What makes you think his thinking hasn't gone astray?
The Christian mystic like the Zen Buddhist doesn't rely on others to tell him what to think. The Church Christian on the other hand, like the Buddhist does rely on others to tell him what to think.
I don't know if his thinking has gone astray or not. Debate and logical thought - from heat comes light. If Fr. Jerry, and he's studied philosophy and theology to a much greater depth than I, sees a problem with my philosophical argument he will propose an alternative. I'll consider it and correct my argument or propose a counter to his. I will accept no other's world view on its face. That is not understanding (enlightenment).
Well it sounds like you have a pretty good father type there.
Enlightenment is not understanding as such it's knowing, intuition. Enlightenment is knowing the course of action you are taking is the right one even though you can't explain that course of action to anyone.
You know that fallowing the spiritual path of Christianity and Jesus is the right path for you, the light, even though you can't explain to anyone.
Just as I know following the spiritual path of Pagan Deism (the Divine Feminine Principle, Goddess) is the right path for me, the light, even though I can't explain it to anyone.
