A Clear And Present Danger

When it comes to behaviour Christian faith is neither an exercise in piety nor training in moral moderation. It has no system of modesty, or prudence, or self-control. It is not about developing a capacity for recollection that pays off in inner peace. If there are rubrics and rituals involved, then they are not played out to instil conformity to a specified behavioural standard. Christian faith is not about learning to play one’s part, or fulfil a role, and least if all to edify oneself or others. In fact, genuine faith does not begin until these leave off. And better yet, one can behave perfectly well without any formal introduction to any of this undergrowth. These physical rotes may help those who will never be more than remedial. But in the main, these pose a clear and present danger to anyone who is normal, let alone serious about recognizing and then nurturing their ability to perceive the presence of God in the world, and then in opening themselves to directly experiencing that.