Nearly ten years in the past, a e-book was printed which maybe didn’t get the
consideration it deserves. It’s titled Tantric Jesus: The Erotic Coronary heart of Early
Christianity and was penned by James Reho, an Episcopal priest residing in
Florida. In his preface to the e-book, Matthew Fox calls it an experiment in
Deep Ecumenism. It is a phrase that he coined to call a motion, the
motion that can unleash the knowledge of all world religions (see DM for
October 10, 2021).
Comparative non secular research, whereas bringing a couple of deeper respect for non secular traditions apart from one’s personal, have remained fairly dry and educational. Interfaith dialogue, intending to maneuver past comparisons, has usually remained fairly well mannered and unwilling to interrupt confines and blend identities. Necessary as each these efforts have been in the midst of the twentieth century, we now really feel the urge for a step past.
Matthew praises James Reho as a result of he has rendered himself weak to the deep and nuanced knowledge of the East and since in returning to his personal custom, i.e. Christianity, he is ready to see it with completely different eyes and is now demanding extra in grappling with it. In different phrases, Reho is just not stopping on the floor of issues.
Essentially the most attention-grabbing level that Matthew makes in his preface is certainly that we wage battles between our religion traditions primarily based on a superficial understanding of them. Rock on, Matthew! I couldn’t agree extra. These non secular people who find themselves afraid of dropping their identification may at occasions have good causes — for instance, when all religions are lumped collectively and with a obscure ethical sense — however more often than not are defending dogma just because they haven’t penetrated the existential kernel of it.
Quite the opposite, as a result of Reho cares deeply — I’d say, immensely —about Jesus, and since he has immersed himself deeply in Tantrism, he instructions our respect for the knowledge he has to share, which he calls Christian Tantra.
As with all Tantra, we’re discussing a non secular observe, or quite a sensible science, as he calls it. This explicit method, nonetheless, is Christian as a result of Jesus turns into the nice guru, quite than any modern human being.
In Christian Tantra, love turns into a lot greater than a notion, an ideology, or a superficial feeling. It’s much more than an motion, which empowers others — certainly a superb definition of Christian love in itself — as a result of whereas it does that, it additionally enters into deep feeling, the sort of secure reference to the divine, which very seemingly was the substance of early Christian expertise. Reho talks concerning the tantric nature of Christian spirituality, which is a really brave option to title what he found, specifically that “the Manner” of early Christians was a faculty of affection resulting in divinization on this life. Not within the afterlife.
Christ then turns into not primarily an object for perception however a residing presence, the uncreated mild that fills and animates all creation. Christ is none apart from our personal deepest identification… When utilized to ourselves, true Tantra teaches that it’s not our ego or character that turns into deified (thank God for that!), however quite the deeper who that we’re, of whom we would not even have an inkling.
All of this is likely to be acquainted to the readers, however the e-book goes deeper in suggesting the observe of historical Christian prayers reinterpreted by Tantra, in addition to Tantric behaviors and rituals reinterpreted for Christian use. Amongst which shines, as one might count on, what Reho calls the sacrament of the bridal chamber. He doesn’t shrink back from something, whereas he additionally approaches the whole lot with the best respect.
Banner picture: Element of “Cósmico Cristo” by Ullrrich Javier Lemus. Used with permission.
Queries for Contemplation
What’s your private expertise with Deep Ecumenism?
Associated Readings by Matthew Fox
One River, Many Wells: Knowledge Springing from International Faiths
Unique Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Items for the Peoples of the Earth
Charles Burack, ed., Matthew Fox: Important Writings on Creation Spirituality
