Traditions, Teachings and Changes

Photo UltimateBibleReferenceLibrary.com

Occasionally I encounter a Catholic with the strange idea that Church teaching never changes. Any amount of reflection on this faulty assumption should immediately bring to mind numerous changes that have occurred over time. Another strange idea that some Catholics have is that culture shouldn’t influence Church teaching. Both of these ideas can be easily examined and questioned.

If we look at the book of Acts of the Apostles, we see an early Church that taught the practice of pooling and sharing material wealth (Acts 4:32-35) and caring for everyone within the community. This was the teaching and practice of early Christianity. Certainly that practice has changed.

Of course the practice of Eucharist has changed dramatically. St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that the practice of Eucharist is to be a meal that serves and feeds the poor who are actually hungry (1 Cor 11:17-22). Now there’s a foundational teaching that changed! When was the last time you went to a Catholic mass where the ritual included serving an actual meal to those physically hungry in their midst? Perhaps never. Nevertheless, such masses do occur and I have attended a few.

Other teachings have changed as well, and thankfully for the better. In the middle Ages the Church declared that the practice of slavery was a doctrine and usury was a mortal sin. Both teachings have since been shelved and in fact, reversed.

Now, what about the influence of culture? In truth, the cultures of the day have always influenced Church teaching. First Jewish culture, then Greek, Latin, European nomadic tribes, etc. How could they not? Culture (including language) is the lens through which people view their world.

Cultural influences can be positive. Consider the St. Paul’s Jewish idea that we are all part of the Body of Christ. On the other hand consider the negative Roman idea that governance is best done via a monarchy or imperial oligarchy. Today a negative influence would be unregulated capitalism in our culture. But a positive one could be the concept of democracy or everyone having a voice.

Church teaching is always changing. It is alive. We add to what we understand, how we interpret scripture and dogma (core truths) and continue to build on that understanding with each culture that becomes part of Christianity. Over time our understanding of what is holy, whole and healing changes. Our understanding of what it means to be truly human changes. Our understanding of God changes.

With the idea of “mission” therefore, we do not seek to Christianize Africa. Rather we seek to Africanize Christianity.” We do this by listening and lifting up the ways God is already at work in African peoples and their cultures.

But how will we know which influences are positive or negative? A good way to check is to ask yourself, “Does it benefit the good of all or the common good?” and “Does it have a preference for the vulnerable and weakest among us?”

Not everything in our Catholic traditions should be kept. We need to know, as Catholics, what to appropriate out of our Catholic Christian traditions – and what is best forgotten.

This post was originally published on 5-22-11. You may also like American Catholicism-How’s It Working?, Question the Culture and Truth Or Consequences.

Estrangement – The High Cost of Leaving or Living?

Photo Scenic Buena Vista.com

This article is about the high cost of leaving ultra-orthodox Judaism. It could have been entitled “The High Cost of Living.” My family of origin wasn’t from this religious tradition, but my experience of being pushed away was the same. Perhaps you have also experienced something similar in your life or know someone who has?

Ultimately we each must choose whether or not to live an authentic life – meaning who we really are on the inside matches how we live on the outside. Unfortunately, our call to live an authentic life and the expectations of our family or culture may be quite different.

To be “loved if” means there is a condition attached. We will be loved “if” we don’t rock the boat, “if” we don’t challenge the status quo, “if” we live a certain lifestyle. But the reality is that love has no conditions. Where there is a condition or “if” attached then it isn’t really love. Love means being accepted as we are for who we are – no exceptions.

Nevertheless, I may choose to not be around a parent or child while they are drinking or engaging in some other destructive behavior. But to reject the behavior is not to reject the person.

My family of origin operated under the “strict father” model. For myself and my siblings there was also the unspoken threat of being abandoned. It actually came true in my case. I really was cast out – while a minor, but imagine the devastating effects this would have had on my younger siblings who witnessed it.

What I remember growing up, is that it was impressed upon us that the most important virtue was obedience. Really? The most important virtue is obedience? When I became a parent I realized how strange this was! The virtues I wanted for my own children were honesty, kindness, generosity, curiosity and compassion. Only time will tell if my family will choose to adopt different values.

This article could also be entitled: The high cost of leaving “the Clan” or “the Tribe” – any tribe, family or group. Another title could be “the high cost of rejecting fideism” – external authority – in this case the authority of family.

Many Christians are unaware of the heresy of fideism. Fideism is a heresy defined as “blind obedience to any external authority.” Ultimately, as adults, the only authority we must follow – are truly obligated to follow – is God within the deepest interior of our own hearts. Any external authority, be it religious, governmental, parental or even medical, can never be the reason for making a decision. We have the responsibility and accountability as adults to learn all we can from those we trust. Then we must make our own decisions.

In healthy relationships participants are encouraging and supportive. There isn’t a demand to control or judge, rather a desire to stay connected. Healthy relationships involve mutual listening, offering support – but ultimately allowing other adults to make their own decisions. Then those decisions are respected. Is your family like this? If so, you’re lucky. If not, you may have to create a family of choice that can provide healthy support in your life.

In the article, those rejected by their families, experienced something different when they were embraced by others. What they found was that healthy, loving relationships do not judge, but want the best for us and that can only be determined by us. No one else can judge what is best for another adult, except that adult. Others who truly care about us know that being true to oneself may mean being flexible and moving into a new life.

Reality, life, God is compassionate. Every instance of suffering we encounter can be an opportunity for growth, transformation and new life. Sometimes being freed from the tethers of unhealthy relationships – or relationships that are toxic for us – allows us to fly.

Photo Rituals Of Healing.com

This post was originally published 1/18/11. You may also like Lent: Into the Desert and InnerPeace -Watch Your Thoughts.

Life’s Beautiful Doors

Everyday life offers us many doorways. Some lead us into amazing new life. Others lead us to delightful places we could never have envisioned for ourselves. We choose to walk through some and not others.

If you would like your life to be different then definitely walk through a new door.

Why? As DH explained, if you stay where you are it is certain that your life will remain just as it is- NO chance for a better life. Remember the definition of “insanity” – continuing to do the same thing expecting a different result.

If you walk through a new door there is at least a 50% chance that your life will improve. The fearful fatalist will note that there is also a 50% chance that things could get worse, but that is true even if you stay where you are!

Since I am a believer in a loving God I actually believe that the percentage that things will improve by walking through a new door is much, much higher than 50%.

Life beckons – urgently.

Watch and see the many doors your life places before you today. Can you find them? Which new door will you open?

alvhemmakleri.se

 

alvhemmakleri.se
alvhemmakleri.se
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Your Life’s Purpose

Photo R. Meshar

What is my life’s purpose? This is a question most of us ask at some point.

If we believe that the universe is fundamentally oriented towards creating life, then we live in a loving reality that supports life. Love is not only around us but also within us as we are a part of that same reality. Basic physics.

To flourish in harmony with the reality we exist in, then, requires that we love ourselves deeply. It also requires we love others and the environment around us so all life can thrive. Anything else is distorted love.

“Love” here doesn’t mean a warm, fuzzy emotion or feeling. Rather it means doing what brings us joy and health, and wanting that same joy and health for others too. It also means respecting ourselves, others and the world we live in. Creating relationships of respect and mutuality is what loving rightly requires. This in fact, is social justice.

Loving rightly is not an easy task. It takes a lifetime of experience, questioning and learning. But we each have wisdom and unique gifts to bring to this task – this task that is our life’s purpose – and our life’s joy.

You may also like Meaning of Life or a Life of Meaning?, What is Your Story? and Healthy Self Talk.

 

Surprising Similarities

Photo R. Meshar

The media makes sure that we are aware of the differences of each tradition. Christianity claims Jesus is God who brings salvation or healing. Islam claims the Q’uran is God speaking. Judaism claims the Law will save us. Yoga claims the eight-fold path (Ashtanga) will bring divine union or equanimity. Buddhism claims Buddha was a human being who achieved enlightenment.

In spite of their real and significant differences, have you ever noted the interesting similarities between Buddhism, Yoga, Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

We do need to acknowledge that there are vast differences in beliefs between the world’s major philosophical traditions of Buddhism and Yoga, along with the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Each of these traditions promises a different goal or end. Salvation, divine union or enlightenment, for example, are not the same thing. We need to trust that each tradition knows enough about its own spiritual path to know where they are taking their followers. We could say that there are many worthwhile destinations in the land of God or ultimate reality, if you like.

Then again, it can be noted that there are vast differences within each of these traditions themselves. In many ways, Reform and Orthodox Judaism are miles apart for example. The same is true of evangelicals and Catholics in the Christian tradition.

Still, as a group, these traditions do highlight surprisingly similar aspects of the experience of living a human life. Today I thought I would detail a few of them quickly. The similarities highlighted here are what I am familiar with from my own personal study in each tradition – but don’t cover every tradition. Nevertheless, I find these similarities curious and in a way, appealing, even comforting.

Each tradition tells us something about the human story or path. Each tradition offers a way for embarking on the spiritual journey. That journey often requires losing or leaving everything behind (“Leave everything and follow me.”) There is great suffering associated with this. Buddha can barely stand to leave his wife and son.

However, the resulting journey is worth this huge cost. The journey requires that we navigate a path that was unanticipated. This path is partially illuminated before us – just like the picture above – it lures us in. But what lies ahead is hidden. We must trust. In many cases it is through a deep suffering or loss that our path is revealed. In any case, we have an opportunity to discover the true nature of reality – which is this: our bliss or joy comes by being truly, deeply present to each moment, as it really is (“Now begins the practice of Yoga.” Sutra 1.1.) This love, joy, divine nature, is in fact the underpinning of reality – “the pearl of great price,” freedom from suffering, liberation from slavery, union with the divine.

We are initimately connected to this reality. More than this, we are actually a part of it. “The Kingdom is within you” Jesus tells us. It is our own minds and undisciplined ego that bring about suffering. “What defiles comes from within not from without.” It is our enslavement to culture, ego and desire – symbolized in the dominant cultures of Egypt or Rome for example – that brings pain to us and others.

We don’t need a monastery, deprivation, or rigidity. This is merely another form of enslavement. Moderation is enough. We only need to be present to the teacher within ourselves which is manifested through each and every moment we live.

Being present to each moment is difficult because it requires letting go of our ego and cultural way of viewing things – a softening of our programmed lenses, if you will or replacing our stoney hearts with hearts of flesh as the Jewish scriptures declare. But if we can use the disciplines of moderation, the Five Pillars, asana poses, other-centeredness and meditation or contemplative prayer, (time in the desert) we can learn to become truly present to reality as it really is.

These disciplines are defined in the Eight-Fold Path (Yoga), the Five Pillars (Islam), the Law (Judaism), the path of moderation and meditation (Buddhism), following Jesus and his teaching to be other-centered or Christ-centered (Christianity). Seeing reality clearly, then, allows us to move along the path of our chosen tradition.

What is not often articulated in these traditions is that “seeing reality as it really is” requires seeing the systemic discrimination we collectively inflict on others (through laws, discrimination and customs) because of greed, anger, ignorance (self-centeredness). The antidotes are generosity, compassion, knowledge and most importantly, working for systemic change to relieve the suffering of others caused by a lack of care embedded in our social laws, customs and structures.

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