I recently read a former divinity student recounting a story of an exchange he observed in graduate school.
Student: “Everyone deserves a voice at the table.”
Professor: “No. Only those who can admit they might be wrong, deserve a voice at the table.”
One wise cleric responded to this interaction with, “A place? Yes. A voice? No.”
When did it become fashionable to think you can possess 100% wisdom on everything divine? I know, it has been that way since the beginnings of time.
Not only do so many know they are right about their beliefs about God, but they also are convinced that being loud and uncompromising is the way to satisfy God. Their m.o. is simple. Don’t leave any room for doubt. Know what you know with no gray areas.
When I was in college studying to be a minister, we took a test as Freshmen that analyzed our dogmatism. As was expected, mine and most who came from fundamentalists churches, were off the charts high in our absolute belief in our rightness. The result of this test was a good benchmark early in our education.
They gave us the same test when we were seniors getting ready to graduate. Most, through intellectual pursuits and exposure to deeper thinking, saw their level of dogmatism go way down. But some stayed the same or even grew more dogmatic.
I now find it frightening to follow people who leave no room for a different view. When people only see through dualistic eyes where everything is cut and dry, black or white, my way or the wrong way, I fear they do not know the complexities that are a part of life.
I am much more comfortable with spiritual teachers who believe what they believe but say it with humility. I want to see my teachers growing and learning, not repeating the same mantras they memorized 50 years ago.
We expect growth in every area of life. Why would we not want our understanding of spirituality to develop as well?
Lighten up!
Any conversation about God is a big one. Use your brain. Listen to people who speak with humility about things spiritual. Let faith help you grow into a fully formed human being.
Healthy spirituality can provide enormous wisdom. Walk away from spirituality that shrinks your heart. It is not supposed to work that way.
Remember everyone is welcome at the table, but if you are a rock head who believes you know the whole truth with no possibility for error, you might be sitting at your table all alone.