In the 11th century, killing someone in war
was a sin requiring a 40 day fast
whether you killed in offence or defence.
In the 21st century we have become mass killers
with no remorse. We are now going to kill
the planet we live on: sawing off the branch
we perch on. So much for “progress.”
The key issues for men today are shame and aggression
which relate to the key issue of our time:
human survival. The True Masculine integrates
heart and mind/word and deed/self and other
whereas competitive society operates mainly
out of the male ego-level. True men go beyond “me-first”
to the well-being of others.
Thomas Merton: “The truthful person
cannot long remain violent. And the violent person
cannot see the Truth: Violence comes from believing the Big Lie
that your enemy is violent and evil
whereas you are good and peace-loving.
This ironically justifies your violence against your enemy.
Far easier to find and destroy a scapegoat
than to look inside at your own violence and evil.”
Whatever is not accepted is projected onto others.
Mothers at their best can give boys
a primordial experience of oneness
so they know in their hearts they are the Beloved.
But this is unconscious union.
When we grow and start to compete/compare/judge things
divisions start as well.
What we need is authentic spirituality
that leads to conscious oneness with God and all things.
Yet we want to avoid discomfort/be safe/be healed
all at the same time. But we can never completely avoid uncertainty
which makes us afraid. True spiritual warriors accept that
we never know what will happen next.
Anchored in God they remain at peace –
one with God in the midst of external chaos/war.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 