Mike on the End of (Red)emption

I share a lot of the same thoughts and feelings as Robert on our (Red)emption campaign. Here I'll try to add my own 2 cents to what's been occupying a lot of our time for the last two and a half months. As long-time readers of this blog will know, I am a Christian while Robert is an atheist. Naturally, this difference in faith/philosophy extends into the realm of (Red)emption (no pun intended!) so without getting preachy on you I'll try to add my own perspective.

To be honest, a lot of what became (Red)emption we made up as we went along. First came the idea and the post. Then, after we had already launched, we came up with different ideas. Let's email these people... let's try to get those bloggers to link to us, etc. Considering we really didn't know what we were doing I think things went very well. So many of you responded in ways we never could have imagined!

Throughout this process Robert and I talked almost daily, and many times we discussed the idea that this wasn't necessarily about the money, but about raising awareness and promoting action. We wanted to get more people talking and thinking about the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa. We also wanted to introduce more people to the work of Stephen Lewis and his foundation. Stephen had already rocked both of our worlds, and we knew he would have the same effect on others if they were exposed to him. Finally, we wanted to get people past the paralyzing effect of such a massive problem. We knew that each of us, with just a little bit of many, could contribute to solutions and changes. Our now-familiar mantra became "we are the people we've been waiting for!" In your emails many of you touched on this aspect of the campaign: you were excited about something we could actually do, as opposed to just being overwhelmed by the magnitude and horror of the problem. Many times your excitement kept us going.

From a Christian perspective I have been immersing myself for the past couple of years in the teachings of Jesus regarding the poor and oppressed. "Widows and orphans" receive special attention in the Bible, and if there's a better call to action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic I don't know what it might be. Indeed we're told that when we do something for the "least of these", we're actually doing it to Jesus! I'm encouraged by the way the church is starting to respond, but there is so much more to do. For starters I think we as followers of Jesus need to rethink a theology of giving. Perhaps we've also "spiritualized" so much of Christian teaching that we now have difficulty in actually seeing what Jesus was talking about, right there on our news reports every night. We need to continue to shrink the gap between the spiritual and the secular, between our personal faith and our "real" lives. I won't ramble on here about these issues, as I plan on spending the rest of my life thinking about them. These are exciting times!

Thank you for your support, for your encouragement, for your help in spreading the word, and for your money. Robert and I have made many new friends through this process, and we look forward to more scheming and dreaming together in the future.

Peace and blessings to you in the New Year.

Comments

[lynne]

Way to go you two, thanks for letting us tag along for this piece of your journey.

Happy New Year to you both with love from us!

[John Smulo]

I'm really encouraged by both of you. This was a great idea you had,and I'm sure it impacted hundreds of people, myself included, to focus positively on doing something.

I also am very encouraged to see an atheist and Christian working together as friends and people who care about an ethical issue. In the media there is often a combative stance taken by Christians and atheists speaking of one another that is troubling. What you two have done has been a refreshing change!

Well done.

[Rick Meigs (blind beggar)]

Good on you two for taking on this project! Very positive and I look forward to next year.

[Wes Roberts]

Congratulations to both you good men! But...you sure you're one and he's not...or he's one and your not?...on the Christian/Athiest thing? All I ever hear from or about Robert sounds fairly Christian...and all I ever hear about you is fairly radical Christian. I'll take you both any time, any where. You HAVE raised our awarenesses. What's the next MT/RA project? Don't stop now.