SIX PATHS TO GOD

by St. Ignatius of Loyola ! according to James Martin, SJ!

1. The Path of Belief!

Belief in God has always been part of their lives. They were born into religious families or were introduced to a religion at an early age. They move through life more or less condent of their belief in God. They pray regularly, attend religious frequently, and feel comfortable talking about God. Their lives, like every life, are not free from su"ering, but faith enables them to put their su"erings into a framework of meaning.!

! ! !

Danger: Complacency, spiritual blindness, understanding of God as a child permeate their adult life!

2. The Path of Independence!

Made a conscious decision to separate themselves from organized religion for many varied reasons, but they still believe in God. Though they keep their distance from churches, synagogues, or mosques, many people in this group are still rm believers. Often they nd solace in the religious practices they learned as children.!

! !

Danger: Although it is good that their independence enables them to see things in a fresh way the main danger is perfectionism that sets up any organized religion for failure.!

3. The Path of Disbelief!

They nd that organized religion holds no appeal, but have also arrived at an intellectual conclusion that God may not, does not, or cannot exist. Often they seek for proof for Gods existence, and nding none, or encountering intense su"ering, they reject the theistic worldview completely. ! Danger: Although the benet of this group is that they have a knack for detecting hypocrisy or lazy arguments, and some of them might probably thought more deeply about God and religion than some believers, the main danger is that they sometimes expect Gods presence to be proven solely in an intellectual way. When something profound happens in their emotional lives, something that touches them deeply, they reject the possibility that it could be a sign of Gods activity. Their intellect may become a wall that closes o" their hearts to experiences of Gods presence.!

4. The Path of Return!

They typically begin life in a religious family but drift away from their faith. After childhood in which they were encouraged (or forced) to attend religious services, they nd them either tiresome or irrelevant or both. Religion remains distant, though oddly appealing. Then something reignites their curiosity about God, thus begins a tentative journey back to their faith, in a di"erent, and more committed manner.! Trivia: illusory religion vs real religion! Illusory religion says Fear not; trust in God and He will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you.! Real religion says Fear not; the things that you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.!

5. The Path of Exploration!

Striving to enhance their own spiritual practices with interactions with other religions. After a serious search, they may discover a tradition really suited to their own understanding of God, their desires for community, and even to their own personality. They may even return to their own spiritual home with a renewed appreciation.! Danger: Not settling for any tradition because none is perfect, or does not suit them: God may become someone who is supposed to satisfy

their needs; a pocket-size God, small enough to put in your pocket when God doesnt suit you and take out of our pocket only when convenient.!

! !

Lack of commitment - the whole life becomes a constant sampling, spiritual grazing; the path becomes the goal and not God.!

6. The Path of Confusion!

Their faith runs hot or cold. They havent fallen away, but theyve not stayed connected either. They cry out to God in prayer and then wonder why there doesnt seem to be an answer. They know instinctively the God is present during important moments and religious services, but nd themselves bothered by the problems of belonging to a church, synagogue, or mosque. They may pray from time to time, particularly in dire need, and they may go to services on key holidays.!

Finding God is a mystery, a worry, or a problem. This often helps them ne-tune their approach to their childhood faith. Unlike those who consider themselves clearly religious or clearly non-religious, these people have not made up their minds, so they are constantly rening their ideas about a religious commitment.!

Danger: confusion can lapse into laziness. Avoiding worship services because of a particular criticism can lead to leaving organized religion entirely because it is too much work and energy to belong to group that demands, for example, generosity and forgiveness.!

The way of Ignatius is an invitation to those who have always believed in God, who believed in God but not in religion, who have rejected God, who are coming back to God, who are exploring, and who are confused. Ignatiuss approach meets you on your path and leads you closer to God.