Richard Rohr's "The Universal Christ"

Last Sunday, RiverKids Director Amelia Cunard preached a sermon titled "From Inner Storm to Outer Peace" as part of our sermon series "Can Faith Help Us Navigate Difference?" She addressed the idea that Jesus had to navigate internal struggles even as he bore public witness and talked about the dangers of viewing Jesus dualistically.

As part of this sermon, Amelia cited Franciscan Friar and public theologian Richard Rohr, who says that "How we in organized Christianity got in trouble is we largely, overwhelmingly read the words of Jesus -- who was talking nondually-- with a dualistic mind." Rohr elaborates on what it means to view Jesus through a non-dual lens in his book, The Universal Christ. Here, Rohr presents a nondual understanding of Jesus by distinguishing between Jesus (the historical figure) and Christ (the divine presence that permeates all of creation). He argues that many Christians have been trapped in a dualistic mindset, seeing Jesus merely as an individual rather than as part of a greater, cosmic reality. Rohr invites readers to see Jesus not just as an exclusive savior for Christians, but as a revelation of a universal reality that transcends religious boundaries. A nondual approach to Jesus moves away from rigid doctrines and toward a mystical, experiential faith that sees Christ everywhere.

If you're interested in reading more about Rohr's thinking on viewing Jesus nondually, check out ​The Universal Christ.