The Beautiful Heresy- Christian Universalism

I just finished a great book by a teacher I've been following for a couple of years now.  Ethan Nichtern is the young founder of The Interdependence Project, a movement that promotes meditation, the awareness of interdependence and activism.  Ethan puts out a weekly PodCast called 21st Century Buddhism. I never miss an episode.  So, I was anxious to pick up his book when it came out.  After the wait for the book, I was not disappointed.  The book is "One City: A Declaration of Interdependence".  I know that a lot of Christians are scared of anything labeled Eastern Philosophy or Buddhism.  And, I'm certainly not here to convert anybody (nor am I (solely) a Buddhist- see my article "Just Call Me BUTCH" for more on that)  But, my guess is that if you were scared, you wouldn't be reading a blog called "The Beautiful Heresy".    My take on Buddhism is it's more of a philosophy than a religion- a very pragmatic philosophy that has worked wonders for me.  Buddhism is about how to be fully human and deal with the day-to-day realities of this world.  You don't have to be a Buddhist to get something out of this book, you just have to be human.

The thing I like about Ethan's teachings is he is firmly rooted in historical Buddhism yet, he takes these fifth century B.C. concepts and translates them into the language and culture of the 21st century.  One City is about how we are all interdependent.  This is more than the idea that we are interconnected, which you may be familiar with.  Interconnected implies that we are independent beings who bump into each other and have an influence on each others' circumstances.  Interdependence goes way beyond that.  Who I am is dependent on a number of factors, most of which are way beyond my control.  Genetics, current circumstances, past events all play a part in who I am today.  This is both humbling and liberating if we can fully embrace it.  None of us is responsible for who we are.  So, there's no need feeling guilty about who we are.  OTOH, none of us is responsible for who we are.  So, we could have just as easily been born in another place and time and we would be a completely different person.  Don't be too proud of yourself.  In spite of what you might think, you are not a self made man.   Interdependence is about more than just influencing each other.  Interdependence is the recognition that we co-create each other and our world.  If we can get our minds around it, it is truly a principle that will change the world.  That is not an exaggeration. Buddhism is about studying how our minds tick.  One of the first things we need to understand is just how interdependent we are.

Ethan explores this whole idea of interdependence, framing it in our fast-food, infotainment, consumer-oriented, ruggedly individualistic world.  I loved the chapter on the "Inadequacy Principle", which is the systematic way we are each made to feel we are not enough (and not coincidentally, they have what we need to become enough).  Ethan then wisely cautions against the spiritual trap of thinking that if we only become more "enlightened", then we'll be enough.  Many people when jumping off of the consumeristic treadmill, jump right onto the religion treadmill; trading in one hopeless, frustrating pursuit for another.

Ethan does a great job of breaking down the five levels of interdependence starting with ourselves being interdependent creatures and placing that in the context of personal relationships, communities, global and universal settings.  He clarifies some commonly misunderstood perceptions of Buddhism blowing up myths such as the idea of egolessness (which many Westerns misunderstand to be nihilism).  This is part one of the book, an introduction to what interdependence is (and why we should care).  Part Two gets into practical applications

Meditation- what it is and why it's not just for spiritual freaks or people who have hit rock bottom (even though you might say I am/was both).  Ethan talks about what everyone can gain from meditation.

Consumerism- (The Hungry Ghost Principle for those familiar with Buddhism)- ironically, I read this chapter the day Apple launched their latest generation of iPods.  It was fascinating to sit back and watch myself process through the inevitable WANTING that reared up the moment I heard there was a better, faster, shinier iPod on the market.  Because of my new found mindfulness and awareness, I watched myself as I immediately began to try to justify getting one.    It was so cool to watch and understand the desire that was rising in me.

Entertainment- Ethan is pretty hard on entertainment. He's doing a series of PodCasts on the book and I can't wait until he gets to this one.  It's clear he's not against all forms of entertainment (he specifically states this in the book) and he's not trying to guilt anyone into anything. But, I think what he is getting at is the need for constant entertainment that so many of us have and the addictiveness of it.  I'm guilty of it.  And, I see it coming on even stronger in the next generation.  I intentionally left a DVD player out of the new vehicle we just bought because I don't want my kids thinking they have to be plugged in and entertained 24x7.  One of the great points he makes in the chapter on entertainment is the "need" to multi-task.  It got me really thinking about the effectiveness of multi-tasking. Even though I haven't given it up (and probably won't), I am more mindful and aware of it now.  And, I have cut back.  And, it's nice.

Non-violence- the chapter on non-violence is much more practical than just "Go out and protest the war."  It's about where violence arises from.  When I hear Ethan talk here, I hear the words of Jesus being echoed.  Violence doesn't come from nowhere, it starts in the heart, it starts with the thoughts.  One of the great things about Buddhism is it attacks problems at the root, in our thoughts.  Getting to know our own minds and understand the nature of interdependence is the only hope we have of ending the cycle of violence we find ourselves in.  If we constantly start with "them" than with "me", we have no hope.  The chapter on violence also covers internal violence we do to ourselves and verbal violence in relationships.

There are three more chapters.  But, I don't want the review to get longer than the book- (as I am apt to do).  If you're interested in learning more about yourself, how you can relate better to others and to the world and how you can contribute to making the world a better place, I recommend the book.  There's no weird religious stuff in here you have to follow, no vows to take and you don't have to worship Buddha to learn from Buddhism.  One City is written in a very non-threatening, easy to understand conversational style (just the way I like a book).  Ethan takes a lot of the mystery out of a very practical way of life (Buddhism) that can seriously reduce your level of suffering and the level of suffering in the world.  How can that possibly be a bad thing?

Look at it.  Isn't it sweet?  Just looking at it again makes me WANT one.  Yesterday, Apple launched their 6th Generation iPod and yes, I WANT one.   I have absolutely no need for one.  But, I found myself yesterday spending time on the Mac Rumors message boards picking up tidbits on the announcement even as the live event was going on trying to figure out how I could talk me into allowing myself to have one.  It was a fascinating event to observe (the internal struggle within me, not the iPod launch).

Yesterday, I was reading Ethan Nichtern's (my favorite Buddhist teacher) One City book and I was on the chapter concerning rampant consumerism. Ethan revealed that even though he is a long time Buddhist and meditator he still wants a new iPod every time one is announced.  Ethan talks about iPods a lot. I think Ethan shares my problem. Then, there was a guy who started a thread titled "Just Kill Me". His wife, after forbidding him to buy a new iPod to replace his that had died presented him with a brand new 5.5 Generation iPod on the very day Apple announced the 6G iPod. He was on the board to vent a little because she had it engraved, rendering it unreturnable. He was miserable. Even as I consoled him giving him all the reasons he really didn't need a 6G iPod, I found myself starting to whisper to myself as I read about the new features "Oh that would be so cool to be able to do that! I could use that!"



In Ethan's book he talks about the general feeling of WANT that so many of us experience. It's not focused on any specific object. It's just that non-specific need to acquire. I definitely see that in myself. I wish I had discovered Buddhism 20 years ago. Because, in spite of knowing this about myself for a while, before discovering Buddhism and meditation it hadn't really been in focus for me and it was much more difficult to identify. Now when it rears it's ugly head, at least I can see it coming. Ethan also talks about how we can become addicted to a certain lifestyle or even a brand so that all an advertiser has to do is push that button and we're off to the store to buy the latest widget. I used to laugh at the Apple freaks that thought Steve Jobs was the Messiah and who spent hours, days and weeks discussing all things Apple. But, I periodically find myself attracted to those rumor boards. And while we have five iPods in the house (and 4 people) and I rarely even leave the house, I found myself wanting a new iPod just because it was available. I was thinking how cool it would be to be the first kid on the block with the touch iPod. How I could use the WiFi when I'm at Panera waiting for Jon to show up. How sweet it would be to have CoverFlow (even though I hardly ever even glance at my iPod screen now. I never watch video on it. I have pictures on it that I think I've shown to one person. And I bought the one I have now simply because I got a great deal on it. I had a 20 GB one before that that I knew I would fill some day. So, I got the 30 GB just because the deal was available.



It's not just Apple that has me in their grips, I realized. We got a new car for Ty last Saturday. Until then, I was perfectly happy with my 7 year old car. But, every time I take my car in for service, they give me a brand new Lexus loaner. "Ooh, that new car smell!" "How can I live without a GPS system?" All the justifications start rolling through my brain and I find myself having to fight getting that next fix of something new.



I love the rush that comes from bringing home something new. Pulling it out of the box, putting it together. It's better than cocaine (I guess- I wouldn't know from personal experience). Just typing this gets my heart beating a little faster. I can imagine unpacking that new iPod.  Apple packages things so nicely, I almost hate to pull them out of the box and mess it up. But, it's such a transient high. Usually it lasts a few days, a couple of weeks at most. Then, I need that next new thing.



Buyer's remorse always quickly follows any major purchase. It's never perfect. Even if I got the biggest, best and baddest, I think maybe I could have gotten by with the next model down and saved a few bucks. If I get the cheaper one, I wish I had spent the extra money to get the biggest, best and baddest. After all, it's only a few bucks.



The good news is I am a cheap son-of-a-gun. I make myself justify every purchase to myself. So, there is a pretty good governor on my spending. I WANT an iPhone. But, I've forbidden myself to buy one. I WANT the new square Nike driver on the market. But, that has to wait at least two years I've been told. No new car for you until the Mazda is paid off, Mister! But, just observing this has been fascinating for me. And, now Buddhism has given me the tools to deal with it. As Ethan points out, Buddhism (meditation) is not an instant cure (or even a long term cure). But, the first step to defeating any problem is realizing you have it and the second step is admitting it.

"Hi everyone, my name is Brian and I am a WANTaholic".

I just love this tag-line from the United Church of Christ. It's one of the things that drew me to to the church.  God is still speaking is a simple phrase that says volumes.  I’d like to explain why I take the Bible seriously but not literally.  There was a time when I made an idol out of the Bible, worshipping the Bible as much or more than I did Jesus or G-d.  When I say as much or more, I mean that if Jesus spoke something to my heart, I'd have to square it with the Bible before I believed it. I thought that not only was the Bible divinely inspired, I guess I thought it was divinely dictated; word-for-word. I never really thought about the implications of that belief were. Did I believe the Bible dropped from the sky written on golden scrolls, written by the very finger of G-d?  Did I believe G-d spoke to Moses in King James English while Moses sat in an auto-writing trance, putting G-d’s words down onto a scroll?  Did I believe that G-d did this with each of the authors of the many books of the Bible’ whispering the words into their ears or just taking over their hands as they wrote?  When it’s put that way, it sounds absurd.  But, I believe that is what a lot of Christians believe.  Or at least it would have to be the way if the Bible were literally THE WORD OF GOD, like they think it is.

I’m not here to bash the Bible.  Not at all.  The Bible has some of the greatest wisdom ever revealed to man.  It contains truths that I haven’t found anywhere else.   It really is a miracle.  Particularly the New Testament.  It is such a leap forward that only divine inspiration can explain it.  The Jewish people themselves (the authors of the book for about 1,500 years of its 1,600 year span of birth) are a miracle.  The fact that they even have survived, as a people, over the thousands of years they have retained their identity is amazing.   But, I dare say, the Bible is not infallible.  The Bible is man’s view of G-d, not G-d’s view of man.  It’s an amazing, progressive revelation of how man has come to understand his Creator. Looking at it this way explains to me the apparent contradictions between the god of the Old Testament and the god of the New Testament.  Both are man’s perceptions of G-d.  Which is more likely?  G-d changed or man’s perception of G-d changed? The Bible was written by men, not by G-d.  As such it reflects the thoughts, hopes, fears, cultural influences and yes shortcomings of the men who wrote it.

A little Bible history here.  When I sat down and thought about the sources of the Bible (sources- plural, not source- singular), I could only come to the conclusion that I was putting way too heavy a burden on the Bible to be infallible, complete and inerrant.  The Bible was birthed over a period of at least 1,600 years. Many scholars say Job predates Moses (the author often credited with the first five books of the Bible).  We tend to think the books we have are arranged in order from the oldest to the newest (news flash- they are not).  Think about a 1,600 year period for a while.  If we were going to create a “Bible” today, we would have to take the best writings we could find from a period spanning from the year 400 to the present day.  Most of us (I include myself in that number) can’t even really grasp a period of 1,600 years.  Granted, the pace of change has grown exponentially over the past couple of hundred  of years.  But, even allowing for that, the opening pages of the Bible were written in a far, far different time than the closing pages.  There was a period of silence of 400 years between what we call the Old Testament and the New Testament.   Then, we have a period of silence for the last 1,900 years.  Nothing has been added to G-d's Word in that time.  I use the word “silence” to describe these two periods because if you believe the Bible is the One and Only True Word of G-d, G-d must have stopped speaking for 400 years between the last book  in the "Old Testament" and the first book we put into the New Testament.  Then, G-d fell silent again and hasn’t spoken for the last 1,900 years.   Was He giving Israel the silent treatment for 400 years? Is She giving us the silent treatment now?  Did She say it all?  Does She have nothing to say about the issues of our day?  G-d told Paul about men having long hair, women speaking in church, slavery, etc.  She gave the Israelites detailed instructions right down to how to not mix fabrics and how to plant their crops.  Yet, She has nothing to say about stem cell research, nothing to say about racism,  nothing to say about the way we are destroying our planet, nothing to say about gay marriage (I know He said it all in Leviticus-right?).  Seriously.  We have a lot of things we can use guidance on.  What would it take for G-d to open up and give us another book?  How would we recognize it if She did?

I speak only slightly facetiously.  Many of us take the letters of Paul as the literal words of G-d.  I've heard people reading from his letters say "This is what G-d says about..." .  Yet, we’d find it strange if 100 years from now someone took Billy Graham’s emails, bound them in a leather book and told everyone to follow them or go to hell.  I do think there are eternal truths in the Bible, mixed in with a lot of cultural things that need to be ignored.  I do think the writers of the Bible were inspired. But, I think Lao Tzu (author of the Tao Te Ching) was also inspired.  I think the verses in the Dhammapada are inspired.   I think Brian McLaren writes inspired things.  I think Philip Yancey has been inspired.  George MacDonald wrote things that I think are every bit as inspired as anything in any of these books.

Why do I think this is important? What’s wrong with believing the Bible is the infallible, complete, inerrant Word of G-d?  Bible idolatry is a dangerous thing.  It keeps us mired in the past.  A past that was far from perfect.  It has led to the justification of slavery, keeping women silent and in bondage and to the justification of homophobia.  Bible idolatry and literal interpretation has caused people to not care about the stewardship of the planet because they’re going to be whisked away soon and G-d’s going to burn this place up anyway.  Bible idolatry has caused wars, genocide and  murders.  Bible idolatry says G-d can’t speak any more.  Bible idolatry closes us off to  progressing beyond where Paul was almost 2,000 years ago.   Koran worshippers flew planes into building on September 11, 2001 to kill “infidels”.  People who believe that Abraham being willing to kill his son for god is a good thing scare me.  What if G-d tells them to kill me or their child?  It’s high time that we understand the Bible for what it is. It’s time to stop the madness.