Our Search for God

Our search for God or God’s search for us? I feel alone, separated, the “ego-centric predicament” It feels like I must somehow “find God” out there in the universe

The “God-Thrust” of Faith/Religion God is forever knocking on the door of the human heart, asking to be allowed in God’s greatest gift: free will (ALWAYS up to me to say yes) The spiritual journey is an INNER journey, starting with an OUTER experience

Experiences Shape Faith 1 – OUTER EXPERIENCE Can be a painful crisis or an encounter with beauty – stops me in my tracks; 2 - INNER EXPERIENCE Something happening inside me – a moment of illumination, enlightenment – I see more to life than what is on the outside 3 – UPPER EXPERIENCE A sense of unification, connectedness, to the Transcendent – something/someone beyond

Seeking Faith? Put On “Beginner’s Mind” Important, unskippable step in talking about God No one has all the answers (some longer on the journey) We change and grow over time, and so do our images of God

Faith is not rational certitude, just the opposite! Faith is coming to realize that I DON’T KNOW An embrace of mystery at the heart of all exsitence

Where Does Religion Come From? Has ancient roots to the very beginning of human thought Non-physical things are real –ideas, emotions, imagination, memory, relationships, intuition, suffering, joy, faith, love To believe only in what you can see seems a peculiar form of blindness We cannot even describe what IS physical

The Search for God Is Recorded in All Cultures, All Disciplines Philosophy Psychology Anthropology Ecology Science The Arts Etc.

The Search for God is Innate We are born with the need to make sense out of life – a search for meaning. We seek answers to the “bigger” questions – Who am I? Why am I here?

Faith Is A Life-Long Process

Restlessness Lies Deep in the Heart Everyone has a fire or passion within What we do with that passion = spirituality A “holy longing” exists for transcendence, something beyond ourselves Everyone seeks and finds something to fill the longing: GOD God takes on many forms. . . .some true and some false

Only Religion Dares to Answer Ultimate Life Questions: Why does the unexpected happen? What do we make of the absurdities of life? What happens when we die? Who is God? What is faith? Is there a purpose for life? What is the ultimate nature of reality? What is the meaning of suffering? Is there objective Truth? What is evil?

The Search for God Lasts a Life Time The search changes as we change The search goes in stages The search is developmental “In seeking God, we have already found God.” Fr. Louis F. Knight

Is God Searching For You? Catholic Faith says YES We are the Chosen Ones, from all eternity, whether we know it or not God is forever pursuing us, desiring a response but never forcing us.

So. The question is NOT: Who/What is God So. . .The question is NOT: Who/What is God? But rather: What is your faith?

Defining Faith As. . . A Process A Gift of the Spirit An evolving sense of relatedness to other persons. An evolving sense of soul or spirit  A dynamic, evolving pattern of the ways we find meaning in life. A Gift of the Spirit A Theological Virtue Grounds us in relationship Gives meaning and coherence to our lives

Faith is Paradoxical. . . Depends on God Depends on Us A “simultaneous dance of Spirit” “Pray as though everything depends on God, work as though everything depends on you.” St. Augustine

STAGES OF FAITH JAMES FOWLER

The Incorporative Self Primal Faith The Incorporative Self 0-2 years Image of God: Mirrored in Parents Shaping what is to come Prayer of Parent

Intuitive-Projective Faith the Impulsive Self 2-6 years Image of God: Stage 1: Intuitive-Projective Faith the Impulsive Self 2-6 years Image of God: Literal, real Baby in a Manger, Man on a Cross Rote, Memorized Prayer; “God Bless……”

Intercessory, Prayer of Contrition Stage 2: Mythic-Literal Faith The Imperial Self 7-12 years Image of God: Parent deity who rewards & punishes Imaginative Prayer; Intercessory, Prayer of Contrition Bargaining

Synthetic-Conventional Faith The Interpersonal Self 13-20 years Stage 3: Synthetic-Conventional Faith The Interpersonal Self 13-20 years Image of God: Best Friend, companion Prayer is “Talking to God”

Individuative-Reflective Faith Stage 4: Individuative-Reflective Faith The Introspective Self Adults Seriously on the Journey Image of God: nebulous, changing Prayer: Contemplative, Meditative, New forms, changing

The Inter-Individual Self Adults seriously on the journey for more Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith The Inter-Individual Self Adults seriously on the journey for more than 20 years Image of God: ever-changing Prayer is Listening and Stillness Contemplative Lifestyle

Prayer is Unitive, Mystical Deep abiding Stillness Stage 6: Universalizing Faith The God-Grounded Self “The Saints Among Us” Image of God: Free of images, steeped in experience Prayer is Unitive, Mystical Deep abiding Stillness

Why Faith Matters Provides avenues of introspection Faith leads to compassion, empathy, a caring for all of life Faith is GOOD for you! (Religious people are happier, more optimistic, generous, etc.) Faith provides a framework, a foundation upon which to live a deep and meaningful life

Where are you on the journey of faith? What are the significant experiences in your life that made you go inward and then made you connect to God?