I am into a great book. “The Faith Club” is written by three women. As the sub title says the book is about “A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding”.
The background to the book is that after 9/11 these New Yorkers were drawn together when one of the women trying to explain faith to her young child decided that it would be good to write a children’s book about the commonalities of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. She invited two other women to work with her on this project but instead of quickly writing a book for their children they discovered that they needed to have a lot of conversation and find their own understanding about faith and inter-faith dialogue.
It is a fascinating read and unpacks the emotional and spiritual dimensions that are involved as people explore the faiths that shape the world. The women quickly confront their concerns, stereotypes and misunderstandings. After hours of conversation they move beyond what divides them to what draws them together.
This is a thoughtful and hopeful book that offers a coming together of faiths in a world that desperately needs to hear this message. I recommend it.
Have you ever spent times talking with someone of a different faith? Did you find you had to deal with your stereotypes? Was it helpful to learn from someone who experiences their faith in a different way?
In my experience, personally and professionally, faith tends to be an overrated scapegoat and a copout . If we fail at something that we think is important, we blame it on a lack of faith. People, including myself, sometimes say things like: “I prayed but my prayer wasn’t answered. Maybe my faith is strong enough.” Or “I don’t have enough money/friends/______, my faith must not be strong enough.” Or, “those people over there are enjoying a better life, their faith must be stronger.”
I think it is useful here to distinguish between intentions and priorities. For me, intentions are the things that we say are important to us; while, priorities are those things we demonstrate are important to us. I am guessing that we have all heard the saying “We get what we ask for.” but maybe we don’t realize that asking is more that simply saying “Please may I have _____.”
For example, if I want some strawberries, I must demonstrate my desire by working with the laws of strawberries … seeking out a store that stocks strawberries or a field that grows strawberries or another person who is willing to share their strawberries. Spending my time in a shoe store or wandering a peach orchard may be a pleasant way to spend the day; but, if I am serious about gaining strawberries, I have completely wasted that time invested. In this scenario, it follows that I would come back empty-handed. … regardless of how genuine my stated intentions or how diligently I searched … or how strong my faith. If I really want some strawberries, I must honour the laws that govern strawberries.
The list of examples is endless. When you go into a room and flip the electric switch, the light goes on … as long as the laws of electricity are honoured. When I board an airplane to take a trip, I am successful … as long as the laws of aeronautics are honoured. Note that I am not required to be an electrical engineer or an aeronautical engineer in order for these events to take place successfully. I don’t have to understand anything. I simply need to experience a scenario wherein the applicable laws have been honoured.
So what does all of this have to do with a discussion of faith. Well, in my mind nothing. Rather, it is meant to show that a discussion of faith is overrated … even irrelevant or worse, a distraction (seductively pleasant) from my appointed rounds.
I make the assumption that the purpose of Church is to nourish our relationship with God. This is a big assumption. There are many reasons why people attend church. I hold that I was created in the likeness of God. Like a drop of water is to the ocean, I am like the ocean in every respect but not the ocean. And, while I may be falling from a rain cloud into a forest, nourishing life, draining into a stream, or kissing a leaf as the morning dew, what I really want is to return to the ocean on a regular/permanent basis.
I think that the first books of the New Testament present the prime Spiritual Law very clearly with wonderful simplicity. Also, the Ten Commandments are irreplaceable at supporting/facilitating the Prime Spiritual Law. Myself, I find the commandments relating to committing adultery (lack of Spiritual Passion) and idolatry (attachment to things less than God … including Jesus), the most problematic. BUT, to the extent that I practice the Prime Spiritual Law, to the extent that my intentions align with my priorities, to the extent that I refrain from that which does not serve Spiritual Law, I experience Heaven on Earth; I experience directly that he Prime Spiritual Law is true. Truth is true because it is true and does not require my belief in it to make it so. Understanding and Faith have nothing to do with it. I have the direct experience of God in my life simply because I honoured the law. I don’t even have to get it perfect. The direct experience of oneness with the limitless ocean of Love and Highest and Best Good is thereby automatic. I merely must do my work and honour the Law to the best of my ability. And God makes it so.