Volume 4, Issue 1, October 1995

CHRISTIAN ADVOCACY

It has been assumed by some that although Christian theology might be difficult and unattractive its ethical teaching is so simple and satisfying that it only has to be stated to win admiration and assent.

Now, however, there are many to whom the ethical teaching of Christianity seems to conflict with their experience of reality, and for others an assumption its ethical demands are now impracticable.

More knowledgable today informed Christians are seeing in the historical Jesus (as opposed to Jesus the Christ portrayed by the myths created by church fathers), a man who was committed to being an advocate for the poor, the disadvantaged and the needy. He was a champion in the battle for human dignity.

According to Maude Barlow and Bruce Campbell, co-authors of a new book entitled, "Straight to the Heart: How the Liberals Abandoned the Just Society", we must reclaim "our collective memory" challenging the corporate propaganda, eliminating industrial subsidies, enforcing environmental and workplace regulations and "disarming the banks."

Since no political party is prepared to do this, they stress Canadians must work through community action, in churches, unions, advocacy groups, professional groups. The heart of the fight will be the struggle to protect the universal social programmes "upon which our national narrative was built."

Whether you consider yourself a Christian or not, we are all challenged today in the creation of
a new just and helpful society and world.

Search Articles by Keyword

 


Back to Issue Summary || Issue Index || Home

"Religion NOW" is published in limited edition by the Rev. Ross E. Readhead, B.A., B.D., Certificate of Corrections, McMaster University, in the interest of furthering knowledge and participation in religion. Dialogue is invited and welcomed.