Black, white, or shades of gray?

Question

Please read the entirety of the details. This is rather important on this question.

This is a quote from Adam Hamilton, an evangelical pastor:

"The religious right has "gone too far," says Hamilton. "They've lost their focus on the spirit of Jesus and have separated the world into black and white, when the world is much more gray."

You can see the quote in full context here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15566654/site/newsweek/ Feel free to look at it; it may influence your answer.

Do you agree with his statement? Is everything black and white, or are there shades of gray?

Answer 1

definitely shades of gray. There is very little in this world that is absolute, especially when it comes to religion or philosophy or politics, et cetera

Answer 2

everything is a shade of gray, not just religion. That's what makes our societies complex, it's not a video game where when you do objective A you illicit response B every time. No, life is not like that, just because you smile at someone doesn't mean they'll smile back. And I agree the religious right has "gone too far", but so has everyone else. No one knows what the hell is going on anymore, the world is in a state of "holy **** crazy people have nukes, what to do?" And don't forget about the environment, call me a tree hugger but I think the earth needs trees. Cuz they sure were here first, and it was sure as chicken stock that the air was cleaner 60 years ago compared to now.

Answer 3

Some things are definitely black and white, there is no arguing with death for example. We can not PROVE 100% that gravity exists scientifically, but try dropping a brick on your foot you will know that a force we know of as being Gravity does exist. Similarly there are studies/academic research/statistics that are generally agreed that they are the most correct explanation we can find for things with the information we have now. So yes, there is right and wrong or black and white in many incidences. However, if you are talking about opinion, then yes it is often shades of grey. What I find interesting, not having really looked in this section before is the conflicting values and beliefs which are held by some of the contributors in this section. I wonder if this is particular to the G&WS section? These people seem to reverse and change their views, beliefs and values directly in response to the question. In their cases I think you can probably say that everything is black, white, red, green, blue, orange, yellow and probably grey too.

Answer 4

Did Christ say there would be shades of gray, or did he talk about those who would speak in his name, but not follow all his teachings? They follow just enough to be in the gray area. The issue is not whether there are shades of gray, but whether we are daily striving to live in the light of God's Word, or are we staying just far enough away as to still see the light, but all around us is gray?

I see he influences his congregation to continue being a part of the world, rather than turn their backs on it. When Armageddon comes, and all the nations of the world are destroyed, will he say to God and Christ, "We were close enough to see the light, and though we lived in the gray, we should not be destroyed with everyone else!"

I've taken people to and from his churches in my taxi on occasion. I note that for whole families, there is usually just one Bible being carried. The children do not have their own to look up scriptures. When they ask what belief system I follow, I say I follow the one that observes the memorial. They always think I'm talking about the Memorial Holiday in May, and not the memorial of the Last Supper, the only observance Christ said to keep.

Answer 5

That sounds like wishy-washy Christianity to me.

The world is gray, but God isn't. Christ came with a sword, to cleave the true from the false.

Perhaps Hamilton would have been more accurate if he would have said, "Some among the religious right have gone in the wrong direction, believing that certain things that are true are actually false, and vice versa."

But gray--no. Everything is clear to God, who doesn't see things on a sliding scale or a bell curve.

Answer 6

Some things are black and white to me: human lives are above everything else. Therefore, the death penalty is sheer revenge, etc.

Others are in shades, especially everything that concerns the complex psychology of human beings.

Answer 7

Yes, take abortion for example. Most people are not purely pro-choice or anti-abortion. Most people when asked are pro choice to about the 2nd trimester or so, but after that are anti-abortion (for the 3rd trimester). not black or white but gray

Answer 8

In this world, shades of grey. We all aim to white, though, and can be made so by God's help.