{"id":2238,"date":"2007-03-16T07:16:26","date_gmt":"2007-03-16T13:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.casadeblundell.com\/jonathan\/?p=2238"},"modified":"2007-03-16T07:16:26","modified_gmt":"2007-03-16T13:16:26","slug":"the-big-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/casadeblundell.com\/jonathan\/the-big-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s been some talks back and forth now between James Dobson<\/B> of Focus on the Family<\/a> and Jim Wallis<\/b> of Sojourners<\/a> to discuss the “major moral issues of our day.”
\nHere’s the latest from Jim Wallis (via e-mail):<\/p>\n

HEARTS & MINDS BY JIM WALLIS<\/p>\n

The Big Debate<\/p>\n

Last week, a letter from James Dobson<\/strong> and friends to the board of the National Association of Evangelicals challenged NAE vice president Rich Cizik’s<\/strong> efforts on global warming as “dividing and demoralizing,” claiming they shift “the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time.”
\nIn response, I invited Dobson to a debate on the question, “What are the great moral issues of our time for evangelical Christians?” and suggested that a major evangelical Christian university should host it.
\nOn Saturday, the Los Angeles Times<\/em> reported on the debate invitation, and this response: “A Focus on the Family vice president, Tom Minnery<\/strong>, said he would be happy to take up that debate. Dobson himself, Minnery said, is busy writing a book on child rearing.”
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m also busy writing a book, but I suggest that when we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re both finished, we hold that debate. My personal invitation to James Dobson still stands. And since he was the primary driving force behind the crucial letter, the conversation should be with him. But let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s change the tone of this from “a debate” to “a conversation.” This is, in fact, the big conversation going on among evangelicals (and Catholics, too) across the nation and around the world.
\nIn his letter, Dobson named the “great moral issues” as “the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children.” I said in my last blog that I believe the sanctity of life, the integrity and health of marriages, and the teaching of sexual morality to our children are, indeed, among the “great moral issues of our time. But I believe they are not the only great moral issues.” As many writers have been saying in this blog, the enormous challenges of global poverty, climate change, pandemics that wipe out generations and continents, the trafficking of human beings made in God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s image, and the grotesque violations of human rights, even to the point of genocide, are also among the great moral issues that people of faith must be – and already are – addressing.
\nJust in the last few days, we have already received invitations from six major Christian universities eager to host this conversation between James Dobson and me. But this is bigger than just two people: It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the conversation we need to have on every Christian campus, in every church, and in public forums around the nation, especially as we approach another election season. So let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s do that together.
\nThe board meeting of the National Association of Evangelicals also ended Saturday, and in the words of their own press release: “NAE Leaders Advance Broad Agenda with Landmark Document on Human Rights and Torture.” The release begins by noting:<\/p>\n