From Deseret News archives:
Christian's civility is something to cherish
For sharing his blanket regrets, some Christians seem ready to throw Mouw to the lions. On the other side, many of the LDS faithful have chosen to "lionize" the man.
However you feel about Mouw's message, I have my own take on the matter.
I think evangelicals and Mormons not to mention Catholics, Methodists, Mennonites and Seventh-day Adventists all owe Richard Mouw an apology an apology for not turning his book "Uncommon Decency" into a best seller.
I read the book last night. I had to special order it.
And it is one of the sanest books I've read.
Subtitled "Christian Civility in an Uncivil World," the book published by InterVarsity Press spends 171 pages teaching us about "civil obedience." The chapter headings are intriguing: "When there is no 'on the other hand,' " "How to be civil about sex," "Is Hell civil?" and "Serving a Slow God."
Mouw's writing, by turns, is both literary and popular, warm yet challenging. Here are a few "Mouw moments" for you to ponder.
On fervor:
On sex:
The social concerns of evangelical Protestants and other conservative religious groups such as Roman Catholics, Mormons and Orthodox Jews do seem to focus rather intensely on sex and reproduction. We often give the impression that we do not care nearly as much about racial injustice or economic oppression or environmental exploitation. And that is unfortunate ... (but) a society that is fundamentally confused about the rights and wrongs of sex cannot be very healthy. . . . Children who have not experienced strong and reliable family bonds are not likely to grow up to be strong and reliable citizens.
On public prayer:
I don't often feel very pious when I pray in restaurants. Nor am I offended by the suggestion that it is a kind of public "showing off." In a sense, that is precisely what it is. ... I have a right to pray in restaurants, even in a highly secularized society. It is my noncoercive way of showing others that my faith is still very much a public matter, in spite of the accommodations I'm willing to make for the sake of persons who are offended by organized religion.
On civility in general:
As Martin Marty has observed, one of the real problems in modern life is that the people who are good at being civil often lack strong convictions and people who have strong convictions often lack civility. ... We need to find a way of combining a civil outlook with a "passionate intensity" about convictions. The real challenge is to come up with a convicted civility.
Bravo, Richard Mouw.
And my apologies for not discovering your book sooner and sharing it with others earlier.
E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com
Comments
- Obama honors veterans 9:39 a.m.
- Police probe possible firebombing 9:28 a.m.
- BYU football recruit turning heads 9:04 a.m.
- Audit: S.L. County 911 'inefficient' 9:02 a.m.
- Audit calls for end to 'double dipping' 9:02 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 9:02 a.m.
- VA promises response to war illness 8:17 a.m.
- Military sees increase in wounded 8:16 a.m.
- Who knew Hasan's radical contacts 8:13 a.m.
- Bomb kills 9 officers in Pakistan 8:13 a.m.
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Utes get extra motivation
- 4 Jazz players make All-Star ballot
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- House passes health care bill
267 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
106 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
A comprehensive listing of missionary reunions being held this week.
get the health insurance, oR PAY THE TAX. NOT paying TAXES has always been...
Brewer? You are correct - that is actually Brewer biggest weakness - not his...
Class fear mongering. Grow up!
Saying that either Bingham or Alta will overlook Hunter is ridiculous in...
What a beautiful story and a beautiful girl. I hope that the family does not...
Does Scott really blame the Obama Administration for what happened at Ft....
Does anyone know what offers, if any that Kuresa has at this point? I know he...
want a big TCU win because they want the Utes to join them in their...
Oil is a commodity, and prices on almost all commodities have been rising....
To John C. | 2:59 a.m. “When ever a people have tried to set up a...


You can be the first to comment on this story.