Individual vs. Group - Paragraph 2
Robert’s text continues:
“What we look for in man’s spiritual development, then, is a religion’s key revelation. This revelation, however, must not be confused with the religion’s historical development or its extraneous accruements in the course of history. By “accruements” I mean the philosophy, theology, rituals, and cultural overlays that often identify a particular religion. Although these factors are the practical and cultural outgrowth of revelation - or what develops in the living of a particular religion - our present focus is on the revelation itself minus its cultural overlay.”
Robert’s theme in this text expands our previous discussion concerning revelation via an individual or, as she says, “spiritual development.” But before we continue, let's remember Roberts definition of revelation, which is “from the beginning of human history God” reveals itself to us. She has also previously stated that “although the fullness of God is present in every revelation, the nature of this fullness is only progressively revealed until man is prepared to understand its all-encompassing reality.”
There are two points here worth exploring; the unfolding or progressive revelation of God and accruements. As to the progressive nature of what the human understands of God at any given time is an important point and, it seems, God is compassionate and understanding in allowing us the time and space to eventually get what is being revealed. This slow, compassionate Love is the truth in the individual’s journey. It takes many experiences of love, oneness or wholeness in order to integrate what this “all-encompassing reality” is actually inviting us into. At least this is what my experience shows me.
As we continue along the path and encounter, say, an “all is one” moment, the full knowing or understanding of One will need to be integrated and metabolized into the ordinary life; it takes time. I often feel like Helen Keller whose teacher led her to a water pump and, as the water flowed over Helen’s hand, signed the word W-A-T-E-R. She signed over and over again until the connection was made in Helen’s mind. Experiences and/or revelations feel like a similar event, God patiently signs over and over again what I am to learn. It is a slow process, but eventually with the help of spiritual companions the connections are made. The integration of such a great Love begins to find its way into the heart of my ordinary life.
Before closing, let’s talk briefly about accruements. In my mind it makes sense that as we (humanity) progress in our understanding of God, religion’s accruements should also develop, change and evolve over time. It is disingenuous for the religious institution to ignore the fact that the language, psychology, and scientific understanding of the original Church accruements are sorely out of date with today’s modernized language, psychological understandings, and breakthroughs in scientific knowledge. I’m not advocating the relinquishment of accruements. No, there is value in the traditional accruements as they are tied to a revelation, but they may need reimagining in our modern world. They need to be spoken of in a modernized (and intelligent) way to illuminate their relevance and what they point towards, which also needs to become a felt experience vs. an intellectual understanding.
Maybe that is the invitation of what the text asks of me. Where in my life am I using accruements for the actual experience of God? It takes time to recognize where I’m relating more to a concept of God than to God itself. This journey continues on with the slow relinquishment of what I take God to be as well as what I take myself to be. It requires a great courage and willingness to set aside the concepts what I think and believe and venture into unknown territory. Will I recognize God without the image? Will I recognize myself without the image?
That is why daily practice, community, and courageous patience are priorities in my life. Making these choices in an intentional way prepares me to understand the “all-encompassing reality” if or when it should come. The great desire that arises in me to do this intentional life seems to be the path itself and when I follow it, without resistance, the fruit is sweet.
