20 April 2012

LCWR: this is just embarrassing. . .

Just in case anyone out there is unclear about the reasons for the CDF's assessment of the LCWR's theological sanity, here's an excerpt from their 2012 assembly keynote speaker:

Although we may never know what really happened, we do know that the story told in the Gospels is that Jesus’ resurrection was a first demonstration of what I call the post-human universal person. We are told that he did not die. He made his transition, released his animal body, and reappeared in a new body at the next level of physicality to tell all of us that we would do what he did. The new person that he became had continuity of consciousness with his life as Jesus of Nazareth, an earthly life in which he had become fully human and fully divine. Jesus’ life stands as a model of the transition from Homo sapiens to Homo universalis.

Now, here's some commentary and questions:

Although we may never know what really happened [So, "what really happened" is not recorded in the Gospels?], we do know that the story told in the Gospels is that Jesus’ resurrection was a first demonstration of what I call the post-human universal person [And how do we know this?  Because you say so?  We should trust you but not the Gospels?]. We are told that he did not die [False.  2,000 years of Christian teaching is crystal clear:  the man Jesus died on the Cross.  No Christian church/denomination denies this fact]. He made his transition [died?], released his animal body [died?], and reappeared in a new body at the next level of physicality [There are "levels of physicality"?  Has anyone told Dawkins?  What does this mean?] to tell all of us that we would do what he did [Didn't he mention something about following his Way while he was still living; or, was all that just a dream? How did he tell us this?  Through the apparently unreliable Gospels?]. The new person that he became [Person?  But he "released his animal body," so what does "person" mean?"] had continuity of consciousness with his life as Jesus of Nazareth, an earthly life in which he had become fully human and fully divine [Wait.  Has he released his animal body at this point?  I'm confused about the chronology of the releasing of the animal body!  Is the Jesus of the Animal Body a product of the continuity of consciousness, or does that stuff come later?]. Jesus’ life [Which Jesus?  Pre or post-release of the animal body?] stands as a model of the transition from Homo sapiens to Homo universalis [Saying stupid stuff in Latin doesn't make it smart].

I think that Thomas McDonald is being too kind when he describes Ms Hubbard's explanation of "conscious evolution" as ". . .a combination of X-Men comics, techno-fetishizing, narcissism, New Age nonsense, paganism, trite bromides, bad grammar, Gnosticism, and good old heresy."  I would add a few descriptive words myself, but I might die in my sleep unabsolved of serious sin. 

That Catholic religious sisters are even considering paying this charlatan money is truly beyond embarrassing.  I've read a number of self-respecting dissident Catholic theologians and even they would be ashamed to be associated with this sort of bad sci-fi TV writing.  I can imagine a number of Unitarian Universalist pagans who would blush upon reading this junk.

To the Good Sisters who will be tarnished by this silliness, I am sorry.  Speak up!  Let the cadre who pretend to speak for you know that you are serious women, serious Christians, and that you want to be perfected in the Risen Lord and not "continued in consciousness" to become Homo universalis!
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12 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:46 AM

    FROM THE LATEST LCWR NEWSLETTER....

    Thirty-five LCWR members and justice and peace
    coordinators gathered at Bethany Center near
    Tampa from March 5 to 8 to explore “Consciousness
    and Campaigns: Spirituality and Politics beyond
    Dualism.”

    In a society and church increasingly characterized
    by polarization and misunderstanding, how can
    people of good will find common ground? Where can
    people of faith find communion?

    With the guidance of executive director of NETWORK,
    Simone Campbell, SSS, and composer and retreat director
    Jan Novotka, the group journeyed from contemplative
    silence and meditative song, to analysis of systems
    that divide, to an awakening to the essential unity of all.

    Participants were challenged to dive deep into the mystical
    unitive consciousness and to cross the false boundaries
    and categories which divide and limit efforts to
    effect systemic change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMGsh! One thing after another. If they really want to "cross false boundaries and categories", all they have to do is follow and stand up for the Faith which is neither Republican nor Democrat. Christ was a sign of contradiction. They need to stand up for and serve BOTH the poor and the unborn, and to teach the Truth which cannot be stuffed into politically correct boundaries.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous8:51 AM

    An Earth Day Triduum from the Caldwell OPs

    http://www.caldwellop.org/images//EARTH%20DAY%20April%2019-22_Layout%201.doc.pdf

    The words Jesus and Christ appear nowhere.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:52 AM

    Wow, couldn't find a more blatant piece of total heresy. And what really sends me over the edge is to think that where these communities are serving the poor, they are probably teaching this bunk to them as if it were Christian doctrine. As many commentators note, serving the poor does not get people off the hook for adopting and promoting heresy....the poor deserve the truth too.

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    Replies
    1. David9:09 PM

      To be honest they are probably not serving anyone but themselves.

      Delete
  4. Oh, I really laughed out loud => I would add a few descriptive words myself, but I might die in my sleep unabsolved of serious sin.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ". . .a combination of X-Men comics,.."

    Seriously Father, what did the X-Men do that merits this?

    ReplyDelete
  6. While you're absolutely correct to note that "Saying stupid stuff in Latin doesn't make it smart", I would add that it DOES add at least 3 zeroes to what you are getting paid to include it in a speech.

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  7. Fr. Philip, you might find it enlightening to do some research about what some "bioethicists" are teaching now, in regard to "personhood". The quoted blurb reeks of someone who has bought into that line of thinking.

    "Personhood" from their perspective is in no way related to whether one is human. It's entirely about their cognitive abilities. Thus a mentally disabled human or an infant (and DEFINITELY a fetus) can be deemed to NOT be "persons" and in the converse chimpanzees and dolphins may be "persons".

    While I've never heard the term Homo Universalis, I can definitely see how the desire to re-write what is good and Holy about Homo Sapiens as being about trying to rise above our humanity to "Homo Universalis" as being directly tied to both "personhood" theory and the related field of transhumanism.

    Peter Singer buys into this line of thinking as well as many other "bioethicists". Prepare to be VERY disturbed as you learn about how they view the world.

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  8. Warren Anderson12:19 PM

    Sadly, our temp chaplain, substituting for our regular priest who is on sabbatical, spoke in a similar manner as the cited keynote speaker every weekday Mass, four days a week for the past three months. I don't know whose actions to condemn more, the heretic or the one who invited the heretic.

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  9. "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (mention LCWR request). Amen" Join us in this prayer to the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. Let's make it viral!!!

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  10. Ken, reading anything by Singer actually makes one's IQ drop several points. . .much like reading anything approved by the LCWR.

    ReplyDelete