Flashback to a year ago. I was creeping down the 10 freeway, indifferent to the usual landscape of my commute. So when I spotted a bumper sticker with a peculiar mixture of religious symbols spelling “coexist,” my overactive imagination quickly envisioned people of different backgrounds and religions singing songs in perfect harmony and buying the world a Coke. It was a nice diversion.
Nowadays the popular sign makes its appearance more frequently, and not just on bumper stickers but also shirts, banners—even as tattoos. The motivation behind the emblem is to “promote peace and social justice,” but it can instead evoke some pretty gnarly verbal wars.
First, let’s take a look at which worldviews are represented in at least one particular variation of the popular sticker. The emblem’s originator lists the symbol’s meanings as follows:
C = Islam
O = Peace
E = Male/Female [equality]
X = Judaism
I = Wicca/Pagan also The Bab/Bah’ai
S = Taoism/Confucianism
T = Christianity
Most people understand that these perspectives represent contrasting ideas about God (or whether one exists) and about the world around us. How, then, can people rationally justify the “coexist” movement? Is the hope of these worldviews (and their respective believers) melding into one so appealing that it’s worth overlooking what distinguishes them?
Here’s how RTB scholars respond to this controversial issue:
- The world’s religions hold fundamentally different perspectives on such core ideas as the nature of God, the cosmos, humankind, and salvation (thus, they don’t agree).
- All attempts to reduce religions to a common theme only distort them and eliminate their distinctive appeal (thus, they can’t be homogenized).
- The fundamentally different beliefs among the religions remain logically contradictory and irreconcilable (thus, they can’t all be true).
Does this mean “resist coexist” stickers should start popping up on cars? Not necessarily. Here’s where semantics (and Samples) comes into play. RTB philosopher/theologian Kenneth Samples comments:
I think the concept behind “coexist” tells us that believers (people) should be distinct from their beliefs. Diverse ideas, of course, have to be carefully analyzed, and logic tells us that we should be intolerant of ideas that are confused or contradictory. Yet at the same time we can be tolerant of the people who hold these beliefs.
In other words, tolerance of diverse religious expression (social pluralism) should not be confused with the view that all religions lead to God (religious pluralism).
So the next time you see someone sporting a “coexist” message on their person or belongings, spark up a conversation and ask questions. Maybe, if you’re lucky, they’ll buy you a Coke.
– Sandra
Where do you stand on the “coexist” issue? Let your voice be heard and you might win yourself an autographed copy of Kenneth Samples’ book A World of Difference.
Here’s how: Leave a comment by Friday, September 10. We’ll draw three names at random and notify winners via email by Monday, September 13. Ready, set, go!
For more on religious pluralism and world religions, see A World of Difference (specifically chapters 12–13),“Thinking Biblically about the World’s Religions,” and “Christian Truth-Claims and Other Religions.” Also check out the following topics on RTB’s website: religious pluralism, world religions and cults, and worldviews.
September 3, 2010 at 5:20 am
My attention was first drawn to COEXIST when I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?” I’m not even sure the two are related or how searching for one lead me to the other. But on reading information from the site and a few others, my impression was that they promote discussion and tolerance–gathering at the table, so to speak. Is it evil? It can give the false impression that all religious views are equal, but unless we can have civil discussions and pray for those who are lost, they may not learn the truth.
September 3, 2010 at 10:37 am
Well, as a woman with the tattoo I feel like I want to comment on this. Firstly, didn’t know it was a bumper sticker until AFTER I got the ink 😉
Secondly, I am a loyal follower of Christ and so the tattoo doesn’t mean I think we can believe all these things and get to the same place in the end, BUT I believe the religious persecution in humanity’s history is grossly disgusting, especially by the Christian/Catholic Church. I feel like if someone is as fierce about that beliefs as I am about mine then what can I do other than to love them, right? Why can’t we all just get along? Because some of us are stubborn bastards, to put it nicely.
Also, my tattoo is particularly unique because I replaced the I with a lambda which is a gay rights symbol because I felt the COEXIST needed to be updated. So at least my tattoo is a little unique 😉 ❤
September 3, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I would love to know the original intent of the one who created that image. Seems like after it’s creation, interpretation is left to the reader.
If one is speaking of coexist as a kind posture in agreement with 2 Timothy which reads “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”, how could I do anything but whole-heartedly agree.
However, often times the driver of the mini van donning the faded “Impeach Bush” sticker alongside the “Coexist” sticker intends to say that no one’s personal beliefs should be “encroach” on another or make them feel uncomfortable. Which is, in and of itself ironic, as the fact that this particular belief system encroaches on conservative thinking. Hmmm. Ironic indeed.
September 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Love the passage from 2 Timothy!
I’ve seen the bumper sticker alongside a marijuana-leaf sticker and a couple alongside rainbow stickers. I don’t think I’ve seen one alongside a “fish.” I would try it but I’m pretty sure the unofficial stance of my church is that COEXIST is evil along with day-age creationism. O_O
I’m glad none read this since I’m using my real name.
September 3, 2010 at 8:42 pm
to keep it short n simple, good article i like it alot i give it two thumbs up!
September 4, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Great article. Thanks for sharing. I think tolerance is key to understading most things in life. What a better place we’d live in if everyone practiced a little tolerance. I like the reference to “buying the world a coke.” That would be great if we could “get along” and share something as simple as a drink.
September 6, 2010 at 3:32 am
I see a coexist bumper sticker in the parking lot at work nearly daily. I never get there at the same time tho, so I’m not sure who it is.
I agree very much with the concepts of pluralism and tolerance you’ve laid out – as per RTB. They really say it well, don’t they?
Speaking of tolerance, there’s this thing called the “tolerance paradox”. It’s one of the things that have always troubled me, and of course I discovered that it had been enunciated already – in this paradox.
“Should we be tolerant of the intolerant?”
Hmm. 🙂
September 6, 2010 at 3:33 am
Cool! My gravatar is working!
September 6, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Hmm, indeed. That’s a tough one. It’s easy to be frustrated and bitter with people who are intolerant of others, especially when they’re not open to dialoguing. But Hebrews 12:14-15 serves as a good reminder,
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Not only should we work at living a holy life so that we will see the Lord, but also so that others will see the Lord in us and because of that be drawn to Him.
Glad your gravatar is working, by the way! 🙂
September 7, 2010 at 9:23 am
I already tweeted you, but I thought just for the sake of conversation I’d leave the response here as well.
Can we really coexist? Theologically? No Socially? Absolutely!
September 9, 2010 at 8:50 pm
There are many kinds and degrees of tolerance. Who would say that we should tolerate racism. Or who would tolerate a man punching a child. (So you do believe in intolerance don’t you!) in the end we all distinguish between those behaviors we find intolerable and worthy of intolerance, despicable (but beyond our ability to control) and those attitudes or beliefs we merely find disagreeable.
September 10, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Perhaps “tolerate” has become too loaded with preconceived ideas and baggage. Perhaps we should go back to being civil toward one another, treating one another with respect and dignity since we are ultimately all created in the image of God. I don’t have to agree with your world view, but I don’t have to get snarky about it either. 🙂
If this “coexist / tolerate” movement were truly consistent and true, they would welcome discussions and interchange of ideas—even to the point of abandoning their ideas that are shown to be false or unstable.
Btw, kudos to your three bullet points above. There are an awful lot of “feel-good religists” who think that deep down all religions are just the same thing.
September 13, 2010 at 7:55 am
Good Monday Morning, readers! The winners of the autographed copy of A World of Difference have been selected and they are (drumroll)…
Roxie and PC (via WordPress) and Joseph (via http://www.reasons.org/blogs/take-two).
To the winners, please send your mailing address to publicity@reasons.org. Congrats!