All-or-nothing reformations and all-or-nothing revolutions are not true
reformations or revolutions. Most history, however, has not known this until now.
When a new insight is reached, we must not dismiss the previous era or previous
century or previous church as totally wrong. It is never true! We cannot try to
reform things in that way anymore.
This is
also true in terms of the psyche. When we grow and we pass over into the second
half of life; we do not need to throw out the traditions, laws, boundaries, and
earlier practices. That is mere rebellion and is why so many revolutions and
reformations backfired and kept people in the first half of life. It is false
reform, failed revolution, and no-transformation. It is still dualistic
thinking, which finally turns against its own group too.
Richard Rohr
