Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, outlined on Mar. 25 the idea that both individuals and reality itself possess an internal moral structure akin to an immune system. Drawing from Thomas Moore’s book “Care of the Soul,” Rolheiser said that listening honestly to one’s soul provides guidance and protection for spiritual health.
Rolheiser recounted a public discussion where Moore addressed concerns about whether personal desires could be justified as soulful promptings. Moore responded, “Your soul will never tell you that. Your soul is your moral and spiritual immune system. Just as your physical immune system will never prompt you to do things that are bad for your physical health, so too your soul will never prompt you to do things that are bad for your moral and spiritual health.” He continued by stating that the soul acts in ways similar to how our bodies protect themselves.
Expanding this concept beyond individuals, Rolheiser wrote, “What Moore says of the individual soul is also true for the soul of this world. Reality has an immune system, a moral arc, which protects our health and lets us know when it is violated.” He referenced teachings from Christianity—specifically Jesus’ words in Mark 4:24—and concepts from Buddhism and Hinduism such as Karma to illustrate his point about universal moral consequences: “The measure you measure out is the measure that you will receive.” According to these traditions, actions have inevitable outcomes tied directly to their nature.
Rolheiser acknowledged appearances can sometimes suggest otherwise but argued emotional responses may mislead people into envying those who seem amoral or unpunished. He cited literary examples like Nikos Kazantzakis’ depiction of virtue’s loneliness and biblical stories such as the Prodigal Son to highlight common misunderstandings about morality’s rewards.
Reflecting on philosophical arguments for God’s existence—including those by Aquinas, Anselm, and Descartes—Rolheiser concluded intellectual proofs are less persuasive than living morally: “They point you to a certain way of living…where you look to experience the reality of God through living in an honest, moral way.” He asserted his belief in a universal moral arc as evidence pointing toward altruistic love at creation’s foundation.
