Hindus and Muslims revering Jesus
should wake-up theologians –
people outside the institutional church
speaking contemplatively about the gospels
should quell the fear
of those who are different from us
that has fuelled racism into
universal homicidal paranoia.
“The contemplative work of love
by itself will eventually heal you
of all the roots of sin.” – Cloud of Unknowing
As we grow in divine intimacy through contemplation
our heart is liberated from sin and temptation.
“Moral conversion is purification
of your real motives so you seek the
true/objective/common good
with no ego-attachment.
Religious conversion means being possessed
by an otherworldly love for all things –
attending church/believing creeds/reading scripture
are all good, but not the essence
of genuine religious conversion.” – Bernard Lonergan
Men convert less easily than women
because of their toxic view of masculinity –
spirituality is for wimps.
The truth is you do not create
or work your way up to your True Self –
you don’t climb up to it
you fall into it
by the grace of Infinite Mercy.
Spiritual men thus have nothing to brag about
since we humans have only finite freedom –
we are free to make decisions
but limited by existential circumstances
within which we must work out our destiny.
Individualists who believe your Higher Self
makes you totally responsible for everything
that happens to you through your choices –
these “rugged ones” have no awareness
of systemic sin and evil
in state and religion.
State and religion are the two arms of God
and should not be confused –
religion is not meant to be the master or servant
of the state, but its conscience.
Thank God we live in a secular state
where freedom of thought is permitted
even though the state is giving way
to the whole planet through ecological oneness
and ecology is leading the way to heaven
which is paradise on Earth:
earthly goods used only for the attainment
of heavenly goods
for that is their purpose and our destiny.
Spirit underlies the rational denial of mythic gods
because reason has more depth than myth –
reason affirms Spirit’s greater potential shown in
gay/feminist/black/indigenous/ecological movements
that dare to speak truth to
straight/masculine/white/political power.
Many churches do not condemn atheism
but call for respectful dialogue
and only ask atheists to have an open mind
and honor the rights of believers –
and believers to have an open mind
and respect atheists.
Contemplation helps us see our oneness –
our complicity with atheists in evil
and our complicity with atheists in good.
Contemplation converts and liberates us from
our collective/systemic sin
and advances
our collective/systemic good.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 