On Dec 15, 2012 9:18 AM, "Joe" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Chris, > > > Metaphor is sort of a timid word, howevere.
Effen glass keyboards >I > That's a *very* interesting "take". I don't completely understand what you have in mind. I take it to heart, but I'll work around it for now. The word I almost put was Myth but that seems as devalued as metaphor in this practically post poetic world. But words are not the issue. > > To be clear about how I use or understand "metaphor" here, I'll say that the Christian story -- all, or part of it-- is either actually and really true; or else, it is metaphor. > > What could "the" metaphor be? Well, what would YOU say? Right here right now! I often think if you believe in God's reality, the point is beyond words one either is open to the redeeming power of love and acceptance, or not, or in between. > > Can you state one (metaphor) that would encapsulate Christian belief, teaching, and practice, Chris? There is nothing in our human lives that is incompatible with the full presence of the divine. Love one another as I have loved you. As you judge another so to shall you be judged. Letting go of our selves can save all creation. Each sentient being is worth saving even at the cost of pain and death. When we gather in community to share bread and wine, it is a sacred action. Creation is good. > > A partially adequate one that I am aware of is: > > "The Good in us is constantly being crucified; but, it resurrects!" Another good maxim. but again, in practise one has a full cup of connection and only from time to time a pithy phrase that expresses some piece of it. > > (coincidence?: this is a bit like, "The Three Poisons of Greed, Hatred and Ignorance Arise Endlessly; I Vow to Abandon Them!"). As C.S. Lewis notes, all the great moralists are saying the same thing. (Not with a dualistic notion of morality but a deeper sense of right action). > > This makes a start, at least. That's the "Metaphor" for the moment. > > The whole Christian story, then, is an "Allegory", more or less, an allegory (and a gory one) of the living of a Christian life. Oh, it gets awfully complicated, due to the threads going back through the Old Testament, and elements given as evidence there of a phenomenon called "Prophecy", and all sorts of events documented there supposed to be direct interventions of God, performed miraculously with supernatural energies, which are, after all, in the nature of God, continuing in the same fashion in the Gospels, through the person(s) of Jesus and his Father in Heaven. > In my church, prophets speak to the current problems, not trying to violate the space-time continuum. > I don't see the timidity yet, but I won't dwell on that. You can probably express what you mean. > > Granted, this "metaphoric understanding and practice" of the tradition is not much based on an active, actual-standing, BELIEF in God, nor upon a direct and explicit FAITH in doing (nor even *knowing*) the Will of God for our lives or for others, the Community. Those (unnecessary?) details are left as a mystery, and are not even named or mentioned explicitly. They lodge nicely in the cloud of unknowing, if anywhere. > Knowing what God wants of us now is tricky. We endeavor to base our lives not on our own personal beliefs about God but on God; distinguishing the two is hard for humans, but we believe a real actually existing here and now God makes it possible. not perfectly but not worthlessly either. > It's like the directness and intimacy one feels in practicing Shikantaza: one is becoming clearer, simpler, and more intimate by putting down what arises, no matter WHAT arises, simply by dropping, dropping, not feeding, not following. > > The metaphor, once understood, can be forgotten, and need not be held constantly before the mind. It is *not* a Koan. It is like an appreciation, which flavors everything, as the culture and climate and cuisine of a Place does. > > And with that appreciation, we can still smile on our brothers and sisters, and our heart can be open to their needs directly, not through a reliance on an other-power, or an other-presence. say rather smile with. there is no difference between self power and other power. at this moment, my thumbs are God's tool for making Creation good. Like Edgar, I find the ideas of physics to be useful here - from the perspective of the Creator, the moment of Creation is right now. the big bang is not before and we are not later (despite Edgar's ptime, I think the math better supports this interpretation.) > > But can we also worship with them? I'd say "Yes". I think that ritual and group practice of this kind and other kinds (simple Assembly, or Meeting, as in Quaker practice, or Zazen as in Zen circles) graciously makes visible the invisible, which must always remain *invisible* (the Absolute). Them/us? > > But as we see in Zen awakening, everything reflects, shines, displays, exemplifies the Absolute, however. When we awaken, we "see" that, in several ways. So, yes, ritual and gathering and worship are all to the good, and keep one fresh and healthy; these practices are like Meals, where the parts of the One-Being meet to remind themselves that "they" are One. > > That's all I've got at the moment, on this. > > Microphone now back to you! Too many words from me but one has to say something! > > w/ Thanks, > > --Joe > > > Chris Austin-Lane <chris@...> wrote: > > > > Well, as my Episcopal t-shirt says below, belief is not at the heart of > > Christianity, rather the action of worshipping in community is. There is a > > tremendous variety of beliefs in my church at least. it is fun to have a > > variety of beliefs but it's peripheral. I find it easier to speak to folks > > with less out there beliefs at coffee hour, but fulfilling to speak with > > anyone when I have an open heart or ears. > > > > Metaphor is sort of a timid word, howevere. But there is I am sure some > > group of metaphor believers around. (#10 I believe is not strictly true - > > at least in.Charlotte NC there was a church of speaking in tongues, and I > > think snake handling tends to go along with that 'charismatic' sect. > > > > I think most serious people of any religion do not read the Bible or > > anything else looking for scientific truths, but for external input that > > clarifies our ability to accept Creation as it is now and respond > > appropriately. > > > [snip] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
