EWL comments O’Murchu talks about the Christian in the 21st century within the context of the cosmic. As I read I felt a bit of discomfort as he uses phrases such as “the embracing web of life, the cosmic, planetary, and spiritual dynamics”, “belonging intimately to the cosmic and planetary web of life”, “within a web of relationships, broad and deep like the cosmic web of life itself”. Is O’Murchu pushing things a bit into the supernatural through these references to the cosmic?
But John1:1 comes to mind. “When all things began, the Word already was. The Word dwelt with God, and what God was, the Word was. The Word, then, was with God at the beginning, and through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him.” This all sounds quite cosmic.
G replied I wouldn't say O'Murchu is pushing things into the supernatural or going too far. The web of life notion isn't new or novel and one can find many references to it throughout history and in many spiritual traditions. You give one valid example with your particular translation of the Gospel of John. It's a very appealing and compelling notion. And I've been reading the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) this summer. He wrote many evocative and inspirational passages of poetry and prose that eloquently express these ideas. His writing conjures the wonder and awe of our existence, not as isolated individuals but as participants in a marvellous universe. As before, it is O'Murchu's writing style that provokes the reaction, at least in me. In these chapters it sometimes borders on woo-woo and while the Gospel of John or Tagore invite a journey, O'Murchu leaves me scratching my head at times. Like page 91: "The big conversion to which we are called is not to God or religion...[it] is to something much more foundational: reclaim the cosmic and planetary womb of our origins and develop afresh convivial and collaborative skills with creation as a living organism." Ignoring for the moment the word conversation, what do you suppose "the cosmic and planetary womb of our origins" is? Heck if I know!
I am also reading Richard Feynman on basic and quantum physics and find OM's comments on the cosmic view somewhat analogous. I find the physics to be more interesting.
bjp said Each week I wrestle with the task of trying to get something positive from the chapters read; trying to find something I can agree with, argue productively with, or take a positive spin from. Each week the task becomes more difficult. After 97 pages, O'Murchu says we are ready to 'look more closely at the ensuing spiritual developments likely to characterize the twenty-first century' - finally. I can only hope.....
G wrote: OK. Here's something positive. O'Murchu has talked about the need for humans to take a new look at their relationship to the world and with other sentient beings. He hasn't really expanded on it, but he's been quite clear that we need to adopt a "new paradigm" which includes re-evaluating our supposed superiority. Yesterday evening I heard a fascinating CBC interview with Peter Singer about animal rights. Singer expanded on O'Murchu's attitude and argued quite eloquently in favour of acknowledging the "humanity" of other species such as great apes and whales. He wasn't the least bit woo-woo and I was surprised to see how far I got drawn into the conversation. In other words, he made me think and reflect, rather than react and dismiss him. Here's the link if anyone cares to follow up: http://www.cbc.ca/books/2013/08/are-animals-rights-the-best-battle-for-equality.html The point is, I think, that there are nuggets in O'Murchu that others have examined more thoroughly and more attractively. One of my recurring learnings with O'Murchu is how to maintain attention and equanimity in the face of someone who irritates me!
EWL comments A key initiative underway at Christ Church Deer Park is our Re-Imagining Church project. On page 96 there is what I consider to be a definition of Re-Imagining Church: “Intuitively we know another way is possible, and we also know that it will take a major shift in consciousness to bring it about. It will take a revolution in our way of thinking rather than changes in in our way of acting to inspire us to work for a different future. This awakening happens to people in a whole series of ways and means.” And on page 97 O’Murchu states that “the primary purpose of the present book is to delineate likely scenarios of the unfolding future.” I view the next 7 chapters of the book as part of my short-term future. I also anticipate potential moments of awakening.
EWL comments
ReplyDeleteO’Murchu talks about the Christian in the 21st century within the context of the cosmic. As I read I felt a bit of discomfort as he uses phrases such as “the embracing web of life, the cosmic, planetary, and spiritual dynamics”, “belonging intimately to the cosmic and planetary web of life”, “within a web of relationships, broad and deep like the cosmic web of life itself”. Is O’Murchu pushing things a bit into the supernatural through these references to the cosmic?
But John1:1 comes to mind. “When all things began, the Word already was. The Word dwelt with God, and what God was, the Word was. The Word, then, was with God at the beginning, and through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him.” This all sounds quite cosmic.
G replied
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say O'Murchu is pushing things into the supernatural or going too far. The web of life notion isn't new or novel and one can find many references to it throughout history and in many spiritual traditions. You give one valid example with your particular translation of the Gospel of John. It's a very appealing and compelling notion. And I've been reading the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) this summer. He wrote many evocative and inspirational passages of poetry and prose that eloquently express these ideas. His writing conjures the wonder and awe of our existence, not as isolated individuals but as participants in a marvellous universe.
As before, it is O'Murchu's writing style that provokes the reaction, at least in me. In these chapters it sometimes borders on woo-woo and while the Gospel of John or Tagore invite a journey, O'Murchu leaves me scratching my head at times. Like page 91: "The big conversion to which we are called is not to God or religion...[it] is to something much more foundational: reclaim the cosmic and planetary womb of our origins and develop afresh convivial and collaborative skills with creation as a living organism." Ignoring for the moment the word conversation, what do you suppose "the cosmic and planetary womb of our origins" is? Heck if I know!
I am also reading Richard Feynman on basic and quantum physics and find OM's comments on the cosmic view somewhat analogous. I find the physics to be more interesting.
ReplyDeletebjp said
ReplyDeleteEach week I wrestle with the task of trying to get something positive from the chapters read; trying to find something I can agree with, argue productively with, or take a positive spin from. Each week the task becomes more difficult. After 97 pages, O'Murchu says we are ready to 'look more closely at the ensuing spiritual developments likely to characterize the twenty-first century' - finally. I can only hope.....
G wrote:
ReplyDeleteOK. Here's something positive.
O'Murchu has talked about the need for humans to take a new look at their relationship to the world and with other sentient beings. He hasn't really expanded on it, but he's been quite clear that we need to adopt a "new paradigm" which includes re-evaluating our supposed superiority.
Yesterday evening I heard a fascinating CBC interview with Peter Singer about animal rights. Singer expanded on O'Murchu's attitude and argued quite eloquently in favour of acknowledging the "humanity" of other species such as great apes and whales. He wasn't the least bit woo-woo and I was surprised to see how far I got drawn into the conversation. In other words, he made me think and reflect, rather than react and dismiss him. Here's the link if anyone cares to follow up: http://www.cbc.ca/books/2013/08/are-animals-rights-the-best-battle-for-equality.html
The point is, I think, that there are nuggets in O'Murchu that others have examined more thoroughly and more attractively. One of my recurring learnings with O'Murchu is how to maintain attention and equanimity in the face of someone who irritates me!
EWL comments
ReplyDeleteA key initiative underway at Christ Church Deer Park is our Re-Imagining Church project. On page 96 there is what I consider to be a definition of Re-Imagining Church:
“Intuitively we know another way is possible, and we also know that it will take a major shift in consciousness to bring it about. It will take a revolution in our way of thinking rather than changes in in our way of acting to inspire us to work for a different future. This awakening happens to people in a whole series of ways and means.”
And on page 97 O’Murchu states that “the primary purpose of the present book is to delineate likely scenarios of the unfolding future.” I view the next 7 chapters of the book as part of my short-term future. I also anticipate potential moments of awakening.