Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World
Religions, by Huston
Smith. Harper, 1992.
Huston Smith probes deep into the ideas that underlie all religion. He does not solely restrict himself to the major religions,
but rather examines the framework, the ideas on which all religion and spirituality rest. He even allows himself to delve into science as he ventures to show how some recent (when the book was written) scientific evidence only furthers the case that there is "Something" else to this universe than our simple existence. The questions that he seeks to answer through the framework he develops in the early chapters, and in my opinion answers as well as any human can, are: Who is God; Who are we;
What is our relationship with God; And what does this relationship imply for our earthly life: This book is not written for the beginner, but if you are bold enough to take it on it will bring your understanding of religion to an entirely new level.
Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman, OP for this review
(2009).
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Saint of the Week
St. Gertrude the Great: 1256-1302. November 14.
Gertrude, a Benedictine nun in Helfta, Saxony, was one of the great mystics of the 13th century. Together with her friend and teacher Saint Mechtild, she practiced a spirituality called “nuptial mysticism,” that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ. Her spiritual life was a deeply personal union with Jesus and his Sacred Heart, leading her into the very life of the
Trinity.
But this was no individualistic piety. Gertrude lived the rhythm of the liturgy, where she found Christ. In the liturgy and in Scripture she found the themes and images to enrich and express her piety. There was no clash between her personal
prayer life and the liturgy.
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In the Scofield Reference Bible a dispensation is "a period of time
during which humanity is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God"
Dispensationalism says that God uses different means of administering His will and grace to His people. These different means coincide with different periods of time.
Scofield says there are seven dispensations: of innocence, of conscience, of civil government, of promise, of law, of grace, and of the kingdom. Dispensationalists interpret the scriptures in light of these (or other perceived) dispensations.
Tom was so excited about his promotion to Vice President of the company he worked for and kept bragging about it to his wife for weeks on
end. Finally she couldn’t take it any longer, and told him, “Listen, it means nothing, they even have a vice president of peas at the grocery store!” “Really?” he said. Not sure if this was true or not, Tom decided to call the grocery store. A clerk answers and Tom says, “Can I please talk to the Vice President of peas?” The clerk replies, “Canned or frozen?”
