These are the seven themes around which Richard Rohr’s teaching revolves.  I’m posting them here, and interacting with them on a subsequent post.

Do I need to post a disclaimer saying that the fact that I’m posting them here, or the fact that I’m a severe Rohr fanboy, does NOT mean I agree with everything he says below?  If so, consider the disclaimer posted.

The links (if they work) should lead to .mp3’s of Rohr’s teaching on the topic, so you can hear him unpack each point.

You may also want to hear Rob Bell’s “robcast” with Rohr, a nearly 90 minute conversation about these themes.

1. Scripture as validated by experience, and experience as validated by Tradition, are good scales for one’s spiritual world view (METHODOLOGY).

2. If God is Trinity and Jesus is the face of God, then it is a benevolent universe. God is not someone to be afraid of, but is the Ground of Being and on our side (FOUNDATION).

3. For those who see deeply there is only One Reality. By reason of the Incarnation, there is no truthful distinction between sacred and profane (FRAME).

4. Everything belongs. No one needs to be punished, scapegoated, or excluded. We cannot directly fight or separate ourselves from evil or untruth. Darkness becomes apparent when exposed to the Light (ECUMENICAL).

5. The “separate self” is the major problem, not the shadow self which only takes deeper forms of disguise (TRANSFORMATION).

6. The path of descent is the path of transformation. Darkness, failure, relapse, death, and woundedness are our primary teachers, rather than ideas or doctrines (PROCESS).

7. Reality is paradoxical and complementary. Non dual thinking is the highest level of consciousness. Divine union, not private perfection, is the goal of all religion (GOAL).