Good News / MetaFaith

What is MetaFaith?
by Wayne Ferguson 18.10.2004, changed 20.10.2004

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MetaFaith is a higher kind of spirituality that recognises itself as having been experienced throughout human history and across cultures--cultures dominated by many different exoteric religious traditions.

This recognition is usually accompanied by following characteristics:

  • An ability to be edified and inspired by the teachings of other religious traditions.
  • A general feeling of kinship and respect toward people of different faiths.
  • And a general acknowledgement of the deeper truths that that bind us all together.

    More often than not, MetaFaith believers continue to identify primarily with one particular tradition as their own, while simultaneously appreciating the variety of teachings through which God is revealed.

    The queston naturally arises: How can you be true to your own tradition if you don't believe it is the only way of salvation? The answer is fairly straight-forward: My tradition is my onramp to the Way--the onramp to which I was directed as a child, perhaps, or one that I followed on my own as an adult. But it is to the Way that I am essentially committed. My commitment to my tradition, however strong, is secondary. Other human beings were born in other circumstances and were exposed to different traditions. An objective study of them all shows many similarities: saints, sages and mystics abound in all of them. We can leave the question open as to whether one tradition is better than another, per se. It is to be hoped that my tradition is the best one for me, personally, but it seems clear that other traditions-- whatever their particular limitations --function in a similar way to bring individuals into a more appropriate relationship to self, community, and the Divine. No one who has carefully studied other traditions can possibly believe that those who sincerely and devotedly seek the truth within those traditions will ultimately be lost. Will not those who diligently seek the truth find it, regardless of when and where they happen to have been born and regardless of their exoteric tradition?

    From a MetaFaith Christian perspective, we can think of it this way: Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life--no one comes to the Father but by me." But he also said, "Abraham saw my day and was glad... Before Abraham was, I Am." Likewise, He Is in regions of the world where Abraham is unknown (just as He Is before Abraham was). Whenever and wherever human beings are, He Is knocking on their heart's door--whether or not they've ever heard of Jesus of Nazareth. Other traditions also function to attune individuals to the still small voice that is the Word of God in their hearts and it is unthinkable that those who do their best to respond to that Word will be turned away by the Divine power in which they live and move and have their being. Truly, whosoever will may come and drink of the water of life freely. Before Jesus of Nazareth was, I Am.