(Former Father) Brennan Manning: Good, somewhat, not so good?

[LoyalViews]

Recently I’ve taking to reading some writings from the late, former Franciscan, Brennan Manning. He’s a prolific writer expounding the love of God for all, and in itself, the writing is pretty orthodox. However, I can see how some interpretations of his work could give way to a universalism or a ‘permission’ to commit sin.

A life of suffering can make a man wise. Could this be the case? Was he a man who left the priesthood to pursue his true vocation? Or was he a false teacher. Did he harm truth in any way?I want to know. I’ve added him, for a probationary period, to my Lenten reading rounds.

 

[Spyridon]

Never read it but after some research I’m very interested.

What do you think so far of what you’ve read?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I generally avoid reading stuff written by laicized clergy. It doesn’t mean I think they are bad people; they may well have struggles known only to God. But my preference is to read the writings of people who don’t run out on their commitments in life, unless perhaps it’s some situation of being abused by spouse, religious superiors (I’ve read of cases where nuns were physically abused in their convents to the point of needing hospitalization), etc. that a person needed to escape for the good of their physical and mental well-being.

Having said that, “The Ragamuffin Gospel” is a classic that I actually discovered through an evangelical friend. If this man’s writings are making that big of an impression on non-Catholics then maybe there’s a reason why God made him the way he made him.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

However, I can see how some interpretations of his work could give way to a universalism or a ‘permission’ to commit sin.

Can you explain further on this point?
It seems to me like his position that we treat God too much like a “book keeper” who keeps track of every little sin, is similar to St. Therese’s writings about how we need to stop this sort of keeping score and trust in God’s mercy. (“Keeping score” was a Jansenist mindset.) Obviously, St. Therese didn’t mean “go run amok and commit sins”, she meant that we need to focus on God’s love and mercy AND on doing things for God and for others and not for ourselves - and NOT focus on trying to pile up enough good works to atone for whatever we did that God was keeping in his ledger book, supposedly. Which is kind of what Manning is saying too, IMHO.

 

[LoyalViews]

“To open yourself to another person, to stop lying about your loneliness and your fears, to be honest about your affections, and to tell others how much they mean to you – this openness is the triumph of the child of God over the pharisee and a sign of the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit.”

“Through His passion and death Jesus carried away the essential sickness of the human heart and broke forever the deadly grip of hypocrisy on our souls. He has robbed our loneliness of its fatal power by traveling Himself to the far reaches of loneliness (“My God, my God, why have You deserted Me?”). He has understood our ignorance, weakness, and foolishness and granted pardon to us all (“Forgive them, Father, they do not know what they are doing”). He has made His pierced heart a safe place for every defeated cynic, hopeless sinner, and self-loathing derelict across the bands of time. The Cross reveals that Jesus has conquered sin and death and that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ.”

These quotes resonate. He seems to be a man spreading compassion.

 

[LoyalViews]

Well see I thought of that as well. St Therese, and even Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman. And St Catherine of Siena. Actually, John Wesley comes to mind as well…

In regards to universalism; many can read his writings from various perspectives. One could interpret what he writes as a “sin, but feel bad and God understands” and may prevent one from going to confession. However, his emphasis on the passion of Christ could lead you back to the Church.

An evangelical reading of Manning wouldn’t be the same as a Catholic or Anglican perspective, whereas a Calvinist could take it to affirm their electiveness. Edit: also irresistible grace could be interpreted, which is a Protestant theory.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The guy I know who liked Manning had past struggles with depression and addiction. He was pretty much saved by his faith in God and has tried to help others come to God ever since.

I don’t think this fellow or most of the people he’s trying to share his love for Christ with are to the point of spiritual development where they will be thinking about whether their reading is evangelical, Catholic, or Anglican. It’s just a plus that they are paying attention to God at all rather than burying themselves in worldly addictions and depression, or worse yet engaging in Satan worship or in behaviors like serious witchcraft that might open doors best left shut. I think maybe those are also the people Manning is trying to reach.

I’d rather have somebody become an evangelical or a universalist than kill themselves with a needle in their arm.

 

[LoyalViews]

My goodness, yes!