Chapter 3: Living with Paradox
There is a deep “okayness” to life, despite all the contradictions; sadness and joy can coexist. Our culture of entertainment doesn’t demand depth, critical thinking, or the hard work of finding our fulcrums. Group narcissism allows for no education, no perplexity, no questioning. It is more dangerous than egocentricity. We promote dogma as if it were the thing itself. Early stage religion is intended to prepare us to meet “Substantial Reality,” the thing itself, “the hands of a living and loving God.”
”Illusion and delusions and dualisms must be taken away. The judging mind is dualistic; has a need to control. The “Ego” is what Paul means by the “flesh.” Contemplation helps us find the true self.
Don’t pray if your whole identity is in being Republican or Democrat, Christian or non-Christian, Black or White. Prayer wants to bring about a new creation. Contemplation leads to dispossession, not knowing.
The word “Yahweh” mimics breathing. We all breathe the same way. There is not a Buddhist or Catholic way to breathe! We are the reeds of God. We are being prayed through, without ceasing.
Chapter 4: Religion: a Transformational System?
Rohr quotes E.F.Schumacher, author of Small is Beautiful. Form a center, but do not stay there at the level of Leviticus and Numbers. Religion is NOT a place to hide. The Prophets are the critics on the edge; they are illuminative. Wisdom literature brings in the unitive way, the Unified Field--Job, for example.
The Way requires dispossession, dying. True religion is not a belief or a belonging, but an invitation to fall in love with God. It is therefore transformational. It promotes healing. Preaching must heal if it is about living the Gospel. The church should teach contemplation, not co-dependence on the clergy. Build on what we are for; be led by the Holy Spirit to see we are what we hate in others.
Jesus taught win/win, not win/lose (nearly everyone loses in the traditional religious paradigm). Now certain questions about justice can’t be raised. God uses our sins to bring us to transformation. This is “restorative justice!” Jesus is at Kohlberg’s highest level, but we are stuck at Law and Order after Constantine turned the catacombs into basilicas.
The Bible is interpreted so that the good guys win and the bad guys lose. But it takes two steps forward then back one. God uses the devil for his own purposes. God is not vengeful; his justice is restorative. We have NOT gotten to first base with non-violence. First do it internally, with your own demons and brokenness.
Even Leviticus 25:23 has stage 3 Wisdom. Usury was punishable by excommunication until the 12th century. God gave the land freely; it should be given away.
Everything depends on knowing the Holy One so the mystery can flow through you.
Do meditation, not prayer, because prayer now has come to mean getting something instead of letting go. Do not divide the Bible dualistically. Jesus represents Judaism at its best.
No comments:
Post a Comment