A Letter to Neale

Reader Question:

Dear Neale... I just saw the movie based on your book and I cried so hard for the situation you were in (making eye contact with a young boy while leaning up against a dumpster eating a sandwich). I, too, was raised Roman Catholic and left the church in search of truth. I became a non-denominational Christian. I still find many people do not understand the depth of my love for people It is not from me, but from God.

I started a ministry called "God's kitchen" feeding and delivering hot meals to local shelters WITH LOVE. Not to be mistaken with a soup kitchen, where many are treated like cattle. My children and I made cards for the shelter residents encouraging them to keep on going. Unfortunately, our church no longer wanted "that riff-raff" to come to service on Sunday mornings, so I left the church, too.

Do you consider yourself a Christian? I am not sure what to make of all of this. I love your philosophy, but is it considered "Christian" or something else? It seems like I finally found one who thinks as I do and loves as deeply as I love. Jacqueline

Neale Responds

My Dear Jacqueline...I would not describe myself as a Christian, at least not according to the fundamentalist Christian definition of which I am aware. I would describe myself as a Chrismuslijewdian. I do not believe that there is only "one way to God," and that everyone who does not take that way is going to hell. I simply do not believe that. And frankly, I don't know many people who do. I know that they are out there, but I do not know many, personally. I think we've pretty much graduated from this limited idea.

I think most of us pretty much understand that God welcomes all God's children back home, and that "spiritual worthiness" is not about taking a particular path or adopting a particular belief or saying a particular prayer or doing a particular ritual or following a particular discipline. I think most of us are clear that there is more than one way up the mountain. And so I can declare that there is enormous truth in every religion -- but not the Whole Truth in any single one of them. Thus, I am also a Hindudibuddian. And a Mormonishintodian. In short, I guess I am an Everythingian. Thank you for your kind words. And for the way you are choosing to show up in our world.

With Hugs & Pure Love,