Fred Macon's Response: The OOOW and Christianity
Summary: Stay open to and Drawing from All Wisdom Traditions, Yet Retaining and Enhancing Our Tap Root in Christianity
Globalization means we can incorporate insights and practices from all traditions. At the same time, having our tap root or ballast in Christianity enables us to have a grounding, a perspective for processing the diverse resources available to us.
As Rabbi Shapiro reminded us, inclusivity is pointless and meaningless if we do not have a place to stand. I would add: if we do not have clarity around the pivotal place for Yeshua in OOOW, then what is our mission and identity?
If we blur or neglect our particularity in Christianity, then, dialogue loses its significance. Indeed, honest dialogue with other wisdom traditions can stretch and deepen our spirituality and praxis, i.e., it is vital for refreshing and returning to our own Christian heritage with renewed eyes.
I believe, then, that we need to continue clarity about our Christian identity within OOOW. For me, it is about sharpening and refining my personal presence to and with Yeshua. At the same time, I want to deepen my knowledge and participation in the other Abrahamic traditions as well as such perspectives as Buddhism, Vedanta, Taoism, Native American, etc.
To say it another way, what makes OOOW so unique and invaluable to me is the claiming and returning to Yeshua, but with a transformative lens drawn from all the wisdom traditions.
A further personal need for OOOW is my desire to be a bridge and presence for Yeshua in an expansive wisdom context in the midst of my life long involvement in Methodism. Likewise, there is opportunity for others in OOOW within their particular religious background to interpret OOOW in whatever situation they find themselves. Such engagement with our particular traditions could have a significant impact upon the vitality of Christianity in America.
Finally, not blurring or neglecting our Christian heritage does not in any way have to undercut our commitment to be world citizens defending the rights, dignity and practices of all religions and cultures.
Fred Macon: 4/8/08; OOOW Postulant; macon61@charter.net
Globalization means we can incorporate insights and practices from all traditions. At the same time, having our tap root or ballast in Christianity enables us to have a grounding, a perspective for processing the diverse resources available to us.
As Rabbi Shapiro reminded us, inclusivity is pointless and meaningless if we do not have a place to stand. I would add: if we do not have clarity around the pivotal place for Yeshua in OOOW, then what is our mission and identity?
If we blur or neglect our particularity in Christianity, then, dialogue loses its significance. Indeed, honest dialogue with other wisdom traditions can stretch and deepen our spirituality and praxis, i.e., it is vital for refreshing and returning to our own Christian heritage with renewed eyes.
I believe, then, that we need to continue clarity about our Christian identity within OOOW. For me, it is about sharpening and refining my personal presence to and with Yeshua. At the same time, I want to deepen my knowledge and participation in the other Abrahamic traditions as well as such perspectives as Buddhism, Vedanta, Taoism, Native American, etc.
To say it another way, what makes OOOW so unique and invaluable to me is the claiming and returning to Yeshua, but with a transformative lens drawn from all the wisdom traditions.
A further personal need for OOOW is my desire to be a bridge and presence for Yeshua in an expansive wisdom context in the midst of my life long involvement in Methodism. Likewise, there is opportunity for others in OOOW within their particular religious background to interpret OOOW in whatever situation they find themselves. Such engagement with our particular traditions could have a significant impact upon the vitality of Christianity in America.
Finally, not blurring or neglecting our Christian heritage does not in any way have to undercut our commitment to be world citizens defending the rights, dignity and practices of all religions and cultures.
Fred Macon: 4/8/08; OOOW Postulant; macon61@charter.net
posted by Lynn Bauman at 2:28 PM
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