Al Owski’s Reviews > The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe > Status Update

“In every age and culture, we have seen regressions toward racism, sexism, homophobia, militarism, lookism, and classism. This pattern tells me that unless we see dignity as being given universally, objectively, and from the beginning by God, humans will constantly think it is up to us to decide. But this tragic history demonstrates that one group cannot be trusted to portion out worthiness and dignity to another.”

“In the practical order, we find our Original Goodness when we can discover and own these three attitudes or virtues deeply planted within us: A trust in inner coherence itself. "It all means something!" (Faith) A trust that this coherence is positive and going somewhere good. (Hope) A trust that this coherence includes me and even defines me. (Love)”

“We do have to choose to trust reality and even our physicality, which is to finally trust ourselves. Our readiness to not trust ourselves is surely one of our recurring sins. many sermons tell us to never trust ourselves, to only trust God. That is far too dualistic. How can a person who does not trust themself know how to trust at all?”

“From the very beginning, faith, hope, and love are planted deep within our nature—indeed they are our very nature (Romans 5:5, 8:14-17). The Christian life is simply a matter of becoming who we already are (1 John 3:1-2, 2 Peter 1:3-4). But we have to awaken, allow, and advance this core identity by saying a conscious yes to it and drawing upon it as a reliable and Absolute Source. Again, image must become likeness”

“In this understanding, faith, hope, and love are far more defining of the human person than the "moral virtues," the various good behaviors we learn as we grow older. This is why I cannot abandon an Orthodox or Catholic worldview. For all of their poor formulations, they still offer humanity a foundationally positive anthropology (even though many individuals never learn about it because of poor catechesis!)…”

“So how do we first see and then practice this "Original Goodness"? Paul again gives us an answer. He says, "There are only three things that last, faith, hope, and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). In Catholic theology we called these three essential attitudes the "theological virtues," because they were a "participation in the very life of God"s given freely by God, or "infused" into us at our very conception.”

“Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always" [italics added]. If you're tempted to write this off as idyllic "positive thinking," remember that Paul wrote this letter while literally in chains (1:12-13). How did he pull this off? You might call it "mind control." Many of us just call it "contemplation." ”

“The only way, then, to increase authentic spirituality is to deliberately practice actually enjoying a positive response and a grateful heart. … By following through on conscious choices, we can rewire our responses toward love, trust, and patience. Neuroscience calls this "neuroplasticity." This is how we increase our bandwidth of freedom, and it is surely the heartbeat of any authentic spirituality.”

“I encourage you not to simply take me at my word. Watch your own brain and emotions. You will quickly see there is a toxic attraction to the negative, whether it's a situation at work, a bit of incriminating gossip you overheard, or a sad development in the life of a friend. True freedom from this tendency is exceedingly rare, since we are ruled by automatic responses most of the time."

“The theology of mistrust and suspicion has manifested itself in all kinds of misguided notions: a world always in competition with itself, a mechanical and magical understanding of baptism; fiery notions of hell; systems of rewards and punishments, shaming and exclusion of all wounded individuals (variously defined in each century); beliefs in the superiority of skin color, ethnicity, or nation.”