How we can undermine our concern
Sir, I hope that responding to Peter Mullen critically won’t become a habit pattern for me – but I want to reply to his article “Imbibing the doctrine of secularism.” I believe we must be prophetic and I stand by the campaigns I mounted back in the 1980s and 90s, although I have moved on from them. I am about to launch into a new campaign (via blog, twitter and Facebook) seeking, amongst other things, to reinstate a proper place for eschatology, which is clearly stressed throughout the New Testament, related to the sorts of current events and trends which Peter outlines. (If readers wish to know more about this they are welcome to contact me on tony@higton.info).
Peter mentions a number of the issues that I want to take seriously and monitor: secularism, aggressive atheism, discrimination against Christians, the negative results of the way we operate human rights legislation and the serious threat of militant Islamism. Like Peter I am concerned about all these things.
But we undermine this concern by making quick judgments or using intemperate language. It really is not helpful for Peter to state that faithful British Christians stand “oppressed and persecuted ... by atheistic technomaterialism operating a drugged-up, dumbed-down consumerist culture of vacuous hedonism.”
Secularism is more complex than that and it is unhelpful to describe British Christians as ‘persecuted.’ Yes there is serious discrimination against them. But they are not experiencing anything like the real persecution increasingly faced by our brothers and sisters in many other countries. It is important to monitor if discrimination becomes persecution as Jesus said persecution is a sign of the times.
I also don’t think it is helpful to talk rather disparagingly about Christians setting ‘up a high-level and everlasting talking-shop with moderate Muslims.’ I think dialogue with moderate Muslims is important and am happy to be involved in it. Such dialogue is not incompatible with upholding the uniqueness of Christ as the only Saviour on the one hand or remembering that Islam is a missionary religion with a world vision (which is very explicit amongst extreme Islamists who espouse violence) on the other.
I am impatient of waffle and believe a prophetic witness must give a clear and memorable message. But I think thoughtful people who like to examine the evidence and draw well thought out conclusions will react against the intemperate language Peter uses. It is counterproductive and could lead to Islamophobia.
I am particularly concerned that Christians should take seriously what Jesus said about reading the ‘signs of the times.’ It is a serious error to ignore his teaching. Sadly, however, this area is a happy hunting ground for extremists who have brought the issue into disrepute. What is required is a careful and properly critical analysis of current events and trends vis a vis what Jesus told us to look for. I hope to take this approach. If we fall into unbalanced interpretations and comments we undermine our case.
We need to read current events and trends with real care, relating them to Jesus’ teaching, and to encourage others to do so by giving a credible lead. The Rev Tony Higton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk