Easter in Morningside Heights

Most of my family is off to the Easter Service at Riverside Church where my Union Theological Seminary classmate, Jim Forbes, is probably offering a sermon representing the social justice concerns of the Jesus slain as a suspect revolutionary ("zealot") by the brutal Roman governor, Pilate. Were I to be involved with a church, this would probable be the one with its active social outreach programs (or our local Broadway Presbyterian that runs active social programs for the homeless).

http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/worship/

About now the Cathedral of St. John the Divine may be passing the bucket towards selling off its close to the highest real estate bidders to construct high income luxury housing.

http://www.theinsider.com/nyc/attractions/2cathed.htm

Both these structures are fine remembrances of fortunes and concerns streaming out of the past. But only the first has a mission now. The other is unhappily being managed by individuals more concerned about real estate returns than anything resembling caring for the poor and needy. Such is the fate of our modern religions. Some -- the few -- are still working in the vineyards; others are simply benefiting from vineyards planted decades/millennia ago by caring people.

Unhappily even the devil can cite scripture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_700_Club

And at this writing a mixed round table of caring ones and cons are telling their stories on Meet the Press.

And so it goes in America.
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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
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Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
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