The Universal Christ: A New Reformation of Christian Faith?
Richard Rohr's "The Universal Christ" has sparked both excitement and controversy in theological circles. The book invites readers to reconsider their understanding of Christ, moving beyond the traditional Western view focused solely on Jesus of Nazareth. Rohr, a Franciscan priest known for his contemplative approach, presents a vision of the Universal Christ as the divine presence permeating all of creation, challenging conventional Christian doctrines and offering a progressive perspective on faith.
The First Incarnation: Creation as God's Emanation
Rohr introduces the concept of the "First Incarnation," equating it with Creation itself. He argues that the physical universe is composed entirely of God, with divine DNA saturating all structures of existence. This panentheistic view asserts that God immerses and constitutes the entire physical universe while also transcending it. The Universal Christ, therefore, is not limited to the person of Jesus but exists "from the beginning," as described in various biblical passages, most notably the Gospel of John.
This perspective aligns with Apocatastasis, the doctrine of universal reconciliation, suggesting that every particle in the physical universe will eventually be reconciled with God. By emphasizing the First Incarnation, Rohr encourages a more holistic understanding of God as both the Source and Substance of All Being.
Re-evaluating Core Christian Doctrines
Rohr challenges traditional interpretations of original sin and vicarious atonement, arguing that these doctrines have negatively impacted Christian faith by portraying God as a sadistic deity demanding payment for love. He points out that the doctrine of original sin was not mentioned in the Bible and wasn't even proposed by the church patriarchs until Augustine in the fifth century. Even then, the concept didn’t take full hold within the church until the 11th century when St. Anselm devised the equally abhorrent vicarious atonement theory.
Instead, Rohr emphasizes the importance of Jesus' life, teachings, and actions, viewing him as a "way-shower" of the highest ideal rather than a "mistake fixer" for God. He advocates for a rediscovery of restorative justice, focusing on rehabilitation and reconciliation rather than punishment.
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Jesus and the Universal Christ: Elevating Jesus' Stature
Recognizing the Universal Christ does not diminish the role of Jesus but elevates him to a universal stature. Rohr posits that the Christ that immerses the world is the same Christ that was imbued in Jesus the person. Jesus is the "thisness" of God ("God is like this and this is God") so what Jesus is by nature everything else is by grace (divine love). We are not God but every single person is born out of the love of God, expresses this love in [their] unique personal form and has the capacity to be united with God.
Rohr wants you to meet this Christ who has always existed (eternal God), became incarnate in time (Jesus of Nazareth), and who is still being revealed (by the power of the Holy Spirit). He calls the Universal Christ part of the “perennial tradition.” Many great spiritual teachers of the last 75 years have pointed to the perennial tradition to refer to a common source for great spiritual ideas that are shared among religious traditions.
Practical Implications: Seeing Christ Everywhere
Rohr redefines salvation within Christianity, stating, "The proof that you are a Christian is that you can see Christ everywhere else." This encourages believers to recognize the divine presence in all aspects of life, from nature and animals to other human beings.
Rohr’s explanation of how the two church’s viewed Jesus’ resurrection is also eye-opening. The Western church focuses solely on Jesus rising from the dead, while the Eastern church puts emphasis on Jesus pulling souls out of hell. The view that the Western church has that Jesus sends people to hell is wrong, Jesus leads a corporate exodus out of hell.This is a book that will stay with me, it has caused me to try to see the Christ in the things and people I would least expect. That’s hard to do but the more I do it the more “Christian” I’ll become. I also learned that God speaks to us in our thoughts. I think I knew that but it was reinforced here, especially that the harsh thoughts are not of God they come from within. God speaks to us through grace.
Criticisms and Challenges
Despite its appeal, "The Universal Christ" has faced criticism for its broad-brush theological ideas and perceived inaccuracies. Some critics argue that Rohr's separation of "Jesus" from "Christ" contradicts traditional Christian teachings and that his panentheistic views align more closely with Eastern philosophies like pantheism. Concerns have also been raised about the ethical implications of a "universal Christ," particularly in relation to evil and suffering.
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Edward Dowler, in his review in the Church Times, puts it rather well:
Many will warm to him who think that theological language and concepts grown stale and fusty will benefit from being thrown up in the air so that we can be excited by seeing where they land. And they often do land in interesting places, thus yielding a wealth of striking aphorisms and insights.
Others, however, who value plodding virtues such as accuracy and attention to what the scriptures and teachers of the tradition have actually said, will find difficulty with the sweeping generalisations, questionable assertions, and Aunt Sallys that Rohr frequently sets up, so as then to be able, triumphantly, to knock them down.
Why is Rohr so popular?
Rohr’s broad-brush, simple approach has an almost visceral appeal to it. The consistent line is that his position is the mature understanding of Christian faith, and that if you have any objections to it, it is essentially because you have not yet understood and not yet reached his degree of contemplative maturity.
Rohr is a Roman Catholic priest who has studied some psychology, and has counselled many individuals over the decades since he was ordained. He’s not a traditionalist, or a hard-line Catholic. He acknowledges that there are many ways to find God, that each denomination or confession may have some of the truth, but probably not all of it. He is a deep thinker, full of both common sense and insight.
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A Call for Re-Thinking and Openness
"The Universal Christ" is a thought-provoking work that challenges readers to re-think their understanding of Christian faith. While it may not resonate with everyone, it offers a fresh perspective on core doctrines and encourages a more inclusive and holistic view of God's presence in the world.
It’s quite heavy-going in places; it took me over three weeks to finish this, reading just a few pages each morning and having plenty to think about.
tags: #the #universal #christ #explained
