A couple of friends have asked me about ths heading of my BLOG. I just found a quote from former Anglican Bishop John Shelby Spong that does a lot to help explain it.

This is from Bishop Spong's e-newsletter "A New Christianity for a New Day." I don't always agree with Spong (though my disagreements are respectful ones) but this time I'm with him 100%.

His reply to a reader's letter begins:

"I do not see Christianity and secular humanism as enemies, reflecting mutually exclusive values. Indeed I believe the aim of both Christianity and humanism is to seek and to encourage the expansion of human life. The differences are found in what each believes is necessary to achieve that goal and the definition of the goal itself. In the struggle to humanize our world I think that Christianity and humanism are allies not enemies.

Secular Humanists have, however, frequently experienced Christianity as narrow, prejudiced and imperialistic. Christians have experienced secular humanism as anti-religious and anti-Christian. I believe both stereotypes are false."

And there it is. The idea of the 'Culture Wars' seems to be that secular and liberal culture is at war with Christian and conservative culture. I reject this idea. It sets up false stereotypes and divided out nation in ways that we don't need to be divided.

We do not need more division, especially not when that division is based on stereotypes and misinformation. We need honest and loving discussions designed to find the best ways to help the greatest number of people.

We don't have to agree on everything, but where we agree let's find ways to work together. When we legitimately disagree, let's find ways to express our differences without declaring war, culture war or otherwise.

As one who want's to answer Jesus' call to peacemaking I choose not to get sucked into the culture wars. I like the idea that I'm a 'conscientious objector' helping to find ways to end a needless conflict, or at least letting a different viewpoint be heard.