I read that Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S. J. did a twist on Descartes’s epistemological maxim, “I think therefore I am.” He said, “I love therefore I am.” My research indicates the quote may be attributed to an unknown author. Whatever the case may be, it’s a thought for the ages.
It’s a tough one to live by, but a noble statement that deserves an earnest effort nonetheless.
You wouldn’t know it from looking at the world, but I’ve heard it said more than once that we are on a quest, whether we know it or not, to discover the depths and reaches of love. I’ve heard it from the pews wherever I’ve attended services Protestant or Catholic.
Theologians say Descartes’ maxim is a limitation because we are conscious not just because we think. Discounting the heart and gut in discerning our place in the world and in discerning epistemology is problematic. Conscious awareness of love takes the use of all our senses and our whole being. We are more than just what we think, we are what we do as well and how we employ our thoughts to action.
I was walking in my neighborhood yesterday, and I caught the eye of my elderly neighbor who was standing about thirty yards away. I’ve encountered him on his porch before and said “hello” from the sidewalk. Last time I spoke with him and said “hello,” he said, “Taking a walk?” I responded, “Yeah, trying to get my steps in.” He half smiled and said, “At least I have more hair than you.” In other words, I may not be able to do what you’re doing as well as I did, but in this life of competition, I can beat you at something. I just laughed it off and moved on with my walk.
Yesterday, I said “hello” as he was rolling a garbage can back to his backyard. He stood up straight and looked a little peeved at me and responded, “Are you coming to visit me or are you going for a walk?” He seemed put off that I said “hello.” I didn’t want him to think I was bothering him, so I spoke honestly. “I’m on a walk, and I’m just trying to be neighborly. God bless you,” I responded.
The God bless you is a good one. I use that one when someone’s been nasty to me. It’s my passive aggressive way of getting back at someone who needs to be reminded that we’re all in this together buddy, let’s remember that there’s something bigger going on here.” I’ve used this to diffuse situations as well.
During a protest, Father Daniel Berrigan, S.J. said, “If you can’t protest in the name of love and do something out of anger, don’t do it. The consequences of this are too dangerous.” In other words, as MLK said, “I’ve decided to stick to love. Hate’s too big a burden to bear.”
Maybe it’s time for a re-examination of what we’re doing here and how we’re doing it. I heard about an incident at the recent Synod of Bishops at the Vatican. A bishop refused to sit next to a priest, who has been calling for reforms in the Catholic Church in the way they treat homosexuals, and the bishop walked out of the Synod. He wasn’t even willing to listen. There are members of his diocese who are gay. Isn’t it worth it to hear out a fellow priest and have a theological discussion about this issue? We all need to examine our motives for doing things. When I think of the Church and its response to homosexuals, I have to question, are they teaching, “I love therefore I am?”
Are we meeting people where they are and accepting them unconditionally for who they are? The archdiocese of Cleveland formally issued a policy and told schools “A person may only participate in institutional activities single sex activities (whether curricular or extracurricular, athletics, ministries or other programs) that are designated as single sex consistent with his or her God-given biological sex.”
“No person may publicly advocate or celebrate sexual orientation or identify in ways that are contrary to the Catholic Church’s teaching and that could cause disruption or scandal regarding the Catholic Church’s teaching. This includes but is not limited to displaying symbols such as LGBTQ pride or rainbow LGBTQ pride flags or symbols that could be construed as being opposed to the Catholic Church teaching.”
It also asserts:
“In the case of a person who is a minor, if and when a member of the staff or faculty of an institution becomes aware that such minor is experiencing gender dysphoria or gender confusion, the institution shall, with reasonable promptness, notify such minor’s parents or guardian of that fact. The foregoing notwithstanding, if there is a reasonable concern that so notifying the parents of the minor will result in physical abuse of the minor, an institution should in such cases consult with the Diocese Legal Office and the Bishop’s designated moral theologian prior to determining if such information should be disclosed to parents or guardians.”
First of all, whatever happened to an individual’s right to privacy and right to come out when they are good and ready? Teachers should not be placed in a position of outing people. No one should. An individual should feel free to love whom he or she wishes.
Secondly, the fact that homosexuals cannot love who they want to love and have to “come out” to others implies that we as a society have not fully accepted the act of accepting people for who they are. Some in Christianity are primary offenders of this, as I’ve heard claims that homosexuality is nothing more than a “psychological problem” or “social disorder” in addition to the words exhibited above regarding “sexual dysmorphia” and “sexual confusion.”
Science suggests otherwise. People are born that way and it should be recognized as such. Whatever happened to Catholic social teaching that accepts that homosexuality is how God made you? We are now in the business of casting aspersions and denying the dignity of individuals.
Not me. “It’s too easy to hate.” The slow burning scowls we wear in this world indicates something else is going on underneath. We don’t take the time to understand what’s going on. We don’t listen or look for the signs of pain because we’ve seemingly become immune to them or our senses have been dulled by the daily onslaught of hardship.
My response and the offense I took from the exchange with my neighbor, tells me I need to work on this. If you can’t act in love, go within and do the work. Ask the question why? Maybe I should sit down with my neighbor and stop to listen and lend a hand rather than judge.
Maybe, that’s what the churches should do as well – examine their consciences. The first step in doing that should be asking the question, what do I think of the phrase, “I love therefore I am?”
spirit beat 