Syncretism :: Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous.
I just returned from a wonderful [but extremely quick] trip to Seattle. I got a chance to see a good friend get married and I spent some time with my best friends Steve, Chris & Bryan. It was so good to just be with them again. We only get to see each other a few times every year, so we’re extremely grateful for Bryan’s wife, Brooke, letting him spend the weekend with us!
Whenever I fly, I always try and gage whether or not the person sitting next to me wants to talk. If they answer a few questions and ask back and we get into a conversation…great. If they don’t want to talk, that’s perfectly okay with me. Last night, I asked the woman next to me (probably mid-50s) a few questions, and I could just really tell – this was a talker! :) So, we talked for a bit, and then I asked her, “So, what do you do?” She got a smile on her face, and replied: “I’m a healer.”
I knew I was in for an interesting next 60 minutes from Seattle to Boise.
Let me summarize what I briefly know about this woman. She grew up in a Baptist church, going to Sunday School all the time. I am fairly sure she met and married a man who claimed to be a Christian. She wouldn’t go into details, but I know something very traumatic happened between her and this man [I’m guessing some severe abuse, whether it was mental, physical, spiritual….]. Because of whatever happened, she decided that if “his god” would condone things like that – she wanted nothing to do with that god. Thus, she began studying many other religions and came to the conclusion that they were all the same and that they all preached the same message: Love. She currently works as a “healer.” Her particular methodologies for healing include holographic repatterning and sound healing.
We talked about many things: morality, sin, truth, love, Jesus, religions, healing, prophets, reincarnation, karma, my work at the church, her work as a healer….life.
It was one of the more interesting dialogues I’ve ever had. I asked her if any of the prophets ever said that they were God — she said no. So I said, “Well, that’s where Jesus is different than the rest – he claimed to be God.” She corrected me and told me that Jesus only meant that he was “one with God.” She believes that we’re all children of God and that we must learn to center ourselves and get in touch with our God-self. Each person is God. I told her that I was pretty screwed up, and I live in a pretty screwed up world, and that I wouldn’t really want to be God. We kept talking and she realized I was talking about sin. This is when she got really excited.
“Adam, I do not believe in accidents. If we met today and sat together for only one reason, it was for me to speak to you that you are not a sinner. You are not a sinner! There is no sin. There is no sin – it does not exist. You are not a sinner.”
I told her that if I could buy that, I would simply be making a complete and utter mockery of Christ’s life and death on the cross. But she said the crucifixion was only a minuscule part of Christ’s life – the rest of the time he spoke of love. I said, “Yes, I totally agree. Love God & love your neighbor. Definitely. But he also said, ‘Repent and believe – the kingdom of God is near…’ – what about that?”
She told me that was just added in by those silly men who wrote the Bible 600 years after Christ’s life. She also told me that the kingdom of God was in my heart…with my God-self.
We talked a lot about morality – rights and wrongs. She doesn’t believe in right or wrong, just “is.” Things are not right or wrong…they are just “is”s. Even 9-11, it wasn’t wrong. She did feel bad for those religious fanatics [whom she would define as anyone who says, “My religion is the only true religion and you’re all going to hell”] who were involved in it. All those who died are now in the angelic realm and watching over us. Eventually where we completely diverge is that for her, Love is Truth. And for me, Jesus is Truth.
There is so much more from this conversation that would be interesting to relate. But I found myself sharing with the epitome of a syncretistic and relativistic woman. She would preface most of her statements with “This is only my path, it might not be for anyone else…” or “Now, this is just what I’ve been told by my God-self” or “This is just what I think…” She never presses her views on anyone else. She quoted Scripture, talked about Jesus, used many Christian phrases (one’s calling, prayer, God, importance of community & fellowship) – yet spoke just as much about Hinduism, Buddhism, and New Age Spirituality.
So, here we were — two people — with so many different views on life, God and spirituality. And we were simply sharing our stories with one another. Yes, we disagreed with one another. Yes, we voiced those disagreements. But we left having learned from one another. She didn’t view me as a radical, religious fanatic…I shared with her the Good News that has impacted me…she shared with me what motivates her. And we went our ways…