Heresy vs Integrity

There is also such a thing as secular heresy. The ethic of rugged individualism is the best example. This ethic holds that we are called to become individuals. And that is partly true. Carl Jung said the whole goal of psychospiritual growth was individuation, the ability to be separate from our own parents and to think for ourselves. We are called to become independent and stand on our own two feet, to become captains of our ship, if not necessarily masters of our own destiny. We are called to those things. But rugged individualism rejects the whole other side of the coin, which Jung also talked about. We're called to come to terms with our limitations, our brokenness, our inevitable mutual interdependence. As do other kinds of heresies, rugged individualism neglects that whole other side of the paradox. This leads to terrible pain -- people sitting next to each other in the same pew, hiding behind their masks of composure, pretending they've got it all together, because we're told we ought to have it all together. But in fact, nobody's got it all together, and as a result of the ethic of rugged individualism huge numbers feel that they're not able to talk to each other about the things that are most important to them. It is so isolating, being in our little airtight compartments. To escape heresy, we must accept paradox. Thinking with integrity is paradoxical thinking. And it is not only necessary that we think with integrity, it's also necessary that we act with integrity. Behaving with integrity is "praxis," a term that was popularized initially by Marxists, and since then has been picked up by liberation theologists. Praxis refers to the integration of your practice with your belief system. As Gandhi said: "What is faith worth if it is not translated into action?" Obviously we have to integrate our behavior with our theology in order to become people of integrity. Too often that is not done, whatever the religious belief. - M Scott Peck, "Further Along the Road Less Traveled"