On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 13:45:17 +1000, Greg Crawford wrote:
>In context, three of the world's major religions - Judaism, Christianity and
>Islam - grew out of a Semitic culture ("Semitic" is used here in the broader
>meaning of the term). So the underlying question is, to what extent the God of
>their beliefs is a projection of Semitic culture into the sky.
>
>
>
>I'd argue that the potential for "anthropomorphism" is relevant to mission
>because it makes us aware that aspects of our mission may be little more than
>the imposition of Semitic culture upon a non-Semitic world. I'm of
>Celtic/Pictish origins and proud of it. The Romans never conquered us. I'll be
>damned if the Semites get away with it by stealth! ;-)
>
>
>
>Further, the question is whether the God you are in mission about is little more
>than an ancient Semitic superstition.
>
Back in the mid 70s I met a youmg man in Java who was studying for the
ministry. He had come from the island of Roti, off the coast of West
Timor. As I'd read a couple of books about the revival that had swept
through Roti a few years before, I asked him what difference it had
made. His answer: "Until we experienced the Holy Spirit through this
revival, we liked Christianity, but it was the religion of the
Dutchman. After the Holy Spirit came we knew [the Christian] God was
our God too."
Sue
Sue Bolton
Sydney, Australia
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