I began this series with a personal reflection on the need for an approach to Christianity that is "big enough to encompass all of my own experiences, but also the highs and lows, successes and failures, and future potential of the Christian tradition." Over the past few posts, I have introduced the basic elements of … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 7: Integrating the Basics
Today, the Sunday following Pentecost, is the Sunday the Western Church commemorates the revelation of God as Trinity. This is a notoriously difficult doctrine to understand or explain, especially when trying to interpret the Church's classic definitions as found in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan (in common speech 'Nicene') Creed and writings of the Church Fathers that support … Continue reading Confrontation and Calling: A Reflection on Isaiah 6:1-18
The basic components of Integral thought that this series has explored so far offer a helpful way of looking at knowledge, the world, and what it means to be human. However, at this point, they haven't had a lot to say about human difference. There's an awareness of the impact of culture for how we … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 6: Appreciating Difference
One of my most profound memories is from the day after my youngest nephew, David, was born. It was the first time I had ever held a newborn and I was totally unprepared for the experience. It was in many ways such a normal thing — I had held babies, including his two older brothers, … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 5: States of Consciousness
Once upon a time, the whole earth had one language, one culture, and all of the people lived in the same land. When the people came to a beautiful plain between two rivers, they said to one another, 'This is a beautiful and rich land. Let us settle here,' and so they did. The people … Continue reading Babel’s Curse, Babel’s Blessing: A Narrative Reflection for Pentecost 2021
Matthew Root 