Postmodern Syncretism as Claremont School of Theology trains Pastors, Rabbis, and Imams.

Training and preparations for half-baked religious amalgams and practices did not originate in Claremont.

“When Jerry Campbell became president of California's renowned Claremont School of Theology four years ago, low enrollment and in-the-red books threatened to close the 125-year-old institution. But since Claremont is the only United Methodist seminary west of Denver, Campbell resolved to find a way to stay open. Drawing from classic American entrepreneurial wisdom — when faced with extinction, innovate — and a commitment to engage today's multi-faith culture, this fall Claremont will commence a first on U.S. soil: a "theological university" to train future pastors, imams, and rabbis under one roof ... the hope of officials at all three organizations is that when leaders study their own religious traditions together alongside friends of other faiths, they will develop the respect and wisdom necessary to transform America's fractured religious outlook.” Time Magazine .

In 2 Kings 17:24-33, we see the king of Assyria bringing people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and relocating them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the exiled Israelites. They moved in as if they owned the place and made themselves at home. But GOD was just another god to them; they neither honoured nor worshiped him. Then GOD sent lions among them and people were mauled and killed. To solve the problem the idea came to find some priests who were taken into exile from there to go back and live there and instruct the people in what the god of the land expects of them. One of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came back and moved into Bethel. He taught them how to honor and worship GOD. But each people that Assyria had settled went ahead anyway making its own gods and setting them up in the shrines that the citizens of Samaria had left behind. Soon an academy of multi-worship emerged as they honoured and worshiped GOD, but not exclusively—appointing all sorts of priests, regardless of qualification, to conduct a variety of rites at the local fertility shrines. They honoured and worshiped GOD, but they also kept up their devotions to the old gods of the places they had come from.

The innovation of fearing God and also serving and helping other gods - called Syncretism – perhaps less known in the US - is prevalent in many non-Western societies (typically in Africa, the Caribbean, Haiti and Asia) who found the only way to peacefully accommodate Christ (seen as the western god) and be relevant to the diverse cultural practices was to integrate culture and worship of local gods into the context of Christian practices. This worked well and satisfied the religious missions who avoided conflict and were relieved that this approach produced the membership growth they simply wanted – turning their eyes off what happened after service. Governments and politics understandably also aligned favourably with these "peaceful" arrangements and “light” priests were never in short demand.

2 Kings 17 [33] They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. [34] Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; [35] With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: [36] But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. [37] And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods. [38] And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods. [39] But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. [40] Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. [41] So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

Do note the similarity of reasons behind the actions of the King of Assyria and Jerry Campbell i.e. lions of economic recession and the need to heal divisions and tensions amongst citizens with different religious backgrounds.

Ezekiel 13 [10] Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar : [11] Say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar , that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it . [12] Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it ? [13] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it . [14] So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar , and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. [15] Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar , and will say unto you, The wall is no more , neither they that daubed it; [16] To wit , the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

Genesis 3[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Romans 8 [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The Bible describes an enmity established by God that man cannot resolve...for which Christ went to the cross, the grave and resurrected that we may be reconciled back to God and at peace with Him. Christ is the Prince of Peace ... Our Peace that the world can neither give nor take away.

If experiments in Claremont succeed in birthing new strains of faith that reconcile differences to produce peaceful coexistence ... one can only conclude it will no more be the Christianity of the Bible.

The Biblical solution to finding peace amidst religious tensions is to seek understanding to please God. Proverbs 17[7] When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.  

The Bible recipe in times of famine is built around sowing. Genesis 26[12] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. [13] And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

Annoying God is courting more trouble.

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(Author’s blog)