Spirituality - Thoughts

The Diamond Metaphor

by Mark Fairchild

© Mark Fairchild, 2024

Although I do not like this phrase, snidely penned by Roman Catholics speaking of those who do not toe the line, I suppose I am something of a "cafeteria Catholic" . . . or casting a wider net, a "cafeteria Christian". I feel we all ought to take this approach; it is a fine and good approach, so long as it is God who is choosing for you the courses of food offered by the cafeteria. Both Catholics and Protestants obviously have not been getting it right for centuries; witness the shambles of the Church Militant today, and the murderous history of the Church in the past. If they insist on getting only the dishes that satisfy their tastes, despite the food fights they are engaging in, why should I follow their lead and join in their petty creation-destroying war?

I must listen both to God in my heart, while double-checking what I am hearing in my mind, in the light of scriptures and theology. -- both of which can be wrong; that is why we pray to God rather than to some salesman trying to sell you some perspective. or Holy Bible.

It had become abundantly clear by the mid-20th century that no one religion had a monopoly on truth, morality, or peacemaking. God manifests to whomever He (or She or It or They) choose(s). It is more a question of whether you will hear Him when He does. He does so, regardless of religion. We each adhere to whatever religion speaks most clearly to us, and we follow its precepts as best our understanding allows. This is emphatically not moral or even spiritual relativism; what is in question is not what is good, but rather what is not good; it concerns the nature of what is a mote in your neighbor's eye (which blocks them from clearly understanding God and neighbor) versus what is a beam in your own eye (that obscures your vision of all that entirely). Matthew 7:4-5.

I use the diamond as a metaphor for the Church, but it is also a metaphor for the world (or universe) -- or reality.

I simply know that everyone's beliefs, even mine, are constantly forming and re-forming all the time, as are the social and ecological contexts in which they exist; although we sometimes do not realize it, little less grasp whether these changes are for good or bad – or whether they make for increased clarity or just increased befuddlement. The process is inherent in the continual growth of the human soul, of the human mind, and the general perception of the continually changing nature of human reality itself to be constantly forming, conforming, and re-forming, and adjusting our understanding of these things accordingly. 

This is not a matter of theological waffling; it is simply a matter of human growth and perception, of accommodating the changing nature of reality as we encounter it. If we do not grow in this manner, then we are artificially frozen, bound by the pride of our own understanding, and inexorably bound to things such as crusades, witch burnings, and blind Inquisitions. We live in a VERY dynamic universe: personal, social, cultural, political, ecological, and cosmic. Theology must integrate all that.

I only wish churches could see and appreciate that, but they are founded in historical, theological, political, social, and fiscal reality more than in spiritual reality; something I of all people ought to relate to. I just wish we could better appreciate each other, see spirituality as a textured reality that is not simply black & white, and find a flexible, compassionate way to stand together.

I would prefer to call myself an “ecumenical Christian” (actually more like just plain Ecumenical — period). What matters more than doctrine and politics, in my opinion, is empathy and compassion, which are the real hallmarks of God, and which followed in all sincerity ought to lead us to function in a close relationship with others. These hallmarks are what guide my constant reassessments of the reality in which I find myself.

Today I also have a profound appreciation of the Upanishads as well as the Bible. I suspect that if I tried I could say the same of the Koran, and a few other scriptures. However, spirituality is not just a scriptural thing. Scriptures are an attempt at explaining and codifying spirituality, but there exist other dimensions, such as the “numen” that lies at the heart of Shinto, which is a Shinto translation of 神道, the Kami (神) Way (道). Kami is sometimes translated as “spirit,” or more precisely as “the numinous”: relating to or characteristic of a numen which in turn means “a spirit believed to inhabit an object or preside over a place (especially in ancient Roman religion)”. In my opinion, it could also be interpreted as a “spirit,” such as you and I both are; although this usually refers to a spirit that is breathtaking when encountered in nature, and quite unforgettable.

The Diamond

Premise: 

There is one True God behind ALL of REALITY, which is another way of saying "There is one ultimate reality". That is to say, there is ONE TRUTH; one actuality. 

All religions seek this true God (or “Truth”), as revealed to them within the context of their culture and experience. Many, however will quibble, saying "Not all religions worship God, little less the true god." I both agree and disagree. All religions, all spiritualities worthy of that appellation, are concerned with the Truth, which for the Christian is to be found in the teachings of Jesus (John 14:6); but not all religion or spiritualities are Christian. 

If I am to be at peace with my neighbor (and my own conscience for that matter), I must take this into account. Hence this metaphor. Inherent in it is an admission that I do not know it all, and the authorities who have taught me do not know it all -- including "The Church," Christian theologians and even the men (and perhaps women) who penned scripture. All of them are inspired, but none of them are either omniscient or perfect in interpreting the thoughts and intent of others ... even if they think they are.

The Metaphor: 

The community of all who seek God, who seek truth, can be thought of as a diamond, into which the one divine light shines. Each facet in the diamond is a religion, or denomination, or art, or understanding, which sees this Truth from a slightly different angle, and which reflects all the other facets at the same time. I face one facet more directly than the other facets and that is how I see God -- or reality -- and I try to act accordingly. Yet I also see all the other facets, and while I do not embrace them all, I can see that they are reflecting some aspect of the Truth, even if “imperfectly”, from my perspective, and I embrace what is embraceable in that.

I suspect, for instance, that the early post-pagan Christians in Rome, felt God in the way they sensed the “numen” of, say, a field; felt it, but did not comprehend it. Christianity revealed a spirituality that is so much more than just a feeling, yet that remains one valid reality. I can still, today, sense that ”feeling” when praying before the Tabernacle in a Roman Catholic Church, where a silence and reverence are expected in the sanctuary. It is very nice, and reassuring, to occasionally feel God's presence, as well as to simply believe and have faith in Him.  Simply because we no longer worship that numen in the field does not mean that we should refuse to permit them (or ourselves) to experience the numen that is, actually, God's presence (1 Kings 19:11-13). 

I am not about to deny others that feeling nor to belittle it since I can relate to it; although  I might wish for a Christian-like faith to accompany it for them, because that faith is so much more expansive (Matthew 5:1-11) than a feeling only. Just the same, they are encountering God, and it is not my place to determine or interpret what God is saying to them. God does work in mysterious ways, and must be allowed to do so. If He so desires He might send them to me with the desire to expand their understanding.

I do not, usually, face “my diamond's facet” directly, but often face one edge of it or another, from one angle or another; so while I feel a tendency to embrace Anglicanism [Celtic + Christian] (aka Episcopalian in the USA), I can sometimes feel a bit closer to Roman Catholicism, sometimes to paganism, sometimes to Judaism, sometimes, Buddhism, etc. I am and remain Episcopalian with a strong undercurrent of Roman Catholic. 

But I see God in these other religions too, and while I do not fully embrace them, I do embrace God where I see Him, and in the love other denominations have in their maker and religion ... for seeing God, however imperfectly ... without condemning these spiritualities, which are every bit as fragile and imperfect as am I.

It is important to note that the facet of a diamond that reflects the light, also reflects areas of darkness, which is why it “sparkles”. As the diamond turns, however slightly, so does what is reflected in each facet change as well. Note that this metaphysical Diamond is composed not of carbon, but of souls; so while the light source is constant, darkness is to be found roaming about in the form of every soul, as it encounters the changing experiences of its journey through life, and in every facet (religion), as it too evolves. And it is always changing. Therefore you can never stop trying to understand what exactly you are seeing in each facet

God is always there, but the line of sight is too often deflected, and should be dealt with as is appropriate, either in the facet (church or theology) or in yourself! The latter is the most important because you can exercise the most control over yourself; in how you think and react. Always try to think and react with love, in empathy and compassion, because God is the source of those things.

Conclusion: 

All that is to say that God is to be found in every religion and church; yet Churches, like the people that compose them, can sometimes be wrong in the things they think, say, and do. They too ought to examine their consciences, acknowledge the mistakes they make, and try to correct them. ALL RELIGIONS ought to do that, and most do. 

I doubt that we will ever merge into one religion or Church (some might), but we do need to, at the very least, live together in peace as neighbors, acknowledge and appreciate our differences, embrace our similarities, reject our failings, and simply live together in common community as best we can. All of these are (as we apply them to ourselves) personal choices.

I try to always see the diamond, with the light of God shining into it, and always marvel at it. However, too often I find myself feeling, “Why can we not simply live together in peace?”