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RCIA Blog: Enlightenment and Illuminations
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Enlightenment and Illuminations are words that describe the weeks before Easter in the RCIA process. Easter is the culmination of our enlightenment. They are ancient in their use and meaning. They convey the power in the sacramental life of the Church and acceptance of Jesus Christ as redeemer. It is no accident that the historical period ushered in with the scientific revolution and renaissance was labeled the ‘Enlightenment’. The sacramental term, enlightenment means the power of the light of Christ entering our body and soul. It conforms us to Christ. The historical period, ‘Enlightenment’, had both revolutionary ideas and great beneficial impact on all lives that followed, but did not enlighten the soul. That ‘Enlightenment’ preferred to distance us from the personal and loving God who Jesus preached.
We cannot ignore the amazing progress made during and after the historical period called the ‘Enlightenment’. We all benefit everyday by the inventions and sciences championed then. What we can do is to discern what evils it propelled forward once the Medieval mindset was found lacking in the face of scientific discoveries. The medieval mindset was generally unanimous, that is, generally accepted throughout Christendom, and was hierarchical. God at the very top and man at the near bottom. In a sense our only true path was up. It was believed as a physical reality as well as a metaphysical one. The thinkers and writers of the ‘Enlightenment’ showed clearly that it in no way did the Medieval worldview represent nature’s reality. What followed was the aggressive dismissal of all Medieval understanding of the world and our place in it. The metaphysical reality reflecting what Jesus taught of the true order of the universe, was dismissed as not scientific and therefore not true.
This is an over simplification but useful. The tactic used successfully by ‘Enlightenment’ writers, still used today, is to falsely equate unequal things as if they were equal.
False Equivalence works by emotional persuasion, plays on feelings and lacks logical rigor. That is why it is successful and will always be in play. It is very widely used in politics and by every political activist. It is helpful to recognize it and then see it for what it is: a tactic.
Some examples of False Equivalents:
Christians believe in an invisible soul. Science believes in observed reality. Therefore, Christians don’t believe in reality. Taken another step, If you are a believing Christian, you cannot believe in the truth of scientific findings.
Women deserve a safe method of healthcare. Abortion is women’s healthcare. Therefore, Anti-abortion advocates are against safe healthcare for women. Then next step, Anti-abortion advocates are anti-women.
The Catholic Church refuses to accept the reality of gender identity independent of physicality. Failure to accept gender fluid people is hate based ignorance. Therefore, the Catholic Church is an international hated based organization.
Each of these popular statements are False Equivalents because:
They draw false conclusions by carefully omitting information.
They are used to provoke emotional response.
They do not bear up under scrutiny but they provide quick and easy arguments that appeal to people on an emotional level.
They are very powerful and sow confusion in the faithful.
It is no wonder Jesus prepared his disciples to face such seeds of lies and confusion.
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” (Matt 10:16).
God bless and Happy Easter!
Frank Miller
