Well I think historically it, you know . . . it can and has been both. One of our partners in the
Outlawed production and distribution campaign – the film that we produced,
Outlawed, which is an extraordinary rendition of torture and disappearances in the war on terror – one of our partners is the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA which represents 40,000 Christian congregations, over a 100 million Christians in this country. And the Reverend Edgar did a little intro before the film began, which we video taped for them, which framed this as a moral issue. They’ve been one of the leading . . . the leading coalitions of congregations talking out and speaking out against the use of torture; saying not only does it produce completely illegitimate and inaccurate information; but it’s unjust, unethical, and illegal. So you can absolutely and you must form alliances with religious coalitions. I think when you look at the climate issue, some of the evangelicals who have come out strong on the climate issue have really helped put that issue on the map. And that’s tremendously important. I think we can speak much more potently to many religious communities when we frame what’s happening to the climate in human terms; when we talk about the human responsibility to care for members of the human family who are being implicated by this. It’s not just a question of God’s creation when it comes to the natural environment, but of what’s happening to your brothers and sisters. So I think we can and must look for opportunities to collaborate with religious communities. People . . . and most people in the world are deeply religious and are guided by the values that their religion espouses. So that’s an enormous opportunity. It isn’t to say that there aren’t challenges. I mean historically of course, you know, religions have motivated some of the most lethal wars. And it is religion in many cases that keeps women, for example, you know, enslaved on many levels – legally and otherwise.
Recorded on: 8/13/07
Discuss
Jane Marlow Willis on January 8, 2008, 5:13 AM
Religion is too often used as a control mechanism than a force to help people achieve their own personal best. Church officials prosper while the congregation gives. If there were only a way to reach the congregation and by-pass the leaders. . .
Jane Marlow Willis on January 8, 2008, 10:13 AM
Religion is too often used as a control mechanism than a force to help people achieve their own personal best. Church officials prosper while the congregation gives. If there were only a way to reach the congregation and by-pass the leaders. . .
Melinda Elliott on January 20, 2008, 5:36 AM
Religion doesn't have a good track record when it comes to human rights. It has been involved or even solely responsible for some of the worst human rights atrocities we have ever seen. Most religions have no qualms reducing or even eliminating the rights that women have fought so hard to attain. To be associated with them in the human rights campaign means bringing back the wolves to tend the sheep.
Melinda Elliott on January 20, 2008, 10:36 AM
Religion doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to human rights. It has been involved or even solely responsible for some of the worst human rights atrocities we have ever seen. Most religions have no qualms reducing or even eliminating the rights that women have fought so hard to attain. To be associated with them in the human rights campaign means bringing back the wolves to tend the sheep.
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