False Order
When I arrived in Muskegon 28 years ago I encountered some people who were quite doctrinaire in their approach to faith and religious life.
Some would say that they were quite rigid. These folks found my approach too, I don't know, progressive. At first, I thought that this was simply a matter of theological diversity. But as time went on, I discovered that many of these folks weren't simply dealing with theology; they were dealing with other issues--issues that often were about a lot of pain, suffering, and especially addiction. Doctrinaire theological (and political) thinking came not so much from ideology, but in response to the out-of-control character of their lives. When life feels out of control, you often seek control through your opinions, through rigid thought processes. So instead of welcoming new insights, you resist. If you don't, you might think that the world has really gotten out of control or you might have to deal with the dysfunction that is causing the real disorder in your life.