RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
(Photo by Bob Studzinski)
Folk calling for "jobs not cuts" gather in the First Congregational Church on Broad Street, sharing stories and ideas, prior to marching to a demonstration on one of the city's bridges--the I-71/East Broad Street overpass.
Last week, people in cities thru out the US gathered on bridges, calling for rebuilding infrastructure as a way to create jobs.
There may be something missing to Occupy and other forms of activism. Perhaps it's spirituality, if not religion per se, with which we enable ourselves to have a broad view of justice--one with which we get past partisanship and identity politics. Perhaps the genius of King was that he talked about and practiced loving his enemies without seeming naive or weak.
In the 1960s, King likely came to many people's minds if they were told to name a famous devout Christian. Nowadays, it's folk such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Columbus' own Rod Parsley who've been in the spotlight.
But to state what might not be so obvious to progressives alienated or spooked by politically well organized conservative Christians : there is another type of Christian out there. If we look hard enough, we might find folk who use their faith to fight for inclusiveness, tolerance, social justice, and taking better care of the planet.
Here is what Pastor Dale B. Snyder of Bethel A.M.E. said about this. We spoke on Nov. 17 during the demonstration on the I-71/East Broad Street overpass.
"We as the African Methodist Episcopal Church started as a social movement in 1787. We are the oldest historical African American church in the country and we have always been about social issues and social justice. But we don't get the media time. We have always been out here. We never left the battle standing up for the people.... the conservative church is not the only voice for God. We believe God loves all people. All people are welcome at our churches."
Karen Hansen, who quit corporate America for a job with the Ohio Conference on Fair Trade, was also at the protest during the frigid twilight. We spoke as we looked upon the river of rush hour traffic below the bridge.
Hansen agreed religion can inspire people to fight for a more compassionate, fair, and just world, instead of it being used only by people promoting socially conservative causes.
"I read the entire Bible...there is a lot in there about corruption and about taking care of those in need and taking care of the Earth."
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.