The struggle in and with any faith tradition often occurs where the shadows of the past converge with present reality and experience. This is not new. Elaine Pagels, the noted scholar, frequently describes in her books the challenges faced by Christianity during the first couple of centuries. Battles ensued about whose telling of the "Jesus" story would emerge primary and which praxis would be adopted as "orthodox?"The extremes were poles apart on a continuum between the literal and the mystical.
This dilemma remains, as illustrated in the picture above. The cross or religious experience we embrace is informed and sometimes overshadowed by past traditions and struggles. The tension between these two visions: what we see now and what tradition offers us proves for a lasting and sometimes violent debate.
Yet, within this struggle faith is found. Within this tension our spirit reaches out with the same primal love that ignited original fires of faith.
