HETERODOXY


Richard Rohr wrote:

One of the earliest accounts of Francis, the "Legend of Perugia," quotes Francis as telling the first friars, "You only know as much as you do." His emphasis on action, practice, and lifestyle was foundational and revolutionary for its time and at the root of Franciscan alternative orthodoxy ("heterodoxy").  

You may be wondering, "How can Franciscanism be an alternative and still be called orthodox (right and true)?" Heterodoxy is precisely a third something in between orthodoxy and heresy!...

The early Franciscan friars and "Poor Clares" wanted to be Gospel practitioners instead of merely "word police," "inspectors," or "museum curators" as Pope Francis calls some clergy.[1]


Again, Richard Rohr challenges me to look at the Christian faith from a more Jewish perspective.  Right action, this is what is important in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.  Only Paul, in some of his letters, emphasizes the faith more than the actions.  The concept of faith is sometimes a very abstract and idealistic experience that is not always connected with our lives.  But the faith based on actions or coming from the physical experience is a faith more rooted in the lives of people. It is the physical experience the faith that brings us a great experience of G-d’s liberation.  The journeys of Abraham or Moses, or Jesus are great examples of that.      


[1] Adapted from Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi,pp. 52-53, 81, 86-87 Franciscan Mysticism: I Am That Which I Am Seeking,

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