Love Wins
I am reading Love Wins, by Rob Bell, and am drawn in by its stark simplicity and deep truth, that is both thought-provoking and controversial...
I do not normally read this kind of book, but a review by Krista Tippett in The Washington Post and an article in Time certainly caught my interest...
"God Love us.
God offers us everlasting life by grace, freely, through no merit on our part."
So affirms the back cover...
Here's the thing, there is much in this book that I agree with. And so much that is "tantric" in nature as well. I'm sure that's not something the author might expect to hear!
I know, I have much to explain. But I think this book could revolutionize Christianity, and why not? Bell asks:
"I have long wondered if there is a massive shift coming in what it meant to be a Christian. Something new is in the air."
He also says, "Love demands freedom."
I may have to revisit this book. It would be interesting to illustrate the tantric themes in this book, and how they are compatible with this new "vision" of Christianity, that is really, not new in some ways, but reminds me of many of the dictates of "Creation-centered spirituality" which were embodied by medieval mystics such as Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, and Meister Echkart, just to name a few...
It would even be, more interesting to me, to draw parallels between the emergence of Tantra during the Middle Ages and its core writings and teachings, and compare them to those of the mystics I just mentioned, among others...
Is there really anything new under the sun?
Let me just say this, if you had to summarize everything I would say, you could do it, by simply saying:
Love wins.
Yes, like the title of Rob Bell's book, which is taking many communities and churches by storm.
On this eve of a Royal Wedding, let me say:
Love wins.
No matter what activity you engage in today - or what tragedy you hear or read about:
Love wins.
In your deepest hour of need, or want, of sadness, or pain:
Love wins.
In the darkest of times - or the "best of times and the worst of times" - to quote Dickens,
Love wins.
Love is all there is. In union. And separation. In the light of day, and the dark of night. In this life and the next. It build bridges. It means everything.
Love wins.
I do believe that. I think it is what is at the heart of every religious tradition, and spiritual practice - and philosophical system. It is why we are here. It is what every person who has ever experienced an NDE (Near Death Experience) will tell you. It is the only lesson we need to learn. It is the only one we have to get right.
Love wins.
And if by chance, you are one of the two billion or so, who will gather around a TV to watch the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton - know that you are doing so at the same time that everyone else is doing so as well. We will all come together for the same reason. To witness that, simply, in all moments and occasions,
Love wins. Now. Always!
Enough said!
I do not normally read this kind of book, but a review by Krista Tippett in The Washington Post and an article in Time certainly caught my interest...
"God Love us.
God offers us everlasting life by grace, freely, through no merit on our part."
So affirms the back cover...
Here's the thing, there is much in this book that I agree with. And so much that is "tantric" in nature as well. I'm sure that's not something the author might expect to hear!
I know, I have much to explain. But I think this book could revolutionize Christianity, and why not? Bell asks:
"I have long wondered if there is a massive shift coming in what it meant to be a Christian. Something new is in the air."
He also says, "Love demands freedom."
I may have to revisit this book. It would be interesting to illustrate the tantric themes in this book, and how they are compatible with this new "vision" of Christianity, that is really, not new in some ways, but reminds me of many of the dictates of "Creation-centered spirituality" which were embodied by medieval mystics such as Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, and Meister Echkart, just to name a few...
It would even be, more interesting to me, to draw parallels between the emergence of Tantra during the Middle Ages and its core writings and teachings, and compare them to those of the mystics I just mentioned, among others...
Is there really anything new under the sun?
Let me just say this, if you had to summarize everything I would say, you could do it, by simply saying:
Love wins.
Yes, like the title of Rob Bell's book, which is taking many communities and churches by storm.
On this eve of a Royal Wedding, let me say:
Love wins.
No matter what activity you engage in today - or what tragedy you hear or read about:
Love wins.
In your deepest hour of need, or want, of sadness, or pain:
Love wins.
In the darkest of times - or the "best of times and the worst of times" - to quote Dickens,
Love wins.
Love is all there is. In union. And separation. In the light of day, and the dark of night. In this life and the next. It build bridges. It means everything.
Love wins.
I do believe that. I think it is what is at the heart of every religious tradition, and spiritual practice - and philosophical system. It is why we are here. It is what every person who has ever experienced an NDE (Near Death Experience) will tell you. It is the only lesson we need to learn. It is the only one we have to get right.
Love wins.
And if by chance, you are one of the two billion or so, who will gather around a TV to watch the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton - know that you are doing so at the same time that everyone else is doing so as well. We will all come together for the same reason. To witness that, simply, in all moments and occasions,
Love wins. Now. Always!
Enough said!
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