Integral Profiles: Rollie Stanich. Part 2: From Communion to Integral Christianity
with Rollie Stanich and David Riordan
Many are fortunate enough to be born into a religious tradition that provides a tremendous amount of meaning for us at an early age. But at some point in our lives, we often begin to outgrow the religious teachings of our youth. Where do we go when these once-sacred stories suddenly appear to be little more than a collection of superstitions and hollow myths? How do we reconcile these myths with the developmental capacity for reason and critical thinking? Is there a way to actually deepen our relationship with our inherited religion, rather than being forced to step outside our tradition to explore more exotic paths—or worse, to abandon spirituality altogether?
These questions have been at the core of Rollie’s spiritual journey for decades now, guiding him toward more loving and more inclusive expressions of Christian scripture with each and every step. It is clear that Rollie is going well beyond semantic interpretations of ancient words on a page. He’s doing much more than just reinterpreting the Gospel for a new generation (an admirable and much-needed undertaking in itself)—he is actually enacting and embodying the Gospel in his day-to-day life, revealing the “uncreated light” of God’s love for all to see.
Integral Profiles: Rollie Stanich. Part 1: Who Do You Say That I Am?
November 25, 2009
Integral Profiles: Rollie Stanich. Part 1: Who Do You Say That I Am?
with Rollie Stanich and David Riordan
Rollie Stanich has been a vital part of the emerging Integral movement for years, having previously worked as the Chief Facilitator of Integral Spiritual Center, as a former managing editor of Integral Naked from 2004-2005, and as an ongoing contributor to Integral Life.
Rollie’s spiritual path is one of contemplative Christianity—he is a practitioner of Centering Prayer and a longtime student of Fr. Thomas Keating and co-wrote and co-produced the 2008 Integral Life DVD The Future of Christianity.
In this remarkable and long-overdue interview, Rollie discusses the book he is currently writing, titled Who Do You Say That I Am?—a question Jesus asks Simon in biblical scripture. When Simon responds “You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus blesses him and changes his name to Peter—a symbol of the transformation of identity and spirit that can occur when we are able to meet Jesus exactly where we are. Rollie talks about how this story has been taken for granted by the mythic church, accepting Simon/Peter’s response as the single correct answer to the question—even if we don’t really know what the words “Christ”, “”Messiah,” or “Son of God” actually mean.
But when Rollie is asked “Who do you say that I am?” he doesn’t hear it as a question with a single fixed answer, but as an invitation to reflect upon our own station in life, to see Christ wherever we happen to be, and to acknowledge the fact that our relationship with Christ can appear quite different at different points in our life’s journey. Rollie’s practice of contemplation, prayer, and self-inquiry has helped him to see Christ everywhere he looks—a Christ in all four quadrants, a Christ for all states of consciousness, a Christ for all stages of development. Christ is everywhere at once, loving us exactly where we are, while inviting us to step beyond ourselves.
Rollie is an extraordinary friend, teacher, and role model; an extraordinary example of clarity, compassion, and grace; and is dearly beloved by all who have been fortunate enough to feel the tender warmth of his heart. Not to mention that he is clearly bringing sexy back to Christianity—and God knows that is a good thing!
Religulous: The Baby and the Bathwater
November 18, 2009
Religulous: The Baby and the Bathwater
Is Bill Maher too smart for God? Or not smart enough? Listen and find out!
Duration: 1 hr 17 min
Bill Maher, host of the HBO talk show Real Time With Bill Maher, often asks his guests: “How can someone as smart as yourself actually believe in this religious stuff?” It’s fair question, one that a great many people ask themselves every day, and forms the premise of Maher’s recent comedy/documentary Religulous.
To many, religion seems quaint, anachronistic, even childish in today’s modern and post-modern world. To others, it is downright dangerous—particularly when religious fundamentalism begins to infect our modern-day political, academic, and scientific systems. Or worse, when it gains access to advanced technologies and devastating weaponry.
But there is something crucial missing from Bill Maher’s criticism of religion, which would prompt us to ask him, “How can someone as smart as yourself not realize that there is so much more to religion than just fairy tales? If we take a truly intelligent look at religion, wouldn’t we find something we can salvage from these great and enduring traditions?”
Here’s the irony: by virtue of their critiques against religious fundamentalism, Maher and other rational atheists are demonstrating capacities that can actually be more spiritual than the people and beliefs they are criticizing, in the sense that their rational world-views are more developed than the mythic world-views held by the fundamentalists. And it is true that we need to keep a cautious eye on these mythic, absolutistic, “us vs. them” expressions of religion, which have indeed been (and continue to be) some of the greatest sources of pain and suffering in history—and to this end, Religulous and other contemporary atheists are playing an important role in the overall cultural conversation.
But when we face religious fundamentalism with scientific fundamentalism and dismiss religion altogether, we are also dismissing history’s greatest source of liberation, compassion, and transcendence—the powerfully transformative practices and interpretations of spiritual reality that form the esoteric core of all the world’s religious traditions, east and west.
Listen as Ken and David discuss what Bill Maher (and the rest of the “New Atheist” crowd) are missing in this otherwise provocative and entertaining film.
Esoteric Christianity. Part 1: Two Kinds of Religion
October 28, 2009
Esoteric Christianity. Part 1: Two Kinds of Religion
with Father Thomas Keating, Rollie Stanich, and Ken Wilber
written by Corey W. deVos
It has often been said that there is a central paradox in the role of religion throughout history: on the one hand, religion has been the single greatest cause of war and suffering. On the other, religion has been the single greatest source of redemption, salvation, and liberation for humanity. How can we possibly make sense of this double-edged dagger? How can we reconcile the very best qualities of religion with the very worst?
Father Thomas Keating, Rollie Stanich, and Ken Wilber offer their own insight as they discuss the “inside” and the “outside” of the Christian tradition, exploring the rich contemplative legacy that exists at the core of the world’s largest religion….
Film Review: For the Bible Tells Me So
October 21, 2009
Film Review: For the Bible Tells Me So
with Ken Wilber and David Riordan
A provocative documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So attempts to reconcile homosexuality and biblical scripture while exploring whether Church-sanctioned anti-gay bias might be based entirely upon a misinterpretation of the Bible’s original text. Dan’s stated intention with this film is to offer healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the cross-hairs of Christian scripture and their sexual identity. Join us as we explore this film’s perspective on gay rights, same sex relationships and the role of the Christian church in today’s world….
What Women Want from Christianity
September 16, 2009
What Women Want from Christianity
with Leslie Hershberger and David Riordan
Leslie Hershberger was one of the first spiritual teachers to point out to us the special value Integral Life’s DVD The Future of Christianity has for women. Leslie is engaged in facilitating groups of women in the Midwest that are looking to heal their relationship with the traditional church, while defining a new vessel for their Christian faith that engages them more fully. When Leslie explored with us the themes that were arising out of this work, it became abundantly clear that this was something we wanted to share with you all.
In this interview Leslie talks about her experience of utilizing a diverse range of contemplative teachings and tools in her groups, how this process was shaped by her own spiritual challenges, and what she is hearing from women about what they want from their Christian faith.
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers (Film Review)
August 19, 2009
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers (Film Review)
with Ken Wilber and David Riordan
We have picked a selection of interesting, award winning Christian documentary films for this exploration that run the gamut of Christian perspectives. Our first subject is Dan Merchant’s film Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America. Dan was raised in an evangelical family and then began to ask questions about why there is so much friction between fundamentalist Christians and the broader cultural audience. His three year journey across America revealed classic moments in the developmental divide that when viewed from an Integral perspective start to make sense of the culture war that is on-going in America and around the world.
Exploring the Technium. Part 1: Technology, Evolution, and God
September 17, 2008
Exploring the Technium. Part 1: Technology, Evolution, and God
with Kevin Kelly and Ken Wilber
Wired magazine’s own “Senior Maverick” talks with Ken Wilber about some of the ideas behind Kevin’s blog The Technium, which explores the various ways humanity defines and redefines itself through the interface of science, technology, culture, and consciousness. Kevin also shares some of his own thoughts about the role of spirituality in the 21st century, going into considerable depth around his own spiritual awakening several decades ago.
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