“Passion is the true stuff of the universe –
erotic attraction is the primary creative force in the universe –
the universe itself is erotic” – Teilhard de Chardin
the reason for the Incarnation was love not sin –
the primacy of Christ comes before the primacy of sin –
“All things have been created through and for the Cosmic Christ –
he is before all things and in him all things hold together” – Col. 1:16-17
– particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy
many theologians disagree with Anselm’s notion
that sin is the primary reason for the Incarnation
“Jesus, the Cosmic Christ incarnate
is our only source of information about divinity –
if anyone wants to know what God is like
or what God might do, they can look at Jesus
this is what it means to accept Jesus as our God” – Albert Nolan
love and wisdom are gifts of the Spirit of God –
the love of God is poured into us by the Holy Spirit
and love leads to wisdom
which transcends reason –
“The heart has reasons of its own” – Blaise Pascal
the spiritual journey means moving
from unconscious to conscious loving –
the Christian ‘Way’ (Tao) as Christ showed us
is loving others in our daily lives
and to the degree that we love
God makes us whole/healed/holy
Rumi said “Make friends with your emotions”
this simply means give negative emotions
your whole-hearted attention
rather than being ignorant of them
denying or struggling against them
feeling guilty or ashamed of them
which gives them power –
once you give them your full attention
you discover their insubstantial nature
and dissolve their power over you –
you are free to fully love the Whole Creation.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 