SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 278

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ This is a post on the style of The Way of Reason as we continue to explore Heavenliness through the lens of the 12 styles of the Mandala process created by Edward Bastian.  There are 2 more Mandala styles to explore after this: Relationships and Wisdom. After that, we move on to the 9 Attributes of Heaven.

+ .. recently, the Dalai Lama has proposed that there is a shared underlying purpose for both scientists and spiritual practitioners. Both yearn to discover the deepest truths of existence. Indeed, the Dalai Lama’s own Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism provides a twenty-year long curriculum that blends rigorous intellectual study with serious spiritual practice. Their method has remarkable similarities to other spiritually inspired intellectual traditions, like the Habad Hasidic tradition of Judaism and the Jesuit Order of Catholic Christianity. The Way of the Reason was exemplified in the ancient academy of Plato who saw logical inquiry as a means to eternal wisdom, goodness and happiness.

-- Edward Bastian

+ Well, as I pointed out in the last post, the only resource I have collected on the Way of Reason is what Ed wrote in his chapter on this style.  So, I offer  more of Ed’s wisdom on this style.  I would add to Ed’s mention of three great intellectual traditions among the world religions my own denomination which has a strong heritage of intellectual understanding: Presbyterian.  A great book written with immense thoughtfulness by a Presbyterian theologian is Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology by Daniel L. Migliore.  I studied under him back in the early 70s when I was a seminarian at Princeton Theological Seminary.  I will add this resource to my collection of resources on The Way of Reason.  So, now I have doubled my resources in this collection.  And I will go even further by adding that wonderful quote by Einstein which Ed lifted up in his introduction to this style: “Science without religion is lame, and religion without science is blind.”

+ The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process by Edward Bastian are listed in SE206.

+ The 7 steps of InterSpiritual Meditation by Edward Bastian are listed in SE21 and SE213. They are described fully in his book, InterSpiritual Meditation.

+ To get inspired and illuminated by Ed Bastian, I invite you to set aside some time for these videos:

·         Seven Steps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes)

·         15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process

·         2 hour lecture & conversation

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenliness page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” or “Love” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html

SUSTAINABLE ABUNDANCE -- 1

+ I am now teaching a course on Sustainable Abundance by email and in several group sessions in the Utica area. The three major sources for this course are:

And the Leaves of the Tree Are for the Healing of the Nations. This is a powerful, comprehensive and short guide to the Bible’s emphasis on Eco-Justice. It is available online and in print for $3. There is a Presbyterian Church (USA) 5-unit course on this resource and a Presbyterian Church (USA) 1-unit course on this resource. They are available online and I will be using these excellent resources.

Plan B by Lester Brown (book and video). An online copy is available for free at http://www.earth-policy.org/books/pb4. Brown started the Earthwatch Institute. A useful web page promoting Brown’s Plan is found at ChasingCleanAir.com.

Wrestling Until the Dawn by John Preston. John, a Presbytery of Utica Retired Pastor, poured his heart and soul into this book. He has a passion for the emerging church and for restoration of the environment.

Other sources include:
Presbyterian Church (USA) Eco-Justice policies and resources | Presbyterians for Earth Care Eco-Justice resources | Eco-Justice Ministries | National Council of Churches Eco-Justice resources | Green Faith | The Tao of Abundance by Laurence Boldt | The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

SUPPORTING THE PALESTINIANS -- 10

+ The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Steering Committee offers this important statement about the need for international action for Palestinian justice to be achieved:

South Africa’s transition to a multi-racial democracy was unexpectedly peaceful due, in large part, to international economic, political, and diplomatic pressure. This process was aided by a call from South African Christian leaders who challenged the legitimacy of the official “state theology” called Apartheid. Palestinians are also facing a de facto (official) state theology that delegitimizes their rights as children of God in the land of their ancestors. Christian leaders in Palestine and Israel are now calling for a similar international response of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions to help end the occupation and achieve a just peace in the Holy Land. Their call, Kairos Palestine, is based on a serious theological commitment to the prophetic challenge belonging to all three monotheistic faiths: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is also based on the conviction that without international Christian awareness and solidarity, the indigenous Christian Church in Palestine and Israel may cease to exist.

+ Please read Kairos Palestine.

REFORMED AND ALWAYS BEING REFORMED -- 4

+ There are some people in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and many other denominations who believe that doctrines from past centuries still must be strictly followed.  I believe that the doctrines of previous centuries still make a lot of sense but must be understood in ways that check out with our current state of knowledge and wisdom.  So, the Progressive Christianity movement makes a lot of sense.  We honor the past but are not bound by it.  We can move forward.  We can and must change. 

Those who believe that doctrines from past centuries still must be strictly followed will often say that us Progressive Christians are more influenced by modern social trends than by the Holy Spirit.  I take this criticism seriously.  We must always seek to discern God's will with plenty of prayer, humility, openness and diligent study of the many factors involved.

I am satisfied that the Presbyterian Church (USA) usually does such discernment with great integrity and courage.  The perfecting of our denomination is far from done but it is happening in marvelous ways. 

I am glad that I have many Presbyterian colleagues who identify with the Progressive Christianity movement.  I will offer a more comprehensive list of groups and individuals in the future but for now let me offer a few:

• The Witherspoon Society
• Presbyterians for Earth Care
• John Shuck, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, TN. Check out Shuck and Jive, his fantastic Blog
• John Preston, Retired Pastor, Northeast Regional Representative, Presbyterians For Earth Care. His recent book, Wrestling Until the Dawn, deals with the need for major reform as we deal with our postmodern era, the ecological crisis and emerging biblical scholarship.
• J. Mark Davidson, Pastor of The Church of Reconciliation, Chapel Hill, NC. His sermons are always provocative, profound, progressive and inspirational.  Check out his recent books, Sacred Glimpses and A Luminous Presence.  

+ Click here to see all of my "Reformed And Always Being Reformed" (Semper Reformanda) posts.

REFORMED AND ALWAYS BEING REFORMED -- 3

+ We definitely need to re-imagine Jesus.  The Jesus Seminar has contributed immensely to a new and much improved understanding of Jesus which moves us away from the Jesus-olatry and Bible-olatry which has plagued our great wisdom tradition for centuries.  I love Jesus.  I love the Bible.  Idolizing Jesus and the Bible reduces their impact.  God mercifully gives us the great gift of freedom.  We are free to find new meaning and joy and to reject doctrines which simply do not make sense in our times.  Great thinkers like Diarmuid O'Murchu, Cynthia Bourgeault, Marcus Borg, Raimon Panikkar, Matthew Fox, Sallie McFague and John Shelby Spong (to mention only a few) are leading us forward with great courage and fantastic freedom and curiosity and wisdom. 

In the S&P course on InterSpiritual Wisdom, Cynthia Bourgeault says:

The modern Christian mystical theologian Raimon Panikkar suggests intriguingly that the real problem all along has been that JESUS WAS NOT A MONOTHEIST! His experience of God was much more a flowing, interabiding one (i.e, "I in you, and you in me, that all may be one...)--a flow later captured (though usually misunderstood) in the doctrine of the Trinity, where form, emptiness, created, and uncreated are always engaged in a circle dance of love--yes, Rami, the very essence of divine "is-ing." It was Jesus's claims of too great intimacy with God that violated the strong Abrahamic sense of an unbridgeable abyss between creator and creature and the radical unknowability of God. Panikkar argues impressively that it was the attempt to paste Jesus's radically nondual vision onto the metaphysical basis of Jewish monotheism that resulted in the "San Andreas fault" running through the heart of the Christian message to this day.

Related closely to this powerful idea are the provocative and progressive teachings of John Shelby Spong. Spirituality and Practice offers a review of A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith Is Dying & How a New Faith Is Being Born by John Shelby Spong.

Excerpt 1: "Spong tosses aside the theistic supernatural overlay on the man from Nazareth. He sees him as a boundary breaker who tears down the walls that separate people. He also is a fear buster who by his magnetic passion convinces individuals to put aside tribal and xenophobic fears. Spong concludes: 'Jesus will become the doorway into the Holy for those of us who have been privileged to know his name, but there will be other doorways for other people.'"

Excerpt 2: "Progressive Christians who are re-imagining their faith in the twenty-first century will find this thought-provoking and substantive work right in sync with prior works by Matthew Fox, Andrew Harvey, Wayne Teasdale, and Diarmuid O'Murchu."

+ Click here to see all of my "Reformed And Always Being Reformed" (Semper Reformanda) posts.

GOD HAS A DREAM -- 2

+ This is the second in a series of posts on a marvelous book, God Has A Dream by ArchBishop Desmond Tutu.

+ Bishop Tutu deals with the theme of transfiguration throughout the book.  This Sunday, February 14, is the last Sunday before Lent when the Goispel lesson is always The Transfiguration of Jesus.  Tutu says that the miracle of transfiguration is happening all of the time.  He points to the miracle of his own country, South Africa, which mostly peacefully transitioned to allow all of its citizens to vote and participate in their democracy after decades of a brutal apartheid regime. He was a big part of this transfiguration and he became a leader of the reconciling efforts since that regime was replaced. 

This Sunday also is now called Evolution Sunday.  I believe there is every reason to see that Evolution and Transfiguration are not in opposition but indeed are complementary. Presbyterian blogger John Shuck advocates Evolution as a basic understanding of reality that we need to embrace.  He offers an intriguing post, "Better Living Through Evolution" which now has elicited quite a few interesting comments including my own which I am offering here:

It is simply an impossibility that I would not add a thought or 2 to this discussion.

First, I love the archetype of Transfiguration. 3 Utica Presbyterian churches will be studying Desmond Tutu's GOD HAS A DREAKM beginning this Sunday evening. Tutu uses the theme of Transfiguration throughout his inspiring and challenging book. I'm sure he embraces Evolution too.

Second, I agree with those who believe we need to embrace Evolution firmly. There is absolutely no reason to think that we must come up with a different theory simply because Evolution refuses to back up the Genesis stories. Thanks John for your prophetic and illuminating contribution to this effort.

Third, I am a fan of Christian myth and ritual because the radical meaning of our symbols and archetypes does not contradict but affirms the truths of Evolution. I see the effort of David Sloan Wilson as both a promotion of Evolution and Transfiguration. True transfiguration is always happening right now, right here, in this holy moment of life. Perhaps the author of the Gospel of John understands that even better than those who gave us the story of the Transfiguration. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is always transfigured and transfiguring. He is all about change, changing himself and others into people who love one another. Not that the other Gospels don't promote change and love. They do too.

We can evolve, be transfigured, into creatures who live life in a bold and compassionate way, advocating for and creating more and more peace and justice and joy, God's Holy Realm.

+ The Spirituality and Practice team offers connections to practices and resources on Justice and Transformation.

+ There is a website devoted to the book and its ideas and calls to action.

+ Click here to see all of my posts on God Has A Dream.

REFORMED AND ALWAYS BEING REFORMED -- 1

+ My friend Ralph Clingan offers this great contribution to our understanding of "Reformed and Always Being Reformed," the Presbyterian motto:

Dearly beloved! A few years ago I did an inventory of my library. My career as an activist pastor, professor and theologian started in 1961, so I have amassed a large collection of books. The largest single segment of my library consists of books about music, prayer and spirituality. I have a book, The Background of Passion Music (London: SCM Press Ltd, 1957) by Basil Smallman late Musicologist of Nottingham University. I may have cited this wee tome before, but in the wake of the demise of beloved feminist, out and proud Lesbian theologian Mary Daly, Smallman's words reminded me of the importance of such passionate workers among us. Jacob Spener (1635-1705), a Reformed pastor and theologian educated at Strasbourg, spent a year in Geneva. Spener found that "the Calvinist branch of the Reformed Church showed ramarkable humanism in the emphasis laid on practical Christianity, on the expression of faith by good works rather than by the strict observance of doctrinal minutiae." His Pia desidera (1675) contained six proposals to guide his students and colleagues:

i The Bible should be studied in private, small group meetings;

ii The laity should regain their position as a common priesthood and their rights to share in the spiritual governance of the church,

iii A new emphasis be placed on practical Christianity,

iv Unbelievers should be approached with greater sympathy and understanding,

v Increased value should be attached to the cultivation of spiritual life in theological education, and

vi A more direct and emotional type of preaching should be encouraged.

As we enter the last year of the first decade of 2000, I found Smallman's citations from Spener a good reminder of how enduring a legacy is ours. Aluta continua ...

Thanks Ralph.  Defintely something worthy of consideration as Christians struggle to work out our identity in a new millenium. 

+ Click here to see all of my "Reformed And Always Being Reformed" (Semper Reformanda) posts.

PRESBYTERIAN BLOGGERS ARE UNITING TO END POVERTY TODAY

+ PC(USA) moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow has asked Presbyterian bloggers to focus on poverty today. In areas I frequent (Central New York & Western New York) the severe recession hitting the nation has not hit quite as hard because we had already lost a lot of our economic assets in previous years. But I do understand there has been a big uptick in people needing food. Also, unemployment has increased significantly in the last year.

+ I will update this post during the next day or 2 as I discover what Presbyterian bloggers are saying about poverty. You can go to Presbyterian Bloggers Unite.

+ Stephen Whitaker offers "Poverty, Small Towns, and Church Cooperation" in his blog, Presbyneering: Pioneering New Ground in the Presbyterian Church.

+ My favorite Presbyterian blogger, John Shuck, offers "Poverty in Appalachia" in his blog, Shuck and Jive.

+ 1pm update > The Presbyterian Global Food Crisis Center is a closely related effort. It is amazing what one can discover through my friends at Facebook. Several of my Facebook friends work at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville.

EQUALITY IS SEXY

"Equality is Sexy" is another prophetic sermon preached today by that very progressive Presbyterian Pastor, my friend, John Shuck. Excerpts:

"I was thinking about Ruth’s story in light of the Shepherd’s . The Shepherd’s is our safe house in Elizabethton for women who are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is not Ruth’s story. However, lack of resources, protection, security, and economic opportunity is Ruth’s story and the story of virtually every woman who enters the Shelter."

"The unfortunate reality is that most of these women go back to these violent relationships. Observers from the outside may wonder why. They may put the blame on the women. But the reality is that there are often few options. Pressures from families and religion, and lack of economic resources are too much for many of these women. Coupled with that, psychological issues regarding self-esteem can make imagining a different future nearly impossible."

"The task involves breaking the silence and becoming educated about the reality and the depth of domestic violence."

"I want to turn to the Song of Solomon. This is erotic poetry. It is really quite beautiful. There is no violence in this book. There is no domination. No forcing. The relationship is mutual, equal, and sexy."

"How different this ancient book is from how sexuality is perceived and portrayed in our society? Women are objectified to sell everything from cars to cameras. Eroticism is equated with domination and control. The church’s attitudes toward sexuality are atrocious. It thinks it has done its job when it controls people and tells them they are dirty for being sexual beings. It has removed the sacred from the body."

"We can begin to make a new ethic. This ethic involves making equality sexy. It is about loving our bodies and respecting the bodies of others including the body of our Mother Earth."

PRESBYTERIANS AID VICTIMS OF MOSQUE BURNING IN TENNESSEE

Presbyterian News Service offers this report revealing real interfaith understanding and cooperation:

COLUMBIA, TN — When an Islamic mosque was burned to the ground in what was classified as a hate crime, First Presbyterian Church — part of Middle Tennessee Presbytery [ www.presbyterymidtn.org ] — reached out.

Within 24 hours, Pastor Bill Williamson called a session meeting at which a $500 donation was given to the mosque (later swelled to $2,000 by concerned church members) along with an invitation to gather for worship at First Church while the mosque was rebuilt. So for several weeks now, the Islamic congregation has gathered for Friday prayers at First Church.

“This terrible event does certainly not reflect the spirit of tolerance in our community,” Williamson said. “We have felt that it is important to extend hospitality in the name of Christ to these who have been through such a terrible experience.”

PRESBYTERIANS AND FARMWORKERS DELIVER PETITIONS TO BURGER KING

The Presbyterian News Service offers "Presbyterians and farmworkers deliver petitions to Burger King" by Evan Silverstein. Excerpt: "A delegation of Presbyterians joined a group of farmworker advocates in delivering 85,000 signatures to Burger King’s Miami headquarters last week urging the fast-food giant to join McDonald’s Corp. and Taco Bell to help increase the wages of Florida tomato pickers and improve working conditions in the growing fields."

• Read article

EARTHKEEPING 101 (1)

+ No matter who becomes President, we the people need to take charge and let the leaders know that the planet is in peril and earthkeeping must be an absolute priority. It is encouraging to see how much the Lutherans are doing to raise our earthkeeping consciousness. Presbyterians have a developed a clear and comprehensive policy for restoring creation. Many concerned Presbyterians are involved in a network called Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. An inspiring and informative organization emphasizing the necessity of a spiritual awakening to save the planet is Celestine Vision. I intend to blog consistently on this crucial concern. Thank you Al Gore for helping so many of us to realize that the planet is in peril and that we can and must act rapidly.

THE WISDOM OF A STREET JESTER

+ ExecuMusings offers "Hunger Strike: the Wisdom of a Street Jester" by Clint McCoy, Executive for Partnerships of the Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast. Excerpt:

“I’ve completely given up on organized religion,” he said, shaking his head a bit. “I don’t mean any disrespect to you, but I’ve given up on the church.”

As he said the words, and I thought about his unconventional protest, it came to me that many in the church didn’t have too much to do with people protesting as he was either.

“I’m out here 24-7,” he said. “This is what I do.”

“My name is Clint,” I offered, wanting not to leave him without some kind of connection.

“My name is Start,” he said, offering me his hand. “Hi Stark,” I said, not hearing him correctly the first time, and thinking it was a peculiar name, as we shook hands.

“Start,” he said, not as though correcting me, but more as an affirmation. “Start Loving.”

Did I hear him correctly? I thought to myself. You’ve got to be kidding! “Start Loving.” Who would really have a name like that? But he hadn’t said it as some kind of joke. He was straight faced as he said it, as though he was eager for me to remember. Why would he trust me at all with his real name, anyway? He had no idea about whom I might really be, or what I might do that could harm him.

I urge you to read this powerful article about Clint's amazing encounter with a provocative protester on the streets of our nation's capital.

• Read article

EARTH DAY 2008

+ It is Earth Day. One of my favorite corners of the web for reflecting on and acting on sustainable abundance is Celestine Vision. It is loaded with many informative and inspirational and challenging articles and offers links to many environmental organizations.

+ The Presbyterian Church (USA) offers many resources for restoring creation as does an affiliated advocacy organization, Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. This year's Earth Day Sunday theme was "The Poverty of Global Climate Change."

TRAUMA AND GLORY

+ ExecuMusings offers "Trauma and Glory" by Clint McCoy, Executive for Partnerships of the Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast. Excerpt: "As important as remembering traumatic moments is for our identify and our capacity to work through grief, we can also look for the glory that might be revealed as unimaginable surprise: transforming what is sad or hurtful, or even evil, into something remembered because of the good that has been born from it. When that happens, then we see the hand of God at work."

FRIDAY APRIL 18 MUSINGS

+ I held out for a long time. For years I have been using one of my web pages at ABUNDANCETREK.COM as my blog. I am grateful for 2 Presbyterian Church (USA) staff people for introducing me to the concepts of Web 2.0 and walking me through the creation of a blog at a recent meeting of the Seminary Support Network. They are Dana McMahan and Jonathan Dennis of Creative Services.

+ It is getting unseasonably warm along the Erie Canal today. We may hit 80 degrees F. We have had 4 beautiful days. It was chilly, however, on Monday & Tuesday.

+ I will not muse every day but on days that I do I might update my musings from time to time so you may want to come back here again and see what I have added. I will soon be creating a blogroll for the sidebar but untill then you can find my blogroll at http://www.abundancetrek.com/blog. Scroll down on the column on the left. One of the best, if not the best, Progressive Christian blogs is Shuck & Jive by John Shuck, pastor of a very progressive church in Tennessee. He once served a church up here in the frigid North! Check out "These Are Our Mountains, Too", John's post yesterday on a successful PFLAG organizational meeting for his region. The post includes a video of some figure skating with a powerful song, One World, by Celtic Woman.

+ Manny hit 2 home runs last night at Yankee Stadium leading the World Champion Red Sox to a victory over the Yankees 7-5.