This week the Seminary held a forum titled, "War and Peace: The Iraq War Case Study."
On Tuesday my friend Dr. Jerry Walls presented the pro-war side, and today my friend Dr. Chuck Gutenson presented the pro-pacifist side.
And on Wednesday, between the two polar opposite arguments, I was asked to share my story. Honestly it has been an intense week leading up to this moment. This message has been in labor since the war began, and this week I finally had the chance to deliver.
I also need to say publically that while I do not agree with Jerry's argument, I appreciate the time we have spent together trying to fiqure all of this out, and for his comments at the beginning of his talk. I also want to thank Chuck for being a friend and mentor to me.
It is a funny thing that Jerry was a mentor to Chuck, and Chuck has been a mentor to me. Jerry and Chuck could not be further appart in their theology on this issue, but I witnessed a Kingdom moment yesterday when, after my talk when the community was celebrating communion, the two of them stood side by side serving the bread and wine to the people, both of them in tears.
I will be back tomorrow with a tribute to my cousin Mohammed.
Until then you can listen to my story here.
And if you are interested, you can listen to the pro-war argument here, and the pro-pacifist argument here.
Stay tuned...
October 05, 2006
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2 comments:
omar,
I really dug your story. It makes me happy to see your hope.
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Thanks for posting these Omar. I listened to all three. It sounds like some lively discussions go on there at Asbury. I wasn't impressed with Dr. Walls' take. I consider myself Just War but I envision it along Dan Bell's model envisioned in "Just War as Christian Discipleship"
http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,29/func,fileinfo/id,41/
I was dishearted to hear that Dr. Wall seems to think pacifists have no historical role in war conversations because of their supposed historic noninvolvement in government. That bit was a conversation stopper in my opinion.
My only critique of Dr. Gutenson is that he should have taken at least as much time as Dr. Wall. His decision to go practical rather than theoretical was very well reasoned. It was a very hopeful and important message. His use of Cavanaugh's critique of government soteriology was so good.
Thanks for these, and I'm recommending the discussion to friends.
Peace,
Chris
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