The Elevator Pitch for Ultimate Things

Robert Barron's recent blog post reacts to the recent Pew Study's of why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity. And it appears that scientism and relativism are winning out! For every person who enters the Church, six leave. As such, he clearly acknowledges that the Church needs to pick up their game intellectually.

And I agree that's part of the problem. But it's not that today's youth are intellectually stunted, it's more like their fuzzy logic and reason have been co-opted by a postmodern worldview. So while a more traditional intellectualism needs to be reinstated, it would need to be through the lens of students indoctrinated by Dawkins and Derrida. And that's a challenge in itself.

I would add the Church has not done a great job making the mystical component accessible to the laity. As someone who has been in Buddhist circles, I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they are exploring the Eastern traditions because they are more experiential and less dogmatic. Anyone who has looked into the early Desert Fathers, Meister Eckhart, Ignatius, Teresa of Avilia, Padre Pio, and Thomas Merton can see their is a robust tradition in Christian mysticism (albeit not as continuous and refined as Buddhism). And this would also be needed so people didn't fall into a dry, arid scholasticism that doesn't cultivate the embodiment and alignment of one's beliefs. While the Sacraments may cover much of this, they have probably been overly ritualized through the years. 

Combined, this would be what Bob would call the heart-intellect.

So if I was to create a school for today's youth, that would augment one's spiritual path and not replace it, I would focus on practices that would facilitate access and embodiment of deeper dimensions of consciousness, intellectual study of contemporary and traditional metaphysicians that use science, logic, philosophy, and culture as a gateway to deeper understanding, and character cultivation through fine literature. I suppose I am missing some components, but then again, I would assume to Church can offer the community, mission, lineage, exemplars, love, and other non-material values that could support a body of believers.

In an unrelated interview, Barron offers up an elevator pitch if you ever got into a one minute conversation about the Big questions in life. It happens to me all the time once the weather updates have exhausted themselves, someone will turn to me and ask what's your take on the metaphysical adventure we are on? Joshing aside, if only we could avail ourselves more to these good problems.

Question #1 - Does God exist?
Yes, because the world doesn't explain itself. 

Question #2 - Who am I?
I am a hybrid of both body and soul. [The soul is in the body, but not contained by it. It is the animating form of the body which orders me to ultimate things.]

Question #3 - What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is to return to God from Whom we came. 

Question #4 - What is the right way to live?
What is right is what's in line with the teleology of my humanity.

Question #5 - What happens after death?
We are raised to a higher pitch of transfigured existence, also known as the spiritual body.

Obviously this is a starting place that can only be fruitful through a lifetime of unpacking and practicing! Most can't do this on their own, and with a bleeding Church and the prevalence of new age spirituality, today's youth are ever more in need of a robust spiritual revival. In the meantime, carry on and start contemplating.

No human life is complete until like Jacob we have wrestled with the Creator.  Nothing is more private and personal than those wrestling matches, and no other human being is in a position to judge the results — but unless in one form or another you are engaging with God you are missing out on the most challenging, rewarding and defining experience that life has to offer. — Walter Russell Mead