Accidental Circumcision with Eric C.
What if, in our sincere efforts to give other cultures our most useful institutions, we unintentionally export our most subtle and dangerous sins? In particular, does Western civilization need to repent of divorcing Knowledge from Relationships? Can a Greek theologian show us how to undo the curses of our heritage?
While debriefing on Steven McGgriff's sermon on his African-American heritage, Ernie was:
Struck by how much a) "white supremacy" is about cultural domination, not just race, b) when part of the dominant culture, we don't notice how much our heritage shapes our identity away from Christ, and c) class can be just as deadly a distortion as race, but (in America) is far less visible.
Eric responded:
As a missionary I think aspects of culture can be shared generously with other cultures; not for domination. For example: antibiotics, university education, hospitals, better nutrition and sanitation technology. These are now in every country, not through the efforts of the exploiters, but through the efforts of 20th-century Christian missionaries, and now t because of “cultural domination,” but because of “cultural generosity.” They as Christians found themselves in possession of valuable and helpful things, which they naturally shared with their fellow human beings in less developed countries. There’s no going over there to repo those universities and hospitals, much less the knowledge and education that have been given away; they are gifts that were given as part and parcel of the Good News.
This got Ernie all fired up, since he is explicitly targeting "universities and hospitals" as part of his efforts to #DecenterCivilization. They wisely agreed to move from chat onto a phone call, and kindly agreed to record it for our benefit.