Today I was reading some of the work of German philosopher, Jürgen Habermas. I was looking at his work on worldview when I came across this quote:
"Christianity has functioned for the normative self-understanding of modernity as more than a mere precursor or a catalyst. Egalitarian universalism, from which sprang the ideas of freedom and social solidarity, of an autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, of the individual morality of conscience, human rights, and democracy, is the direct heir to the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. This legacy, substantially unchanged, has been the object of continual critical appropriation and reinterpretation. To this day, there is no alternative to it. And in the light of the current challenges of a postnational constellation, we continue to draw on the substance of this heritage. Everything else is just idle postmodern talk."
– "Conversation about God and the World." Time of transitions. Cambridge: Polity Press 2006, p. 150-151
It seems to me that our culture often fails to recognize the tremendous contribution that Christans have made and continue to make in our world. Whether a person visits the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast, the slums of the Philippines, or the homeless shelters of our cities -- you will encounter a consistent fact -- these places are dominated by Christian people, selflessly serving out of compassion and love.
It is a far cry from the negative streotype frequently attributed to religious fanatics!
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