[January 2000 journal entry]
The ‘non-religious’ approach to ethics and spirituality I am discovering requires that the four Gospels be critically read through two filters – i.e.,
The ‘non-religious’ approach to ethics and spirituality I am discovering requires that the four Gospels be critically read through two filters – i.e.,
- modern and scientifically informed thinking and
- the ‘in fact’ (rather than ‘apparent’) tragedy of human suffering.
Re the first filter -- it seems to me that the four Gospels reinforce and presuppose a pre-modern/pre-scientific worldview/cosmology. ‘Jesus’ is most often presented as thinking/speaking within that thought worldview/cosmology.
Re the second filter -- the tone/intent of the narrative re Herod having the infants slaughtered reflects an insensitivity to suffering/tragedy. However, several texts do encourage thoughtful attention to suffering/tragedy -- e.g.,
Re the second filter -- the tone/intent of the narrative re Herod having the infants slaughtered reflects an insensitivity to suffering/tragedy. However, several texts do encourage thoughtful attention to suffering/tragedy -- e.g.,
- texts that challenge an institutional/ritual approach to spirituality,
- the Beatitudes,
- Matt. 25:31ff,
- the reduction of the law and prophets to ‘love’,
- the “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” question from the cross,
- the focus on the poor and the vulnerable in Luke,
- the stories about lepers,
- . . . .