Friday, July 30, 2010

I Love my Muslim Sisters and Brothers


I'm deeply saddened today. I have heard far too much negative talk about my Muslim sisters and brothers. I can't simply sit and listen to it I must respond.

Whether it is the controversy over the building of mosques, miss representations in the media of what Islam says, people drawing the Prophet, or the heinous act of a Pastor planning to burn Qurans on 9/11 it has somehow become seen by some to be socially acceptable to be disrespectful to Muslims. The simple fact is, however, that it is not acceptable.

I spent a year teaching English in Bahrain a Muslim Country off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The Muslims I came in to contact with there were some of the most loving, peaceful and faithful people I have ever meet. I had the great privileged to have many discussions about faith with the people around me. In the end Muslims taught me to be a better Christian and I hope that I help them to follow their faith more fully.

I believe the controversy of Mosques and the negative things said about Islam come from a lack of understanding. To put it simply those out their who use the Suicide Bombs do not represent the reality of Islam anymore than those who bomb abortion clinics represent the reality of Christianity. The are radicals and should be named as such but we can not begin to judge a religion by the radicals. I know I don't want Christianity to be judged by it's extreme elements. As for the Quran, any negative thing you could say about it, you could find the equivalent thing in the book I hold as Holy, love and take very seriously the bible.

So today I'm here to stand with my Muslim sisters and brothers. The truly are my sisters and brothers and as their sibling it is my privilege to stick up for them.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Thank You to Collegiate UMC/ Wesley Foundation

I don’t have the words to express the joy and blessing it has been to be a part of the Collegiate United Methodist Church/ Wesley Foundation family of faith. Tammy and I could never thank you for all the love you have shown us over the past two years. You welcomed
us and brought us into your wonderful family of faith and nurtured us every
step of the way. As I head off to Seminary at The Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA know I carry you all in my heart. I know God has truly blessed us by letting us be a part of this place and this place will always be a part of us.

All our love and gratitude. Shalom to you all.
Chris Hockley
Campus Ministry Associate

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Spiritual Practice Vs. Religiousity


The phenomena of people calling themselves “spiritual but not religious” is not new but it is a growing reality. It is tempting for those who consider religion important to dismiss people who use this descriptor for themselves as somehow being less committed or “wishy washy”. My experience is that this is simply not the case.

Those who have taken on this descriptor have something important to teach us. Listening to those who call themselves “spiritual but not religious” what you often find are people who are deeply committed to spiritual practice but with no interest in the dogma that comes along with traditional religion.

Truth be told I see a great deal of wisdom in the distinction that they are making. Though I see great value in the shared history and guidance that religion can offer us, we must recognize that the heart of religion is in spiritual practice. We can go to worship all we want and hear stories about being compassionate, be told we need to be more loving, and sing songs about being a more just world but if we do not cultivate these attitudes within ourselves and in our daily lives than that worship is hollow.

It is exactly this talk without action that those who have taken on the “spiritual but not religious “ moniker are reacting against. The tricky thing about being a spiritual person is the more you learn, the less you realize you know. If we are to be compassionate people we must spend time cultivating compassion in ourselves everyday. If we are going to loving people we must meditate on love all the time. If we are going to act with justice we must incorporate justice into the fiber of our being.

It is this that faith is about, not about simply believing something but practicing to make the values mentioned above a part of our deepest being. We need to fight less about doctrine and focus more on cultivating those values that are at the heart of the religion that we practice. Maybe it would be smart for all of us to be more spiritual and less religious.