The August issue was positively aflutter with headlines such as “Diverse divinity,” “Beautiful synergy” and “The beauty of interfaith friendship.” It confirmed that Mennonites have been suckered into The Perennial Philosophy, expounded by Aldous Huxley and enormously popular among New Agers and syncretists, which says there is no single, true religion but many equally valid religions. This contradicts the gospel of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.

In 1967, when I was 15, my father, Ross T. Bender, then dean at what is now Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, took me along on a tour of Mennonite churches in Asia and Africa to discover what congregations around the world needed for seminary curriculum. Our first stop was Japan, which I fell in love with, partly because of mystical hippie and Zen yearnings. But in retrospect, what impacted me forcefully was the enthusiastic Christianity of Japanese converts and Mennonite missionary families who devoted their lives to the cause.

Ross Lynn Bender, Philadelphia

Thank you for the August issue. Some 35 years ago I published Theology in Postliberal Perspective, suggesting that a major temptation of monotheistic theology is to imagine God in our own image. To guard against this form of idolatry, it is essential to listen to interfaith and nondominant voices. I also attempted to outline a vision of the Radical Reformation church as a voluntary gathering based on shared moral and ethical commitments rather than doctrinal uniformity. Pretty much a lead balloon 35 years ago, but I’m glad such ideas are receiving more acceptance now.

Daniel Liechty, Normal, Ill.

I applaud the testimonies on interfaith friendship. The editorial’s discussion of our own internal religious change would be a good discussion piece for congregations. My appreciation is informed by my experience in economic development and emergency relief in overlapping Muslim and Christian communities in Jordan, the West Bank, Lebanon and Egypt from 1970 to 1986.  

Urbane Peachey, Lititz, Pa.

With each issue I wonder, how can you keep this quality continuing? You surely did it again with the August issue, “The beauty of interfaith friendship.” This is what spirituality is all about. There are many ways to faith and godliness. The kingdom of God is here among us. I especially appreciated the article by Harriet Sider Bicksler (“A marriage of values, if not of faith”). Her ­acceptance of her husband’s nonbelief lives out the doing of justice and the loving of mercy that we seek.

Mary Jane Lederach Hershey, Harleysville, Pa.

I wish to thank Harriet Sider Bicksler for her sensible and honor-driven posture in a complex situation and, when sized up by people who disagree with what she believes, for modeling a scrappy graciousness about their critique.

Debbi DiGennaro, Harrisonburg, Va.

I love Harriet Sider Bicksler’s article. My years in Mennonite churches, after growing up as a Brethren in Christ pastor’s kid, helped me become more comfortable with mystery and ambiguity, too. Most of us would like to have all the answers, but it just doesn’t work that way.

Jon Stanton, Facebook comment

I wish to take issue with two statements in Harriet Sider Bicksler’s article. 1) She says Jesus’ responses to a lawyer (Luke 10:25-37) and a rich man (Matthew 19:16-24) about obtaining eternal life “had nothing to do with believing that he was the Son of God or that he had come to save people from their sins” and that these responses, and the story of the Good Samaritan, suggest that behavior is more important than belief. 2) She asks, “Is it is possible that we may all be surprised one day to find out that God doesn’t care as much about what we said we believed as about how we acted and what we did for others?”

Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had, give to the poor and “come follow me.” Not being willing to follow Jesus because of wealth keeps one from eternal life. Before telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus answered the lawyer’s question: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. Scripture does not intend to build theological doctrine based on parables, which are simply stories that illustrate moral, spiritual lessons. 

The New Testament is full of the importance of belief. The Gospel of John has 39 references to belief, many applying to belief that Jesus is the Son of God who died to save his people from their sins. Why is belief more important than practice? Jesus taught that out of the heart a person speaks and acts, and the actions that please him are done in obedience to his divine word (John 1:12). Scripture is clear that belief determines actions for followers of Jesus.

Byron Shenk, McMinnville, Ore.