Among other things, the splendid differentiation between morality and moralism is excellent food for thought. Recently I have begun to see the serpent's suggestion—you will be like God, knowing good and evil— is an even more layered deception than I thought. It includes not only the undeliverable tease that they could become like God, but the preposterous notion that "knowing good and evil" is the only distinction between God and human beings— as if knowing right from wrong is all it takes. If that were the case, moralism would, in fact, be legitimate.
What continues to amaze me is that the serpent's clickbait, "One amazing trick to become like God," accidentally(?) reveals that God's plan all along is to make humans "like God"—in his time and through his means, not through our techniques. The serpent persuaded Eve (and Adam) not to trust God and they wound up unable to trust anything.
Lent becomes a time for us to lament that we ever sought to trust in anything apart from God and our culpability in that. But it is also time to ponder the mystery that in Christ crucified and resurrected he proves his worthiness (though he did not have to) and he restores our ability to trust.
(Sorry to turn this into an essay, but the podcast was very stimulating. Thank you!)
Beautiful, timely, useful discussion that I'm grateful for, and please don't ever try to silence Father Bill.
Among other things, the splendid differentiation between morality and moralism is excellent food for thought. Recently I have begun to see the serpent's suggestion—you will be like God, knowing good and evil— is an even more layered deception than I thought. It includes not only the undeliverable tease that they could become like God, but the preposterous notion that "knowing good and evil" is the only distinction between God and human beings— as if knowing right from wrong is all it takes. If that were the case, moralism would, in fact, be legitimate.
What continues to amaze me is that the serpent's clickbait, "One amazing trick to become like God," accidentally(?) reveals that God's plan all along is to make humans "like God"—in his time and through his means, not through our techniques. The serpent persuaded Eve (and Adam) not to trust God and they wound up unable to trust anything.
Lent becomes a time for us to lament that we ever sought to trust in anything apart from God and our culpability in that. But it is also time to ponder the mystery that in Christ crucified and resurrected he proves his worthiness (though he did not have to) and he restores our ability to trust.
(Sorry to turn this into an essay, but the podcast was very stimulating. Thank you!)
Do not apologize! These are wonderful insights. Thank you.