Description or Prescription? (Part One)

“This is what works for me” is a description. “This is what works for everyone else” is a prescription.

In dialogue about our spirituality, sexuality, or other philosophical topics, it can be nearly impossible to hear someone else’s description of “what I choose to do” without taking it to be a prescription for “what you should choose to do.” Likewise, when I find something that is eminently beneficial to me, it’s hard not to describe it in such a way that sounds like I’m prescribing it for you. Let me share an example.

Some years ago I attended events at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon. During one of those, Abbot Kyogen Carlsson explained what had annoyed him initially about his friendship with an Evangelical Christian. As I remember Abbot Carlson’s words, he said of his friend, “He thinks that following Jesus is the best of all possible spiritual practices. So much so that he wants everyone else do follow Jesus, too. But then I realized that I think following Buddhism is the best of all possible spiritual practices, so much so that I want everyone else to do so, too.” I should add, it was a member of the Buddhist center who asked, “Abbot Carlson, does that mean you’re a Fundamentalist Buddhist?”

I’ve already described myself as a theologically-Evangelical Christian. And I do believe that following Jesus is the best of all possible spiritual practices. If my description sounds like a prescription, I blame Jesus’ claims to exclusivity. (Take a look at John 14:1-6 for an agonizingly clear perspective on that.)

Within our spiritual practices, then, even if we agree that Jesus is worth following and especially if we don’t, we will have differing perspectives, beliefs, and practices. As I describe mine, please never take agreement as a demand or requirement of our relationship. As for why such demands or requirements can be such a horrific idea, we’ll explore that next time.

About the images: I would never prescribe power-lifting, and any attempt to describe its effect on Paige’s physique…hopelessly inadequate. Just enjoy the results!