Faith, Hope, and a Bird Called George: A Spiritual Fable

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Rev. Dawn Hutchings

I have just reread Michael Morwood’s “Faith, Hope, and a Bird Called George: A Spiritual Fable” and I remain convinced that this book will continue to be a powerful resource for years to come as I struggle to provide pastoral care without resorting to metaphors that point to a theistic deity. My theology has changed so much in recent years and sometimes it is so very tempting to lean on the crutches provided by familiar notions about God that point to an anthropamorphized manipulator who is up there or out there just waiting to intervene in our lives.

Morwood’s enchanting little tome follows the theological quest of Faith, a mature woman in both years and theology who is approaching the final stages of her life and seeks a deeper understanding of what it means to be in relationship with God. No longer content with traditional religious answers, Faith wonders what to do now that she has expanded her understanding of the nature of the Divine beyond the Father-Sky-God toward a panentheistic understanding of God as the “ground of our Being”. During conversations with her cat named Hope and her bird named George, Faith comes to a deeper awareness of her place in the cosmos. With gentle humour and piercing inquisitiveness Faith is encouraged by her curious cat Hope to debate her bird George whose previous owner was a member of the clergy. George’s traditional answers fail to satisfy and as Faith tries to interpret their meaning for her doubting cat, she finds herself moving to a new way of being in the world.

If you find yourself on a journey that sees you questioning traditional interpretations of Christianity, this book will make an excellent companion. Only, be sure to by a couple of copies, for you are sure to want to give it to friends. If you are clergy you’ll just have to buy dozens of copies because this is one of those books you’re going to want to give to all those folks who you encounter who are searching for an approach to faith that does not require them to suspend their understanding of reality in order to trust that God does indeed dwell in, with and through us.

For more about Michael Morwood see my earlier posts: here and here

“We are Living Through the Greatest Theological Shift Ever in Christian History” – Michael Morwood

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Rev. Dawn Hutchings

“We are Living Through the Greatest Theological Shift Ever in Christian History. How Do We Bring the Freeing, Enheartening, Inspiring, Challenging Message of Jesus of Nazareth to this Age, to Our Times, and to Our Questions” Inspired by the life and work of Thomas Berry, Michael Morwood explores God’s role in the new story of cosmology. Morwood, an Australian theologian was silenced by Rome after the publication of his book “Tomorrow’s Catholic”.

Morwood has an uncanny ability to re- imagine and articulate christianity in ways that speak to those of us who embrace all that we are learning from science about the origins and nature of the cosmos. See my early post on Morwood’s work on prayer here. If you’re looking for a resource for children his book “Children Praying a New Story: A Resource for Parents, Grandparents and Teachers” is terrific! (copies are difficult to find, I got mine from Kindle) I’m currently reading Morwood’s latest book a fable entitled “Faith, Hope, and a Bird Called George: A Spiritual Fable” and I will post more about this soon.

In this video, recorded in April 2012 at Corpus Christi, Morwood speaks on “Thomas Berry, Eco-Spirituality and the Future of Christianity”

Progressive Christian Prayer

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Rev. Dawn Hutchings

A few years back, I came across Michael Morwood’s book “Is Jesus God? Finding Our Faith” and his insightful and concise articulations of a theology which speaks to the heart of this 21st century follower of the Way, led me to his other works: “God Is Near: Trusting Our Faith”, ” From Sand to Solid Ground: Questions of Faith for Modern Christians,” and “Tomorrow’s Catholic: Understanding God and Jesus in a New Millennium,” for which Morwood was silenced by the Roman Catholic Church in his native Australia. Subsequently, Morwood resigned from religious life and priestly ministry with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. While I find his theological work both refreshing and enlightening, Morwood’s prayer books “Praying a New Story” and “Children Praying a New Story – A Resource for Parents, Grandparents and Teachers,” to be a God-send in my work as a liturgical planner. (for more info follow this link) Over and over again, I have turned to Morwood for assistance as I struggle to write public prayers which do not re-inscribe old theologies in their language, imagery and metaphors. I have used and adapted Morwood’s work and been inspired to compose new prayers.

Here’s a sample of Morwood’s work: A Christmas Prayer which we have used at Holy Cross Lutheran Church as an “Affirmation of Faith” during the Advent and Christmas Seasons.