Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality

by Richard Rohr

In this exploration of central themes of Scripture, Richard Rohr transforms the written word, discovering in these ancient texts a new and vital meaning, relevant and essential for modern Christians. He uncovers what the Bible says about morality, power, wisdom and the generosity of God in a manner that demands a life-changing response from believers. Rohr offers his readers a Christian vision of abundance, grace and joy to counteract a world filled with scarcity, judgment and fear a vision that can revolutionize how we relate to ourselves, others and the world.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Theology, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Catholic

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism and the Perennial Tradition. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fr. Richard's teaching is grounded in the Franciscan alternative orthodoxy—practices of contemplation and expressing itself in radical compassion, particularly for the socially marginalized.

Fr. Richard is author of numerous books, including Everything Belongs, Adam’s Return, The Naked Now, Breathing Under Water, Falling Upward, Immortal Diamond, Eager to Love, and The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation (with Mike Morrell).

Fr. Richard is academic Dean of the Living School for Action and Contemplation. Drawing upon Christianity's place within the Perennial Tradition, the mission of the Living School is to produce compassionate and powerfully learned individuals who will work for positive change in the world based on awareness of our common union with God and all beings. Visit cac.org for more information.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, Richard Rohr is a gift. I think this is the fifth book of his I've read in the last two years. There is depth and beauty in his work. The best thing about it though is that his work drives me to want to pray, sit in silence, read scripture, contemplate, meditate and more. In essence, I don't fill I can summarize this book other than to say, it is good for the soul.

Second, I am glad I did not read Rohr in my early twenties. I wasn't ready. I don't mean that I am that much more mature now, I'm still quite a mess. But I suspect in my younger years I'd have seen Rohr as shady, at best, and heretical, at worst.

Third, I'd encourage you to read Rohr. If you're a Christian, his work is good for you. If you're a spiritual person who is not sure about Jesus, his work is still good for you.

My favorite quote:
"Jesus is working some magic in history that redefines its direction forever . Jesus is not changing his Father’s mind about us ; he is changing our mind about what is real and what is not" (188).

This is what I've been reflecting on. I grew up imbibing the evangelical Protestant view that God the Father is going to punish you forever and ever, perhaps even God hates you. Thankfully, Jesus is tortured by God the Father in your place and now God loves you. In this Jesus is the ticket to avoid divine torture and your ticket to an eternity in heaven. Yet, there's not much about living differently or life change or, if you think on it, love (God as a divine parent in this model is akin to an abuser...he loves you unless he thinks you need a beating). As Rohr and others have pointed out, the cross reveals who God is and we find that God has always been this way. God has always been loving towards us. The cross does not change God, it is meant to change us.

May we change.

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems to say that aiming beyond the law, beyond outer and inner authorities is to grow and really connect with God. Examples from the Bible are scattered throughout. Many central themes are visited to make one recognise what's already there, and the themes often connect with spiritual life today. To know the goodness of God through one's own innner experience.

The Bible gives us the process of getting to good conclusions, and shows us how people at the time developed the view on God and what he wants as the texts progress - it's not the same view in the beginning (around Solomon's time when texts begin to be collected) as in the end (second-third generation Christian writers writing under some apostle's names).

Chapters' talk:
- original sin, Noah's ark, the forbidden tree as lust for certitude (thus Pharisees, justifying violence through religion), 'the fall'. Three words to watch for: water (inviation to union with God), blood (transformation to new self, connection with God), and bread (fullness and satisfaction in God)
- development in friendship with God, which is what God really wants; to have God as the true center of one's life; contemplation; addressing God with our preferred 'thou'.
- importance of not just order (law), but also criticism (prophets) and integration (wisdom) - non-dualim, exposing one's ego and arrogance and move towards justice, mercy and good faith. Laws are just a base and cannot give transformation. Wisdom: God's mercy in charge.
- power issues: good (selfless, sharing, benevolent, protecting) vs. bad (selfish). Parents shape our view of how we see God - we need to see God as loving, not a dominating judge. Psalms showing various view and faith stages in people.
- knowing and not knowing: how not all wisdom and insight can be dressed into words, and the second-level wisdom can only point towards the way. These not-knowing things are not the certain and controllable part in faith. Achieved mostly by contemplation, prayer and reading Bible between-the-lines
- the use of Bible passages for justifying evil acts: someone else is the problem, not me; this is why simplicity and non-competing is good. There is much 'legitimate' reasons for evil motivations: my group, my security or occupation, family 'values'. Evil seen as 'over there', and feels so certain and clear compared to accepted uncertainty of the faithful. It's necessary to have some criticism.

But it's the best to read the book; what I've written here is just some of my notes. Everything is told gradually, calmly, clearly and with a good balance from start to end. This is one of the books I wanted to read in my 'read the unfinished' year, and while I can see the reason why I couldn't quite start it, once I started it was a comforting and motivating ride. Well worth reading :)

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr examines the biblical text as a roadmap humans have followed from early, dualistic thinking to radical inclusiveness. The map is not in black and white: transformative love is seen as the primary message from God from the beginning and dualistic thinking sadly continues to dominate many minds today, particularly those of the fundamentalist viewpoint. But the map has many markers to help guide those of us looking for an experience of God and not a weapon against others.

In addition to the Bible, Rohr draws from sources as diverse as Walter Brueggemann to writer Isak Dinesen (Babette's Feast) to point the way to an experience of God's presence rather than a conceptual knowledge. The prose is deceptively easy: I found I moved slowly through this book because it was so densely packed with images and metaphors that impelled me to enact rather than simply imbibe.

Fr. Rohr leads the Center for Contemplative Action in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am now on their mailing list and looking forward to reading Fr. Rohr's most recent work, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a captivating book! Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality great and interesting book. I love Richard Rohr because of simplicity. Sometimes, it’s easier to understand deeply Richard Rohr than great Anatoliy Obraztsov “a crossing or the drop's history”. Recommend this book. And don’t compare it with the book of Anatoliy Obraztsov. They have a lot in common but they are different. Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality opens new explanations and changes your mind about existing facts. I’ve learned a lot from Richard Rohr.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Rohr speak not too long ago and it inspired me to find out more about what he had to say. In this book, Rohr does a great job of giving the bible back to liberals. I think in the spiritual/contemplative/progressive Christian movement we all tend to shy away from the book because so many people are out there using it as a weapon. I have always "felt" that my interpratation of scripture made the most sense, but I'm not a bible thumper. I can't point you to the verse that says what I feel the over all message of the bible is. Rohr tells us that we don't have to. That's not the point of the bible. Its a book to be read as a whole, not cherry picked for good lines that makes us feel better about ourselves. It is simply the story of the evelution of our understanding of our relationship with God.

I am looking forward to reading more from him.

[Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It will take me some time and thought before I can write an adequate review. However, this is a book to be read slowly, contemplatively. There is so much to consider and think about. If you've been raised a strict, fundamentalist you will resist much of what Rohr writes. But I challenge you to read it openly. Passages that you do not agree with I ask that you ask yourself "why?". Could it be that the gospel message is really about love and relationship and not rules and performance? More review to come - some day.

[Ptaylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Rohr is an author I trust as well as enjoy. There's always so much guidance in his writing, and it takes me much longer to read his works than others of a similar nature. Things Hidden is no exception. Rohr presents an even-handed look at scripture drawing the mature Christian closer to God. Very highly recommended.

[Glen Grunau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the source of our orthodoxy? Conservative evangelicals depend almost exclusively on the Bible as source. Catholic orthodoxy depends heavily on traditional teaching through the ages, often culminating in church authority. Quietism or contemplative mysticism draws from both, but places more emphasis on the inner teacher, the Spirit.

I love how Richard Rohr takes the Scriptures as the source for the orthodoxy he develops in this book, while relying heavily on contemplative/mystical tradition, and yet so often looking to the inner teacher that Jesus introduced in John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”.

Drawing from all of these authorities, Richard seeks to unveil the “great themes of Scripture”. He accurately points out early in his book that when we rely exclusively on proof texts from Scripture, we inevitably develop an orthodoxy that fits our own biases and preferences. He claims, and I agree, that you can pretty much support any doctrine with a proof text. But creating an orthodoxy built on proof texts IS the danger if we rely exclusively on an unchallenged and rote reading of Scripture from beginning to end.

Thank God that Jesus was willing to challenge such a treatment of Scripture. I think we have somehow missed the bold manner in which Jesus turned upside down the interpretations of Old Testament scripture that were popular in his day. Of course, he was killed for it. There is no question that Richard also reinterprets the Scriptures in ways that will leave many uneasy. But I hope we can be more gentle with teachers like Richard than we were with Jesus.

I am troubled by how so many conservative Christians claim that the Bible is absolutely free of contradictions or inconsistencies. Invariably, this claim is followed by a refusal or inability to accept mystery and paradox.

Probably one of the most misunderstood contradictions or inconsistencies that Christians have wrestled with throughout the ages is between a God who perpetrates violence on his enemies in the Old Testament, and a Jesus who teaches and lives out nonviolence, loving his enemies and forgiving the ones who inflict violence on him. This is certainly one theme, but not the only theme, that Richard explores in depth in his book.

His chapter on atonement theories offers a convincing alternative to the penal substitution doctrines that are of fairly recent origin in the tradition of the church. Richard is convinced, and I agree, that we as Christians will never resolve our age-old problem with violence (think Crusades in the Middle Ages and the religious right in the US that consistently supports US war efforts around the world) until we reconsider our allegiance to this penal substitution doctrine which has God “needing” to inflict violence on Jesus to save people.

This may be one of the most important books that Richard has written. It is impressive in its scope and breadth. It will not necessarily be received with favour by fundamental Christianity. But for me it helps to resolve some of the inconsistencies that I have struggled with in Scripture - inconsistencies that the majority of thin theological arguments in my conservative Christian upbringing have failed to resolve.

It is hard for me not to see the parallels between the religious conservatives in Jesus’ day and so many Christian conservatives in our day. I think of all the good Jews in Jesus’ time whose orthodoxy was stuck in Old Testament legalism and tradition. They lacked the eyes to see and the ears to hear the good news of the New Kingdom. Their orthodoxy was black and white. They could not see grey. Thus they could not accept Jesus’ teaching.

“All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and he did not speak to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 13:34-35). Richard has helped me greatly to see how the God of the Old Testament was a veiled mystery that could only be slowly unveiled, finally culminating in the incarnation of Jesus.

I was struck, first with humour, and then with deep appreciation for the somewhat glib and tongue-in-cheek comment made by Walter Brueggeman on one of his podcasts I was listening to a few years ago. He referred to the God of the Old Testament as a “recovering perpetrator of violence” (I was not surprised to hear Richard refer to Walter in this book as his favourite Bible scholar). To many, statements like this may sound heretical. But if we understand that the God of the Old Testament was veiled, almost completely hidden from human sight and comprehension, and that over progressive centuries was slowly and progressively unveiled, at a rate that a very violent human race could tolerate, we can appreciate why we needed to wait for Jesus.

Consider the warning and the unveiling contained in the following well-known New Testament passage about Jesus: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:8-9). When we are able to accept a peaceful, nonviolent Jesus, who represents in every way the true fullness of an unveiled God, these apparent inconsistencies begins to make sense.

Long before I had ever heard of Richard Rohr, I was introduced to the “generous orthodoxy” of Brian McLaren. Perhaps equally controversial in his beginnings, Brian, along with Richard, represent for me a new rank of enlightened Christian teachers, exhibiting intellectual and theological integrity, while unafraid to question the violent orthodoxy that we as Christians have felt compelled to accept - at least if we had any hope of preserving our salvation. Thank you Richard for being one of the most influential teachers on my spiritual journey. Your book captured wonderfully so many of the themes that have been shaking and stirring within me over the past decade.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems to me that Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, is often in the process of redefining, or at least clarifying, what he thinks essential aspects of Christianity should be about. To his credit, he exhibits some humility about his remarks, but they always discuss forcefully what he believes. As the title indicates, this books is about how to read words of scripture.

He thinks the Bible doesn’t give us conclusions (although readers are quick to jump to them) so much as it concentrates on the process of getting there. Biblical texts mirror the nature of human consciousness itself. Within its passages ideas are developed, as well as counter ideas so that in a sense they struggle against each other. This partially explains why there are so often different interpretations of what a Biblical passage means. Although he writes as a Catholic, he hopes that Protestants, and even non-Christians will find guidance in his words.

The “hidden” in the title invites the reader to go beyond the literal meaning of words in the Bible that often project upon “God” a limited kind of human consciousness. For him the theology of the “Risen Christ” has to do with a kind of loving union offered by a gracious and generous God. “Jesus, as a teacher, largely talked about what was real and what was unreal, and how we should live inside that reality. It requires humility and honesty, much more than education.” For Rohr God comes to individuals disguised in the details of their lives.

This approach, using anecdotes, parables, and concrete examples, as Christ does, opens up to universal truths which is the same technique that poetry always uses. Accept this idea and any part of the Bible, Hebrew or New Testament, should be read as poetry, and poetry is always open to different interpretations.

As a Christian, all individuals share in Christ’s passion and death on the cross, an archetypal pattern of creating a scapegoat, but Rohr, drawing upon the thinking of Rene Girard, thinks humans should identify the scapegoat as contained within themselves instead of the more usual way of always projecting evil onto someone or something else. Christ is the sacrificial lamb, to be sure, but all humans are sacrificed as lambs as well, innocent victims of whatever it is in life that afflicts them; in the end it is death itself.

Rohr’s conclusion is that the cross is a profound symbol that reflects life as being neither being perfectly fair and consistent, nor on the other hand being nothing but chance and chaos. The cross holds the middle, a collision of cross purposes, and to accept it as meaningful requires an openness and what is traditionally called faith.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Richard Rohr. The enemy is dualistic thinking and certainty; we need to embrace mystery .

[Jonathan Crabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book by Rohr. There are several key insights about our relationship to the scriptures and how the overall narrative of the Bible fits together. It is presented in a way which is unlike how I was raised to think about the Bible and in these insights, it has helped me want to know God through the scriptures more, especially in relation to the books of the major and minor prophets.

With that said, Rohr can be an acquired taste for evangelical readers. If you aren’t willing to go along with some of Rohr’s musings, it can be easy to be distracted. Even for me in parts, I find the tangent that Rohr goes on to be either obtuse or unhelpful. But it is well worth the overall effort to read especially if you are open to grow through different faith traditions (especially within Christendom).

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I respect Father Rohr and agree with the premise of his book, THINGS HIDDEN: SCRIPTURE AS SPIRITUALITY; however I struggled at times, finding his concepts difficult to discern. The last part of the book from "the cross agenda" was clearer than the beginning 193 pages. At times I interrupted negativity and an argumentative tone in his discussion. I found the basis of the book to be complex. Read in "small doses can prove to be enlightening; a long term meditative study. Some of the concepts remain "hidden".

[Katelyn Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is comforting to think that there is a theological framework that resonates deeply still, post-deconstruction. I'm only taking a star off for minor referencing mistakes - although I'm wondering if this is only because of the difference in Bible translation I've been using. Well structured and comforting to my soul.

[Joe Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things Hidden is Richard Rohr in his purest form. Insightful, provocative, challenging and beautifully written, it checks all of the boxes.

In this book, Rohr looks at how understanding the bible for what it actually is (not what we would like it to be) is essential to revealing the deep spiritual truths and mysteries that are found within. He does a great job at explaining why this is the case and gives helpful tools to use as the reader continues to dig into the hidden spiritual gems revealed in Scripture. He argues that we can and should read the bible as a spiritual guide, not as a rule book or encyclopedia on doctrine and belief.

I found that I got lost a few times in the intellectual garble in a lot of the book, but the primary insights in each chapter were brilliant.

[Daniel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the way Rohr conveys the truths of scripture in an understandable way of something that is not completely understandable. Much of these truths are difficult to express and yet he tackles them almost seamlessly. I was especially moved by his treatment of faith and that complete dialectical understanding is not the point of God's love letter to us, but that it is trustworthy enough to put our trust in the God who breathed it. Thus the bible has stood the test of time showing the evidence of transformed lives throughout human history. Rohr's book enhanced my appreciation for God's written revelation and that it is truly "...living and active..."

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het is een goed boek, geloof ik... Ik heb het geluisterd, terwijl ik ook erg moe was, dus regelmatig ook door stukken heen geslapen heb.
Maar de dingen die ik hoorde vond ik erg goed. Uiteindelijk had ik wel het idee dat het heel sterk maar 1 kant van de zaak belicht: namelijk dat wij heel bijzonder zijn omdat we door God gemaakt zijn. De kant dat we ook best vaak keuzes maken die ons van God afbrengen, wordt wel genoemd, maar daar wordt verder niet heel uitgebreid op in gegaan. Al met al dus een lekker positief boek, maar naar mijn idee wel iets uit balans.

[Becky Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a life-changer; it was a dense read for me and I had to pick it up and put it down, over and over, to give myself time to digest it. I still can’t say I completely understand completely but I know now that is ok and the struggle is part of the point. Rohr makes scripture make so much more sense by pointing out patterns and the “big picture”, metaphors and symbolism and emphasizing the culture and time within which scripture was written, which should absolutely shape how we read it.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionary. In the best sense. The Bible is drawn back into universal fractals of transformation, redemption; seen even as a literary embodiment of the life of humanity. Life, death, resurrection - the Paschal Mystery. Through movements of orientation (knowing), disorientation (unknowing), synthesis (integrated and incarnational) - unlearning dualistic patterns of thought and behavior.

Even better the second time around.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expansive & rewarding. Rohr is continually opening up new & stimulating avenues of thought and interpretation which challenge me forward toward a fuller experience of life & a Jesus-shaped Spirituality.

[Adele Calhoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rohr always challenges me to think and rethink the way I listen to Scripture. I found this book brought up many questions for me. Good and worthy questions.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is not primarily bad will that keeps people spiritually blind, but that they were never taught how to see! I hope this book gives you a way of seeing, more than just what to see. You don’t have to figure it all out or get it all right ahead of time. You just have to stay on the journey. All you can do is stay connected. We don’t know how to be perfect, but we can stay in union.”

What I love about Richard Rohr is that once you have read much of his work, you do have a new way of seeing and “things hidden” in scripture suddenly come alive with a richer meaning than previously ever realized. It makes the Bible exciting again! This is the Rohr book I would most recommend to evangelicals skeptical of Rohr. It challenges so many commonly held interpretations (such as penal substitutional atonement theory) and backs them up with scripture. This book is best read with your Bible open to look up all of the references. I took this one slow and appreciated the richness it offered.

[Marion E. Franken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best theology I ever read.

It has made such a valuable contribution to my understanding of the theological virtues. I'm experiencing joy for the first time in my life. It is my hope that truth will finally win and that our theology with Christianity will someday conform to the contents of this document. Of the many theology books and commentaries I have read this is best I have ever read. I intend to read and study deeply over an extended period of time, it is that important. I will be recommending it to some of my friends and perhaps some ordained clergy so they might finally catch on to what is going on. Thanks to Richard for his time and dedication to this writing and his life of study. I thank God for Richard.

[Sylvia Jeronimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should have a nemesis - mine is Rohr. I start every one of his books vehemently disagreeing with him within a few pages. However, his brilliance always wins me over. Though I do no concur with many things he said, Rohr traced the themes of the Bible in such a fresh, comprehensive, God-breathed, and soulful way; that you have to stop and think about how you might have possibly misread it. His chapter on the grace of God threaded through the themes of abundance, the kings banquet and the feeding of the crowds, is worthy of many rereads. Of note is his last chapter with the paraphrasing of the Lords Supper. Powerful. Read and argue along. It’s allowed.

[Lisal Kayati Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Rohr is my Christian spiritual guru. His writing is deceptively simple - one must take a bite at a time, chew, and chew it again to bring forth the true richness. This book helped me to understand that Bible scripture is meant to be interpreted as a whole. That the danger of outward church authority is ripe for cherry-picking scripture to suit doctrine. It’s often used as a weapon and creates duality and exclusivity. Rohr eschews contemplative prayer and meditation along with the mysticism of faith. I read his work daily from the CAC email and use his daily meditations as a springboard for my own spiritual growth. I own and have read all of his books to date. He speaks Jesus to my soul and nourishes my Franciscan heart.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Beautiful Read

Over the years, I have read several books on hermeneutics and the lenses to which we read scripture — Missional, Disabilities, & others. Most of these are systematic and academic in their approaches while tying in to the context of life and beholder of God’s Word. While Richard Rohr’s ‘Things Hidden’ seemed perhaps more academic than his previous books at times, he beautifully articulates the artistic relational interdependence we all have when seeking to discern and hear the voice of God in our lives through the major themes of the Bible.

Really enjoyed Rohr’s latest heart to paper and hope we might just see one more in the near future! :)

[Nick Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars perhaps, but one of my favorites of Rohr's so far. He actually references his approach to Scripture without necessarily referencing this book in his latest, Tears of Things, and so hopefully more people will turn here after reading that. Most helpful to me is his contrasting of inner and outer authority in discerning the Word of God or call of God or drawing of God. I almost always find Rohr worthwhile, even when we disagree, either on phrasing of ideas or on the ideas themselves. This is some of his clearest and best writing, even as I sometimes think that his interpretation of Jesus' Kingdom of God/Heaven proclamation fits in too comfortably with 20th century New Age thinking.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this off and on since March as there is much to absorb! Outstanding in both writing style and content. Prescient of evil in our day; interfaith in presenting thoughts in Judaism and Christianity; and most comprehensive melding of both the Old and New Testament into an unitive philosophy for humanity that I have read. If this were required reading, the human race would truly evolve and the world would be better for it.

[Mike Guschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a while to finish this book. It goes to the core of Christian spirituality and moves us to a current state of mind directed at the meaning of mercy, grace and God’s love for us! Lots of scripture references, stories as examples of the themes described. A good introspection for our young people to relate to in this new age. It wakes you up to the reality of Christ’s presence in each of us, our relationship to sin, redemption and leads one through a transformative process.

[Emily R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book restored my love for scripture. My heart and mind have been on a journey towards a more expansive, generative, and spacious belief in God. My evangelical indoctrination created an interpretation of the Bible that did not align anymore with my belief and experience of merciful and transformative God. However, this journey through understanding the scriptures in a new way was exactly the reconstruction that I needed to consume them again.

[Eric Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring meaning

I’ve always enjoyed the way Richard Rohr is able to make things easy for me to understand. Once again, for me, this book does that with the Bible. We all have questions when it comes to our faith and the meaning of things we read in Scripture and interpretations we’ve heard from others. It’s nice to have a view of God based on love.