Doctrinal Diversity

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off.  So I ran over and said “Stop! Don’t do it!”

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.
I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for.”

He said, “Like what?”
I said, “Well … are you religious or atheist?”

He said, “Religious.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you Christian or Buddhist?”

He said, “Christian.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you Catholic or Protestant?”

He said, “Protestant.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”

He said, “Baptist.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?”

He said, “Baptist Church of God.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you original Baptist Church of God or Reformed Baptist Church of God?”

He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God.”
I said, “Me too!  Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?”

He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915.”
I said “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off the bridge.

Emo Phillips, American comedian

Now I’m not having a go at Baptists (in fact some of my nicest neighbours are Baptist) but I did like that joke – taking it to be aimed at all religious people, whenever we fall prey to the evil possibilities that can form the trappings of a religious identity. 

Religion can open us to all sorts of exciting potential but sadly it sometimes does exactly the opposite of ‘what it says on the tin’.

Not least in the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus tells us that real faith goes hand in hand with a heightened sense of our common humanity with all people (especially those we think are beyond the pale) and results in the crossing of boundaries whenever we can embody compassion and practical care.