Richard Rohr on Nondualistic Thinking: Homebrewed Christianity 70
By Chad Crawford • Dec 21st, 2009 • Category: features, podcast
Fr. Richard Rohr returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, which offers an understanding of the Christian mystic tradition as a nondualistic way of seeing the moment. This is what Fr. Rohr says is the most important book that he has written to date.
Fr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque (which is hosting a conference called Emerging Christianity this spring with Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, and Diana Butler Bass), and the author of Everything Belongs and Things Hidden. 
By listening to this podcast you will also find out:
Whether I convince Fr. Rohr to join Twitter.
Who Fr. Rohr’s favorite mystic is.
The meaning of Advent for 2009 according to Fr. Rohr.
Not only that, but if you don’t skip past the intro to the interview (which is always an entirely acceptable thing to do) you get to find out whether Tripp and I accept the ill-advised challenge coming from The Nick & Josh Podcast. Also, listen to Richard Rohr’s first visit on HBC 41.
Chad Crawford is a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wake Forest University Divinity School. He is originally from Austin, Texas and now lives in San Francisco, where he is the online communications manager for Interfaith Power & Light, a nonprofit organization mobilizing a religious response to global warming. He's a former youth minister and long distance hiker sharing thoughts on ecology, politics, culture, and faith.
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I can never thank you enough for this podcast. Some folks will not understand what I am about to say BUT, I cried through this entire podcast. Why? Because for me everything he said rang true for me. I was introduced to Richard Rohr by his book “Everything Belongs.” I’m sorry to say but most of my life I have picked out books to read simply by first noticing the tile and it spoke to me. Next I would look at the contents, the back page to see what others said about the author, etc. If all of that spoke to me then I would buy it. I always buy my books because I high light and write all over the pages. Most all the time I do not know the authors nor has anyone recommended it. With my first purchase of a PC, I am a Dell fan myself, buying a book became so easy. Not having a spiritual guide in human form I relied mostly on intuition as to what to purchase. It never let me down. I found such amazing authors that way. That is how I found Richard Rohr and his wonderful book “Everthing Belongs.” Looking back on my life I was born a mystic and have read everything I could find on mysticism. I will tell you now that I am a Baptist now and was raised a Baptist but that has never stopped me from learning from other denominations or other religions. Thomas Keating, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr and many others have helped me to find and know my best self. With The Holy Spirit nothing is impossible. When Richard Rohr spoke of how in irritating and difficult times you can still remain in union with God, that rang true for me as well. When I let go and let God take over it changes me. When he said that through very hard times we are very sensitive to others pain, that rang true for me as well. There have been times when I physically felt anothers pain. Death does not destroy those who are contemplatives. It gives you great empathy and the courage to help. Does this mean that Richard Rohr, myself or any other contemplative is perfect, NO !!! Does God help us in strange and mystic ways when we open ourselves and allow that help, YES !!! These experiences convince you to try and live the life that Richard Rohr spoke of. It improves relationships and you become more loving. However, my family and friends may tell you that I am still very human as Richard Rohr admitted to for himself. Yes, we have those bad moments but if we remember the source of help we have access to we can quickly get back to that “True Self.” Let the moment be, was a powerful statement. Thank you Fr. Rohr, Chad and Tripp. !!! As Richard Rohr said, when you have these wonderful experiences you want everyone to know about them and experience them for themselves. Before now I have only shared my experiences with select folks or those that wanted to learn more. I am grateful for authors like FR. Rohr who put theirs into print. Hope folks will join me in purchasing his latest book.
wow that was a great podcast. just ordered the book. keep it up fellas.
Awesome podcast intro. This was a better Rohr cast than last time.
The podcast with Richard Rohr thoroughly held my attention and his words rang true in my life.
I look forward to reading some of his writing.
Thanks for having invited him as a guest on HC and please do invite him on again.