Osler's Razor

Today over at St. Stephens at 10 am, I'll be talking about creeds with Susan Stabile as part of Neil Alan Willard's Rector's Smackdown series. I've been describing it at times as a debate, but that's not very accurate.

The truth is that I am not vigorously defending a position I hold dear. I do have a problem with the Nicene and Apostle's creeds, and don't usually say them, for reasons I have previously discussed, but when so many I love and respect disagree with me, I am obliged to listen.

I'm learning, and specifically I am learning through this continuing discussion with Susan, Neil, and others in my life from Texas to DC. I'm also learning something about how I learn.

Sometimes I like to pretend that I discern things through quiet contemplation, but that isn't very true. When I am alone in the quiet, I tend to create bold new things in my mind, or think about lunch. I don't do much discerning in those quiet alone times.

Rather, I work things through in conversation with others. That's one reason I treasure the people in my life who are willing to have those discussions.

Oddly, too, I'm realizing that I not only work out these issues through discussion, but often I do it in public, with people watching. At our trial of Christ, I found myself convinced by some of the things my opposing counsel said. When I talk with Susan tomorrow, I know that at least some of what she says will become a part of my own thoughts. Going back, I know that much of my spiritual development came while teaching a class with Randall O'Brien and Hulitt Gloer, trading off riffs like some kind of theological rap group.

It is humbling to realize this-- I need others to become whole.