At times Richard Rohr writes stunning Christology and powerful prose that strikes to the heart of perennialism. At other times he wanders into the weeds.
In his March 5 post he first discusses the symbolism of taking Eucharist at the Last Supper and how scandalous this practice was to the Jews. Rohr writes, “As if eating his body weren’t enough, Jesus pushes us in even further and scarier directions by adding the symbolism of intoxicating wine as he lifts the cup and speaks over all of suffering humanity, ‘This is my blood.’ Jesus then dares to say, ‘Drink me, all of you!’ “
To the Jewish establishment this was utter blasphemy.
Rohr continues, “During Jesus’ time, contact with blood would typically mean ritual impurity for a Jew. How daring and shocking it was for Jesus to turn the whole tradition of impure blood upside down and make blood holy! And what an affirmation of the divine image within women—whose menstruation was often considered unclean.”
These are important insights regarding the magical initiation practices the Christ Jesus employed to awaken people while exasperating the Jewish establishment.
However in the next breath he goes off on male initiation ceremonies stretching the metaphor to American holidays stating, “For example, on July 4 in the United States, we celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and parades to show we’re ‘proud to be an American’ while never acknowledging colonists’ genocide of Indigenous Peoples, the enslavement of Africans, how our over-consumption has contributed to planetary devastation, and other ways our “freedom” has cost others.”
What does his political opinions have to do with male initiation ceremonies?
In a ponderous attempt to save the train of thought he continues, “We are not allowed to note these things without being considered unpatriotic or even rebellious. True sacred ritual is different than mere ceremony because it offers an alternative universe, where the shadow is named and drawn into the light. Sadly, most groups avoid real life-changing and healing rituals—even the church.”
Okay, I get the drift; somehow America is tainted with a past and that corrupts its ceremonies because they aren’t sacred. History is full of corruption. Take a few minutes to study the Roman Catholic Church then consider throwing stones at America .
I respect Richard Rohr for many things , however, these bizarre leaps in thinking serve only to undercut his theological points and fuel his critics. He seems to be channeling the discredited “Liberation Theologists” of the 1970’s.
All of us occasionally go a little astray from our main points. Perhaps this was not one of Fr Rohr’s finest but it shouldn’t detract from his solid Christology.
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