Today, “liking” something means clicking a thumbs-up or heart emoji.
However, for gay Catholic theologian James Alison, being liked by God is one of life’s most profound experiences.
Alison grew up as an evangelical Christian and converted to Catholicism at age 18. As a young adult, he studied theology, ministered to people with AIDS, and was ordained a priest by age 30. Years later, Alison’s clerical status was revoked after coming out and finding himself at odds with traditional teaching.
In his book, On Being Liked, Alison explores the themes of love, acceptance, and belonging. Alison observes that people are often confused by mixed messages that claim that we are lovable, but . . . according to Alison, conditional and qualified love (often conveyed by the phrase “love the sinner but hate the sin”) binds more than it liberates. Given the different ways people use the word “love” Alison, suggests we use the word “like” instead.
Based on his own personal experience and study of Scripture, Alison invites us to believe that we are liked by God. He wants us to feel the delightful gaze of a deity who deeply enjoys our company now, and not just after we have done or changed something. Allowing ourselves to be liked by God can lead to a life-changing relaxation of the soul as we begin to imagine “that God does actually want us to be free and happy, starting exactly from where we are…”
During Pride Month, I hope that all who believe in God and identify as 2SLGTBQ+ have felt not only loved but liked by their Creator.
