learn from Nigerian Christians about how to understand Islam, how to relate, how to live peaceably with one another, how to be neighborly. North American Christians have a wonderful opportunity to understand other cultures by using faith as an interface. And the Christian religion is a global institution that transcends borders.
"By looking at Christianity as a borderless religion, we begin to understand our interconnectedness to other people. We see political boundaries as limited. We realize our common humanity. And once a person begins to think of himself as a member of a global community, he will begin to see his neighbors his fellow citizens as friends."
Just as Christians should approach Islam -- or any other religion -- with respect, we must not seek to force fellow Christians to follow our particular cultural expectations. There is much we can learn from each other if we respect our differences as we celebrate our common faith.
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