13 October 2011
Green Grave
12 October 2011
Bigotry is Bigotry is Bigotry
Here's a decent article that includes (briefly) the history of anti-Catholicism in the US and touches upon other instances of religious bigotry, in light of Pastor Robert Jeffress' recent comments against Mormonism and Mitt Romney.
This particular news blip has brought me pause, as I myself have literally said the words, "Mormons aren't Christian." Theologically speaking, from the Catholic perspective, faith communities that do not accept the doctrine of the trinity are not considered as Christian. In addition to Mormonism, this nontrinitarian category of Jesus followers includes Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians and Christian Scientists, to name a few. But is naming a religion based on Christ as unChristian the same as religious bigotry? Rev. Jeffress actually used the word "cult" in reference to Mormonism, which seems to be where the major upset lies. Of course, while it is possible to boil it all down to semantics and meaning, Rev. Jeffress' intent is blatantly obvious: "Don't vote for Mitt, he ain't Christian."
Being the progressive liberal-ite that I am, I easily set it all to rest with the belief that no candidate ought to be voted for, or against, based on religious identity. But this debacle has me pondering about my own prejudices, how closely I align myself with Roman Catholic Church doctrine, the merits of religious tolerance (and perhaps even celebrating religious diversity?), semantics in general, bigotry/irony/ill-humor/Jesus/tangents ... Bottom line? I don't really care about Christians, I'm Catholic. (insert sarcastic smirk here)
This particular news blip has brought me pause, as I myself have literally said the words, "Mormons aren't Christian." Theologically speaking, from the Catholic perspective, faith communities that do not accept the doctrine of the trinity are not considered as Christian. In addition to Mormonism, this nontrinitarian category of Jesus followers includes Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians and Christian Scientists, to name a few. But is naming a religion based on Christ as unChristian the same as religious bigotry? Rev. Jeffress actually used the word "cult" in reference to Mormonism, which seems to be where the major upset lies. Of course, while it is possible to boil it all down to semantics and meaning, Rev. Jeffress' intent is blatantly obvious: "Don't vote for Mitt, he ain't Christian."
Being the progressive liberal-ite that I am, I easily set it all to rest with the belief that no candidate ought to be voted for, or against, based on religious identity. But this debacle has me pondering about my own prejudices, how closely I align myself with Roman Catholic Church doctrine, the merits of religious tolerance (and perhaps even celebrating religious diversity?), semantics in general, bigotry/irony/ill-humor/Jesus/tangents ... Bottom line? I don't really care about Christians, I'm Catholic. (insert sarcastic smirk here)
20 September 2011
thanks, new (dream) job
Having struggled in the muck of a mediocre job placement with a quite toxic and deprecating environment for nearly a year, I finally discovered a heaven-sent employment move. Hello, I am the newest member of the Missions Office for the Archdiocese of Seattle. While it is strange to be working for the pope (hierarchically speaking), and for the Catholic Church directly, I am crazy happy right now. The Missions Office does some amazing work, including such biblical directives as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and loving (in appropriate fashion) on the poor. (See Matthew 25) The work is so fulfilling that there is no amount of administrative strife to ever match the joy and satisfaction I feel. Well, not so far at least. More to come on that I suppose.
I am grateful for my formative years of being a dummy kiddo, collegiate alcoholic, existential crisis-ed mini-adult, and now, a floundering grown-up. My life is so shaped and filled by all the luck and love of existence--thank you thank you! To the universe, family, friends, mentors, lovers, enemies, cats, failures, triumphs, and of course, to you dear--thank you for this one wild and precious life.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen
I am grateful for my formative years of being a dummy kiddo, collegiate alcoholic, existential crisis-ed mini-adult, and now, a floundering grown-up. My life is so shaped and filled by all the luck and love of existence--thank you thank you! To the universe, family, friends, mentors, lovers, enemies, cats, failures, triumphs, and of course, to you dear--thank you for this one wild and precious life.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen
09 September 2011
05 August 2011
01 August 2011
Starving, Fasting, Hoping
Ramadan begins today, and this morning I came across this most downer headline: Somali famine refugees begin Ramadan fast. After reading the article I am touched by the determined faith of the drought refugees. During this time when many must feel completely abandoned by God, and by the world for that matter, one refugee highlighted in the article notes that famine is "a fast without reward," while observing Ramadan is a fast "inspired by God." Creating space for hope in the most dire of circumstances is truly greater than observing any religious tradition. Yet how awesome and inspiring is it that keeping the fast of Ramadan while suffering the harsh refugee camp life might provide some comfort and solace?
I am reminded of the influential work by Auschwitz survivor Victor Fankl, Man's Search for Meaning, in which he introduces the notion of "logotherapy," or existential therapy. Frankl's experience in the concentration camp brought him to ponder why he maintained a will to live while for others (understandably!) life lost all its meaning amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. Roughly, existential therapy posits that seeking meaning in life is the single most motivating force in human experience. I could not agree more. While existentialism played a significant role in the Catholic imagination during the twentieth century (most famously by French philosopher Gabriel Marcel), my personal imagination has been overwhelmingly informed by a "will to meaning." I see this search for meaning as the fundamental unifier in all human experience--regardless of dogma, ethics or privilege, all humans create some sort of system of meaning to which they ascribe their very being. The form might be in answer to the question, "Why are we here?" or may be a directly inherited system of meaning, such as a religion, a political agenda, a moral understanding. For example, the Golden Rule or the concept of karma might deeply influence how one sees oneself, sees others, sees the world. This is truly the meat of my interest in spirituality, which I have previously defined as the relationship with self, others, and God, especially regarding making meaning of the human experience.
The article on Somali refugees entering Ramadan quotes AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha, who instructs that "Around the globe, everyone must dig deep into their pockets to rescue the people of Somalia from the abyss they find themselves staring into." If there's to be any hope in that abyss, its meaning can be found by God's inspiration, as lived out in the aid given by us.
Want to give? Here are some links:
http://www.arcrelief.org/site/PageServer
http://crs.org/somalia/partners.cfm
http://www.irusa.org/countries/somalia/
I am reminded of the influential work by Auschwitz survivor Victor Fankl, Man's Search for Meaning, in which he introduces the notion of "logotherapy," or existential therapy. Frankl's experience in the concentration camp brought him to ponder why he maintained a will to live while for others (understandably!) life lost all its meaning amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. Roughly, existential therapy posits that seeking meaning in life is the single most motivating force in human experience. I could not agree more. While existentialism played a significant role in the Catholic imagination during the twentieth century (most famously by French philosopher Gabriel Marcel), my personal imagination has been overwhelmingly informed by a "will to meaning." I see this search for meaning as the fundamental unifier in all human experience--regardless of dogma, ethics or privilege, all humans create some sort of system of meaning to which they ascribe their very being. The form might be in answer to the question, "Why are we here?" or may be a directly inherited system of meaning, such as a religion, a political agenda, a moral understanding. For example, the Golden Rule or the concept of karma might deeply influence how one sees oneself, sees others, sees the world. This is truly the meat of my interest in spirituality, which I have previously defined as the relationship with self, others, and God, especially regarding making meaning of the human experience.
The article on Somali refugees entering Ramadan quotes AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha, who instructs that "Around the globe, everyone must dig deep into their pockets to rescue the people of Somalia from the abyss they find themselves staring into." If there's to be any hope in that abyss, its meaning can be found by God's inspiration, as lived out in the aid given by us.
Want to give? Here are some links:
http://www.arcrelief.org/site/PageServer
http://crs.org/somalia/partners.cfm
http://www.irusa.org/countries/somalia/
28 July 2011
Summer Soundz
It's summer in Seattle, finally! Today's got a high of 75 degrees, and I will take it gratefully, knowing that Americans everywhere are sweltering in record-breaking heat and humidity. Seattle summer may not arrive until July, but when it does show up there's just no complaining. Except for maybe that the lake is too cold to swim in and that it will still rain intermittently, and honestly when it gets too much above 80 degrees I die. But still, it's summer!One of my personal most favorite songs of summer is Pavement's "Shady Lane" (the video is directed by Spike Jonze!) It's got Stephen Malkmus' distinct vocals (almost as though he's just talking) over a jolly little upbeat tune that gets me bopping my head or foot every single time. Notably, Malkmus sings in the song's chorus,
Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God
Oh my God, Oh your God, Oh his God, Oh dear God
It's everybody's God, It's everybody's God, It's everybody's God, It's everybody's God
The worlds collide, but all we really want is a shady lane.
This is a quasi-theological thought from a certified indie "god," although as a spiritual writer and trained theologian (have I mentioned I have a master's degree? because I do) I'd probably revise these lyrics to better reflect my theological viewpoint. Kelly's version: "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!" Meh, maybe Malkmus has it right with "everybody's God." So here's to summer, blessed shady lanes and dear, dear God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)