The Globe, the Pope and Religion          September 2010 Click square for index The Globe & Mail editorial of Saturday 18th September , "Apologia for Newman", speaks against the virulent attacks on pope Benedict's visit to the UK - the first by a pope - such as that by Dawkins & Fry in the Guardian. The Globe suggests "oponents should have the decency to let him praise a great Englishman." The Globe notes that  Cardinal Newman, who is to be  "beatified," wrote beautiful English. His work was, and remains,  a force for liberal education - liberal being a word linked to liberty - and in particular his book The Idea of a University. He supported science and the arts. This time, I tend to agree with the Globe.  Indeed, detractors like Dawkins come out  making their brand of atheism itself look like an intolerant religion which can only charicature rather than examine other religions thoughtfully. Obviously, as I have noted elasewhere, the humans in religions are like other humans - there are some inspirational people and there are scoundrals. Newman was a great. By chance,  the Globe's editorial came while I was reading More Good News: Real Solutions to the Eco-Crisis  by David Suzuki & Holly Dressel. The book cites a private family lumber  company "Collins Pine" which has won awards for its sustainable lumber use and forest management practices. It was owned by a Methodist family. As the authors note: "Maribeth Collins lives in Portland Oregon where the Collins family has funded everything from libraries and scholarships to  church construction and foreign aid programs." The book reports Collins Pine makes profits about 25% less  than its publicly traded competitors simply because its owners are not greedy. In this account, people of faith are modelling an alternative style  of  living which seems better suited for our times. The family is doing what the founders of the great religious traditions did in their time. This is what it means to live in a faith tradition. If religions can show some enlightening behaviours, they can show less inspiring  behaviours. The pope must share some responsibility for the actions of the organization he heads - such as the current emergence of evidence of child abuse. And for me, the opposition of his church to women's freedom of choice with respect to abortion puts down their right to liberty and is an impediment to fammily planning across the Globe. Some like my neice Elizabeth  suggest the pope can be regarded as a criminal. Dawkins has some points, religions have  some nasty human bagage. But they have some inspirational figures too. Finally, I must add that I share a degree of puzzlement with Dawkins in his reported Guardian letter at the pope as a person wearing dress which is outdated by at least one millenium. I have some sympathy for symbolism in religious ceremonies amongst the faithful, but for international visits and in public places it seems  inappropriate. What would we have thought if the Qeen insisted on meeting the pope in her full coronation regalia? TOP   Click:

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