Over the years I attended bible studies, listened to varying interpretations of the bible and knew all could not be right. I studied many major religions and sects, consulted pastors, rabbinical scholars, and finally found that F. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled was more akin to my own path.

There were never any epiphanies or revelations, just common sense, rational thought and an acceptance that there are mysteries humankind cannot fully understand at this point its evolution. Those who claim to have the one and only way I no longer abide. I believe that god meets you where you are. It meets all of us where we are.

Be true to yourself, Jane. A god can ask no more of anyone.

All these things are attractive elements of worship and this type of thinking seems very plausible. But it doesn’t necessarily lead to the fullness of faith itself.

I think if we really take Christ into our hearts, doesn’t it seem like most of us will at some point end up doing at least a 180 degree turn in our lives? Or, maybe for some a complete 360 degree turn around?

To be more thann a generic Christian I think you have to become willing to be a radical who can discern the central integrity of the faith.

I don’t think it is a good idea for one Christian to tell another that they’re “not a Christian.” But I think a key word for understanding the faith might be discernment. It takes a really big time commitment to learn the faith as an adult. And you have to remove a lot of the social clutter in your life. Still, adult converts are often the most ardent.

I can no longer go to worship/study and be derailed listening to homophobia, the strange mix of pro-life and pro-war, the anti-science and climate change stance which boggles my mind, the association of Christianity and what I consider to be the most uncharitable party, Republicans and so on.

I’ll always be a moderate to liberal Democrat, I “believe” in science and climate change, sexuality is NOT a choice, you cannot legislate morality, I was raised a war orphan and was attending high school in Japan when you were in Hanoi, I know what war is, I am anti-war, I’m a feminist and always will be, I fear the Republican party and the hate, lies, propaganda, and insanity that they churn out (so many Christians “follow” hate spewers like Rush Limbaugh! Really?).

I pray for enlightenment in Christianity but also fear that “religion” will always usurp true spirituality. I’ll always have my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I pray for others to achieve that. So glad to have an ally like you!

nadine

The deep spiritual consciousness that you describe in your essay is beautifully resonant with that of your fellow peacemaker of the 60′s, Thomas Merton.

Thomas Merton was one of the past century’s greatest influences on the social, political and spiritual consciousness of the world. Like your self, Merton remains an oracle for our times. He was, and is, a passionate voice for peace, ecology and interracial, intercultural and interfaith brother-and-sisterhood. He stands against religion which excludes and divides. He stands for a spirituality which is grounded in service to others, in the realization of our ‘true self’ through communion with the divine … and in the Arts as ‘spiritual technology’ by which to develop a rich inner life, create community and, ultimately, commune with the divine. He urges humanity towards wholeness and a reintegration of art, science and spirituality. Rather than obsess over ‘original sin’ … he is concerned with our return, through divine feminine wisdom, to ‘original innocence’. He is a person for all cultures, all ethnicities, all religions and all times. Merton’s friendship with his ‘spiritual twin’ the Dalai Lama opened up His Holiness to a deep engagement with the west and its spiritual traditions. Having little patience with blindly conformist Catholics and socially uninvolved pseudo-Christians … in earlier days Merton would have been burned as a heretic. One might not be too surprised by his belief that Joan of Arc had a hand in guiding his life’s path from the south of France to the Abbey of Gethsemane in Kentucky.

But, now, out of nowhere does come a big surprise:

Without the Black Madonna of Cobre, Cuba there would be no Thomas Merton as we have come to know (or think we know)him. Merton’s ultimate spiritual consciousness can be directly traced to a mystic spiritual ‘conversion’ he experienced in the year 1940 during an encounter with ‘La Virgen de la Caridad’ … the Black Madonna of Cobre. Syncretized with the Yoruban Goddess Ochun in Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions … She is the embodiment of divine love and compassion. Her presence in Cuba recognized since the early 1600′s, She is the Patroness of that island nation and regarded as the special protectress and emancipator of Slaves. A pilgrimage to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Her initial appearance is the primary impetus for the Pope’s upcoming visit to Cuba. In recognition and gratitude for Her direct intercession in his life and being, Merton dedicated his first mass as a priest to ‘La Virgen de la Caridad’ in 1949. The fact that this ‘Virgin of Charity’ is a Black Madonna and the great significance of this truth has been ignored by ‘Merton scholars’… until now. How fitting that it is revealed on this site … at this time.

The implications of this revelation are profound and of immediate relevance for global racial consciousness and U.S-Cuba relationships. Think of it. Merton’s ‘spiritual DNA’ is Afro-Cuban, his ‘spiritual Mother’ is the special protectress and emancipator of Slaves and, as a ‘coup de grace’to Cold War mentality, the spiritual consciousness that has forever changed our country’s collective psyche turns out to be a Cuban import … priceless contraband in divine defiance of the embargo. Gotta love it!

Ms. Fonda, your favorite ex-husband and many of the humanitarians of Hollywood share your great concern for the Cuban people and for interracial harmony. The surest and fastest way to change the world is to change consciousness. With nothing but this single paradigm-shifting revelation … you and your fellow ‘compassioneers’ can accomplish more good for Cuba and the world than can the Pope with all of the gold of the Vatican.

I have entrusted my dear friend in Los Angeles, Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, to deliver an MLK Day gift to you which will complement this initial ‘peace offering’. Bodhisattvaesque eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, she is a fellow ‘compassioneer’, one who designs a world in which the Arts heal individuals and communities.
The two of you will have much to talk about. Ideally the conversation would include Ambassador Shabazz’s friend, Owsley Brown3 … a beautifully-souled Tibetan Buddhist Filmmaker in San Fransisco. The perfect setting for this gathering would be at a table prepared by your and Owsley’s mutual friend, Alice Waters. A Christian, a Muslim, a Tibetan Buddhist and a Green Goddess. Now, that’s a ‘First Supper’ where the Creator will surely be served … and served well.

As for me … I,like Emily Dickinson, prefer the secret delight of remaining a nobody. I do my best work when out of sight. So, why post this very public message here and now? What can I say … the Spirit moved me.