True focus Morality

True focus
Morality, religion and community all encompass more than sexuality

Aug 25, 2001

For more than a month, some area residents have involved themselves in a discussion of the morality of homosexuality. That debate often has obscured the fact that the event that provoked it was an act not of sex but of violence. More than one person has invoked the word of God, and those words have not always been in agreement.

In times of conflict, respect for others’ religious beliefs becomes even more important than it usually is. Sometimes, in the heat of an argument, we forget that truth is not decided through democracy. We cannot change it simply by bringing others around to our own point of view, nor can they change it by forcing us to listen to theirs. The truth of any faith exists independent of its acclamation, and deeds are far more convincing than words, particularly harsh words. We can all act in ways that encourage others to believe as we do, and treating them as we wish to be treated is a good place to start. That means listening if one wants a turn at speaking.

Christianity has survived previous challenges, and indeed, the most severe challenges it has faced through history have been those that provoked Christians to act in ways that were decidedly not Christlike.

The Cortez Journal is not going to be the final arbiter of the veracity of the Bible, nor of the morality of anyone’s lifestyle. One of the charges most often leveled at newspapers is that quotes are taken out of context, and that certainly applies to the dueling Bible verses that have appeared on the pages of this newspaper recently. If the message of the Bible could be distilled to a few verses, it would have been, long ago.

Civility is not the same as surrender, and debate can be passionate without being vicious. We encourage everyone involved to understand that others’ beliefs may be as deeply held, and as prayerfully determined, as one’s own. That must be the basis of the discussion.

Consensus on the issue of homosexuality will be a long time coming, if it’s ever achieved. In the meantime, bitterness over that topic should not taint the broader discussions. Morality, religion and community all involve far more than sexuality, which is an extremely narrow focus for teaching and even preaching.