Wondering...

A couple of posts ago I outlined a response to the news that reform is underway in parts of the Islamic world. I noted that the reform looks like it is proceeding along dualist lines, whereby religion - the place of faith, and politics - the place of public reason - are seperated. In exactly this dualist way, I said, western Christianity has already given up the public realm of politics to other gods. No human affairs are ever, truly conducted sans gods: it is all a question of which of the gods they invoke and serve.

I cited no examples. Here is one, though, taken from this speech by a Syrian Professor:

"This is a reality that must be acknowledged as a first step toward a non-terrorist Islam … an Islam that teaches the values of truth and justice… Islam as a religious establishment is today in need … of a precise definition of its position between earth and heaven, between this world and the next. If it chooses the earth, it must accept the laws of politics that regulate earthly affairs, and must leave the holy to those who occupy themselves with the affairs of heaven. If it chooses heaven, it must leave politics and earthly affairs to those who find interest in them. He who cleaves to both realms undoubtedly [chooses] terrorism and certain death…"

What I wonder is this: is biblical Christianity the only religion that bears at its very core a profound affirmation of creation's goodness, and of YHWH's connection to it? I can think of three distinct lines of thought that head toward this centre:

(1) incarnation: the dwelling of God in human flesh,
(2) theosis: the assumption into the divine family of human beings (i.e, the sonship of Adam, Israel and Jesus (and by the way, I am not certain that I understand theosis properly))
(3) creation: God saw that it was very good.

It is possible that we Christians share this affirmation with the Jews, but I am not sure. Something nags at me and tells me it may not be so. They do not, after all, accept the incarnation, and there is something about Christ's claim to stand in God's place that they found very odious. Why?

Anyway, could it be that only Christianity has the robustness to produce a restoration of all of life? And could it be, therefore, that biblically rooted faith will be the only candidate left standing once the others have run out of puff?

Addendum: I might add, by the way, that this conviction of creational goodness is one of the great riches preserved within the historic reformed faith, for which we should give thanks.