Front Row

Dr. Joerg Rieger joins Debo, Ann, and David to discuss Jesus’s claim “the way, the truth, and the life” and how to understand that statement alongside alternate perspectives of truth. Different people can encounter truth in different ways, and that doesn’t mean everything goes; instead, Rieger says that as we negotiate truth, we must figure out where to broaden the picture and where to draw the lines.

The quest for religious truth has been both death dealing and live giving. It has been death dealing because blaming others has often led to real killing, as well as the exploitation and manipulation of other religious traditions in order to make one’s religion the truth. As far as life giving, this quest for religious truth has also led to all religions making an effort to change oppressive situations and figure out how one can use their religion to make a difference.

This then creates an interreligious dialogue. Ann brings up the question: what if people didn’t view religion as a sport, where they’re on a team that has to win, but instead as a language? Differences make a difference in how we move the world, so coming together to discuss different truths would benefit us and add to our knowledge of the world and the people around us.

Dr. Joerg Rieger joins Debo and David to discuss how the cross and the resurrection of Jesus illustrate resistance, and why women were the only followers of Jesus who showed up when Jesus was crucified. They also talk about how malignant religion can support an economic system that will result in exploitation and suffering. What are some of the mechanisms that keep the “American Dream” in place?

Rieger also goes into detail about the lack of separation between church and economy, and explains why money determines what happens in the church. If the church comes together, change can be made to the power differential. How do you empower church leaders to speak with true resistance when it puts the financial interests of their church at risk?

Faith And Reason is a production of the D.L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation. Learn more at www.faithandreason.org.

Dr. Joerg Rieger sits with Debo, David and Ann to delve into the differences between "malignant religion" and "life-giving religion." Religion that is malignant does not care about others, justifies oppression, and creates negative outcomes for people. Religion that is life-giving brings real good news to the poor, embraces everyone, and creates real love for our neighbor.

Debo brings up the rapture in relation to malignant and life-giving religions, and Reiger makes the point that the rapture is often used as a diversion tactic and is used without much substance. What difference is rapture theology making, and who is it serving?

In a broader sense, how is your spirituality functioning, and how can we speak back to the malignant religion that is encroaching in our own lives?

Dr. Joerg Rieger joins Debo, David, and Ann unpack the distinction between religion and politics. When Jesus says “Give to God what is God’s, and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” what is he really saying?

Rieger brings up a startling parallel between our current situation and that of ancient Rome: in Rome, the assumption was that if Caesar was in control, peace for everyone would be maintained. In today’s economic system, the assumption is that if the top 1% remains in control, they’re the job creators and everyone will benefit.

How is God manifesting when communities start reclaiming grassroots power for themselves?

Dr. Joerg Rieger joins Debo, David, and Ann to explore the tension between the Christian perceptions of God: the kingly, dominant God of Caesar vs. the humble, human God of Jesus. When we talk about God, he says, which God are we talking about? If this God is one with Jesus, a working person and refugee who served the marginalized, what does it look like for us to be followers of Jesus today?

In this special episode, hear the Intro of "The Last Week," a new audio series from Faith And Reason. This series features new dialogue with John Dominic Crossan based on material from his book with Marcus Borg, "The Last Week." Part meditation, part historical exploration, and part theology — our new audio series with Dr. Crossan, David Dykes, and Ann Phelps is perfect for individual study, especially during the Lenten season. "The Last Week" is available now at faithandreason.org!

As we enter stage 7 of our spiritual development, we learn that there is a true self that, no matter what we do, is loved by God. Not only do I receive that love, but everyone else does, too. We can shed fear, superiority, and competition - and experience the death of our false self.

In stage 8, we return to “luminous darkness” — we don’t have the answers, but instead of being confused, we are at peace. Those with a tendency towards certainty can have a difficult time in this stage. Stage 8 can be described as a sensation of gentle, compassionate discernment. We experience ourselves in the unity of God.

In stage 9, we discover that it’s enough to be human: badges and costumes aren’t necessary. Accessing this stage is rare and potentially only achievable for fleeting moments, but is a beautiful destination to seek out.

For more on the transition from the false self into the true self, check out Rohr’s book “The Immortal Diamond.”

Hear more from Richard Rohr and Sr. Joan Chittister by purchasing “The Human Spirit and The Times We Live In”, a Faith And Reason seminar series resource.

The FaithAndReason 360 podcast is free to all listeners. Interested in supporting? Donate at FaithAndReason.org.

In Fr. Rohr’s fourth stage of spiritual development, he describes the Christian model of incarnation: that Jesus lived on earth in a human body. Ann and Debo help us understand this phase, describing how liberating it can be to fully experience ourselves in our own bodies. As we turn inwards into ourselves, we grow beyond just the doctrine of the church and begin having a real-life inner experience of the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, during this exploration we find limits within ourselves, and we meet our internal shadow self. In the fifth stage of spiritual development, we confront our weaknesses, limitations, and brokenness. As you become comfortable with stage 5, you free yourself from having to pretend.

Fr. Rohr calls the next stage, 6, “God’s waiting room.” After confronting our flaws, we come to grips with our own self’s limitation in our ability to achieve perfect spiritual love.

Hear more from Richard Rohr and Sr. Joan Chittister by purchasing “The Human Spirit and The Times We Live In”, a Faith And Reason seminar series resource.

The FaithAndReason 360 podcast is free to all listeners. Interested in supporting? Donate at FaithAndReason.org.

Part 4 of our series featuring audio from Father Richard Rohr’s lecture “The Human Spirit.”

Moving from stage 3 to 4 is likened to a ritual wounding - we are forced to leave our proverbial tribe and enter inner awareness of ourselves. We discover that our identities live within our bodies. Stage 4 offers a wonderful experience of self-discovery. We get to immerse ourselves in religions and practices that open up personal realizations. The limitation of this stage, though, is that we live in a world consisting of other people. Our personal enlightenment is only as useful as it moves us to action to work for justice in our world. Ann and Debo discuss the implications of that movement for institutional religion as a whole.

Hear more from Richard Rohr and Sr. Joan Chittister by purchasing “The Human Spirit and The Times We Live In”, a Faith And Reason seminar series resource.

The FaithAndReason 360 podcast is free to all listeners. Interested in supporting? Donate at FaithAndReason.org.

In Part 3 of our series featuring audio from Father Richard Rohr’s lecture “The Human Spirit,” Ann and Debo discuss Rohr’s next stage of human development: the realization that my thoughts and feelings are who I am.” This can cause us to become too locked in and certain in our beliefs, but there is freedom in remaining teachable. Spiritual maturity happens when we are open to challenging our convictions. Rohr says that “growth only happens on the threshold.” When we come to the edge of our comfort zone, don’t retreat - push on.

Hear more from Richard Rohr and Sr. Joan Chittister by purchasing “The Human Spirit and The Times We Live In”, a Faith And Reason seminar series resource.