Will Braun, who facilitated the class Christiane and I took at Canadian Mennonite University is also the editor of the Canadian Mennonite Magazine. I think it is fair to say he is a progressive Mennonite. Though he says he is very experienced in interviewing and talking to others with views different from his own. These include, prominent Zionists, right-wing politicians, truck convoy organizers, pro-industry Indigenous leaders, and Trump supporters. He said he wants to understand them. That is a good beginning.
He tries to be very fair in explicating their views. That is not always easy. This is particularly hard in the modern polarized world in which we live.
Braun is also a self-professed Christian. I found his views on how to live in a polarized world very interesting. Braun said, as a Christian, that the bedrock for him is: “we are all the beloved of God.” We are the children of God. The light of God is in us all. For him this is a fundamental position. That is what empathy is all about. God does not love me more than others. We are all made in the image of God. To him, that is foundational Christianity. Unlike feelings of superiority. If you think about it, feelings of superiority seem deeply un-Christlike? Is that not true? This is also the basis of pluralism.
In a parable in the Bible, in Luke, Jesus goes to talk to the hated tax collector. No one’s favourite person. And the tax collector asks for forgiveness because “I am a sinner.” Braun said “this is not a right-wing mantra. Nor is it a left-wing mantra.” Zealots do not speak like that. Zealots don’t ask for forgiveness. And no one offers mercy to the other side. Donald Trump is loud and proud about never asking for forgiveness. He sees that as a sign of weakness. And to Trump weakness is the cardinal unforgivable sin.
“Mercy is so out of date,” said Braun, painting a bleak picture of the modern world. Is that really what it is like? I hope not. I could not stand to live in a world like that. I like a world in which Christians like Braun speak freely. I learned a lot from him.
You can see that I am rambling, but what else can you expect from a meanderer? Besides, Braun rambled too. I am trying to give you his views through the lens of mine. At best, he and I are stumbling towards the truth. If we are lucky that is. Even is we are not always together.