Inspiring Integrationalist - Chris Hedges

American journalist Chris Hedges gets added to Secular Faith's list of Inspiring Integrationalists as the sole author of these books with seemingly opposing views:

America's Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America

America's New Fundamentalists, When Atheism Becomes Religion

The Empire of Illusion - The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

Hedges, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and journalist with over 20 years of exposure to war, has the rare talent of being able to draw upon, and critique, all three forms of knowledge. Consequently, Hedges is able to simultaneously convey the moral conviction of a Baptist preacher, the sobriety of War veteran and the "get to the point" rationality of a newspaper editor. 

Hedges is not dogmatic, but he has the knack of drawing the reader in with his titles. A cynic would conclude that Hedges is just seeking to sell more books by being a sensationalist. I choose to believe that Hedges' experiences as a war correspondent cause him to speak out vehemently against all injustices whatever their angle, because he has witnessed so much death. He understands rationally, theologically and first hand that if people fail to speak about the small injustices they mushroom into war.

What is unique about Hedges' writing is the passion with which he is able to express a plea for boring, common sense. Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation, wherein someone said "there is no more common sense - there is no agreement on anything, anymore." Hedges is making a passionate plea in The Empire of Illusion that if we don't find our "common sense", then our liberty is at stake. And he argues it is reason that has fallen behind and is being railroaded by the sensationalists and their spectacles, as well as the fundamentalists of both the religious and atheist varieties.

Finding common sense in pluralistic societies means having difficult conversations about faith, beliefs, and personal differences. It means developing strong enough relationships to risk offending people by asking them why they believe certain things. It means learning to ask, and answer, the question with open minds and hearts. It means appreciating such questions as an attempt to build community and genuine understanding and respect. Defining common sense will allow us to move beyond our addiction to war and mere tolerance, and balanced state of objective and subjective truths.