Spiritual Evolution

I stand by the notion that cultural evolution spawns spiritual, if not necessarily religious, evolution. Readers will discern immediately that I am identifying a disconnect between a spiritual evolution and that which takes place in the religious institutions of a given epoch. Events like the Great Schism and the Great Reformation take place in an atmosphere of significant cultural upheaval, and give rise to amazing spiritual changes. These spiritual changes eventually lead to religious transformation.

The crucial point here may well be that I consider the seismic advances of culture to be evolutionary. More concretely put, I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ finds itself today in the midst of just such a seismic culture shift, characterized, as usual, in new forms of communication, new definitions of personhood, and new paths of religious faithfulness. The cultural shift is already well advanced, having begun at some point in the mid- to late-1960's. The spiritual shift, that which might define the communal ethos or communally shared values, is also well advanced. It is characterized by acceptance of diversity, importance of persons over systems, demands for equality and justice, and invites institutions that create, maintain and protect these virtues.

The Church has, throughout the process of religious evolution, dragged its feet. More honestly phrased, some factions within the Church have sought to pull culture back from the precipice of evolutionary change to a perceived "safer" time, a mythical idyllic age, when people knew their proper place in society and Church and would never dare push for personal or individual rights that are foundational to systemic life. Some religious institutions have simply wanted people to "get back into line," each in his or her "proper place." This tendency is easier for us to perceive in the lives of others, especially the right wing, Taliban-like movements in the Middle East and beyond. But the hesitance can be perceived in our own religious institutions.

Let me go a step further.

I find cultural, spiritual and religious evolution to be a good thing. As steeped as I am in the way that the church used to be, I am even more excited about the possibilities of what the Church of Jesus Christ might become. If we are able to move from control mechanism and ritually based piety, perhaps the Church can be an instrument for peace and reconciliation, for individual and group rights, for personal development and inspirational spiritual calling. I think that this is the work to which Christ calls us.

I am thankful for a culture that has led us here. I am grateful for a new spiritual environment, which requires different systemic and institutional responses. And I am hopeful that the Church of Jesus Christ will stop the attempt at pulling people back into ignorance and begin to function as Christ is now calling it to work.

Shiloh is a place where we continually work at religious and spiritual evolution, community and social relevancy, personal transformation and individual empowerment and calling. I hope that you are excited as I am about the future of this congregation and the evolving Church of Jesus Christ.