Religious Mash-Up? Count Hillcrest Out

The Statesman reported on the annual “interreligious” Thanksgiving service over the weekend. I have to admit such services have always left me scratching my head. I’m in favor of “interfaith” dialogue, or Saddleback’s civil forums, or even a work project that combines different religious communities for something like making repairs for poor homeowners. But having a joint worship service? Implicit in this is the false assumption that, at the core, we’re all worshipping the same god (or Reality, or Force, or Mystery).

Ironically, while designed to build mutual respect, it diminishes it: to say that the fundamental differences between Hindus or Muslims or Jews or Christians don’t really matter is to belittle the robust particularities of these faiths in the end. I would rather stand at the back of, say, a Jewish bar mitzvah or a Hindu funeral service as a respectful visitor than to participate in these religious mash-ups known as “interreligious” Thanksgiving services. Count Hillcrest out.