Fr. Thomas Keating comments on the phrase many people use in describing themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” and how the established churches might respond to this. This is a bonus feature from the new series of talks by Fr. Thomas, “God is Love – The Heart of All Creation.” The series is available as online video, downloadable mp3s and on DVD, with Spanish subtitles, from Contemplative Outreach:
The Church teaches the source and summit of the Christian life is the Eucharistic life. Thomas Keating seems to teach a vague universal contemplation is the source and summit where the teachings of Christ are left behind or morphed into a pot of spiritual stew along with the other religious traditions where there is no distinction once contemplation is reached and practiced. God revealed himself in the burning bush as “I am” not “we are” to Moses.
Oh my God this is so far from the truth… I am extremely fed I spiritually I and not by a controlling religion… This is the problem with the church they believe they have a monopoly on God… It's been used year after year as control…. Many have died at the hands of religion…. I spent my Life in church up to 20 years ago. I found myself with God When I walked away from other people's beliefs and the way they were teaching and found my own peace in my own heart with God it was the best thing that I ever did in my whole life and nothing will change that… For him to say we are not spiritually fed do not speak for everyone sir no matter who you are and how respected you are… Just like he said they're seeking fame well so is he…. Absolutions do not fit with me… Love one another that's all you have to do..You Are the only one that knows if God is in your heart or not… This is why it's called a personal relationship with God not everyone else's business… Religion is control we have gone all wrong here people… So many people speaking for God… I listen to my own heart that's all that matters when I lay my head down in bed at night… Who does he think he is that we have to follow his authority to know God… Oh my God this is so sick… I will pray for this man
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Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
This is the most amazing response for me. His response is very respectful of the realities, the recognition of the power of the holy spirit responding to the needs of humanity and not being defensive. I find it a brilliant response, uniting with love and compassion…
There is a lot of religious wars going on in the Catholic Church that are just as divisive as what goes on with our politics.
If your religious your not Christian. If your Christian your not religious. Christian has one master . Religious have many .
My money says it is of man, not God. In part due to "hardly anyone gets ANY religious education since parents do not know what to teach…" I seem to recall Christ being obedient, "Thy will, not mine be done…" Non-violence definitely. The age we are entering into appears to be more of a spiritual desert than an new awakening. Truth is truth, not yours and mine-there is One ultimately.
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Eventually the world will wake up and these well fed, well housed and pampered members of a, typically, white patriarchy will have to find another way to keep themselves in clover.
I passed through this realm since religion is not spiritual
Multiple generations of Catholics have been raised now on a diet of watered down simplified spiritual nourishment in mainstream Catholicism…life long Catholics could easily live their entire religious experience without going any deeper than attending a Mass once per week (or probably much much less) out of nothing more than a sense of cultural obligation. Why would the young people (or the older people these days too now) find anything appealing about such a habit? They don't…and they shouldn't. Humans crave more than a few acoustic guitar songs about Love in their spiritual diet…and if they can't get it at their parish Church where they grew up (or, more likely, their parents grew up) they will seek it elsewhere. The result is spiritual, but not religious. And you can't but nod and say you understand why.
If you want people to see the value in religion you need to give them something more nourishing…they crave it. When the Church realizes that (and when people realize the Church is offering it) they will return to the Church or find themselves drawn to it regardless of upbringing. I would never bring a curious young person seeking God to my local parish Mass on a typical day if they expressed interest…I'm too certain it would turn them off to the whole idea before it had a chance to grow in them. Sad reality about the state of most parishes, but realizing the shortcomings is also the first step to change.
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The cultural shift Keating is promoting is definitely moving away from true Christianity. The Bible makes it crystal clear that there is no other way to God except by Jesus Christ who said: I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Ik that there is a lot of back and forth about religious and spirituality. I can say that I am Spiritual but not religious, even though I believe in God and I believe in Jesus Christ and the more I’ve read the Bible when it came to the live before and after Christ. And it honestly more spiritualities then religious. When it comes to religious a lot of people live by the old covenant instead of the new covenant which is faith based. Jesus was a spirit in a dirt body, which means he understood humanity and feelings like all of us. Jesus was a man a faith and a believer of all thing is possible with the right mindset and faith in his heart. Honestly that is very spirituality, we was put on earth to create what is in heaven , which is love, sharing, abundance, wealth for all humanity on earth. When it comes to spirituality, I myself pray not only for myself but for others, I meditate to calm myself down, I listen to people to a better understanding, I believe that everything I pray for is already done and what I ask for requires actions. Being a righteous person is far greater then being a religious person because that is what spirituality is all about. I am not living through Fear but I am living through Faith, belief, and freedom. I chose love over over anger . I chose to use the mind that God had bless me with and not be wicked. I chose to be active and not laziness. I’m not here to tell people how to live their lives but I am here I let everyone know that it is not okay to judge someone because they not what you are. God want us to live a righteous life and choose him in everything we do. I love you all and pray that all have a understanding and give God/The most high thanks everyday moving forward.
PSA- I am NOT against Religious, I just believe I am a righteous person through God at heart
Wow. So clear and yet so difficult to apprehend. I watched this several times and I am amazed at the profound wisdom of Thomas Keating.
Man his wisdom. Felt this
The arrogance to claim you know exactly what god is. They follow religion not because they have felt a god, but because they have been told about it by another person. I believe in a god or gods, I do not claim to know the amount of higher entities, but I definitely believe in a god. If I chose one religion and claimed it is the way I would be lying to myself.
A mix of Father Thomas and E Michael Jones of culture wars and fidelity press is the perfect Catholic balance in my opinion
Meeting people where they are is Christian. Eventually they may want to meet us where we are. Christ was not discussed here. But he would be eventually as he is the answer and he transforms the world to love with consent always. As far as an evolution to a new spirituality goes, this is not needed. We are not in trouble because we lack great teaching, only because we always fail to follow the great teaching. You can’t improve on Christ just in how much you surrender to him.
Religions should be less concerned with people being Spiritual but not Religious, and more concerned with the greater issue of being Religious but not Spiritual.
If people say they're spiritual but not religious it's perhaps because they don't find the religious to be sufficiently spiritual
Very powerful insight thank you to Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O. I read up on him. Very interesting man he was an American Catholic monk and priest of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Just like Thomas Merton, he believed that all religions and spiritual circles are trying to attain the same thing and we should all respect each others journey in getting there, very insightful
"STRAIGHT to hell, to the BOILER room of hell, all the way down." – "God" on "Family Guy"