Chuck's Column - 09/25/09
There is an old anecdote about a mystic, parish priest, and a fundamentalist preacher all dying on the same day. They awake to find themselves in a waiting area beside the pearly gates. They are greeted by Saint Peter who informs them that before they enter they must be interviewed by Jesus on the state of their doctrine.
The mystic is first one called back. After a few minutes he reappears with a smile and says, "I thought I had it all wrong." Next, the parish priest is called. He returns after an hour and says, "How could I have been so foolish." Then St. Peter asks for the fundamentalist preacher. After several hours there is still no sign of the preacher. Finally, at the end of the day, Jesus himself appears and exclaims, "How could I have been so wrong!"
There can be no religious dialogue with a fundamentalist (either conservative or liberal) because, from their perspective, everyone else is wrong. For any authentic religious dialogue to occur there must be, in spite of deep conviction, a concession that one’s beliefs could be wrong.
How we "see" Reality is drawn from a matrix of our God-image, self-image, and worldview. If we mess with one, it will usually influence the others.
All of us tend to see through a rather narrow window that is shaped by a number of influences: family dynamics and upbringing, one’s religious community, economics, socialization, education, cultural ethos, relationships, etc. Even the most enlightened people see reality from a certain cultural perspective. No one is unbiased or free from distortion. (And while I love the Scriptures, which is the major source from which my faith is drawn, the above is as true of the biblical writers as anyone else).
Franciscan priest Richard Rohr observes: "Most people do not see things as they are; they see things as 'they are.'" Many different influences contribute to who and what we are, which impacts "how we see" God, our world, and our relationship with both.
The lack of civility currently being expressed in public debate (more like "venting") over health care reform has been occurring in religious circles for years. We must grow up. We must exercise more humility, honesty, respect, and above all, compassion in how we treat one another. The loving, gracious God (Ultimate Reality) who sustains this universe is far too great and good to be limited by what we believe about him (or her).