(In-person only)
Memorial Day honors men and women who have given their lives in defense of the country. Because the United States is engaged in war, this is an appropriate time for a three-week study of war, which while always tragic is sometimes necessary. Our Memorial Day class will examine Christian attitudes toward war, giving particular attention to just war concepts. Most of our emphasis in our second class will be on Christian Nationalism, which for some implies that the United States has a special mission from God, was founded and should be governed on Christian principles, and that therefore whatever the United States does in foreign affairs is likely to be the will of God. Some have invoked these ideas with respect to the war in Iran. Our final class will consider how America’s “civic religion” – love of country while recognizing our flaws, a tradition of separation of church and state, and a recognition of ethnic and religious pluralism – should deal with these contrasting issues. Our examination will focus on ideas, not individuals.
The leader will present background material and pose discussion questions, but most of the class will involve participant discussion. To encourage maximum candor, there will not be a Zoom option, nor will the class be recorded.