Some years ago, as an undergraduate, I developed (under the supervision of Joen Fagan) an instrument for measuring a person's self-reported degree of belief in fundamental Christian dogma. In a second study, I asked folk to complete the instrument and also give descriptions of any "peak experiences" they may have had. I found a generally negative relation between the two.
Strong believers in Christian dogma had fewer or less intense peak experiences. Adherence to form seemed to be associated with more concrete and less visionary experience. This makes me think of Jesus' distinction between those who live according to the letter of the law and those who live according to spirit.
Theophany means God appearing to us, "the manifestation of deity in sensible form." I would say that definitely fits within the realm of a peak experience! It seems to me that when we live within the realm of fixed judgment or dogma, Christian or not, we are much less likely to experience the world, the cosmos, our Source, the Wellspring, the Great Mystery, God in full openness and in close relation.
Our God is as small as our capacity for vision. And as Henry Corbin put it, our God is the god we deserve. For a symbolic depiction of the process of opening to spirit, mystic transformation, see theophany. Symbology is a strong language speaking directly to the heart.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I understand the meaning of "our God is the god we deserve". But it doesn't matter what we believe God to be. What we call God is beyond human ken or perception for the most part. Even one who "knows" God only knows a fragment of the reality that is "God". It is like seeing the feeling of unconditional Love, or tasting purple.
ReplyDelete