As a cradle Catholic who spent a good portion of her life in church, and a long time student of scripture, I can fully appreciate your article for today. After all, Jesus had a knack for meeting people exactly where they are. For your readership, I think you have done exactly the same, in your celebration of the Easter spirit. So I'd say you're in pretty good company, meeting so many people right where they are. A hopeful, happy Easter to you and your family, Greg!
Nice. Thanks. Two comments: the Nicene Creed was officially adopted on June 19. “Juneteenth” as they say in Texas. An important day here, especially that part about light.
Second: if 17 centuries of belief by some of the best and/or smartest people who ever lived is not enough to convince you to reconsider your own faith, what would it take to convince you?
Like I say to everyone I care about, check out the Unitarian Universalist religion. It is one of the oldest in the country, and the least understood but the most tolerant, welcoming and heart full. I zoom among lapsed Catholics, turned away gay lesbian and transgendered folks and folks like me Who would never excepted into the Jewish religion because dad was and mother wasn’t. There is no dogma. Decreed is tolerance, understanding and compassion and a mission toward delivering peace, one soul at a time. Amen and may it be so.
Any Christian who excludes any seeker is a hypocrite. Joshua (Jesus) knew that we are all part of the same consciousness. We are all one. No one of us is any different than any other, at least not at the core. Why do you think Christianity was so popular and just swept through all the other traditions and cultures? It was not and is not an elitist, exclusive spiritual tradition. There is no sexism, racism, genderism, no discrimination, in true Christianity as espoused by the head honcho.
There are people who are CINO (Christians In Name Only) who are Republicans. Now that is completely ridiculous. Joshua is no respecter of persons. He never gave a shit your financial status, status symbols, gender, race, all irrelevant. Joshua himself was not white and did not look like an Italian renaissance painting. He was a Jew, and there are CINOs who are anti-Semites. The level of hypocrisy in American Christianity is off the charts. You have to wonder if these turkeys, the hypocrites, have even paid any attention to what they’re reading in the Bible. Money-changers at the temple, remember that story? Does a Republican trash booths of money changers and money lenders? Hmm? I happen to think that the stories about Mary Magdalene being a prostitute are pure patriarchal sexist horseshit. I think this forum and HCR are saturated with Mary Magdalene‘s, women in their power, and I love it. Tell that to a sexist evangelical. Today’s story of trashing the booths of the money lenders and money exchange people would be Joshua coming back and dismantling the televangelist churches.
Loved this! And as a once fully-indoctrinated [but now former] Catholic, I have always, even as a child trapped in church week after week been off-put by the Father-Son-Surrogate Mother-No-Daughter holy family myth. And of course the celibate Church Fathers had no idea how babies are born . I doubt they had any idea how babies are conceived. Total patriarchal, authoritarian, misogynistic mythology. And as for 17 centuries of belief by some of the smartest and best— there have also been 17 centuries of disbelief by other smartest and ‘best’.
There's also the fact that for most of those 17 centuries, anyone who vocally disputed the teachings was cast out or executed. Europe fought for 100 years over dogma so esoteric it is hard to really understand the difference.
Side comment: Bishop John Shelby Spong, greatly despised by the religious right, said something like "the older I get, the fewer literal beliefs I have, but the greater my faith is".
He had a TV version of it, start with that. He is charming. The book is HUGE,richly detailed and dense, you have to let the extravagence wash over you. Some things will stick.
I'm usually so moved to thought by your pieces I forget to 'like.' This time I wanted to wish you "good hope" as well. And enjoyment of Spring and things reborn in all their beautiful iterations.
Thank you, Greg. I went to Sunday School most Sundays for perhaps 8-10 years, being brainwashed like the other middle class turnips, all to evade our family being quietly ostracised by a still-rigid male hierarchy social structure. I knew all the claptrap was somehow highly unlikely, being a budding scientist and fireworks addict (ref: serious explosives, for which my right ear is less functional than my left). Your comment about lack of poetry triggered a memory... Around 17, in a prep school, I came across this fact below and the whole house of cards burned down in about 2-3 minutes:
"The Bible and modern derivatives were written by a committee of old white men in St James' court in 1604-1611"
Institutional Organised religions are fraught with human flaws. The mystical body of Christ/Mary is another story. A club worth joining. Many other roads to the same truth.
This can't be a novel imagining, but could Mother Nature be the source of the big bang? She could have had this idea, you see... On a glorious day where I am. I follow our *MotherCard* carriers. They come with the whole program, no? In the meantime, thanx for the tell and the truth.
I too was raised an observant Catholic. I am now an observant Unitarian Universalist, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. As a child we sang a Catholic hymn that goes "God is Love, and he who abides in Love, abides in God, and God in him." That sums up my faith (although the hymn needs adjusting to non-gendered pronouns.)
Happy Easter + Spring to you and your readership! Like yourself, was born into an observant Catholic clan, yet the religion never really resonated for me (despite loving much of the ritual). Still, Easter has always seemed a hopeful day to me - with the possibility of Spring soon to come (grew up in w-a-y upstate NY). Even living in temperate LA for 40+ years, this day evokes that same feeling of expectation.
Spring 2021, despite COVID and despite the terrible February storm (I'm in Texas), seems to be engendering a paradigm shift in outlook for many, including me. So your lovely letter amplifies that hope greatly, and thank you for it. I've been very much a lapsed churchgoer, but lately that has happily changed a little (kudos to Zoom and to a local Congregational church). While spring cleaning à la Swedish death cleaning, I purchased a print of William Holman Hunt's "The Light of the World," having loved its role in Connie Willis's fantastic time-travel novel, "Blackout / All Clear." I look at and try to listen to it all the time. So I'm finally (at 69 1/2) learning about Christ, making this Easter an especially joyous one. May it be so for all, of any faith or no faith--and may it last.
Nice words.thnanks! It is so refreshing when someone really says what they think and feels. I became a catholic 15 years ago. Not because the worldly institution was something I wanted to join but because the mystical body of Christ/Mary was to be found in the cathedral in my neighbourhood. It was there, moving in rhe midst of the services and in the people. I liked the gender balance..Jesus and Mary have the same weight in the liturgy. I did have a transcendent experience of a higher power when I was a youth. It is not something you really get over...the knowledge that love is out there and is real. There are so many paths to follow to Love. The communion of the Catholic church is only one of them. We all have the ability to choose, to knock on some door and ask for help along the way. I have found help always comes. Maybe not in the form that is envisioned but it comes all the same. 🌺❤️
In my experience, Catholicism depends very much on who the local priests are, and the vibe at the local church. A good priest really is a wonderful thing.
Thank you.
Did Greg,
As a cradle Catholic who spent a good portion of her life in church, and a long time student of scripture, I can fully appreciate your article for today. After all, Jesus had a knack for meeting people exactly where they are. For your readership, I think you have done exactly the same, in your celebration of the Easter spirit. So I'd say you're in pretty good company, meeting so many people right where they are. A hopeful, happy Easter to you and your family, Greg!
That is high praise, Joy, and VERY good company. Thank you!
Nice. Thanks. Two comments: the Nicene Creed was officially adopted on June 19. “Juneteenth” as they say in Texas. An important day here, especially that part about light.
Second: if 17 centuries of belief by some of the best and/or smartest people who ever lived is not enough to convince you to reconsider your own faith, what would it take to convince you?
Just asking. As a friend.
Thanks, John. You make a good point, and I sincerely appreciate you asking. But I hold with Thomas, who asked for, and got, more proof. : )
Like I say to everyone I care about, check out the Unitarian Universalist religion. It is one of the oldest in the country, and the least understood but the most tolerant, welcoming and heart full. I zoom among lapsed Catholics, turned away gay lesbian and transgendered folks and folks like me Who would never excepted into the Jewish religion because dad was and mother wasn’t. There is no dogma. Decreed is tolerance, understanding and compassion and a mission toward delivering peace, one soul at a time. Amen and may it be so.
Happy Easter, cherished man.
My favorite thing during my time as a UU was the Build Your Own Theology course! Excellent socially-conscious group.
Any Christian who excludes any seeker is a hypocrite. Joshua (Jesus) knew that we are all part of the same consciousness. We are all one. No one of us is any different than any other, at least not at the core. Why do you think Christianity was so popular and just swept through all the other traditions and cultures? It was not and is not an elitist, exclusive spiritual tradition. There is no sexism, racism, genderism, no discrimination, in true Christianity as espoused by the head honcho.
There are people who are CINO (Christians In Name Only) who are Republicans. Now that is completely ridiculous. Joshua is no respecter of persons. He never gave a shit your financial status, status symbols, gender, race, all irrelevant. Joshua himself was not white and did not look like an Italian renaissance painting. He was a Jew, and there are CINOs who are anti-Semites. The level of hypocrisy in American Christianity is off the charts. You have to wonder if these turkeys, the hypocrites, have even paid any attention to what they’re reading in the Bible. Money-changers at the temple, remember that story? Does a Republican trash booths of money changers and money lenders? Hmm? I happen to think that the stories about Mary Magdalene being a prostitute are pure patriarchal sexist horseshit. I think this forum and HCR are saturated with Mary Magdalene‘s, women in their power, and I love it. Tell that to a sexist evangelical. Today’s story of trashing the booths of the money lenders and money exchange people would be Joshua coming back and dismantling the televangelist churches.
UU is the closest thing out there (that I know of) to the founder’s version of Christianity.
Amen and let it be so, indeed. Thank you!
Loved this! And as a once fully-indoctrinated [but now former] Catholic, I have always, even as a child trapped in church week after week been off-put by the Father-Son-Surrogate Mother-No-Daughter holy family myth. And of course the celibate Church Fathers had no idea how babies are born . I doubt they had any idea how babies are conceived. Total patriarchal, authoritarian, misogynistic mythology. And as for 17 centuries of belief by some of the smartest and best— there have also been 17 centuries of disbelief by other smartest and ‘best’.
There's also the fact that for most of those 17 centuries, anyone who vocally disputed the teachings was cast out or executed. Europe fought for 100 years over dogma so esoteric it is hard to really understand the difference.
I assign you to read this. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6957725-a-history-of-christianity
Side comment: Bishop John Shelby Spong, greatly despised by the religious right, said something like "the older I get, the fewer literal beliefs I have, but the greater my faith is".
Thanks for the rec. I DO read and like books like that. I like my Elaine Pagels!
He had a TV version of it, start with that. He is charming. The book is HUGE,richly detailed and dense, you have to let the extravagence wash over you. Some things will stick.
Thank you, Greg. ‘You Must Believe In Spring’ 🎶
I'm usually so moved to thought by your pieces I forget to 'like.' This time I wanted to wish you "good hope" as well. And enjoyment of Spring and things reborn in all their beautiful iterations.
How sweet ❤️❤️
Thanks so much, Silvia!
Thank you, Greg. I went to Sunday School most Sundays for perhaps 8-10 years, being brainwashed like the other middle class turnips, all to evade our family being quietly ostracised by a still-rigid male hierarchy social structure. I knew all the claptrap was somehow highly unlikely, being a budding scientist and fireworks addict (ref: serious explosives, for which my right ear is less functional than my left). Your comment about lack of poetry triggered a memory... Around 17, in a prep school, I came across this fact below and the whole house of cards burned down in about 2-3 minutes:
"The Bible and modern derivatives were written by a committee of old white men in St James' court in 1604-1611"
I do think there is plenty of poetry in the actual Bible. Some of the parables and sayings attributed to Jesus are excellent, as literature.
Yes, the language of King James is quite wonderful
Rant follows:
Social reformers must realise that the greatest social evil of the last 5,000 years is RELIGION
Most social ills have roots in religious dogma, religious lies, religious hypocrisy, religious wars, religious power and religious misogyny.
Religion is a just a fig leaf to hide greed, prejudice, hatred and abuse.
Institutional Organised religions are fraught with human flaws. The mystical body of Christ/Mary is another story. A club worth joining. Many other roads to the same truth.
Religion is an excuse to kill people, to vilify the other.
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Hopeful thoughts for a lovely day. Thank you.
This can't be a novel imagining, but could Mother Nature be the source of the big bang? She could have had this idea, you see... On a glorious day where I am. I follow our *MotherCard* carriers. They come with the whole program, no? In the meantime, thanx for the tell and the truth.
Why not?
I too was raised an observant Catholic. I am now an observant Unitarian Universalist, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. As a child we sang a Catholic hymn that goes "God is Love, and he who abides in Love, abides in God, and God in him." That sums up my faith (although the hymn needs adjusting to non-gendered pronouns.)
“God is Love, and we who abide in Love, abide in God, and God in us." ❤️❤️
That is both lovely and true.
Happy Easter + Spring to you and your readership! Like yourself, was born into an observant Catholic clan, yet the religion never really resonated for me (despite loving much of the ritual). Still, Easter has always seemed a hopeful day to me - with the possibility of Spring soon to come (grew up in w-a-y upstate NY). Even living in temperate LA for 40+ years, this day evokes that same feeling of expectation.
The actual day of Easter, here in upstate (but not that far upstate) New York began cold and got sunnier and warmer. A microcosm of it all!
Spring 2021, despite COVID and despite the terrible February storm (I'm in Texas), seems to be engendering a paradigm shift in outlook for many, including me. So your lovely letter amplifies that hope greatly, and thank you for it. I've been very much a lapsed churchgoer, but lately that has happily changed a little (kudos to Zoom and to a local Congregational church). While spring cleaning à la Swedish death cleaning, I purchased a print of William Holman Hunt's "The Light of the World," having loved its role in Connie Willis's fantastic time-travel novel, "Blackout / All Clear." I look at and try to listen to it all the time. So I'm finally (at 69 1/2) learning about Christ, making this Easter an especially joyous one. May it be so for all, of any faith or no faith--and may it last.
The storm in Texas was horrible. I don't know "The Light of the World" and shall now go find it. Amen to that!
Nice words.thnanks! It is so refreshing when someone really says what they think and feels. I became a catholic 15 years ago. Not because the worldly institution was something I wanted to join but because the mystical body of Christ/Mary was to be found in the cathedral in my neighbourhood. It was there, moving in rhe midst of the services and in the people. I liked the gender balance..Jesus and Mary have the same weight in the liturgy. I did have a transcendent experience of a higher power when I was a youth. It is not something you really get over...the knowledge that love is out there and is real. There are so many paths to follow to Love. The communion of the Catholic church is only one of them. We all have the ability to choose, to knock on some door and ask for help along the way. I have found help always comes. Maybe not in the form that is envisioned but it comes all the same. 🌺❤️
In my experience, Catholicism depends very much on who the local priests are, and the vibe at the local church. A good priest really is a wonderful thing.