A theologian says the values of our faith must counter fear and hatred

April 29, 2013

“Why the faith of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects doesn’t matter, but yours does”
Theologian Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, writing in the Washington Post, expresses concern about numerous anti-Muslim sentiments that have been expressed since the religious affiliation of the Boston bombing suspects has been disclosed. She reminds us that “Any religion, or lack of one, can be co-opted and used by a person or people as a justification for extremism. What matters right now, and into the future, is the way the faith and values of every other American can either help us resist the fear-generating effects of terrorism, or help that fear grow and take root like a weed, choking out trust and diversity.”

Letha Dawson Scanzoni is an independent scholar, writer, and editor, and is the author or coauthor of nine books. In 1978, she and Virginia Ramey Mollenkott wrote Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?, one of the earliest books urging evangelical Christians to rethink their views on homosexuality (updated edition, 1994, HarperOne). More recently, Letha coauthored (with social psychologist David G. Myers) What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage (HarperOne, 2005 and 2006). Another of Letha’s most well-known books is All We’re Meant to Be: Biblical Feminism for Today, coauthored with Nancy A. Hardesty (Word Books, 1974; revised edition, Abingdon, 1986; updated and expanded edition, Eerdmans, 1992). Letha served as editor of Christian Feminism Today in both its former print edition (EEWC Update) and its website for 19 years until her retirement in December 2013.

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