Spiritual Preparation, Workshop 4: George de Benneville, in the What Moves Us Program
Read the George de Benneville entry in the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. Please note that "Benneville" is pronounced as with three syllables: BEN-eh-ville.
Read George de Benneville's autobiographical text: Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Dr. George de Benneville, translated by Rev. Elhanan Winchester (Germantown, PA: Converse Cleaves, Publisher, 1890). As you read, note each occurrence of the words "heart," "inward," and "inner." You may wish to circle or highlight the words to help you focus on the place where de Benneville believes human beings are regenerated by Divine Love: the human heart. Reflect on some or all of the following questions, looking for connections among de Benneville's emotions, his conversion experience, and his affirmation of universal salvation. You may wish to write your responses in your theology journal.
- De Benneville recounts an experience where he initially felt anger toward some Moors, anger which was transformed so he became deeply moved rather than repelled by their behavior. Why did his emotions shift from negative to positive feelings about their behavior? Why did he feel as if his heart would break?
- De Benneville tells us that he had discovered the root of all his sins. What did he discover? Why did he believe there was no remedy for his troubles?
- De Benneville discovers Christ between God as judge and himself as criminal. What function does Christ play at this moment in de Benneville's life? What has Christ, according to de Benneville, done for him? Why does he describe Christ's love as penetrating? Is it penetrating his heart? De Benneville imagines Christ carrying on a conversation with his Father (God) on de Benneville's behalf. What's the point here?
- De Benneville refers to Christ as Divine Love and he asks Christ for a pure and holy heart. Why? Why does he refer to Christ as a Physician?
- After his "soul sank into a state of nothingness," de Benneville began to feel a "holy love." Why does de Benneville call this feeling holy?
- De Benneville reports that the French ministers were very uneasy with him. What might have been the source of their dis-ease?
- De Benneville says that after his experience of boundless love he had an abiding deep desire to help persons gain a "real deep knowledge of themselves." To what kind of knowledge was he referring?
- In the text, de Benneville says he had "great compassion towards these sufferers, inasmuch as I suffered with them." What does he mean?
- De Benneville writes that he believes in the "universal and everlasting restitution of all things." What does he mean?
Use the following exercises and questions to help you find connections between your own faith journey and de Benneville's:
- In his narrative, de Benneville says his soul sank into nothingness and humiliation before experiencing an ocean of love. How does his soul in this state experience an ocean of love? Find a personal example of a time in which you were sad or depressed and somehow a gentle word or a loving presence or embrace brought you back to feelings of well being. How did the positive signs of affection you internally felt begin to shift your own emotional attitude? Using your own personal example, analyze, step by step, as precisely as you can, how the shift in your emotions occurred. Use this personal experience to help you make sense of de Benneville's own Protestant Christian experiences of Christ.
- De Benneville tells us he inwardly heard a voice of grace instructing him to go and preach the Gospel in France. Have you ever experienced an inner emotional prompting as a kind of "calling," which you followed to fine productive ends? How do you explain what de Benneville would call this "voice" of grace? Would you call this internal prompt a voice of grace? Explain.
- De Benneville tells us that the "most Holy Trinity" (i.e., God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost) "hath a boundless universal love towards all the human race, without exception." Do you aspire as a Unitarian Universalist to feel universal love towards all members of the human race, without exception? Do you believe some persons are unworthy of your love?
- De Benneville tells us that a "profound humility" is necessary for true religious work. Can you think of a religious leader today who seems to have this kind of humility? Is this kind of humility something to which you would aspire?
- Which, if any, emotions ignite your faith?
Before leading this workshop, review Workshop 1, Leader Resource 1, Accessibility Guidelines for Workshop Presenters.
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Last updated on Friday, December 9, 2011.
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