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We are influenced by many social others: religious leaders, peers, family, civic and legal leaders, institutions etc. These social others are also influenced by time and place, as we. If one behavior of we expect to imitate conflicts or is in tension with another behavior by another social other, we make judgments about higher and lower human values or desires. We tend to prioritize. Most people of faith place a higher and lower value on desires in terms of what they believe to be pleasing to God, what behaviors are judged by others to be right and wrong, and necessary for salvation, happiness, etc.
I get it. It raises many complex questions that I would rather raise as the course becomes more specific and I can tie my questions or comments to more practical things…for lack of a better term.
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I think that to become the man or woman God wants us to become, we need to put him in the center of our lives and listen. We can do this through prayer and by frequent sacrament and also by asking or questioning how our actions are in accordance with or in contradiction with the Gospels. Many times, this is not so apparent because the answers and not so obvious. We often are faced with moral dilemma, with teachings that are in tension with our lived experience and our reasoning. When this happens we need to listen not only to our spiritual advisors, but to others with similar perspectives and others with a different opinion. If we close off the conversation to only those with a similar perspective, we might not be listening as broadly or deeply enough. This does not mean we have to agree with a certain perspective, but we need to reflect upon them and pray for the guidance of God which will be given.
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Like so many Catholics, I was taught Catholic theology in elementary school (in my case in the 1950s) and it was a moral theory that I had to memorize and then put into practice according to certain moral practices. I really never read the Bible until I was an adult in my 30s. I tried to understand the spirit of the word, not necessarily the word as law. Over the last 5-8 years, I have been studying moral theology and have learned to think differently. God’s law and love is not a series of negative injunctions and legalistic norms.
The habits I enjoy is frequent prayer and education. The education is not limited to a traditionalist orthodox perspective which is a repeat of doctrine and rules, but also of different perspectives on how to determine what is right and wrong actions, and good and evil dispositions, ends and intentions. This has opened me to think about things differently and responsibly question how I was “taught things” and to “do things” while still staying faithful. I can now say that I am more comfortable in my belief that God, his Holy Spirit, leads us to truth in agreement and disagreement, especially if one has an well informed conscience and good reasons for questioning a specific teaching. This is an on-going process.
I look forward to more from Fr. Allison.
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