Tag Archives: critique
God as Fierce Love
Images of God God as Fierce Love Thursday, December 2, 2021 Like many of us, CAC friend Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis has struggled with both the possibility and the pain-points of religion. Healthy religion unites but toxic religion uses God to create more separation and hurt in the world: Before I made my living talking… Continue Reading God as Fierce Love
Where Justice and Charity Meet
Rediscovering the Common Good Where Justice and Charity Meet Sunday, October 31, 2021 Fr. Richard Rohr shares the importance of both justice and charity to bring about the common good. “We need to make the kind of society where it is easier for people to be good,” said Peter Maurin (1877–1949). [1] That is our… Continue Reading Where Justice and Charity Meet
Slaveholder Christianity
Christianity and Empire Slaveholder Christianity Thursday, October 21, 2021 Fr. Richard offers a critique of how Christianity aligned with empire and colonialism manifested specifically in the United States: The form of Christianity that has grown in the United States and spread throughout much of the world is what we have to fairly call “slaveholder Christianity.”… Continue Reading Slaveholder Christianity
Living with the Land
Christianity and Empire Living with the Land Wednesday, October 20, 2021 In the West, most Christians have been shaped by culture and faith into a paradigm that normalizes acquisition, at great cost to others, ourselves, and the land itself. As Richard puts it, “Perhaps the primary example of our lack of attention to the Christ… Continue Reading Living with the Land
The Shadowlands of Domination
Christianity and Empire The Shadowlands of Domination Tuesday, October 19, 2021 Facing Christianity’s entanglement with empire building means learning how to incorporate the “shadow side” of reality. This is necessary and yet exceedingly difficult to do, which is why Richard returns to the subject of the shadow so often: Western civilization has failed to learn… Continue Reading The Shadowlands of Domination
Jesus and the Empire
Christianity and Empire Jesus and the Empire Monday, October 18, 2021 On his podcast “Another Name for Every Thing,” Fr. Richard discussed with co-hosts Paul Swanson and Brie Stoner what he sees as the “trajectory” of the Jesus movement and how Jesus lived a simple life of non-cooperation with the empire of his day. Paul:… Continue Reading Jesus and the Empire
Jesus as Central Reference Point
Christianity and Empire Jesus as Central Reference Point Sunday, October 17, 2021 The first of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Eight Core Principles is that “The teaching of Jesus is our central reference point.” Affirming Jesus as central provides Fr. Richard and all of us with a confidence that comes from the Gospel. Richard… Continue Reading Jesus as Central Reference Point
The Power of Money
What Do We Do With Money? The Power of Money Tuesday, September 21, 2021 In 2019, Richard wrote a short book entitled What Do We Do with Evil? In it, he explored the apostle Paul’s teachings on “the world, the flesh, and the devil,” to clarify the often invisible, systemic, and hidden nature of evil,… Continue Reading The Power of Money
Dominating Power
Good and Bad Power Dominating Power Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Contemplative teacher Beatrice Bruteau (1930‒2014) understood domination, what I’ve referred to as “power over” others, as the cause of much of the world’s suffering. Jesus by contrast models a loving, self-giving alternative to domination power. Here is Bruteau’s description of domination: The theme that I… Continue Reading Dominating Power