A
AlanFromWichita
Guest
That’s pretty hard to say since I’m not a theologian.Question:
All that we can know of the Heavenly Farther is through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. All else is “hidden” from us.
Is this consistent with Catholic theology?
I’m one of those wackos that seems to think we all have some of the Holy Spirit in us, and that spirit guides us in our daily life. I believe that the more we “deny ourselves” and hear how the Spirit works in our lives, that the law becomes written on our hearts and we have a natural tendency to do good, that can be powerful enough to keep our sinful nature in check – as love conquers all.
The problem I have with Catholic theology on this matter as it has presented to me (and I hope it’s a characture) is that the Holy Spirit pretty much doesn’t speak to anyone but the pope. That’s a little overstated perhaps, but I think we can find truth in everybody – in their attitudes, their reactions, the feelings of the heart that are beyond accurate explanations. Even when they lie there is truth being unfolded if for no other reason than that is truly happened that they did lie, so now that lie has become part of the “objective” history of the world.
I think part of the problem, again, is that what most Catholics think of when they think “Catholic theology” is all the dogma and behavioral teachings. Most Catholics have no idea that there is a completely opposite side of the Church which does not presume to define God, but acknowledges that whatever our understanding is, by definition we are incomplete in our knowledge of Him at best.
This spirit or way of thinking is exemplified, of course, by the historic book in the Catholic apophatic tradition, “The Cloud of the Unknowing.” Funny thing is that some people read the Cloud and use it to further their own kataphatic causes and arguments against one another and others’ devotions.
To say that according to the Cloud, your devotion is not pleasing to God, is to miss the entire point and is a perfect illustration of what’s wrong with the Church.
I have written an email to the Holy Father about this, telling how much Catholics I know hunger for the apophatic teachings of the Church and contemplative prayer. I’m sure he hasn’t seen the email except possibly as one digit in the total count his staff has received, but at least I tried.
This generation is less obedient to worldly authorities than previous ones, and I’m not so sure that’s a Bad Thing. Similarly, cramming dogma and theology into Catholics, especially children, without any corresponding spiritual development and not even a mention of “the spiritual journey” other than as a buzzword, gives them tools they don’t know how to use, and end up using them against each other like we see every day on this forum.
Maybe it was just as well that Catholics used to be kept largely in the dark about what was in the Bible. Too many people reading the Bible turns into too much literalism and without the development of the heart except by behavioral obedience, empowers the evil in our hearts by adding God’s double edged sword to our quiver.
My :twocents:
Alan