For some time, Ive participated in a Benedictine spirituality group in CoeurdAlene. Almost a year ago, I mentioned to the group a book project I was contemplating, based on all of the margin notes I seem to write in many of the books Iread.

My working title: Finding God in the Margins. The book may never be written, but my fascination with finding God on the margins of life is never-ending. Everywhere I look, including within my own spiritual journey, I see Gods presence in people and experiences outside religiouscircles.

Oh, I do find

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For some time, Ive participated in a Benedictine spirituality group in CoeurdAlene. Almost a year ago, I mentioned to the group a book project I was contemplating, based on all of the margin notes I seem to write in many of the books Iread.

My working title: Finding God in the Margins. The book may never be written, but my fascination with finding God on the margins of life is never-ending. Everywhere I look, including within my own spiritual journey, I see Gods presence in people and experiences outside religiouscircles.

Oh, I do find God inside those circles. But I also know how easy it is for people inside those circles to see God only there and miss the outrageous presence of God among non-believers. Ugh! I find that kind of language both an arrogant and very incomplete view ofGod.

Lets use a biblical image to illustrate the real temptation to miss God in the pursuit of controlling God: The ancient Temple of Jerusalem. It is a classic example of how theology can deeply impact religious architecture. This theology was based on worthiness, merit, a variety of puritycodes.

At the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could enter, only one day a year, to meet God. (Where was God the rest of the year? I have my suspicions!) This space was surrounded by the court of the priests and the Levites, a place only they couldenter.

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God lives outside obvious circles - Sat, 28 Mar 2015 PST