This past weekend, while most of us enjoyed a momentary break from the constant drudgery of papers and midterms, the returning members and soon to be neophytes of Kairos took their annual retreat to find renewed spiritual and religious connection… Otherwise know as “La-La Land.” In my past years here at Fairfield, few organizations have held such a veil of secrecy and exclusivity as this one. I found myself again wondering why a group that bases itself on Christian values, embodies an identity of entitlement and social superiority within its newly recruited members. As a whole, this organization and the members it produces formulate what they perceive to be a system of morality, while simultaneously idealizing the man behind the curtain more formally know as God.
For the most part, those who have gone on Kairos return with a new sense of family and spirituality that they apparently believe unites them within their own religious faith. However, it cannot be denied that there is a certain air of supposed superiority with those who flaunt the brass medallions and those who don’t.
When asked what goes on at retreats or how they operate, I have found that these members respond with the same unfailing phrase of, “We can’t talk about Kairos…” Not very fitting of a congregation that claims to value family and acceptance so highly. Not surprisingly, this same organization predicates itself within a religious tradition that is as equally elusive in its operation.
In fitting with Lent, I feel as though we should all give something up when it comes to Kairos. Let’s give up the sense of empowerment that many think religion gives us, and take up the knowledge and rationality that we as human beings are masters of our own destiny. Let’s also give up the hypocritical idea of family that Kairos claims, and realize the false promises that its religious basis gives us.
These values of family and unity are however, a vital thing for one to follow; they just can’t be properly manifested within a religious context. When religion is presented as directly and as conservatively as the members of Kairos would have us think, one becomes hyper-sensitized by the assumed power of a God that exists merely through words of fear and intimidation. As such, a religious group such as Kairos that utilizes such a strong belief should not be granted the freedom we so passively allot it. It should instead be questioned and criticized so that we can finally come to know what really goes on at Kairos.
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