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Word Gems 

exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead:

The story of a young girl
who thought she had no right
to question religious authority

 
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Frank Herbert: "If you think of yourself as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual."

 
Herbert might have also added, if we see ourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that we'll believe ourselves incapable of understanding or unraveling mysteries; until one finds healing for this malady, predictions such as Herbert's will suffer no loss.

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of a Catholic girl (although it could have been any hierarchical faith), who, bothered by certain doctrinal teachings, nevertheless, acquiesced to the fates of her life with a reluctant, "Who am I to question the church fathers, the great theologians of the past?”

In other words, "I see these men of apparent, great authority. They tell me that they speak ex cathedra, occupying the same chair of teaching-eminence of holy men of antiquity. Surely, these in their royal purple-and-black represent God. I know it's true because they told me so, and my grandmother affirmed their claim."

Weatherhead responds: "Is this not the argument of the Sadducees against Jesus? Did they not say to him, Who are you to question us!? We stand in a long line of teachers and priests going back to Moses! And you, a mere laborer from the hinterland of Galilee, not even having been taught the secret wisdom of our schools, think that you can challenge us? Your friends, too, they're uppity as well, mere rabble of the crowd, untutored fisherman! And now all of you presume to teach us!"

This same line of errant reasoning was used against the apostle Paul, who had not been one of the original twelve. (see my Galatians thesis)

The London Pastor continues to remonstrate as he attempts to help this young girl to see reality: Do not hide in religion, he says. Do not let servile and fear-based deference to authority serve as proxy for your own clear-eyed thinking and evaluation. You will not slide into the kingdom of God on the coattails of any pompous and august other. You are to live your own life, think your own thoughts, make your own decisions, before God.

You must remember the words of Jesus that each one of us is to serve God "with his mind" - yes, a rational and free-spirited, but loyal, mind. And if that means rejecting the religion of your family, because its teachings offend your soul, then you must do that.

But whatever you do, you must never allow Freudian "transference," the terrorized child-within seeking for a strong parent-figure, to serve as prime motivator of one's actions.