|
 |
You are here : The Arena
|
|
Welcome to our readers' forums, which we fondly call The Arena. You must be REGISTERED to post here.
|
 |  | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
 | | |
|
|
|
| Miracles, Visions, and the Assumption |
|
|
The world was so much larger centuries ago. Because good and evil have existed since the dawn of time, myths, legends, "miracles" and tales of great heroes and saints were born and passed on from one century to the next, generation to generation. Funny how there's been such a dearth of these "miracles" and divine appearances in the past 100 years, about the time that investigative reporting started taking hold. I know how cynical that sounds and the truth is I do believe in God. For me its Catholicism I'm mostly rejecting, but not organized religion entirely - which I think serves a purpose and helps to steer the world toward a common good. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Re: Miracles, Visions, and the Assumption |
|
|
You're right about the idea that religion can still do good in the world. The primary reason I still go to church, and have my kid educated in the faith, is this: community is powerful. To be part of a community which does believe in helping the poor and marginalized is absolutely a necessary part of being an entire person, and religious communities, and I must say notably Catholic communities, really do this well. The other reason I do it is I don't want my daughter to grow up a religious fanatic. I know a lot of folks who grew up in atheist or agnostic households who ended up as part of religious traditions or cults to provide them with some spiritual spark they needed (and/or as a way to reject their parents). I'd much rather have her learn scripture through a tradition that doesn't believe in it's literal truth than end up in a crowd of snake-handlers who think the world was created 2007 years ago. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Re: Miracles, Visions, and the Assumption |
|
|
The old religions needed the Wild Wood too, or earthquakes and lightning, volcano gods, or some other version good ol' Nature being it's beautiful, rotten self, depending on where you lived. There's not a lot of obvious mystery (heh) left for us jaded, informed people to see (but it's sure there if you start poking), but there's still plenty of cosmic fickleness to go around. It's funny how miracles occur in areas that are on the receiving end of divine (cough) justice.
Which doesn't exactly explain teh jolly old elf. I don't like the old bastard either, but the family and I, we have a sort of mutual suspended disbelief going. It's like that old Communist joke: the kids pretend to believe and I pretend to humor their belief. "Daddy, those gifts from Santa are the same ones that were in your closet!" "Makes you think, doesn't it, kiddo."
Which if you think about it, is exactly what religion does when it's working properly. Shores up those community and family bonds, makes some tolerable ritual marking of events, and calms us toward randomness...even if everyone knows it's bullshit.
Great article, John.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| everything you need to know about santa |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Plus, it's no worse than the other lies we tell them when they are really little, even by omission: life is fair, people act fairly, your parents are infallible, etc. Me, I think it's good they know you can lie. It's a skill that will serve them well. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Re: I'm with you on Santa |
|
|
Nancy,
Do you believe in God sans the supernaturalism of authorized religion, or God as some kind of benevolent force/energy? There's never been a story re God that a good novelist couldn't have imagined.
---------------
rundeep,
I agree that religion can be a force for good and can confer the sense of identity you speak of, but I don't think either are contigent in any way: Helping the poor and those in need ought not to require the imprimatur of mother church. Your comments reminded me of what Neil Tobin said about going to a retreat as a young man -- "after all that talk of chastity and temperance, he emerged into the open air ready to bull cows".
-----------------
Keith,
I always felt that religion/fables/mythology grew out of the accidental/serendipitous relationship to environment: Primitive homo sapien cooked the wrong mushrooms with his brontosaurus steak, and lo and behold the gods were born!
-------------------
twiff,
That Santa looks like a guy I know, who drinks only Morgan's rum and poteen mixed. A crazy ballad singing bastard he is too. Now I know how he's going to earn his keep this Christmas. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Re: I'm with you on Santa |
|
|
rum and poteen does not sound like a tasty concoction. sounds like it'll knock you on your ass though. |
|
|
|
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home | And Now For The News | The Arena | The Comics Page | About Quiblit
|
|
|