Former President Carter Addresses Faith, Justice, and Iraq War at Baptist Centenary
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom -- The former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Saturday addressed the future of the Christian and Baptist faith, the threat of terrorism, and the hope of interfaith dialogue, during a press conference at the Baptist Centenary Congress.
President Carter expressed sympathy and solidarity with Britain after the July 7 terrorist attacks before going on to talk about specific problems facing Baptists and fellow Christians.
President Carter, a Southern Baptist, said the world was currently suffering from an “intense hunger for an intense healing of the differences that separate one another”.
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He went on to call for greater inter-denominational unity as a solution to the split in the Christian faith in order to provide the secular world with “a singular voice … that can set aside the divisions that plague our faith." He also criticized Christians for the “escalation of differences based on human differences.”
He said strong and peaceful interfaith dialogue is the hope for stunting the growth of terrorism. He added that there are many similarities that can bind religious people together.
"I would say that the overwhelming number of Hindus, Muslims, and other denominations in the Christian community all share common things," he said. “We believe in peace, justice, hospitality, alleviation of suffering and we believe in truth and justice. And if we can agree on those that would make the united front against terrorism much more perfected.”
In regards to Iraq, President Carter expressed his deep regret, referring to an editorial he wrote two years ago for the New York Times: “I thought then and I think now that the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and unjust and I think the premises on which it was launched were false.”
President Carter called for a dialogue based on truth not simply between nations but between faiths, saying “I think that arrogant attitude to derogate others because of our faith is a mistake.” Referring once again to the common bonds of religion he said: “I think every religion emphasises truth, justice, benevolence, compassion, generosity and love.”
Turning to the future of the Baptist World Alliance under new President David Coffey, Carter said, "[Coffey] will be in a position of leadership and my hope and full expectation is that he will spread the Word of Christ and worldwide evangelism, in harmony and peace and benevolence to as many people and nations as possible.”
He continued: “Here is the opportunity for the BWA to become a much greater factor in Christain life than it has been in the past. I think it’s a time for almost explosive growth.”
President Carter offered this advice to the newly inducted President Coffey: “Don’t set your goals too low.”
The 81-year-old, who has been a Sunday school teacher for many years, will hold a Bible study tomorrow on the final day of the Baptist World Centenary Conress currently taking place in Birmingham, UK. Carter will cover the issue of finding a ‘common understanding’ between Christians.
