Many people who are followers of different beliefs are often afraid of paths, which diverge from theirs, on significant points. I once was told by an atheist, that he never reads books that seek to debate with the so-called “New Atheist”, because he does not want to support religion, God, or spirituality of any kind. It is the same for the pious, who will have no contact with Hindus, Buddhist, or those who follow a nature-oriented path. The way to make this easy is to come up with a neat, tight, stereotype, which is laced with contempt. Once contempt steps in, then the humanity, goodness, sincerity, and otherness of the one stereotyped, take deep root. To have contempt for another human being or a group, is not really that far from violence. Be it, verbal, or physical. It is a form of blasphemy. The main reason perhaps that Jesus told us not to judge. It is easy to underestimate what we are capable of. We understand it in others, and perhaps shocked, but what we see is also within each/our hearts. We are a dangerous specious. High strung, emotional, and irrational. To be rational and logical takes work. Some, choose not to do that work.
I have friends who follow other paths. They often put me to shame in how they live out their lives, seeking a way to deepen their spirituality, and to live it out in the world. I have found that those who follow the Buddhist path, very easy to talk to, and we seem to understand one another. Those who follow nature religions may be more difficult since they have been attacked so often by Christians, who love to bludgeon with scripture quotes, while often being ignorant about anything that has to do with those they are attacking.
I don’t like to be attacked for my faith. I have often found that those who do attack, often have no idea what they talking about since any belief system is unique to each individual. Even if they do study the other ‘religions’, they do it from a point of view to deconstruct, instead of actually seeking to understand that faith/religion/spirituality.
The Christian path, is in reality, one of devotional service to the Infinite, who is revealed to us through Jesus Christ. The stories in the New Statement all point to this reality, but they are often overlooked, for some quick quote to prove a point, either with a fellow Christian, who is in error, according to them, or to show someone that God has a surprise for them after they die. They will burn, baby, burn, forever, and forever, and forever, etc. Christ Jesus came to save, but Christians like to damn, well, just about everyone. Not all Christians of course, for many, take seriously the injunction by Jesus, not to judge a soul on that level. Jesus said that those who seek, find. For seekers, once they find the truth will rejoice, dance, laugh, cry, and yes bend their knees if needed. To seek is to be open to the Spirit of God.
It is true, however, that if one does not understand one’s own faith tradition, it is easy to be converted to another faith path. What is given up, is often a caricature, of what the faith is about. It is human nature that gets in the way of how we live out our actual beliefs. I have learned not to let the failures of others to dictate to me my faith. I have enough to deal with on my own, to need to entertain myself with the failures of others.
Some Christians, demonize their inner life, hence they are afraid to delve inward, to simply sit in silence, and allow whatever comes up, to come up. Self-knowledge comes from true prayer, if this does not happen, then prayer is for the most part one-sided, and can lead to a life of shallowness, and off-putting for non-Christians.
After saying that, if one’s own faith is not understood on any deep level, there is nothing to bring into the seeking, it is too one-sided. For in reading about other faiths, or philosophies, there will be times an anxiety. It will pass. For new insights can actually broaden one’s faith, and deepen it. The Holy Spirit, blows where it wills, drawing mankind closer to the truth of the love of God for all.
I am called to love others, to treat them with respect, and to truly listen. I am also called to respond when questioned, in a respectful manner. One of the drawbacks of the religious confrontation is that the central message of most paths is thrown into the trash, for the sake of “truth”. The Golden Rule is buried, and all that is left is often a debating match, or simply quoting some text or another.
Christian are called to a deep loving relationship with a personal God. We are called to see this God (as revealed in Christ Jesus) in all whom we meet. In fact, it is in those who push us the most, who hate us, or have only contempt, that we are called to find Christ Jesus. Agape can only be acquired through grace, our hearts are too small, too tribal, too petty, and fearful. This takes mindfulness, taking us away from scapegoating.
To love is to ‘see truly’. Christ Jesus saw truly. I also believe that many ‘saints’ from the past from other faiths paths, also saw, hence their breakthrough. The work of the Holy Spirit cannot be controlled by anyone or any religion, for we are either moving towards God or away, there is no middle ground. Hopefully, we can be those who help others along the way, trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit.
I know less each year, yet my faith also deepens, I don’t have to figure everything out, but I am called to live my faith out to the fullest.
Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery
