Here's my column in the Feb. 21 edition of the Albuquerque Tribune:
A PRIEST SPEAKS
Jesus didn’t say: Blessed are the smug. Questions, not answers, should define religion.
By Arthur Alpert
I’m a slacker. I recently wrote that seeing the world in moral terms hasn’t made us better individuals or brought kindness and justice to society. I’ve noted, too, that religion in the public arena perpetuates that. And I left it there - never asking why. Sorry.
Happily, Albuquerque is home to a man who wrestles with the deepest questions before breakfast. Father Richard Rohr, a Franciscan, regularly departs his Center for Action and Contemplation in the South Valley, crisscrossing the nation to teach clergy and laity both. Who better to deal with "why"?
In a quiet corner of the bustling Center on Five Points Road Father Rohr talked thoughtfully, boldly, sometimes impatiently:
"You know I’ve been a priest for 37 years, a man of religion and yet the Church and religion are my constant disappointments," he said, "because I sense that it largely creates belonging systems more than transformational systems.
Belonging systems?
"I mean that religion doesn’t really by and large change people’s consciousness, their worldview."
"I’m not I hope a negative critic but I’m saying, hey we are not living up to the very values we purport to believe in.".
Because institutions lose their way?
"That’s pretty universal Structures are almost inherently egocentric and concerned with self-preservation and self-promotion."
"All your great spiritual teachers concentrate on the transformation of individuals, leading us to greater consciousness, purpose."
"When I use the word transformation I mean actually moving into higher levels of inclusivity where you include the dark side, the enemy, those who don’t agree with you."
That’s no fun!
"It’s no fun whatsoever because you cannot be righteous. So religion has a lot of growing up to do."
Growing up?
"I call (religion) a holding tank. From people who stay in there and go deep in one place, it produces a percentage of highly transformed people; you take Abraham Joshua Heschel, Martin Buber, Jewish mystics who put it together. And Catholicism has its saints and mystics, but by and large it just holds you, .it doesn’t transform you. You stay at the superficial level. And superficial religion is almost more a part of the problem than it is a part of the solution.
Because it confirms you in your absolute righteousness or your superiority"
"I don’t know how we’re going to get beyond that."
I heard your recent NPR commentary on - was it uncertainty?
"Mystery. Which to me is the very meaning of Biblical faith which is - clearly, starting with Abraham - walking in darkness, not knowing where you’re going...And we’ve turned that around 180 degrees to mean the exact opposite.. So people are smug."
"Since when did Jesus come to earth to validate smugness, to validate people who are not spiritually curious, who are not humble who are not open to the enemy or the other. And this is religion? I don’t think so."
"I think what Biblical faith leads you to is to be serious about the questions rather than be certain about the answers. That leads to wisdom, to humility, whereby God can get in."
"I find so many Christians have all kinds of answers who have never really struggled with the questions."
Uh-oh. We’ve run out of space. More next month. Meanwhile, learn about the Center, its magazine, "Radical Grace" and an upcoming conference on "Simplifying Our Lives" at www.caradicalgrace.org.
In March, though, I’ll relay Richard Rohr’s ideas on what Americans really believe, how individuals can change and act spiritually in politics.
Alpert is a semi-retired journalist in Albuquerque who may be reached at
ArthurAlpert@swcp.com.