ON THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
Rudolf B. Brun
"DEUS CARITAS EST" "GOD IS LOVE." That is why creation is God's gift. ????
ON THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
Religion, the worship of that which is beyond, is a phenomenon in all cultures. Why is that?
"From a modern perspective, the reason is evolution. Evolution is the common denominator."
Why?
"Because all that exists in the universe, including religion, originates from this general creative process."
Whooo...how can you say that?
"Well, analogous to the Copernican discovery, the discovery of general evolution is also a paradigm change; the Earth is not the World's center, and human beings are not separate creations."
Hmmmm...If so, how did the World come into existence?
"The World originates from a center of creative power, from the power of He/She God-like supernatural entity."
What about Christianity?
"Christianity is no exception. There is also the creator God; He creates the World."
How?
"God speaks, and His Word brings forth Creation."
Hmmm..?
"Yes, you see: In Christianity, the Word that God speaks is God Himself.
The view here is perhaps similar to God Brahma's Creation of the Wold. In some Indian understanding, the World comes into existence because Brahma creates it from Himself."
Are you then saying that in Christianity, the World is a part of God?
"No, that may be a view of some today's process theologians. In Christianity, however, the World is that which exists as the absolute other of God."
I do not understand...
Good!
I do neither
(laughter!)
So what?
"You see, the center of Christian revelation is that God is Love..."
Hmmm....
"Let me explain: You are in love with your girlfriend. Aren't you glad she is not you, different from you? You see: If God created Creation out of Love He is also yearning for love in return. It is similar to the relationship between you and your girlfriend; aren't you both longing for each other's love in return?"
We do, but how can Creation return the Love of God?
"You see: All of Creation becomes through the creative Word of God. This Word, however, brings forth Creation, not God again. Since we are an outcome of this creative becoming, our existence is also rooted in God's Word. This Word is God, is Love. However, it is God's Love in the total otherness of Creation. Therefore, the Love of God in us is mirroring God's Love, is a reflection of the Love of God."
How do you know that?
"I know because God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Gn 1: 28). "Likeness"- not identity! We are not God yet rooted in God's Word, part of God's Creation. However, we have the capacity of self-consciousness. Therefore, we can delve into the deepest part of ourselves, find the Word of God mirroring God's Love in our selves.
What are the consequences of such deep, existential experience? It is the awakening of the yearning to go home...
To our and Creation's origin
The Love of God.
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Bachelor of Arts at St. John’s University, BA 1963
3 年Ube Caritas et amor.
RC Chaplain to women Certified trauma-informed coach
3 年Thank you, my friend Rudy. I would like to read more about communion between God and Creation. In the redemption that comes with faith in Jesus, God as Holy Spirit is poured into our hearts. We also receive in our bodies the incarnate Word in the Eucharist. I find, like your love story analogy, a union which is fruitful between Christians and God...a fruitfulness in LOVE. I experience that my frail and imperfect human love is caught up, infused and strengthened by Divine Love and I am capable of a love beyond human love. What do you say?