Stephen Colbert on ecumenism

Posted on by

Colbert is always funny, even if I don’t agree with the premise of his parody.

An online acquaintance of mine with connections to late-night TV is hoping to eventually interview the real Colbert (who, like his TV alter ego, is Catholic, and even teaches Sunday School) for the Wittenburg Door. I’m really interested to read that interview when and if it happens.

In this clip, the hard-line stance taken the blustery fictitious Colbert is being used to parody the idea that any major religion is the one true path — or at least, that’s the way I interpret it. I believe in tolerance, and I believe that we as human beings should practice our faith in humility, with the clear understanding that we could be wrong. But I also believe that universalism — the idea that every faith is equally true — renders every faith equally absurd, since the major religions make foundational assertions about reality which contradict each other and since many — including the one to which I subscribe — make claims of being the exclusive path to God. If you’re going to assume that all are true, it means that you’re choosing to ignore each religion’s exclusivist claims — and that makes universalism a religion of your own design and convenience rather than a response to something larger than yourself.

If I decide to ignore or rationalize away Jesus’ claim that “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father but by me,” why should I pay any attention to anything else he said? C.S. Lewis said that the idea of Jesus as a great teacher is pure nonsense. He was either the Son of God or a raving lunatic. I believe the former.

That does not mean that I have any excuse for hateful or intolerant behavior towards others, either within my faith or practitioners of other faith. I have a responsibility to share what I believe, but I must follow New Testament examples in doing so — state what I believe, boldly and fearlessly, and then move on if it is rejected. Colbert (and his offscreen captioner) make reference to cases in which people, acting under the banner of Christianity, did inexcusable and horrid things in the name of their faith. I believe these are perversions of Christianity, more representative of human depravity than of the faith in whose name they were perpetrated.

Listen to me — I’ve used a funny little comedy bit as an excuse for my own bloviation. I’ve made a mountain out of a molehill. I’ll go watch “Mythbusters” now.

  • http://www.gryfalia.com Kristi

    Very well stated. :)

    I’ll have to watch the video when I get home (am I ever home?) since the Internet Nazis block those things at work.

  • http://www.gryfalia.com Kristi

    Very well stated. :)

    I’ll have to watch the video when I get home (am I ever home?) since the Internet Nazis block those things at work.

  • Ay Uaxe

    I think the key is that while we should be humble and recognize that we can err, even as to strongly held beliefs, the Word of God is infallible, inerrant and should be made to shine like a light and shout like a trumpet from the highest and best places we can reach. It is love to give the gift of His loving Word to all, whether they err with us or in their own way, for while we are all sinners–i.e., in error–Jesus’ blood takes away all sin. I watch Colbert quite a bit–his wit is sharp–and I think, though I may well be in error, that he is part parodist and part proselytizer. He may disclaim the latter, but he should almost have to admit that parody only works when it plays on a substantial kernel of truth. I’d sure like to see/hear the interview.

  • Ay Uaxe

    I think the key is that while we should be humble and recognize that we can err, even as to strongly held beliefs, the Word of God is infallible, inerrant and should be made to shine like a light and shout like a trumpet from the highest and best places we can reach. It is love to give the gift of His loving Word to all, whether they err with us or in their own way, for while we are all sinners–i.e., in error–Jesus’ blood takes away all sin. I watch Colbert quite a bit–his wit is sharp–and I think, though I may well be in error, that he is part parodist and part proselytizer. He may disclaim the latter, but he should almost have to admit that parody only works when it plays on a substantial kernel of truth. I’d sure like to see/hear the interview.