Navigating Catholicism: Embracing Spiritual Wisdom and Healing Traditions

18–27 minutes

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Summary by Le Chat Mistral

Summary by AI Summarizer

Summary of RLK Reflections: Embracing Spiritual Wisdom and Healing Traditions

Introduction
The author of “RLK Reflections” shares their spiritual journey towards joining the Catholic Church after participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). They initially explored the Orthodox Church but faced challenges due to health issues related to fasting. The author aims to integrate various spiritual practices into their Catholic faith.

Key Points

  • The author believes in the validity of sacraments from both the Orthodox and Catholic traditions and plans to incorporate wisdom from various spiritual practices, including healing and natural medicine.
  • They draw distinctions between spirituality, seen as a personal experience, and religion, viewed as a communal practice with shared beliefs.
  • The author has practiced various spiritual disciplines including Johrei, healing contemplation techniques from different traditions, and Eastern Orthodox theology.
  • They had considered joining the Orthodox Church but struggled with the extensive fasting due to health issues, leading them to complete the RCIA program for the Catholic Church in April 2020.
  • The Catholic Church recognizes the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, and the author reflects on various stories demonstrating the working of God across traditions.
  • Despite concluding they will follow a Catholic path, the author values the liturgy and theology of the Orthodox tradition.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of existential and phenomenological perspectives on spiritual experiences, particularly incorporating elements from Zen and Native American traditions.
  • They express a desire to seek answers to spiritual questions within their tradition and broader universal insights.
  • The path forward includes maintaining a focus on holiness and spiritual growth, incorporating teachings from both Catholic and various Eastern traditions.

Conclusion
The author’s spiritual journey reflects a blending of Catholic faith with insights gained from several spiritual practices. They emphasize a commitment to uphold and explore spirituality alongside their religious beliefs. Through their exploration of different traditions, the author seeks a deeper understanding of the divine and the interconnectedness of various spiritual paths.

Eastern Orthodox Archbishop Kallistos Ware said:

“We know where the Church is, but we cannot be sure where it is not . . . “

My Catholic Journey

I created an audio file using Google Notebook LM in which a man and woman dive deeply into my blog post. It’s an excellent rendition. 

Summary by Randy Kemp

I’m a conservative Eastern Catholic, Buddhist – mystic – Yogi — minus any metaphysics, hopeful universalist — and an AI nerd striving to achieve Fr. Richard Rohr’s ‘non-dual mind ‘ with help through silent contemplation and spiritual healing methods. I’ve gained much insight from Fr. Richard Rohr, Fr. Ron Roth, the Byzantine and East Syriac rite churches, and virtual and in-person programs at the Theosophical Society in America.

These contemporary Christians, along with the Eastern Churches, have influenced my thinking. I’ll let Claude AI summarize them.

Summary by Claude AI:

Ron Roth (1934-2009) was a former Catholic priest who developed a spiritual healing ministry. His theology included:

  • Integration of Christian healing traditions with elements from Eastern spirituality
  • Emphasis on the power of prayer for physical and spiritual healing
  • A universal approach to spirituality that transcended traditional religious boundaries
  • Focus on personal spiritual experiences rather than dogma
  • Belief in the divine presence within all people

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar known for his work in contemplative spirituality. His theology features:

  • A non-dualistic approach that seeks to transcend binary thinking in Christianity
  • Strong emphasis on contemplative practice and mystical traditions
  • Integration of wisdom from various religious traditions, particularly Eastern practices
  • Focus on male spirituality and rites of passage
  • Concept of the “Universal Christ” that extends beyond institutional Christianity
  • Criticism of literalist interpretations of scripture in favor of more profound, mystical readings

Here’s a summary of the core idea by Google Gemini:

  • Stop thinking about the problem and think about God instead. This is the central tenet of the Golden Key. Fox asserts that whatever the trouble – be it health, financial, or interpersonal – the solution lies in redirecting your thoughts entirely to the Divine.
  • Scientific Prayer: Fox describes this method as “scientific prayer.” It’s not about pleading or begging but about recognizing God as the ultimate power and allowing that power to work in your life.
  • Simplicity of Method: The technique is remarkably simple. Instead of dwelling on the issue, you consciously shift your focus to contemplating the attributes of God, such as wisdom, truth, and love.
  • Consistency is Key: The essay emphasizes the importance of persistently applying this method. By continually turning your thoughts to God, you drive out the negative thoughts associated with the difficulty.
  • No Need to Outline Solutions: Fox advises against trying to figure out how the problem will be solved. The focus should solely be on connecting with the Divine, and the solution will unfold naturally.
  • Universal Application: The Golden Key is presented as a universally accessible tool, available to anyone regardless of their background or beliefs. It is God who works, not the individual’s limited abilities.
  • Transforming Difficult People/Situations: The principle can also be applied to troublesome individuals or challenging circumstances by replacing negative thoughts about them with thoughts of God. This is not about controlling others but about preventing harm and fostering positive change.

In essence, the Golden Key is a practical guide to shifting consciousness from focusing on problems to focusing on a higher power, thereby allowing divine action to bring about resolution and peace. Emmet Fox’s concise writing made this powerful message accessible to a wide audience, and it continues to resonate with those seeking spiritual solutions to life’s challenges. The Golden Key’s message has been influential in various spiritual and self-help circles, including early Alcoholics Anonymous.

Besides having different interpretations of scripture, Protestant churches are splitting into conservative and liberal church divisions. Ancient sacrament churches, such as Western and Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and the Assyrian Church of the East, don’t, but they have different perspectives on theological issues. Take, for example, the Catholic concept of priests forgiving sins and what ChatGPT says in part. This makes them closer to Protestant churches than to Catholic ones.

From ChatGPT response

Key Difference from Catholicism

  • The Catholic Church teaches that priests have direct sacramental authority to forgive sins in the person of Christ (in persona Christi).
  • The Orthodox and Assyrian Church of the East teach that priests act as spiritual guides, leading the penitent to God’s forgiveness, rather than possessing an intrinsic power to forgive sins themselves.
  • I embrace these Christian isms: Christian inclusivism, hopeful Universalism, and the Orthodox view of heaven and hell. I don’t think God is a sadist or runs a torture chamber. The big theological and philosophical question is what to do about evil people. One can confine evil in an afterlife that is Eastern Orthodox and/or N.T. Wright’s vision and God’s mercy and grace encompass moral people outside the Christian umbrella (also known as inclusivism). Or have a temporary hell or purgatorial for all, which I hope is the answer.
  • Decades ago, I went on a quest in my spare time when I wasn’t working or involved in academics. I wanted to see if gifts of the spirit, spiritual healing, Native American ceremonies, meditation, contemplation, mindfulness, metaphysical reflection, homeopathy, Eastern medicine, saints of all religions, etc., were valid. Then, I had to retrofit what I discovered into my theological and philosophical Christian worldview.
  • This is my contemplation practice:
  • I once knew a psychiatrist and abnormal psychology professor who saw everything through the lens of an Existential/ Phenomenological/Zen view of pure experience. I mimic this when I view other traditions, much like psychology users, who use Buddhist mindfulness via scientific usage.
  • Those in the Lakota and Cherokee tribes call God the ‘Great Mystery.’ A mystical journey? See Coming into a mystical way of seeing – Saint Innocent Orthodox Church.

Well, I decided to join the Catholic church in April 2020. Now, I have finished the Catholic RCIA program. I hung out and studied with (the Catechumenate or Catechumen) Orthodox Church in America (oca.org) for a year. I also have some Saint Benedict press online videos as a Catholic candidate.

The problem with the EO church was the fasts. They are extensive, and I did have medical issues while doing them. This is what I communicated to the Eastern Orthodox priests via email:

I intended to become Orthodox. But to continue with the RCIA and learn more about them. But if asked about my background, I would have shared this info. It never occurred to me to share this.

The Catholic position is that the Orthodox have valid orders and sacraments. However, there is no official Orthodox position on Catholic Orders and sacraments. The majority opinion seems to be that the Holy Spirit left the Catholic church – due to theological additions. But there are stories to the contrary. Like a Native American heard God (AKA the book Christ and the Pipe) speak to become a priest. And a nun heard this. And he didn’t listen for seven years. And all kinds of nasty things happened to him until he became a priest. Or an active Catholic Charismatic tradition. Or God is working miracles through Catholic saints. And I realize that Orthodoxy would have similar stories. And some might attribute these stories to the devil’s influence or natural causes.

Also, I had health issues. And trouble doing the fasts. Having traditional doctors run tests to determine the root cause would be expensive and time-consuming. And get official medical excuses.

I’ll always treasure the richness of the Orthodox liturgy, theology, and the clergy and priests.”

Randy Kemp

Well, the Roman Catholic church does teach:

Christian Inclusivism:

Summary by Google Gemini of Those Who Have Never Heard: A Survey of the Major Positions 

The article surveys major Christian views on the destiny of those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus. It highlights the tension between God’s universal desire for salvation and the belief in salvation through Jesus. It then explores perspectives like universalism, inclusivism, postmortem evangelism, universal opportunity before death, restrictivism, and agnosticism, referencing biblical texts and the associated theological arguments. The article emphasizes that all views agree that Jesus is the only Savior.

And if any is in hell – even temporary… the Eastern Orthodox / Eastern Catholic perspective is the best way – of understanding it. Heaven and hell are our reactions to being in the presence of God. Be the Bee #67 | Heaven and Hell – YouTube

These articles will explore this view further.

This doesn’t mean I’m dropping anything that provides healing and contemplation help. And I’ll still work on becoming aspiring Holy Fools – The Jesus Trip – YouTube.

We are all surrounded inside and outside by an invisible field of divine grace. All the time. Even in deep sleep. Then why do we have to pray for it to descend? That is the divine design. The path opens when we feel the cool breeze on a hot summer day. The Grace touches you, and you are awake to touch it. This is a divine touch. Whenever fear comes to consume you, chat with the grace field. Assure yourself that the power of Grace is more than all concerns of the world put together.

Grace alone is the reality! Grace and God are One!

~~Bodhi Shuddhaanandaa

What now?

The big question is: Where do we go from here? This journey will be guided by the existential, phenomenological; Zen view of pure experience developed by a former psychology professor and psychiatrist. What would an ‘aspiring’ Holy Fool do? Usually, when answering a question.

I always find the answers I seek. I call my theological path and position Orthodoxy in communication with Rome via Holy Foolery. And I make alliances with spiritual groups and individuals – for spirituality. They follow the Quaker principles of light, silence, healing, and ethics. The ultimate objective of both processes is Theosis.

So while my Christian faith path will be Catholic…I’ll incorporate the wisdom and contemplative methods, from these traditions:

Roman Catholic priest Fr. Rohr of CAC emphasizes ‘non-dual’ consciousness or contemplation. In Eastern Orthodox methods, we can find this in the Holy Fool and dessert father paths – leading to Theosis.. Eastern Holy person Swami Vivekananda found non-dual consciousness best embodied in Vedanta, Raja Yoga – (see. Heartfulness for a simplistic and powerful adaptation, and Zen): and Native American holy people, Black Elk and Fools Crow, from this via the Red Road.

Spirituality

“He who always abides in the present now, in him does God beget his Son without ceasing.

– Meister Eckhart.

In teaching from the desert fathers, “an old Desert Father was asked what was necessary to do to be saved. He was sitting making rope. He said, “You’re looking at it without glancing up.” [1] Just as so many mystics have taught us, doing what we are doing with presence and intention is prayer.

From a CAC newsletter

I have visited the equivalent of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain temples, as well as Islamic mosques and Native American ceremonies, in the past. I love Buddhist and Sikh temples and Native American ceremonies the best. Let’s have a bit of YouTube education on different religious traditions:

I decided that in addition to religion, I would seek spirituality. Then, I bring my spirituality back to the field of religion. They go hand-in-hand. Now that I’m into Francasian and Eastern Catholic theology. And can be found in books by Catholic writers. Like you find in the Catholic author books

Or in the Native American books

  • Fools Crow by James Welch
  • Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power by Thomas E. Mails
  • lack Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition by John G. Neihardt

And on the Eastern front

  • This House Is On Fire: The Life of Shri Dhyanyogi by Shri Anandi Ma
  • Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings by Paul Reps.
  • Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams
  • The headspace guide to meditation and mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe

Let me quote from this article: Spirituality vs Religion: 4 Differences You Should Consider – Happier Human

Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, while religion involves a group of people brought together by their common faith or beliefs about the divine. Religion aims to build one’s character. It shapes one’s beliefs, attitudes, and actions by emphasizing adherence to rules.

“The darkness is not the absence of light, but the terror that comes from the blinding light” – Jacob Boehme

Some groups and individuals do “allegedly” share light and energy – for healing and contemplation. I will still be part of those:

  • In the East, it’s called shakti or transmission. It can be found in groups and individuals, such as the Dhyan Yoga Center, Heartfulness, Shiva Bala Yogi, Karunamayi, and Ammachi.
  • In Japan, it’s called Johrei, with groups like Sukyo Mahikari and Johrei
  • In Germany, it’s called Heilstrom, with the Bruno Groening Circle of friends
  • In the Sufi tradition, it’s called Baraka
  • The Eastern Orthodox call it God’s energies.

Let me quote from Talks with a Sufi Shaykh: Miracles (sufimaster.blogspot.com)

I have asked Shaykh why he does not let people know he can do these things.

His reply is always, “I can’t do anything. If Allah wishes for something to happen, then it does. If I think that I can do anything else, it is my Nafs talking, and if I say I can do this or do that, then I am saying that “I” have power, which is not true. Only Allah has power; only Allah can “Do.” To think anything else is saying that Allah has a partner.”

Perhaps this is the biggest miracle of all.

Spiritual Recommendations

To learn about service, I recommend these individuals or groups:

To learn about healing, I recommend these groups:

To learn about meditation, I recommend groups like this:

And I learned a lot, about being of service to others. By such folks, as

Prayer Approaches

I sometimes use the pray styles of these individuals:

I asked Bing Co-Pilot this: Tell me how Joel Osteen, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emmet Fox would pray and contemplate.

Joel Osteen, Mary Baker Eddy, and Emmet Fox each had their unique approaches to prayer and contemplation:

  • Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, practiced a disciplined prayer routine. She would pray three times a day for all humanity, focusing on the divine blessing for the sick and sorrowing. Her approach was to see and hear only good, maintaining a radical stand for the perfection of God’s creation. She also provided a spiritual interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing God’s omnipotence and ever-presence.
  • Joel Osteen emphasizes a prayer method that includes worship, surrender, asking for provision, forgiveness, and direction. He advocates for praying with faith and boldness, believing that God-sized prayers can lead to living a life of greatness and potential.
  • Emmet Fox taught the “Golden Key” to prayer, which is a method of overcoming difficulties by focusing the mind on God rather than the problem. This approach is about shifting one’s attention away from challenges and towards the divine, trusting God’s power to resolve issues.

These spiritual leaders shared a belief in the power of prayer and the importance of faith, but they expressed this belief in ways that reflected their understandings and teachings.

Bing Co-Pilot AI

A True Personal Story

Let me end with a true story. It’s an offbeat story so that you can read some of my spiritual blog posts. In February – March 2020, I ended up having a tsunami of Covid-19 hit me. But, while it coursed through my whole body, it didn’t hit the lungs. It’s like they were magically protected. I followed the Illinois isolation protocols. I also didn’t need hospitalization or modern medicine. Why was I protected?

  • Was it because of my deceased mom’s genetic constitution? For the record, she was born with the gift of prophecy. I have experienced this many times in my life.
  • Was it because I hung around with authentic Native American medicine people and ceremonies, Indian holy people, and Catholic Chiasmatic and other spiritual healers?
  • Divine intervention?
  • Was it because I was a lifelong user of homeopathy?
  • Etc.

You come up with a theory. But I was protected from danger. Since then, I have had all the recommended CDC vaccines.

The CTMU offers a Christian Inclusive view of the Trinity, angels, demons, and panentheism. Folks can create their hell, like John Milton’s version. But there’s a way out by remembering God. Man with 200 IQ Explains the Secrets of Reality. In The Skeletons in God’s Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment, the Hope of Holy War: Butler, Joshua Ryan: 9780529100818: Amazon.com: Books, hell is a prison. But this story offers a way to heaven for them: The Parable of Long-Handled Spoons. Let’s end with some books to read:

If you wish to contact me, you can do so via my social media accounts

Summary by Le Chat Mistral Eastern Orthodox Archbishop Kallistos Ware said: “We know where the Church is, but we cannot be sure where it is not . . . “ My Catholic Journey I created an audio file using Google Notebook LM in which a man and woman dive deeply into my blog post. It’s…

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