Defending the Faith: When it comes to religious differences, first show charity, then get charity
Proverbs 25:21-22 recommends treating opponents well, though with a humorous twist:
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee."
The apostle Paul echoes this somewhat cynical advice in Romans 12:20, but then goes on to advise that we "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
We cannot expect to be treated with charity if we don't treat others charitably. We may still be treated poorly even then, but, if so, that's not our responsibility.
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University, where he also serves as editor in chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is the founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org, the general editor of "Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture" online at www.mormoninterpreter.com and he blogs daily at www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson.
DeseretNews.com encourages a civil dialogue among its readers. We welcome your thoughtful comments.
— About comments
Daniel C. Peterson, professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, is editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org, chairman of "Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture" more ..
- Frances Monson, wife of LDS prophet, passes away
- Watch a video tribute to Sister Frances B....
- Mormon NFL safety Eric Weddle: Balancing...
- Hundreds of volunteers tackle service...
- LDS missionary 'stable' following hit-and-run...
- Tips for getting — and keeping —...
- A firsthand perspective: Reflecting on the...
- Hundreds of teens in Southern California go...
Subscribe
Mobile
RSS
- Frances Monson, wife of LDS prophet,...
65 - Mormon NFL safety Eric Weddle:... 65
- New Harmony: The mainstreaming of... 45
- Elder Oaks promotes strengthening the... 26
- Community of Christ recommends... 16
- Hundreds watch as Angel Moroni statue... 15
- LDS Church is smart to reach out to... 13
- LDS Meridian Idaho Temple artist's... 11
@Verdad – “No faction has much of a basis to feel smugly superior here.”
Point taken… although I would argue that on the Left we’re more likely to hear the talk of empathetic hand wringers meant to tug on More..
Twin Lights wrote:
"Irrespective of the cultural bias inherent in the labels we use, we are all under the human obligation to behave well toward one another, no?"
Yes, an obligation deriving directly from our inherent More..
@ sharrona
Interesting… I like this Pelagius guy.
Still, when I read theology and apologetics I can’t help but have the distinct feeling that whenever a smart person comes along and pokes a big hole in a particular More..