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Friday, 13 August 2010 |
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By Reverend Dr. Russell B. Hilliard
Religion is a dangerous thing. (That should get your attention! Not exactly something you’d expect a preacher to say, is it?) Like any powerful force — such as fire or money or technology or sex — it can be used for good or ill.
At its best, religion calls forth the highest and noblest in people; it creates strong families and moral individuals; it redeems people from sin and degradation; it uplifts communities; it unites people to God and one another. At its worst, it creates fear and/or self-righteousness; it beats people either up or down; it leads to wars and persecutions; it divides rather than unites the peoples of the world.
In my own Christian tradition, there are, regrettably, many examples of what I would call “bad” religion: the numerous persecutions of Jews over the centuries; the killing of both Protestants and Catholics for being “heretics” in the 16th century; the “holy” wars waged by Christians against Muslims in the Crusades (not unlike the religiously-sanctioned wars being waged against us today by radical Muslims); the enslavement of Africans and the genocide of Native Americans by white Christians; the subjugation of women and the exclusion of homosexuals.
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Friday, 13 August 2010 |
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The Tried Stone Young Adult Choir music ministry. Photo: Urban News
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By Johnnie Grant
Praises went up and blessings came down as Tried Stone Young Adult Choir celebrated its 50th anniversary recently.
Under the leadership of J. Cornell Proctor, Minister of Music, the choir rendered powerful and songful praises to a standing-room-only audience. Marching to their choir theme song “Enter His Gates,” by Timothy Wright, the musical ministry sang old gospel hymns including “The Blood,” “God IS Standing By,” and for the young people, “Yes To My Lord.” A good time in the Lord was shared by all.
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