Author: Bruce Schuman
Date: Monday, July 14, 2008
Subject: Convergence Versus Rodney King

Yesterday I happened to see author Rev. Dr. Cindi Love being interviewed on C-SPAN's "Book TV", regarding her new book, "Would Jesus Discriminate?"

Her interview is currently available online, in "Real" format
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=9616&SectionName=Politics&PlayMedia=Yes

Cindi Love is a former corporate executive and marketing person who is now the Executive Director of Metropolitan Community Churches -- http://www.mccchurch.org. She has a lot to say regarding the spirituality inherent in religion, and her book cover illustrates a theme that should be right up our alley...

Her quotation, from Galatians 3:28, points towards this emerging new theology of "Oneness". Some will say, of course, that her quotation leaves out the last couple of words -- "all of you are one in Jesus Christ".

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- King James version -- http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gal/Gal003.html

But for some of us, this theme of Christ is a fully universal concept, not exclusive, not dividing, not either/or, but primary, ontological, and absolute. We say -- the Christ is Logos, and Jesus embodied it. The Christ is "The One" incarnate. But I understand why Cindi Love left out those words -- for some people, just citing Jesus could become divisive or confusing -- when, we believe, the intent is fully universal.

Her quote also points towards this theme raised in the Beyond Theology introductory statement -- that "religions are converging".

Whether this is true or not depends on how we see the issues. If we take a "strictly empirical view" -- and look at "the actual facts of what religious believers actually say and do" -- a very reasonable approach -- we can quickly affirm an impossibly complex diversity.

Just looking carefully at fine-grained divisions within some branch of Christianity immediately establishes this point. Beliefs and ideologies vary widely -- extremely. So, if that is the case -- what is this talk of convergence?

Let's say -- that maybe we need to take a slightly more expanded view -- an "integral" view, perhaps -- that includes the empirical facts -- but also embraces a broad understanding of the spirituality and fundamental intention of that body of beliefs.

Cindi Love would say -- I am guessing -- that the fundamental and core teachings of the religion -- of Christianity, in this case -- should be seen as over-riding and transcending more specific and perhaps more confusing details. Jesus simply taught that "we should love one another". Is the message really that simple? Did he mean that in some cases, we should not love, on the grounds of a, b, c, or d.... ? Or, is this teaching an absolute, that must not be compromised in any case?

For those of us who acknowledge and affirm this process of "convergence" -- we say and claim that all the great and enduring religions of the world teach love, mutual respect, community, and sacred listening. It's not an excluding process -- or if it is, it is a self-selecting kind of exclusion, where those who choose not to be of the communion say to themselves -- "sure, I will love -- some people -- but not those people...."

For us, following this converging path -- the mandate seems clear and simple. You will love all people, and all who choose to join that communion of love will be accepted and embraced within it.

In my experience, the starting point for most mainline interfaith groups -- is something like the Rodney King philosophy: "Can't we all get along?" That's a great start, and certainly something we need to do. Sometimes people use words like "tolerance" -- or maybe "acceptance" -- or "mutual respect", or the Golden Rule. For a rarer few, the word is "love".

And maybe, as we practice that philosophy, and continue in this refining process of interfaith encounter, what some of us see as the common spiritual core of any enduring religion will begin to seem clearer. Give up the attachment to the human details, if in any way they compromise the full and open power of the spirit of love and inclusion. The divine current moves through that center, and all redemption and healing emerges out of it.

The prophets knew that, and taught that. The great preachers and monks and saints teach and practice it.

For me, the phrase "embracing an interfaith future" means "embracing the great universal truths and spirituality taught by every major and enduring religion, as those truths continue to emerge and become clear." The natural process of globalization, going on everywhere around us today, is inherently syncretic, in a converging kind of way, and these core principles are becoming clearer. Millions of people around the world know this, and are simply following it, in a spirit that is willing to detach from the traditional institutional mandates. Perhaps the "spirit of interfaith" can revitalize and invigorate these traditions and institutions -- affirming what they have always affirmed, and helping identify and vitalize their central message and vision, bringing a new spirit of community and brilliance into the vibrant world of spiritual and religious diversity.

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