Bergant, Sylvester, Winter:
Toward a spirituality that is broader, deeper than religion

Citing the story of Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:1-8), biblical scholar Dianne Bergant noted that Moses was not a leader, and not even a majority player in the Midianite society when God chose him to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt. God is not limited by territorial boundaries or preconceived notions about who should lead.

Bergant analyzed effective leadership. “Who are the people that you really follow?” she asked. We have a responsibility to be fully informed on issues, yet aware that we each perceive them according to our own context. Since we are the privileged—made so by economics, education, opportunity—we need to evaluate ourselves as potential leaders. We also need to keep in mind God’s promise of deliverance, or redemption. We cannot redeem ourselves; God must do it.

But we do have responsibilities, to the poor, to the earth, to use wisely the resources we have been given. Bergant encouraged the virtue of frugality in this world where there is presently such an imbalance in distribution of the world’s goods. “In many ways we disregard Creation because we think we own it,” she said. She also noted that we could learn much from non-Christian traditions about using the earth’s resources with respect simply because God has created them.

Bergant noted that the Old Testament writings seem to presume that God is always on the side of the Israelites, much as some Americans seem to think that God is always on our country’s side. But Bible stories should spur us on to let God work through us.

Time for systemic change

Nancy Sylvester asserted that this is a critical moment in history for systemic change. But there is a structural impasse as children are exploited, the military is seen as the answer to everything, we face the possibility of nuclear retaliation, and some religions seem to foment hate, not cooperation. Progress and consumerism, far from enhancing our lives, may be bringing us closer to destruction. Within the Church, men are so threatened by women that authoritarian attitudes and patriarchal postures keep women from giving their gifts freely. Societies in which separateness is fostered, domination is encouraged, and an either/or mentality prevails are destructive to their members. Often greed, abuse of power, and violence ensues and changes the life of the planet.

What can liberate us? Sylvester said we should make a place for both science and faith. “Our attitudes should be both/and rather than either/or.” Truth is not absolute. We all have insights and we are all related. The new cosmology shows us how interrelated we are. It is not only virtuous to listen to each other. It is downright expedient. Collaboration will be more productive than competition. We must also remember: the earth does not belong to humans. Humans belong to the earth.

Our God is bigger

Miriam Therese Winter said, “Who God is for us determines the lengths we will go for God.” She began with female images of God in Hebrew Scripture: Shaddai (frequently translated at God Almighty though it means God the breasted one), Shekkinah and Sophia. Combining these images with the story of Moses and the burning bush, Winter concluded that God is saying, “I will be for you who you need me to be.” This helps us recognize that there are many images of God. Winter said, “Our world is in trouble and needs a sense of God that encompasses all,” she said, “not just one for Catholics or Baptists.” She concluded that we need to look at the creation story of the quantum universe for a bigger framework for God because spirituality will save us but religion keeps us apart.

Winter also exhorted us to get over our anger toward the hierarchy because that just sends unhelpful energy into the universe. We need to let God handle the institution while we get on with being this broader sense of church that is truly universal. Because the spirit of Jesus is the spirit of the living God, we have already been shown the way by his emphasis on loving others, demanding justice and extending hospitality. “We need to sacramentalize all of life,” Winter proclaimed.