"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)
Despite the present flood of secular and religious rhetoric clamoring for diversity, equity and inclusion, current American and world cultures are more divided than ever. This state of affairs brings to mind Rodney King's post trial plea: "Can't we all get along?" The reality is that there are many things in this life that will always remain mutually exclusive.
Atheists and Believers will never agree on the existence of God. Christians, Muslims and other religions will never agree with many of the tenets of each other's faith. Christians within themselves cannot agree on various issues of theology, from defining faith, salvation, the Trinity and the state of the dead, to the correct day of worship. Indeed, the number of conflicting beliefs and opinions among Christians may be exceeded only by the number of denominations (45k+).
Liberals and Conservatives will never agree on the extent of the role of government in the lives of individual citizens. Marxist Leftists and MAGA Republicans will never agree on the best economic system. Many Americans believe in the "rule of law", yet there are nearly as many interpretations of that law as there are lawyers.
It appears to me that no collective of philosophy, science, theology, hermeneutics, apologia or polemic can truly effect unity of understanding. This fact is evidenced by not only the world around us, but also by some conflicting posts, blocks and comment removals on this forum.
So what is the solution to this mutual exclusivity?
The world is a very complicated place. Even when the goal is agreed upon, getting from Point A to Point B is fraught with unintended and unanticipated consequences. What is the answer to this "riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" (Winston Churchill)?
From my perspective, the beginning of an answer will only be found in a shared source of Authority. But even here there is a catch: humans seldom agree on a common source of authority, not to mention what that authority meant by its written or spoken words (Nehemiah 8:8, Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Jesus' prayer for us was:
"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are... That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one..." (John 17:11, 21-22).
Unfortunately, we remain far from this experience at the present time. Indeed, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27)
[From the Editor: So what is your solution?]
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Bruce W. Dewsberry
Retired Philistine convert and general Iconoclast
