Practicing Reverence

Another helpful book that I've read recently is the Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor's An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. This book is wide and diverse in the topics it addresses but one thing that stood out for me was the author's emphasis on reverence - for God, for others and creation. Here's a helpful summation of what she says:

"Reverence stands in awe of something -- something that dwarfs the self, that allows human beings to sense the full extent of our limits - so that we can begin to see one another more reverently as well. An irreverent soul who is unable to feel awe in the presence of things higher than the self is also unable to feel respect in the presence of things it sees as lower than the self...This raises real questions about leaders, especially religious leaders, who cite reverence for what is good as their warrant for proclaiming whole populations of people evil" (21).

As is implied in this passage, I think a major problem in a lot of churches and religious organizations is a lack of genuine spirituality that transcends the often very human agendas religious leaders tend to promote. In other words, if we read about supposed spiritual leaders who often make sweeping, condemnatory statements about whole populations of people (e.g., various religious organizations' statements on LGBT people), it's probably a good idea to question the degree to which those "leaders" are in fact people who have had authentic experiences of the sacred in their lives. Often, I'm afraid that what passes for spiritual leadership is really nothing more than naked fear and the defense of entrenched power masquerading as sincere spirituality. In any case, it's good to interrogate sweeping authoritative statements before assenting to them, whether in the realm of faith or any other aspect of our lives.

Peace,
Padre Chuck