CNN's Annual Holy Week Dust Up

A few years ago it was the discovery of alternate Gospels which painted an entirely different picture about the person of Christ, Mary Magdalene, etc. (these alternate gospels have been studied and considered for centuries - nothing new really) and this year it is philosopher Sam Harris's claim that we should ditch religion. While most of Harris's arguments are also nothing new in the world of religious criticism - from the third century Neo-Platonist critic Porphyry to Bertrand Russell's famous lecture of 1927 - the most recent press argues that religion detracts us from solving the world's problems.

There is no question that bad religion exists. Recent infighting between Muslims and Hindus in Hyderabad, India give witness to this reality. There are countless episodes in our history of horrific acts in the name of religion. And, the arguments that religion has no place in the public square and should not have a voice in political matters (a la Glenn Beck's recent rants) push believers in God to a more self-centered and individualistic understanding of faith.

Harris argues that the real problems - nuclear proliferation, genocide, poverty and crisis in educations - are matters to be concerned with and the ditching of religion will allow us to really focus on these matters. The Roman Catholic Church, with its many flaws and failings, has been focused on these large matters for centuries. Our educational system throughout the world has provided a quality education to many who would not have access to such a basic need. Fighting poverty, standing up to injustice, and even questioning the current reality wherein several nations can destroy the earth not once, but as many as eleven times with our nuclear arsenals, these are all matters that we have addressed before. Just a quick glance at statements from the Bishops of the United States here reveals a growing concern for the major concerns of our planet. Pope Benedict's recent encyclical letter Caritas in veritate offers very direct challenges to current economic practices which keep the poor as poor, and offer little hope to workers in developing countries.

This week the challenge of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is represented to us in our celebration of the three most important days of our year: the Paschal Triduum. Mr. Harris's challenges are not without merit - if Christians continue to live without serious reflection on the call that Jesus Christ makes to us in these holiest of days to selfless service, sacrifice for others, and a commitment to building a civilization of love, then we are a meaningless social organization without any really compelling purpose for existence other than nice holiday festivities and cute celebrations of baptism, first communion and the like. One writer's claim that we are little more than a covenanted fat farm, or an ecclesiastical disneyland that has tamed the Lion of Judah and put him into a zoo to entertain suburban children certainly begins to ring true.

We cannot be content with the present circumstances. Holy Week is here to shake us from our complacency, calling us to follow Christ in his suffering and death to authentic life. Let's continue to seek God's mercy, and pray profoundly in these days ahead. What should the Church of Jesus Christ in Utah be doing in the months and years ahead? The status quo is not the answer, or Sam Harris may be right.