Prof. Good is the New Testament Prof. at General Seminary. She is a great teacher and an interesting thinker. Her critique of Maher’s new movie is quite thoughtful. It sounds like the movie is just what you would expect. Too bad Maher isn’t interested in something more constructive. I guess the constructive doesn’t sell enough tickets.
Prof. Good
Prof. Good
2 comments:
Construct what? The options towards life, culture and thoughtful government have already been constructed over the stones of old churches.
His movie is anti-religious. What room does he have to construct? First someone has to clear the ashes and rubble left behind by religion, and then more poignant observers can come up with something to replace religion with. May I suggest art, music, literature, science, etc...
An anti-religious perspective is easy to bolster, if one points to straw men to knock to the ground. As a Christian, I don't point to bad science to undermine science. Art, Science and Literature are of great value, and I see no reason that they need stand in opposition to religion. Some of the greatest works of art and literature embody religious themes. The work of Polkinghorne and other scientists/theologians reflect that science and religion are not incompatible. Science and theology are different disciplines striving to answer different questions. Conflict exists only as much as a lack of clarity about the nature of the respective disciplines exists.
It is easy to be opposed to most anything, if I choose to muse on the worst examples. I wouldn't expect anything constructive from Maher about the role of religion in the world. That is not his purpose. For that matter, I enjoy Bill Maher. He is a comedian, yet he styles himself as a kind of social critic. Since the advent of theatre, comedy has always functioned this way. Farce is useful, but only to a point.
I suppose I long for a more serious discussion. We all recognize that religious people are not always well-behaved or constructive. I just don't see the failures of religion, which are really the failures of religious people, as a reason to scrap the whole enterprise, and ignore the good derived.
Thx for the comment.
Chris+
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