Tmatt has great post about Bp. Katharine Jefferts Schori. Apparently she’s smartened up since her New York Times Magazine and NPR interviews. If you remember, her assistant said that her responses had been cut short for the printing, and that the subjects were too sensitive to get a full understanding of what she said in just a few lines. So She did an interview recently and the full transcript has been posted at Bible Belt Blogger.
Here are some of my favorite bits:
There are clear connections between [reproductive] rates and educational level. It’s an inverse connection, as average education level goes up that group of people tends to reproduce at lower rates, and that’s certainly true in the Episcopal Church. It’s true of other mainline denominations as well. You don’t have a theological reason to reproduce at higher rates, unlike some other denominations and faith traditions. That’s the piece of complexity that got left out.
Except that it wasn’t left out
The church has certainly wrestled with the place of women in the life of society. We’re beginning to wrestle with the place of people whose sexual orientation is different from the average.
“Average”?
ADG: It seemed to some people that you were saying there isn’t an afterlife.
KJS: I don’t think Jesus was focused on that. I think Jesus was focused on heaven in this life, primarily. The Judeo-Christian tradition has always said yes, there is resurrection. There is life after death. But I think Jesus was not so worried about that. I think he’s worried about what we’re doing to treat our fellow human beings as children of God. He says the kingdom of heaven is among you, and within you, and around you.
ADG: So does that mean that in your view there is no afterlife?
KJS: That’s not what I said. I said what I think Jesus is more concerned about is heavenly existence, eternal life, in this life.
Brilliant non-answer. I give it a 10.5
ADG: Do you think there’s any part of us that lives on somewhere after we die?
KJS: Absolutely. But that’s not a question that concerns me day in and day out. I think I’m meant to use the gifts I have to transform the world in this life.
I actually agree with this. I just wish she’d be more assertive in acknowledging that Jesus spoke of everlasting life. He knew that most of his followers would be hated and live difficult lives on earth. His talk of abundant life wasn’t about comfort and happiness, it was about the joy of the Lord.
She’s smart, and has a way with words, but I think I’m on board with Andrew Cairns, she’s spreading heresy. There’s no two ways about it. I wonder if the Episcopal Church at large is ever going to stand up and take back the traditional faith that was handed down to them. I hope so.
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Blogs4God
Glad to be of service!
As I say, I don’t use that term loosely but in this case I feel it is clearly justified. It would have been bad enough coming from a layman, but someone in her position is likely to feed such error into the hearts of many thousands of people.
Love you blog and especially the design. Sweet!