Putting Action Before Contemplation (Richard Rohr)
Mar 6, 2025
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Join Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, as he dives deep into the themes from his book, "The Tears of Things." He discusses the tension between construction and deconstruction in belief systems and advocates for proactive engagement in social justice. Rohr emphasizes the need to confront our inner darkness to foster growth, critiques scapegoating and societal expectations around masculinity, and encourages a more inclusive spiritual vision for today's world.
Richard Rohr emphasizes the importance of constructive action over deconstruction, highlighting the need for reform rather than mere critique.
The cyclical journey of order, disorder, and reorder is essential for growth, underscoring the need to embrace painful emotions for true healing.
Deep dives
The Role of Prophets
Prophets are defined by their commitment to critique and evolve from within their communities rather than attacking others. This self-scrutiny allows prophets to address systemic issues instead of focusing solely on individuals. The conversation emphasizes that true prophetic voices seek growth and transformation within their own group, as opposed to merely condemning external wrongs. Such an approach is exemplified by figures like Pope Francis, who challenges his own religious community on issues like immigration, embodying the essence of a prophet.
The Process of Transformation
The cyclical journey of order, disorder, and reorder is central to personal and collective growth, reflecting a vital transformation process. This pattern indicates that true healing often arises following chaos and introspection, illuminating the need to embrace both order and disorder. By recognizing one’s own flaws and participating in the collective struggle, individuals can facilitate meaningful change rather than merely reinforcing old patterns or ideologies. The path from anger to grief is frequently depicted as a necessary fulcrum for growth, indicating the importance of acknowledging painful emotions to move forward.
Nihilism and Deconstruction
A distinction is drawn between deconstruction aimed at building a new foundation and the nihilistic desire to dismiss and destroy without purpose. This sense of nihilism is prevalent in many societies, where a belief in nothingness undermines commitment to deeper values. It is suggested that such dynamics can be seen in contemporary political contexts, where significant movements lean towards tearing down rather than rebuilding. The conversation argues for embracing a more constructive approach, which involves discernment and recognition of the intricacies of one’s belief systems to effect real change.
The Nature of Evil
The dialogue explores the concept of evil as inherently tied to human nature rather than an external force, suggesting that people often project their own faults onto others. This emphasizes a need for introspection, where individuals recognize and grapple with their own shadows to foster healing and growth. Acknowledging that claiming to dismiss evil often leads to its persistence in new forms, the conversation urges a deeper understanding of conflict and the motivations behind it. Living authentically entails confronting complex truths about identity and moral responsibility, thus fostering genuine transformation.
This episode has been a very long time in the making: Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar, the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and one of the most profound teachers. Today, we explore the prescient themes from his new book The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage. He helps us to make sense of disorder, evil, anger, and grief—and he helps us to find our fulcrum of growth. He makes the case that the impulse to deconstruct is ultimately less useful than the impulse to construct, or reform. He breaks down why we fall into scapegoating, and the reputation lie. And we talk about why he puts action before contemplation.
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