Religion's Role.
Positive intent or an excuse for intolerance?
I don't need to be a global citizen
'Cause I'm blessed by nationality
I'm a member of a growin' populace
We enforce our popularity
There are things that seem to pull us under, and
There are things that drag us down
But there's a power and a vital presence
That's lurking all around
Songwriters: Brett Gurewitz and Greg Graffin.
Never forget.
Sometimes, we overplay the “do you remember where you were when you heard the news?” card, elevating the relatively unimportant beyond its significance.
How many things do you remember like that?
I remember clearly when John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, and Kirk Cobain died, millions mourned, and no doubt memories linger.
The earthquakes in Canterbury were shocking, the resignation of John Key was fabulous, to me, but then the departure of Jacinda Ardern was heartbreaking.
One thing many New Zealanders will never forget is March 15th, 2019, and the mass murder of people gathered peacefully in prayer. It was the end of our innocence, something that few of us imagined could happen here. A horrific, hate-filled act that I will never understand.
Yet from that tragedy came some small amount of good. The people who went to the mosques from all walks of life, leaving flowers, notes, and expressing their heartbreak and solidarity.
Many of us were greatly moved by the response of the Muslim leaders, who showed such maturity and forgiveness. It felt like a counter to the evil that man sought, and for a while at least, we lived that never-to-be-forgotten phrase, “They are us,” with tolerance and a determination that this event was “not us”.
So, how do you feel about self-appointed Saint, Brian Tamaki, who is clearly from NZ, being seen around the world spreading a very different message? Preaching views that make people question what the heck is going on?
The Unite the Kingdom march in London last weekend was nominally about Free Speech, but everyone knew it was really about targeting immigrants. What I hadn’t realised was that it would be specifically focused on those with other religious beliefs.
Which must’ve been a confusing message for some who marched - aren’t freedom of speech and freedom of religion all tied up in this liberal ideal that those marching sought to defend? Or was it all just xenophobia, and if other religions, the ones “other” people believed in, got targeted, so be it?
Watching the Destiny Deity’s full speech, I commented, “Tamaki is out of his mind; his hate speech targeting anyone who is not Christian should not be allowed in Aotearoa.”
Please take a look, remembering how you felt about the attack on the Muslim community in Aotearoa back on March 15th.
Do you think Bishop Brian’s freedom of speech outweighs the threat delivered with his words? Here are a few of the views expressed on my page in reaction:
Noel: “This is thought control. The suppression of free expression (and freedom of worship). This is not who we are. He is not one of us.”
Cheryl: “Christianity preaches Love and acceptance, inclusion, not the ‘preaching’ this pōrangi is promoting!
He should be arrested on return to Aotearoa for Fraud and Hate Speech, Incitement to Riot and Terrorism! That will keep him where he belongs for a long time!”
Darien: “Please tell anyone you know in the UK that this self-styled Bishop rips off poor people and spews hate wherever he goes. He does NOT represent the views of us, nor of Maori. He leads a cult that relies on poor people to fund him, including for vanity trips like this to London.”
The role of religion.
Maybe I was lucky growing up. I’m an atheist now, and I don’t remember ever believing in any religion, but the experiences I had as a young person attending the Anglican Church in Rotorua have left only positive memories of a message of love and tolerance.
Many see religion as redundant in modern life, particularly in largely secular countries, but I feel a bit different. I think it started under the last pope.
I’m aware of the history of the Catholic church and of those who have suffered terrible abuse, and yet I respected the message of Pope Francis.
In a world where so many leaders seemed unwilling to stand up for the very values they espoused, he at least said things that were courageous and consistent with what I have felt religion meant and what I believe it means to many.
In his final address, Francis said he was thinking of Gaza, “where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.” Sentiments that you would like to think might come from elected politicians, but which only surfaced in a most diluted and politically expedient state.
I don’t see religious leaders directly changing things, but the very least that should be expected is that the message they bring be consistent with the values they stand for.
A positive message.
So I was delighted when I saw the news of ministers and priests taking direct action against our government’s inaction on Gaza by chaining themselves together outside of Nicola Willis’ office yesterday.
I wrote: “While Tamaki spews his hatred in London, other religious leaders have chained themselves together at Nicola Willis' office, demanding action.
I'm an atheist myself, but if there were a god, I'm pretty sure which group she'd like.”
One of those protesting, Reverend Mel McKenzie, said, “We’re happy to remain overnight, at this stage and dig it in.
We’ve heard the cries over the weekend from thousands of people in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, and also just around the country in constant protests, and we’ve got to the point where we are asking the government to give us a time frame in particular.”
Anglican Archdeacon Martin Robinson said, “We are heartbroken to watch the starvation of children and bombing of entire families in Gaza, while it is clear New Zealand is not doing all it can to intervene and put pressure on Israel to uphold international law.
As priests, we believe every child is made in the image of God. Our faith motivates us to peacefully resist injustice and to call for action that can pressure change.”
Three/Stuff covered the story here:
What a contrast to the fake priest Brian Tamaki’s words of prejudice and judgment.
Jan commented: “Love to see the clergy taking a stand! Good on them!”
Larraine: “These guys have spines- what our Figjam PM sadly lacks. And he’s supposedly Christian.”
Lathee: “Good on them! Luxon’s version of Christianity is not so much about loving others. If I remember it right ( I did some reading a couple of years back), it’s more about prosperity and self-promotion, kind of a capitalist version of Christianity.”
Don’t get me wrong, I would like to see our Prime Minister do the right thing over Gaza because he cares about the plight of other human beings, rather than because it is consistent with a religion he claims to believe in. But I’ll take either.
True to their word, the priests slept outside of Nicola Willis’ office, but she still had no interest in meeting with them this morning.
From the NZ Herald:
Rev Mel McKenzie said they were in “good spirits” this morning, although they were “tired and hungry” from the fast that began yesterday.
The Reverend went on to say, “We continue to invite the Hon Nicola Willis to come and meet with us here in her office, and discuss our desire for the Government to take stronger action against Israel’s war crimes and ongoing occupation of Palestine.
We also invite her to come and break bread with us at 10 am Communion, and to consider those who have no bread to break in Gaza today, and the Israeli government that is starving them.”
Alas, they were told that Nicola Willis was too busy to see them. It makes you wonder what was so much more important at 10 am this morning.
I fully expect that the government will make some announcement soon, but it makes you wonder, what are they waiting for? Whose permission are we waiting on, and what are we allowed to say?
That freedom of speech we started out with only seems to apply to those with the worst of intents.
And now, for something completely different…
Back when I was a kid, going to that Anglican church and taking on the message, if not the religion, there was something else I really remember - how good Kiwis were at middle-distance running.
We punched so far above our weight, winning multiple Olympic medals and breaking records, so it was awesome to see it happen again overnight.
I wrote: “Incredible performance by Geordie Beamish to win the Steeplechase after falling and being stood on in the heats. Well done, the Kiwi!!” Here’s the end if you haven’t seen it:
That brought back some good memories. What a performance, let’s hope that FIGJAM man doesn’t try and take the credit with a claim that we’re ‘Back On Track’.
An appeal. Despite readership being up, my subscriptions have dropped back. I do understand that times are tough, but if you can manage a couple of dollars a week to subscribe, your support would be very much appreciated.
Ngā mihi,
Nick.
To end today, here is American Jesus by Bad Religion—a song about the idea that America, and presumably its allies, will win wars because god is on their side.
We used to ridicule such ideas, but the people who make such claims seem fully invested in them, and now they’re being spread here.
Willis’ commitment this morning was a meeting with her fellow Cocs. The reason she cbf nipping over to JMall is that she absolutely doesn’t care. The fib she told about her constituents being blocked from her office is a big steaming pile of crap, like so much else she says.
The current CoC have already made a statement on where they stand on Gaza with the purchase of 5 helicopters from the "Department of War" in a country that is supplying the weapons that are being used to destroy Palestine