Angels, Demons, Heaven, and Hell: On Christian “Mythology” and the Spiritual Life
My comments for a conversation with Fr. Peter Funk, OSB, Prior of the Monastery of the Holy Cross, sponsored by the Lumen Christi Institute Abstract : Many traditional Christian beliefs and teachings about spiritual realities have become unpalatable to modern sensibilities. Accounts of angelic visitations, demonic possessions, the stain of original sin, and the threat of eternal torment are today considered untrue or irrelevant by non-believers and even many Christians. Why were such “myths” so central to Christian belief and practice for so many centuries? Is there any value in understanding why ancient, medieval, and contemporary Christians believe in such things? Or does Christianity need to be demythologized in order to survive in a post-enlightenment age? In this conversation, Rachel Fulton Brown and Fr. Peter Funk, OSB, will consider the history of these “myths” and their relevance for contemporary spiritual practices. ***** How many of you believe in angels...
Dear Fencing Bear,
ReplyDeleteI read this post yesterday, and the result was that I dreamed about the Baby Dragon last night :)
I was walking her on the street and in the park, but she was pulling so hard on her leash I had a hard time holding it. I do not know if there is any Freudian material in there!
Oh, definitely! The Baby Dragon is also having to practice sitting with strong emotion, in her case, the desire to chase after every rabbit and squirrel that she sees in the park. I am working on teaching her not to "bate" even as I practice taming my own falcon-heart.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Joy, your brother Chance. PS: Looking Good
ReplyDeleteHi, Chance! Happy Birthday to you, too! I got an Angry Birds Pig. What did you get?
ReplyDelete--Dragon Baby, a.k.a. Joy
Hi Dragon Baby, I got a new Bully Stick chew that I devoured immediately!
ReplyDeleteChance