A Paradigm Shift
In scientific and cultural thinking, the term “paradigm shift” describes a major
switch in one’s assumptions or viewpoint. We hear the term much less often in
the world of religion, where groups assume they are dealing with eternal and
unchangeable absolutes. But ironically, a religious paradigm shift was exactly
what Jesus and Paul were initiating in their day—so much so that their way of
seeing became a whole new religion, whether that is what they intended or not.
We now call this two-thousand-year-old paradigm shift from Judaism
“Christianity.”
History is still waiting for the Christian mind to “shift” back to what has
always been true since the initial creation, which is the only thing that will ever
make it a universal (or truly catholic) religion. The Universal Christ was just too
big an idea, too monumental a shift for most of the first two thousand years.
Humans prefer to see things in anecdotal and historical parts, even when such a
view leads to incoherence, alienation, or hopelessness.
Every religion, each in its own way, is looking for the gateway, the conduit,
the Sacrament, the Avatar, the finger that points to the moon. We need
someone to model and exemplify the journey from physical incarnation,
through a rather ordinary human existence, through trials and death, and into a
Universal Presence unlimited by space and time (which we call “resurrection”).
Most of us know about Jesus walking this journey, but far fewer know that
Christ is the collective and eternal manifestation of the same—and that “the
Christ” image includes all of us and every thing. Paul was overwhelmed by this
recognition, and it became the core of his entire message. My hope is that this
paradigm shift will become just as obvious to you.
Jesus can hold together one group or religion. Christ can hold together
everything.
In fact, Christ already does this; it is we who resist such wholeness, as if we
enjoy our arguments and our divisions into parts. Yet throughout the Scriptures,
we were given statements like these:
“When everything is reconciled in him...God will be all in all.” (1 Corinthians
15:28)