Embracing religious pluralism
The December 2001 issue was top-notch (it takes a lot for me and I imagine most people to subscribe to a new magazine!) and I have shared it with many others. I am working with a group of people to start a charter school for refugee/low-income/mainstream kids, and religious pluralism is a subject of major interest to us.

Thanks for your good work.
Barbara Thompson
Stone Mountain, GA

Truth in a climate of hate
Thank you for the courageous and insightful manner in which The Witness (12/01) discussed the problems of American exclusivity, fundamentalism and the profiling of people that has become a national pastime since September 11.

Your editorial notes contain timely remarks about the exclusivist position taken by too many Americans that God favors an "Anglocentric, capitalistic United States." You captured my thoughts well; I have become really weary of seeing the flag-waving, blessing-invoking people in my community scream, "God bless us" (because we are us), to which they attach the unspoken request, "God, help us kill everyone who isn’t us."

The fact that I live in a Southern community makes me appreciate your writings more. To express ANY dissatisfaction with the "war" in Afghanistan or with the "compassionate conservative" political machine is unacceptable in my community; your article provided encouragement to me by reminding me that not all Christians are misguided nationalists who deny the fact that the U.S. is morally wrong in many of its actions.

The interview with Martin Marty by Camille Colatosti on the question of "getting along" with fundamentalists was excellent; I grew up in a church tradition that is filled with traditionalism and fundamentalism (as defined in this interview) and this interview provided a fresh perspective for those of us who are interested in finding ways to link different Christian viewpoints instead of screaming hate and venom at Christians who choose not to follow a legalistic, unscriptural line of thought.

Elizabeth Kaeton’s article about her encounter with a Muslim woman was thought-provoking and refreshingly honest.

Thank you for providing an expression of truth in the midst of a climate in which far too many Christians appear to be interested in melting biblical truth in a cauldron of hate, vengeance, racism and nationalism so that they may forge a "truth" of exclusivity, American arrogance and ignorance.
Tim McDonald
Chattanooga, TN

Glad to see deacons’ role recognized
Your most recent issue, "Resisting a Culture of Punishment," is excellent, and I am pleased to have been a part of it. In particular, I was glad to see the role of deacons in social justice recognized. I do have two clarifications to make, however. First, I am said to have been instrumental in bringing hospice to the Angola prison, and I was not. I compared and contrasted ministering to a death row inmate to ministering to the terminally ill (which I have done) and later discussed the wonderful hospice program at Angola in which inmates are trained to assist. Some of our congregation – both outside volunteers and incarcerated – have been active in the program, but I have not. Secondly, I am accurately quoted as saying I drafted the featured statement against the death penalty but am elsewhere said to have written it. The final form was the joint effort of the deacons of the Diocese of Louisiana. Again thanks for this outstanding issue and for all the work that you do.
Deacon Charles deGravelles
Diocese of Louisiana

Enron and predator capitalism
The revelations of Enron’s misdeeds are shocking to most citizens. It is predator capitalism in its purest form. It is wise to remember though that a predator is always highly focused in attacking its prey, but this blind focus makes it ultimately very vulnerable. We accept that capitalism represents the survival of the fittest, but in "predatory" capitalism, it represents the advancement of the most ruthless.

Blindly fixated on the bottom line, predator capitalism lacks peripheral vision. Predator capitalism is indifferent to the common good of society, the community, the dignity of their employees, the inherent importance of fulfilling work for every human being, and the financial obligation to include the true costs of their products to protect the environment.

The blind focus of free market global capitalism will also eventually lead to its own demise. Renewed democratic societies will eventually rise up and find predator capitalism an easy kill, if the predator continues to blindly and greedily pursue its prey. For world capitalism to survive, it must wisely make up its mind and accept the ultimate earthly mandate of a just, sustainable and compassionate world.
Stephen V. Riley
Sarasota, FL

Much-needed
Anglican voice
Thanks for sending The Witness for November 2001 and the kind complementary copy of December’s issue also. I am very impressed with the magazine and grateful for it – a much needed voice in Anglicanism (I’m an Anglican priest here), so have just taken out a year’s subscription via your web site. I’ll look forward to reading the 2002 issues, and beyond.
John Davies
Liverpool, England

Promoting high-school discussions
Thanks for sending us the copies of "Engaging Religious Pluralism" (12/01). I look forward to using this issue with our high-school kids and engaging them in discussions around pluralism. In a world marred by violence, your issues have helped me in my ministry. The fresh breath of the Holy Spirit runs through all your work. Keep it up!
Kurt Huber
Trinity Episcopal Church
Newtown, CT

A serious question
Camille Colatosti’s interview with Martin Marty on fundamentalism raises a serious question for me. At page 20, Marty is quoted as saying, "Ninety-nine out of 100 scholars of Islam would say that those texts that Osama bin Laden is quoting are very marginal." The same point is elaborated on page 21.

My own knowledge of Islam is limited, but I am by profession very much aware of the problem of verifying intellectual authority. I hope that what Marty says is, in fact, correct. The question that I pose is whether this is the view of 99/100 Muslim scholars of Islam, and whether these are scholars who live and work in Islamic countries or in the West.

Marty would, of course, understand easily the issue if we asked about Lutheran scholars’ understanding of Lutheran teaching, in contrast to Episcopal scholars’ understanding of Lutheran teaching.

The same issue is posed when Marty says (at page 21), "Likewise, the vast majority of Muslims say that bin Laden does not represent them."

I could wish, hope and pray that Marty’s interpretation is correct. Perhaps he might be persuaded to say more on the point, for I am concerned by the prospect that wish might be father to the analysis.

One additional point. I wonder if Marty does not place last what is first in fundamentalist belief. "Finally, fundamentalists also see themselves as reaching toward the fundamentals of their faith, but they are selecting those features that best help them react and fight for the Lord against modernity, or whatever the enemy is. Fundamentalists take these ‘fundamental’ elements literally" (page 20).

Do not Episcopalians, if they take their faith with seriousness, also have fundamentals?
Matthew Holden, Jr.
Charlottesville, VA

The global city
I just finished reading the November 2001 (The global city) issue of The Witness. What a wonderful issue it is. I particularly enjoyed Bishop Browning’s article and the interview with Barbara Garson. Gave me lots to think about. But I absorbed the articles. Thank you.
Judy Yeakel
Langley, WA

New peacemaker
subscriber
I don’t know how you found me, but I’m grateful. Your magazine is superb.

I’m a peacemaker and civil rights veteran of almost 50 years.
Edward L. Younken
Edison, NJ

Critically relevant
for seminarians
Thanks for sending the complimentary copies of the November 2001 issue of The Witness to Canon Frederick Williams’ class here at the Episcopal Divinity School. Many of the students, along with Canon Williams, are truly impressed by the quality of the articles and the depth of knowledge of the authors. Your editors and contributors continue to print timely and thought-provoking work that is critically relevant for seminarians across the Episcopal Church. Thanks again for enabling Canon Williams’ class to gain a deeper understanding of the issues of urban ministry.
Jim Strader
Cambridge, MA

Can’t follow where you’re going
I have subscribed to your journal for several years and have found many things in it to be both helpful and prophetic.

However, between your incredibly biased issue a couple of months ago on the Palestinian/Israeli conflicts and your issue this month (November 2001) addressing the attacks of September 11, I’m afraid I cannot follow where you’re going.

Rather than belabor the point, I simply request that you cancel my subscription.
Janet Fischer
Newark, CA