I was reading an entry (Sept. 17, 2007) from 'A blog of mystical searches', and found this;
"Last week, I attended a "Living the Questions" DVD seminar... That week's lesson on the DVD included an interview with Marcus Borg, in which he was asked whether it was necessary to believe in a literal resurrection of Jesus in order to be a Christian. He said no. Afterwards, during the discussion period, the pastor... mentioned that this statement could be shocking or controversial in some circles,... But no one in the room seemed fazed at all. I was surprised to discover that I wasn't alone on this matter. There really [are] other people in churches besides me who see religion in unorthodox ways."
It can be a little shocking to discover that what we think is not free from the conventional thoughts of our compatriots. There's usually an underlying belief that our 'uniqueness' separates us from the rabble; that in some ways we've outgrown the need for conventional beliefs and 'thoughts of mass consumption'. This is usually not the case. The discovery of Truth, through the process of self-emptying (the narrow path), is challenging and often dismissed as dangerous (literally). Yet within us ALL, there is an ever-flowing current, calling us back home. To BE implies connection, and that connection never ceases it's importunings to full awakening in Reality.
“...the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding. For every gain in deep certitude there is a corresponding growth of superficial ‘doubt.’ This doubt is by no means opposed to genuine faith, but it mercilessly examines and questions the spurious ‘faith’ of everyday life, the human faith which is nothing but the passive acceptance of conventional opinion.“ - From New Seeds of Contemplation
Thomas Merton addresses the idea of " 'faith' of everyday life", which so often leads us through life, as if by a nose ring, without any awareness of our slavery to it. The path of 'not-knowing' leads beyond beliefs, into truth- the only way to find real 'meaning'.
What benefit can we find in thoughts concerning the resurrection of Christ? Does 'knowing', as if one could go back in time to 'factually' experience and document the historical moment, have any real bearing on our relationship with Reality (God)? Does ANY belief, give us the key to God's kingdom? Jesus' initial declaration, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" sets a clear directive. The path is one of transformation, that of death to self and resurrection into life. It's not one of updated beliefs, or of collecting more factual data. Believers, and those 'in the know' remain immersed in the fallen world of 'original sin'; trapped in a subset of reality, from which there is no escape...except the one narrow path Jesus brought to his fallen Jewish neighbors.
Matthew
"Last week, I attended a "Living the Questions" DVD seminar... That week's lesson on the DVD included an interview with Marcus Borg, in which he was asked whether it was necessary to believe in a literal resurrection of Jesus in order to be a Christian. He said no. Afterwards, during the discussion period, the pastor... mentioned that this statement could be shocking or controversial in some circles,... But no one in the room seemed fazed at all. I was surprised to discover that I wasn't alone on this matter. There really [are] other people in churches besides me who see religion in unorthodox ways."
It can be a little shocking to discover that what we think is not free from the conventional thoughts of our compatriots. There's usually an underlying belief that our 'uniqueness' separates us from the rabble; that in some ways we've outgrown the need for conventional beliefs and 'thoughts of mass consumption'. This is usually not the case. The discovery of Truth, through the process of self-emptying (the narrow path), is challenging and often dismissed as dangerous (literally). Yet within us ALL, there is an ever-flowing current, calling us back home. To BE implies connection, and that connection never ceases it's importunings to full awakening in Reality.
“...the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding. For every gain in deep certitude there is a corresponding growth of superficial ‘doubt.’ This doubt is by no means opposed to genuine faith, but it mercilessly examines and questions the spurious ‘faith’ of everyday life, the human faith which is nothing but the passive acceptance of conventional opinion.“ - From New Seeds of Contemplation
Thomas Merton addresses the idea of " 'faith' of everyday life", which so often leads us through life, as if by a nose ring, without any awareness of our slavery to it. The path of 'not-knowing' leads beyond beliefs, into truth- the only way to find real 'meaning'.
What benefit can we find in thoughts concerning the resurrection of Christ? Does 'knowing', as if one could go back in time to 'factually' experience and document the historical moment, have any real bearing on our relationship with Reality (God)? Does ANY belief, give us the key to God's kingdom? Jesus' initial declaration, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" sets a clear directive. The path is one of transformation, that of death to self and resurrection into life. It's not one of updated beliefs, or of collecting more factual data. Believers, and those 'in the know' remain immersed in the fallen world of 'original sin'; trapped in a subset of reality, from which there is no escape...except the one narrow path Jesus brought to his fallen Jewish neighbors.
Matthew
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