Latter-day Contemplation

Mack Stirling on René Girard’s mimetic theory

Christopher and Riley are always searching out new theories and hermeneutics through which to interpret ideas, scripture, literature, or human experience.  Recently, they embarked on a concerted study of René Girard’s mimetic theory and let’s just say it has been fruitful and paradigm shifting.  They would love for others to join them in a study of this brilliant, Christian anthropologist’s ideas.  Girard provides the faithful student a path for understanding the Christian message that doesn’t dilute it as “just another myth”, or worse, a derivative of other myths with nothing unique to offer. They believe you’ll never see scripture, society, or human relationships the same.

We recorded this follow up episode a few weeks after recording Episode #82, Where to Begin, as a follow up to report on our experiences with some contemplative practices we wanted to continue or inaugurate.

In this shorter episode Christopher and Riley discuss the most frequent question we receive from those new to contemplative practice - Where do I begin?  We offer some basic ideas, which can be implemented incrementally or all at once to put yourself on the path to becoming a contemplative.  The core of contemplation is always stillness.  To sit in silence, and preferably, solitude will do more to reveal the benefits of contemplation than anything else you will learn, and yet, there is much more to this lifestyle.  We hope you enjoy the episode and will reach out to us with your feedback, ideas, and reports.  We’ll follow up with some reports of our own in the next episode.

In this episode Christopher and Riley discuss Joseph Campbell’s well-known model of mythology, The Hero’s Journey, and how it can be used as a model for personal transformation.  Joseph Campbell was a renowned author and professor whose groundbreaking work in The Hero With a Thousand Faces did more than describe a pattern in cosmological storytelling, but unlocked a way of looking at our lives that gives us context for our ups and downs, helps us appreciate adversity, and, ultimately discover the elixir], or meaning, of life.  Adopting the pattern, taking on challenges, and leaning into our difficulties as part of the journey lead to a more fulfilling life.

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.”   D&C 89:17

Americans waste nearly 40% of all food, roughly 42 billion pounds per year, and even in this glut of supply we are undernourished nutritionally speaking, because of how our food is produced for appearance and taste.  The same can be said for the media and other resources we consume; as long as it’s pleasing to the eye or ear or taste we neglect counting the cost as a substitute for better alternatives, which unavoidably leaves the lowest echelon of society victimized.  In this episode Christopher and Riley delve into the practice of contemplative consumption.  Most of us live in a society designed around efficient consumption, which carries a heavy unseen cost.  Categorically, we consume resources, food, and media without much thought for how it’s produced, delivered, or the intention behind the consumption (profit, social engineering), because it is so efficiently delivered and available.  The immediate by-product of cheap and efficient delivery is waste and lack of fulfillment on the part of the consumer, and, at worst, exploitation of the poor.  They encourage us to count the cost of our choices and be less passive as agents of consumption.  It serves both ourselves and the world when we take responsibility for the consequences of our choices.  Christopher and Riley make the case for more mindful use of resources and the richer life that can result from a higher awareness of our impact on the world and its impact on us.

President Nelson has encouraged Latter-day Saints to take personal responsibility for their own learning, but not many members do, relying heavily upon borrowed testimonies and lessons at church.  In 2018, as Pres. Nelson introduced the new home centered, church supported gospel instruction plan, he said, “We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth”.  In this episode Christopher and Riley discuss the implications of this individual, spiritual responsibility.  They dig into methods, resources, and modalities for rich spiritual growth that can carry you through your mid-life crises and doldrums, while providing support for developing family members and friends on the path of discipleship.

In this episode, Christopher and Riley talk about Heavenly Mother with Kathryn Knight Sonntag, author of a collection of poems on the Divine Feminine entitled, The Tree at the Center (Common Consent, 2019) and a second book on the Goddess, The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother (Faith Matters, 2022).

In this episode Chris & Riley are joined by Dr. Sahar Qumsiyeh.  Dr. Qumsiyeh is a Palestinian American Christian who grew up in Bethlehem under Israeli occupation, attended BYU, joined the Church of Jesus Christ, studied in Turkey, and returned to Palestine, before taking a permanent position at BYU-Idaho as a math professor.  She recounts her vivid experiences living under a brutally segregationist regime and how it shaped her upbringing.  She describes her conversion and ultimate reconciliation to the Jewish people as she prayed for and received the love of Christ for her fellow children of God.  Her story gives us hope for the establishment of the true Zion and the future gathering of Israel as a global reconciliation of all God’s children.

For this episode Christopher and Riley were pleased to welcome artist, architect, husband, father, and scripture junkie, Bob Sonntag, to discuss the power of ritual in family and community spiritual practice, language, art, space, and song.  Bob has spent considerable time studying ritual in sacred texts and his art reflects this focus on transformation through participatory remembrance.  He has also integrated ritual into his family dynamics to connect individuals through generations.  They discuss connecting with the “heavenly and timeless” eternal through participating in and contemplating cosmic ritual.