Evelyn Underhill:
We look to the Church to give us an experience of God, mystery, holiness and prayer which, though it may not solve the antinomies of the natural world, shall lift us to contact with the supernatural world and minister eternal life. We look to the clergy to help and direct our spiritual growth. We are seldom satisfied because with a few noble exceptions they are so lacking in spiritual realism, so ignorant of the laws and experiences of the life of prayer. Their Christianity as a whole is humanitarian rather than theocentric. So their dealings with souls are often vague and amateurish. Those needing spiritual help may find much kindliness, but seldom that firm touch of firsthand knowledge of interior ways which comes only from a disciplined personal life of prayer. In public worship they often fail to evoke the spirit of adoration because they do not possess it themselves. Hence the dreary character of many church services and the result in the increasing alienation of the laity from institutional forms.
God is the interesting thing about religion, and people are hungry for God.
I will tell you what is to be done. We are to restore the proper education of the priest, restoring the intellectual and spiritual learning which has, alas, largely been lost in most churches. Otherwise, we might as well give up the Church. God forbid!
ReplyDeleteWell, Bernard, proper teaching of the laos might also be a big help!
DeleteJim of Olym
Forgive my intrusion here but in case anyone is interested I have started a new Tolkien blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://the-tolkien-legendary.blogspot.co.uk/