Fr. Greg Boyle S.J. And How To Remedy The Diabolical Twistedness In Formal Christianity.

Dear Tig,

Thanks for bringing the Amanpour interview to my attention.

In addition to focusing Fr. Greg Boyle's work, I have used this post as a springboard to talk about Pope Francis who, last week, pointed out that Donald Trump is "not Christian." 

Christine Amanpour: Fr. Greg Boyle S.J. Rehabilitates LA Gang Members With Tenderness

https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/01/amanpour-homeboy-industries-fr-greg.html  

Against Fr. Greg's backdrop of tenderness, I am increasingly aware of the deep strain of vengeful punitiveness in most formal manifestations of Christianity - your own Unitarian-Universalism being a blessed exception. 

"G.K. Chesterton's Universalism" by Edward T. Babinski

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/02/gk-chestertons-universalism-by-edward-t.html

Although the following meme is probably overstated, it is a beneficial antidote. 

  

I can no longer dodge my slowly simmering conviction that the fire-and-brimstone God -- even if such a "vision" of deity were accurate -- does FAR greater harm than "dropping the whole concept." 

At bottom, eternal torment with no hope of surcease is an essentially torturous vision that encourages "Christian" "conservatives" (who are neither Christian nor conservative) to re-make themselves in a vindictive, tormenting image of God. 

Not only do I believe that this fire-and-brimstone image causes incalculable harm to our fellow humans (often called "the infidels" and not infrequently "the undeserving"), I also believe the "thunder sky God" is responsible for staggering "loss of souls" as this concept of "spiritual lostness/perdition" has been rendered traditionally.

"Are Highly Religious People Less Compassionate?"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/08/are-highly-religious-people-less.html

Although Anne Lamott is usually credited with the following saying, it was her good friend Tom Weston S.J. (a one time confessor of mine) who said: 

In many quarters, diabolical twistedness passes -- routinely -- for "good" Christian practice.

Consider:

"The Poor Are More Than Twice As Charitable As The Rich"
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-poor-are-more-than-twice-as.html
"Most Of The Rich Think The Poor Have It Easy," Washington Post
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/01/most-of-americas-rich-think-poor-have.html
The Rich Believe They Are Rewarded Because They're Deserving. 
Not So The Scum

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-rich-believe-theyve-been-rewarded.html

Love

Alan

Please re-read Pascal's sentence out loud and slowly.

"The Hard, Central Truth Of Contemporary Conservatism"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/04/obamacare-and-hard-central-truth-of.html