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Religion in Exile: A Spiritual Homecoming

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Diarmuid O'Murchu is a counselor and former (I believe) religious priest who explores the idea of a spirituality without religion. He speaks of conemporary experience as being in exile from the earth and from the presence of God that the earth manifests. Christianity, Judaism and Islam have been patriarchcal religions which have divided and conquered the world. They rely heavily on authority to promote their revelation. What is most appreciative about this work from one Roman Catholic's perspective is that a fellow Catholic, who has been imbued with the theology and spirituality of that religion has discovered what other Catholics have. Namely that religion can take a person only so far in the discovery of God. There is a truth that exists beyond all religion. O'Murchu explores the Mother Earth Goddess spirituality pre-existent of the modern religions as well as aspects of it in those religions. He explores current ecological and political movements for a sense of "homecoming" as he calles it. This is a short book that is tantalizing in some aspects. His bibliography points to longer, more focused works that have been part of his research. The view that O'Mucho presents does not mean one must leave one's religion. It is simply a way of seeing in anew.

As a novice to readings in spirituality, I claim no special intellectual or spiritual insights into the mind of God. But as a seeker and traveller, I grow in mind and spirit, advancing from the words and wisdom of John Shelby Spong and Marcus Borg, to Michael Morwood, to Matthew Fox, to, now, Diarmuid O'Murchu.
It is an ever-increasing circle. There is much in RELIGION IN EXILE to stimulate the imagination and engender spiritual reflection. The interrelationship of humanity with the cosmos and all life within it directly supports and reinforces the spiritual viewpoint of the mystics who precede us. This book is for all who are open to becoming spiritually a part of the whole.

O'Murchu states that he seeks to befriend religious questions rather than seek answers to them and, in fact, he does just that. Not much by way of an answer is provided. He offers a critique of the underlying assumptions to religious and spiritual issues which he has identified as problematic for the individual seeking a spiritual home, or an understanding of a world in which to be "at home." His is a phenomenological approach that presents current religious and spiritual issues in the popular vocabulary of religious critique. I can identify with his critique. However, doubt I can agree with all of his interpretations. Agreement among academics is a perpetual problem. For theologians who read about religious issues treated by competent individuals in other disciplines agreement seems particularly problematic. Although theologically trained, O'Murchu thinks about religious issues from a perspective more properly psychological than theological. This is not necessarily an undesirable approach but a theologian needs to be cautious and not accept psychological thinking as theological thinking. As I understand him, O'Murchu speaks more of the psyche than of the pneuma. The psychological perspective of the book makes this a good "self-help" resource for those troubled or curious minds who desire more than a shallow presentation or description of spiritual or religious issues. O'Murch says: "The need to talk things out is the pastoral context where possibilities begin to unfold"(p.198). Issues are "talked out" in the book. But as I read I found myself asking: "So what?" and "Yes, but how is change to happen?" Thus, while I have no reservation about his description about returning home, I am disappointed to find no suggested direction on "how to return home." I suggest that theologians could benefit from reading this psychological work.

This is where the church needs to go. Along with a structural revolution there will be a need for spirituality's rebirth.

From the book: Religion is an inherited cultural wisdom while spirituality is an innate endowment. We are born into the world as spiritual people, and ironically it seems that the existence of religion is largely responsible for inhibiting, if not preventing, people from taking a more direct ownership and responsibility for their spiritual selves. We have so confused religion and spirituality that the former has seriously eroded the power of the latter and, that is precisely the spiritual alienation of our time.

With Religion In Exile: A Spiritual Homecoming, British counselor and social psychologist Diarmuid O'Murchu offers penetrating and original insights into the evolving spiritual awareness of our contemporary times. His observations are engaging, thought-provoking, and occasional inspiring. Religion In Exile is enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone with an interest in spirituality and the role of religion in modern life.