The new cosmology revealed by science
like the parables of Jesus
shatters our old paradigms
and challenges us to broader/more inclusive thinking.
Irenaeus had a cosmic Christology
largely lost because the Church Fathers
focused on practical/down-to-Earth matters
such as combating Arianism
which claimed Christ is not divine.
The Council of Nicea (325 AD) asserted that
Christ’s incarnation saves us and deifies us –
we become like Christ.
Theology has always been otherworldly –
about metaphysics – “What is the nature of God
and God’s Kingdom?” – things ultimately ineffable
instead of teaching us how to live the teachings of Jesus.
Teilhard de Chardin’s hyper-physics (union before being)
overthrew metaphysics focused on
stasis/unchangeability/sameness.
Union always searches for ‘moreness’ –
more being/consciousness/love –
it is never satisfied with the status quo.
But in the West, religion has done our work
for us: scholars and bishops have told us
what to know not how to know
and what to see not how to see.
The result? People who never had to think
and are unable to comprehend
great and holy things.
Still, a spirit of prayer pervaded the Second Vatican Council
and reading the documents of Vatican II
can be a form of ‘lectio divina.’
The Council encouraged all believers to put prayer first
urged people to pray while reading scripture
pray for the conversion of hearts
and begged all of us to follow the ways of
universal love/peace/justice –
it was a fresh take
on an old paradigm.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 