One more Did you know...

I recently learned that there was a time in the history of the Catholic Church when they (we) were forbidden from reading the Bible. HUH? I repeat, HUH??!! This is supposed to be the word of God, yet don't go lookin' yourself. We will select gospels and other readings for you people. I reason that they saw this as an easier way to control the herd. Heck, no wonder I had never been pushed into reading it. Of course, forbid a person and he/she will want to do it all the more, no? So, all of a sudden, my late-in- life reading of this document has the delicious coating of naughty rule-breaking.

On Saturday,I found myself sitting in a group of parochial school graduates of 1969 (my husband's classmates). Father Larry was sitting next to me. He was their one token clergy from the tiny graduating class of 36 or so. One woman asked me this:

"Val, do you still attend St. Bridget's?"
"Oh, no, not for a long time."
"Really. Where do you go?"
"Well, uh, I don't any more."
"What?"
"I am no longer a church-goer." I am sooo aware of Fr. Larry beside me!
"Why not?"
I glance down at my watch. "Gee, how much time have ya got?"
Uncomfortable laughter from the group. By now all 5-6 people have turned complete attention to my every word.
"No, really, why not?"
Now, at this point I am most uncomfortable, feeling the need to justify my soul.
"Well, I have many many issues with the Church. It's cliche to say, but I am not religious, but extremely spiritual."
Then I invited all to check out my blog if they are that interested in Valerie's beliefs. When I looked brilliant by informing them that historically Catholics were banned from reading the bible, Fr. Larry nodded and muttered agreement. I most appreciated his kind stillness in not morphing into Jerry Fallwell. He seems like such a lovely man. A few sentences later, I made my move to end this discussion since we weren't going around the table with everyone else's most private views.

Confession #111: I do miss the community of church.

Confession #112: I feel closer to God having eliminated the "middle man."

Did you know...?

Did you know that:

• There is a group of conservative Christians who are setting about re-writing/translating the Bible to make it more politically-conservative-friendly? I kid you not. Now, this is nothing new; there are many versions of this document, which just speaks to my continuing grain-of-salt approach to it. The pen of the translator is a powerful one, indeed.

• Rome-based Archbishop Raymond Burke argues that any Catholic who even votes for a pro-choice candidate should be denied Communion AND funeral rites? He is part of a group who tried to prohibit Ted Kennedy's church funeral! (WWJD?)

• Moses is the inspiration for a multitude of American images, policies and analogies, from The Statue of Liberty (who holds a tablet) to Superman's back story, to many presidents' speeches? A fascinating book by Bruce Feiler, titled, Prophet: Moses and the American Story, traces all this.

• R. Crumb, creator of Felix the Cat, has come out with his own graphic novel version of the Bible? Jeepers.

Just tryin' to keep y'all abreast.

Confession #110: I believe soooo many zealous "Christians" have veered so far from the loving intent of Christ.

OMG, the virgin is back!

All who know me will tell you I am not a hoarder, yet we have something in common. The serious, clinical hoarder can't seem to get started purging because she has put it off for so long that it looms in overwhelming proportions. Where does one begin? Well, I have been away from this bible blog for 7 weeks, and the longer I don't get to it, the bigger it LOOMS!

However, I will jump in today with a quickie to re-start my juices flowing.

My first tidbit:

I found it utterly sad when last month a minister from...gulp...the state of Arizona preached to his followers that he hopes Obama dies. (I won't even give him publicity by stating his name). Now, one may say that is not a call to such action, but when someone in a leadership position such as his, declares this in such capacity to his constituents, that is tantamount for a call, in my eyes. And what do you know? Soon after, one of his followers shows up outside the President's appearance, weapon slung on shoulder.

I am sure this minister is enjoying tax-free status for his church. So, I ask this charlatan, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Would he pray for someone's death? Even on the crucifix he is said to have asked God's forgiveness for the very men responsible.

This minister had the audacity to sanctimoniously blast his horn on the sanctity of life in the abortion issue, yet cannot see his own hypocrisy.

What in the hell are we coming to when "men of God" (publicly!) pray for a sitting president to die?

Confession #109: I am sad. I am worried.

A Bahama Breeze

Last evening I had a wonderful conversation with some terrific ladies, including a young lady from the Bahamas who leads a bible study group. I was struck by her personal devotion and comfort in her faith. She made a very good point about intention. One's daily actions should always be driven by the best intentions or focus. We may fall, we may fail, but our intentions toward God and our fellow humans are paramount.

Confession #107: I have always taken umbrage to the expression, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Seems to set up a lose-lose equation. I have no idea how I may be judged some day, if I even will be. I like to hold out hope that Divine and unconditional love will save me. However, I think my INTENTIONS should speak loudly.

Confession #108: Having said that, (she said in a whisper), sometimes I do NOT have the most honorable of intentions. Gulp.

This just in

So the news reported this week that scientists now date tool-wielding man back 70,000 years, a good 40,000 or so years earlier than last estimated. Wow. Can you imagine? And, what does this do to Bible literalists? I mean, how can they still be placing the proverbial Garden of Eden at 4-5,000 years old? I once heard a member of the LDS church, well-educated professional, explain that artifacts and even evidentiary strata in the Grand Canyon, for example, were “tricks” put there by God to test the true believers. I do not know if this is a church claim, or just her rationalization. But, come on! How does science so threaten the “word of God?” In other words, couldn’t one still believe in the Bible’s teachings without buying the literal timing of it all? This is not just a rhetorical argument – as another school year begins, districts everywhere will have to respond every time creationists raise their heads in promotion of their agenda.

As I have written earlier, I do not see evolution in opposition to a deity, but rather as the universe’s (God’s) divine plan. Science is the extraordinary, ultimate intelligent design. Does it really threaten God’s omnipotence for Man to follow tracks using a God-given sense of reason and critical thinking? Ooh, maybe it does; maybe Science is that Tree of Knowledge. Mustn’t touch!

Confession #106: When I reflect on Man using tools 70,000 years ago, it leaves me with a greater sense of affinity for my very species. It actually gives me comfort to think how many, many, many, many, many humans walked before me. If anything, it gives me hope of a purpose behind it all, a feeling that we are all part of an amazing organism that somehow lives on and on.

Pause for a book recommendation

I continue to be intrigued by how one's life circles keep intersecting in a sort of dancing Venn diagram, if you will.

Over twenty years ago, I rented a little known film that completely entranced me and haunted me since. Gotta read the book, I kept telling myself. Got the book. Even started the book once or twice. Finally took the book to Scotland thinking that would be a cool setting and set of circumstances in which to finally tackle it. It was. I would get up early with the sun (4:30 a.m. in Scotland!) and read for hours until another day of grueling sightseeing took over.

I am here to recommend to you... The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. It is a murder mystery set in Medieval Italy in a monastery. Our protagonist is a sort of Grissom from CSI. Oh, but it is so much more than that. It kicked my historical and vocabularic (is that a word?) butt! It even challenged my iPhone's dictionary's butt. Providing much authentic background to the horrid history of the Catholic Church and Inquisition, the novel even wove actual figures from history as characters in the novel, covering a multitude of themes: questioning heresy, the acquisition of knowledge, corruption of power, the "dangers" of comedy, socio-economic class systems, even syllogistic inquiry. It has been a long, long time since I was so intrigued, challenged, and enlightened by a novel (which is why I often reach for non-fiction now).

So now I return to the movie with Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, and a very young Christian Slater. If you just opt for the movie, make sure you watch in a dark, silent room with no interruptions, because it requires real concentration.

But whether reading or watching, your efforts will be rewarded.

So, despite forgetting my bible at home, whether wandering through the Church of the Holy Rude (previous post) or walking through the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, or staying in our flat reading the novel I brought from home, religion was all around me. Geeze!

Confession #105: I am not a fast reader.

To serve

The sermon presented during service at Church of the Holy Rude, delivered by an octogenarian minister to a small, geriatric parish, was remarkably relevant and delivered with surprising passion. The minister (didn’t get his name) referenced his current reading, including a book on the Kennedys, and he built his sermon around the subject of leadership and greatness.

He cited Jesus’s proclamation that he has come not to be served, but to serve. I have always loved that idea, because I believe that is where many of those “in power” often lose sense of their roles. Whether a queen, or pope, or president, or CEO, or state legislator, true greatness in leadership lies in remembering that. As he quoted another source, (my attribution sucks today!) some “great” leaders make themselves look and feel great, while truly great leaders elevate those around them and make them see themselves as great. A worthy person brings those around him/her up, not down. I am struck by Jesus’s humility in his role on earth. It is almost like saying, “It’s not about me; it is about the message.”

Confession #104: Today I was reminded not to stereotype the elderly. I expected this gentleman to drone on and on dispassionately and by rote, since he’s been doing this for ages. Instead, he was well-prepared, well-read, and delivered his message with so much exuberance, reaching across his pulpit to us with obvious conviction in every word he spoke. Age is so immaterial; we can all be zestful children on the inside.