Ukrainian Bishop Authors Controversial Book on Faith
30.04.2008, [15:53] // Digest //
"Crucifying Jesus and Secularizing America -- The Republic of Faith without Wisdom," authored by Bishop Paul Peter Jesep of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv-Patriarchate (UAOC-KP) was published this month. The UAOC-KP is Ukraine's third largest Orthodox Church. Gregorious IV, Patriarch of Antioch, was the UAOC's primary ordaining prelate of the UAOC's first bishop.
"Jesus is crucified everyday in the United States," says Bishop Jesep. "Christians, especially Evangelical conservatives, show greater hostility toward their brothers and sisters than wrongly accused atheists, liberals, humanists, Democratic activists, or card carrying members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Christians have more to fear from other Christians than secularists and humanists. Christian conservatives are responsible for secularizing America."
Nine self-contained essays makeup the book. The essays address: religious protections provided by the U.S.. Supreme Court, the Christian demonization of neighbors who should be loved, the search for a national faith that welcomes all Americans, the misuse of government to introduce an abusive moral code, the myth that faith is under attack, and the need to rebuild the metaphorical wall that separates church and state.
According to Bishop Jesep, "In this year's presidential campaign, candidate's seeking the White House must show how their faith unites one nation under the same God. Candidates must demonstrate not just what faith means to them, but how their faith will bring all Americans together. Every American must have a place at God's fellowship table."
"The misuse of religion has divided the country," he said. "Citizens must hold politicians and spiritual leaders accountable who pit neighbors against one another by misusing faith, religion, and patriotism. Americans need to reflect on what it means to be a nation of faith by distinguishing faith from denominational vanity."
His Beatitude Metropolitan Myfodii of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Kyiv and All Ukraine appointed Bishop Jesep to serve as his Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations in the United States(http://www.brama.com/news/press/2007/02/070205bishoppaulpeterjesep_director.html). His Beatitude has publicly said that a Ukrainian Church cannot be Ukrainian if it is subservient to someone. The UAOC-KP is canonical to God and country.
The views expressed by Bishop Jesep in the book are his own and do not reflect those of the UAOC-KP. His thought-provoking book may be purchased at:
http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=41735
