[November 2000 journal entry]
In a recent conversation with a family therapist, she asked, “So do you just not talk about God?” I responded, “I am very hesitant to use ‘God’ language. My speaking rarely and cautiously about ‘God’ stands in sharp contrast to the casual use of ‘God’ language within the ‘religious’ sphere. I think there is an essential difference between saying ‘I am loving’ and saying ‘God is loving’. What I call the ‘religious’ T/O paradigm (which I defined for her) works/holds for individuals (1) who are ‘normal’, (2) who are distant from tragedy, (3) who face acute pain/suffering far more often than chronic pain/suffering, (4) who will not risk the ‘religious’ T/O paradigm’s offer of security.”
