For instance, he points out we have big problems because Christianity has repeatedly presented itself as one competing ideology among many, not as a way of "seeing" aU things. He presents the view that this leads to overidentification with a group together with its language and symbols. Group loyalty becomes more important than or is perceived to beJoyalty to God. Which leads to "Group-think" as a substitute for "God- think". Which leads to the belief that God is found only in one group..Which leads to identification with one group is the only way to serve God. When the "group" (the way) becomes an end in itself, it is called idolatry. The question becomes "Who is doing this my way? Who is seeing things my way? Which leads to a view, "we're right and the faceless, nameless they are wrong. He points out "if the heart is unable to remain open, we will not "see" God. DISCUSSION TIME

Secondly, he points out prayer is not one often thousand things. It is that by which we see the ten thousand things! He says : HUMAN is something great to be! WOW!! Being human is just a little less than God... Ps.8:5 Today we are very under- confident about what it means to be human. Religion calls us "sons and daughters" of God" Do we accept internally and wholeheartedly that we are created in the image of God, (remember Genesis) reflect part of the mystery of God, we have come forth from God, we will return to God? DISCUSSION TIME

Thirdly, he points out : "we have to recognize how dominant FEAR is in our lives." Fear I won-t be accepted. Fear I will be hurt..we're always being threatened with something like loss of job, money, reputation,or prestige. Reward and punishment are the only game in town. Most religions drag the reward/punishment systems along too. Crime, punishment,perfonnanceandreward!!Souridsfamiliar?Troeprayerhelpsusto move into "what I am doing and what I am becoming" and facing hard times. On page 88, (at least in my book) read the quoted scripture passages. Rohr's conclusion: Fear and faith seem to be opposites for Jesus. DISCUSSION TIME

Fourthly, he points out "We must observe our own stream of consciousness". He reports Buddhism has been called the religion of mirror-wiping. That's amemory ticker for "pay attention to what you're thinking and to your thought patterns. We ask ourselves: What is my predisposition? What is my agenda? What are my prejudices? What are my angers? Do I lie to myself? Do I excuse myself? AND MOST OF ALL, Can I forgive myself? If we're going to try to be prayerfully and totally honest (wiping the mirror) we must( eventually, anyway). We can stop the habit of judging our falling short of perfection.: Am I good? Am I holy? Is my prayer technique proper? Etc. Takes a lot of practice to change focus like that. He then quotes Mark 10:18 "God alone is good". Is that a comforting thought? Do I accept God's love knowing I am less than perfect? Hebrews I Q :31 speaks of prayer as not of self-observation but "falling into the hands of the living God". (I personally see the need to pray for the gift of under- standing!!!!) DISCUSSION TIME

Fifthly (if that is a word) he points out the admonition not to fear is the most common one-liner in the Bible. He says "we" never called fear a sin!!! He proposes real prayer. contemplative prayer, to practice the process of choosing what we pay attention to. He says first we have to clean the lens. that is, get our hurts and agenda and ego out of the way. He quotes the comic strip character that said "we have found the enemy and it is us". That's why we have to recognize and face fears. Perhaps this is the core meaning of the scriptural phrase "dying to self. He reiterates: prayer and suffering are probably the two primary paths to transformation (metanoia). He says, frankly, most of would sooner just have some laws to obey. He says, law gives helpfUl information, but it cannot give spiritual strength or transformation. ( 7~ chapter of Romans) Religion without personal prayer experience is basically useless. It often substitutes law and morality for those wonderful scary encounters with God. DISCUSSION TIME

Lastly, (no comments, please) the belief that God is "out there" is basicly tearing us apart. Jesus says "human is good. The world is the hiding place of God. The bodily self participates in whatever it is that God is doing. The new physics tells us that matter is merely the manifestation of the spirit, but spirit, consciousness, relationship itself is the real thing!!!!! !The soul patterns are always the same. It's either fear or love. It's either illusion or love. It's either self-protection or love. Religion is always about love. DISCUSSION TIME or we chew on that all the way home!

Rik

Rik Murray
(612) 872-8694