Comments on: How to be a syncretist [July Synchroblog]

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:59:57 +0000

I sure would hope we’d be about loving everyone, not just one group! And I am not suggesting we “drop” our Christianity, just that we hold things loosely so that what we see as the essentials of faith don’t become a detriment to the actual living expression of the same. I agree – this kind of love is not natural.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:30:04 +0000

hmmm…love this syncretism idea! But, just not too familiar with the term. Do you think “dropping our Christianity” to become Jesus followers requires having His eyes first for EVERYONE…not just Muslims, etc.? Just a thought. I sometimes think that we want to drop the Chrisianity because we don’t want to be associated with a group that has pretty much NOT had Jesus’s eyes for others OR have not unified in love! Myself included. Don’t get me wrong, I hope for unity and believe it is possible…just not in the natural.

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:12:17 +0000

Hi Steve,
I will email my friends there and ask. It’s a pretty simple name – don’t know why I can’t remember. I am not truly sure what they do with Judaism except that they have a Star of David on their buildings (huts or shacks). They acknowledge Jesus but the old practices are also a part of what they do, maybe the large part. They women wear all white when they go to services (not all the time, just then) which was remarkable to me since it’s so dusty there. Does that seem familiar at all? I’ll let you know what I hear.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:05:25 +0000

I’d like to know more about the church that mixes Christianity with occultic practices of ancestor worship and Judaism — like its name, who founded it and when and where. Se this article on the database of African Independent Churches – unfortunately that link won’t work after September, as Yahoo! is closing Geocities.

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:53:01 +0000

I am not sure I understand your meaning. We are already syncretists. We all have melded some cultural world views with our Christianity – it’s impossible to be fully otherwise. But the idea here is not about melding our beliefs, it is to be willing to lay down whatever we need to in order to become Christ in this world and enter it as He did. In that sense being we actually become more distinctive but through His love, not necessarily through an ideology.

By: Sabio Lantz

Sabio Lantz — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:06:04 +0000

I wonder how many syncretists are universalists. I wonder how threatening universalism has to be. But I realize it is difficult to keep club members up if all you have to offer is universalism. Oh well.

By: Yewtree

Yewtree — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:04:50 +0000

I liked the fact that you encouraged the people to look at what was good in their previous practices and retain it. It is sad when religion of whatever flavour is used to keep people down. Some African indigenous traditions are very beautiful, but some aspects of them clearly aren’t.

You should read Steve Hayes’ article on mission and inculturation, it’s very interesting and he makes some similar points to yours above.

Hayes, S., (2003) ‘Witchcraft and Death: Inculturation and Orthodox mission.’ Theandros: An online journal of Orthodox theology and philosophy. http://www.theandros.com/witchcraft.html

By: Reading: The man in the moss « Khanya

Reading: The man in the moss « Khanya — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:50:11 +0000

[...] How to be a Syncretist by Ellen Haroutunian [...]

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:38:36 +0000

You totally got it, Liz. Yes, I have read Rollins and also Shusako Endo who writes about similar things. They really shake things up for me. I posted your link – thank you!

By: gracerules

gracerules — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:26:37 +0000

“What would it mean to lay down our Christianity to become Christ?”

Exactly!! We make our faith, our religion, our beliefs into idols and they end up hiding Jesus himself!

Have you read Peter Rollins “The Fidelity of Betrayal”? It goes along with your thoughts.

Way to go, girl!!

by the way – my contribution to the synchroblog is not up here http://gracerules.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/does-interfaith-dialogue-lead-to-syncretism/

By: Does Interfaith Dialogue Lead To Syncretism? « Grace Rules Weblog

Does Interfaith Dialogue Lead To Syncretism? « Grace Rules Weblog — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:35:10 +0000

[...] How to be a Syncretist by Ellen Haroutunian [...]

By: ellenharoutunian

ellenharoutunian — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:03:21 +0000

That’s precisely why I think we need to try to make friends, Matt. A verbal, cognitive presentation of the gospel doesn’t go far, as we present ideas that are offensive to them, such as the Trinity and Jesus being the begotten son of God. I think we need to show Him to them instead. The Jesus represented by the Crusades hated them. But how would Jesus Himself treat them? A friend who works with Muslims says that often it’s Jesus Himself who shows up and presents Himself to them – in dreams or such like that. Cool, no?

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:51:50 +0000

Great thoughts, thanks for sharing them.

By: Matt Stone

Matt Stone — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:03:19 +0000

When I visited Zimbabwe back before I was married I struck up a conversation with a local taxi driver who affirmed Christianity but prayed to Nyaminyami, the Zambezi River God, as a sort of saint. Obviously syncretistic to me, but as you say, where are we syncretistic without realizing it.

On the question of Islam though, how do you think most Muslims would sit with your proposal given so many deny the divinity of Jesus and denounce Trinitarianism as serious heresy?

By: Skip Newby

Skip Newby — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:56:06 +0000

Oh sure Ellen,
call into question every cultural category that is part of my following Jesus. What do you leave me with then? A moment by moment life of being aware of how to be in every situation with Him, re-presenting Him at all times? Why, I wouldn’t be able to decide who’s in, and who’s out if I did that. I’d have to live a life of love toward everyone. Thanks for reminding me of what is really the Way little sister.

And I posted a comment re/ the test I took about “What modern theologian are you?” I said I came up Rick Warren in a sort of disparaging manner, since he’s the pastor of a mega-church. However, again you pointed out what a judgmental fool I can be. It sounds like he is loving folks, breaking down barriers, and bringing in Father’s Dream of a Kingdom of Shalom in far better ways than me, his judge.

Peace in Christ, Skip.