Reading this post got me thinking about my sister. Now, my sister is neither Anglican or gay (and hopefully she is not reading this.) However, she is a feminist… a trait for which I admire her. Every year during passover she places an orange on the seder plate. While the story she uses is apocryphal, I get her point. I just don’t agree with it; not because I think Judaism should exclude women, gays, transexuals, etc., but because changing Judaism in order to include yourself means you’re not actually being a Jew.
I will explain, in the context of this same-sex marriage story. Regardless of whether or not the Anglican church decides to bless gay marriages, the idea of “pressuring” the church kind of irks me. Naturally religions change, so if they choose to change then there is no problem. However, religions are not public institutions (or, rather they shouldn’t be) and as long as they break no laws the state or civil society has no right to intervene. That’s fairly basic libertarianism right there… no surprises so far.
What does bug me is this idea that religion needs to change to suit the demands or desires of those who are otherwise excluded by said religion. I find it the height of hypocrisy for someone to actively pressure a religious group to change so that person can seek inclusion. If you find a religion that you identify with distasteful then you are confused about your own spirituality and beliefs; it is not the responsibility of the religion to change, it is the obligation of you to reconcile your personal and spiritual beliefs. Lets illustrate…
The Torah is the essence of Judaism. The Torah says “eating Pork is forbidden” and I eat pork. Lets say that one day I have a religious awakening and want to rediscover my jewish-ness (fat chance) but I still love eating the bacon… If I expect Judaism to change to accommodate my beliefs then I am moving it away from the Torah. What then am I believing in? I’m pursuing this idea of religion and inclusion, instead of making the hard choices that real faith demands.
Now, some may scoff at my talking about faith. I will say this once and once only: I have tremendous faith… in the natural world and the rational, ordered laws which govern it; and yes, this faith has required me to make choices.
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