WIJD? Ask Yourself
Many years ago, American sociologist wrote a major book entitled, Protestant, Catholic, Jew. His theory was that, in America post World War II, there was really only one national religion, which he named the American Dream. There were three expressions of the American Dream, viz., Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. The Dream was a very middle class vision of one’s own home and of onward and upward social and economic mobility. In addition, once in awhile, many checked into a church or synagogue to make it official. An interesting observation made at the time was that nobody really questioned his theory, that, indeed, he was naming reality.
Fifty years later, the American sociological scene has changed. David Brooks speaks of a variation of religion as “flexodoxy”, what works for me. It may take one of two forms. One might be a proclamation of Jesus is my personal savior, but then, very little of one’s personal reflects the non-violence-solidarity-forgiveness message of the Sermon on the Mount. The other may take the form of SBNR, “I am spiritual, but not religious.”
In addition, the traditional schema of Protestant, Catholic and Jew does not fit when Islamic folks actually outnumber Jewish folks in the contemporary USA. Also, as in the case of the Sikh massacre this month in Wisconsin, the alleged perp thought that he was killing Islamists! (Sikhs are not Islamic!, they are just not Protestant, Catholic or Jewish)) One prominent politician thanked God that no Americans were killed in the Sikh massacre!
One of the many things that we learn from Catholic Quantum Theology is the reality of forcefields. We are influenced by every personal experience that we have ever had. If we meet the Crucified and Risen Lord as individuals and/or as communities, then Jesus rubs off on us and effects us in our everyday lives.
This was what was bothering St Paul in the letter to the Ephesians. Last weekend, he spoke of the bickering, revilement, anger, fury, shouting, malice that sadly was characterizing some in the Ephesian house churches of the Jesus Movement. The fact that he called them out on this meant that such occurrences were happening. Where was the Christ Quantum in that?
His chiding continues today when he speaks of too much vino on their Saturday evening Mass-meals, when instead they should be singing other songs. Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, ... because the days are evil. The Christ Quantum makes a difference in one’s and/or one’s community’s behavior.
Jesus teaches us disciples at least four things. First, we believe that (the Trinitarian) God dwells in each of us and all of us dwell in (the Trinitarian) God. Second, He teaches us the Paschal Mystery, that the universal process which Christ experiences with us and in us is the process of ascent, descent and transformation. Third, He teaches that, without forgiveness and letting go of grudges, nothing new will happen in the world. Fourth, He teaches whether we care to admit it or not, we are our brother’s and sister’s keepers. Sorry about that, Cain!
Contemporary Western culture does not share this vision, although many spokespeople say that we do or at least, they do. As St Paul says, “Cuidado!” for the times we live in are evil. If we conform too much mindlessly to the culture, what is up with the Christ Quantum, the Christ particle?
Vatican Council II said that Catholicism should be both Christocentric and biblical. Jesus teaches us that the Christ Particle dwells in each of us. We partake of the Christ Particle when we gather in Christ’s Name, when we hear His Word in Scripture, when we celebrate the sacraments especially the Eucharist, when we feel His Presence in myriads ways maybe known only to Him. For Catholics, the question popularized so many years ago, ‘What would Jesus do? (WWJD?) is asked differently, What is Jesus doing (in you?) WIJD?”
American Catholic nuns are teaching the church in their recent meeting in St Louis. Whatever God’s plan is for them, they try to discern through contemplation (times of solitude and silence and surrender regularly in the Lord), through non-violence, through prophetic statements and actions in dialogue with the most marginalized in society, in joyful and hopeful community in their faith in the Presence of Christ Jesus in their minds and hearts.
Not only, American Catholic nuns, but all American Catholics, both clerical and lay folks in parishes, all called to lives of integrity, should listen to the modus operandi that the sisters plan for themselves. We should spend time in silence and solitude and surrender each day. (Our culture is afraid of silence and solitude and surrender! Why?) We should commit ourselves to non-violent and prophetic actions for the most marginalized in society. We should be joyful and hopeful communities in our faith in the Presence of Christ Jesus in our minds and hearts now (and in the future!!!!!)
In modern America, Herberg’s theory of the religion of the American Dream should be questioned for many reasons. 1) Is Catholicism meant to be merely an expression of the American Dream? 2) How do Islamics and Sikhs and “nones” (those who say they have no religion but are SBNR at best) fit into the vision of the American Dream? 3) How do Protestants, Catholic and Jews see these other groups fitting into this schema? 4) Finally, how do Catholic clergy and Catholic laity and Catholic nuns respond to Jesus’ vision of the Kindom (sic) of God and the American Dream? 081912AD jfq
