Archive for April, 2009
Jesus, the Easter Bunny and a Priest walk into a bar mitzvah…
Posted by Brad in Just as I am on April 13th, 2009
Easter Sunday presented itself once again this year, rising, as it were, through the ashes of winter and early spring. We speak of the easter bunny, the chocolates, the candy, the hunt and the resurrection in the same breath.
I’m not a heathen, nor am I a zealot, so church attendance this year, at least for me, was an optional adventure. But we started attending a new church, one with, as we discovered, a much looser interpretation of the easter story than we were used to. The resurrection, in the words of the minister, is the reminder that in our crucifixion moments - in the midst of our deepest trials, we can overcome. The spirit of Jesus’ memory appeared no less than 14 times throughout the gospels. His ideals were so present and real he was truly ‘re’-membered. Brought back into their membership. I’m not sure how this presents itself as a biblical truth, nor how someone of the cloth can hold to this interpretation and build a career on it, but for whatever reason, I was moved and inspired more in that sermon than in any other in recent memory. (Granted, that’s not saying a whole lot, but let’s give kudo’s and credit, even when it’s only a three of a kind beating an ace high).
So the bible wanes on, the memory of resurrection rises up and the stone that could not hold back the spirit of the prophet, the rebel and the protester rolls away.
Happy easter weekend to everyone above, below and in the fold.
Speak now, or…
Explain to me again why the existence of god (whether all-powerful or mostly-powerful) and the non-existence of empirical evidence of the existence of god are not in conflict with each other.
Let’s not get bogged down in the semantics of empirical evidence. I’m not talking about the wondrous beauty of nature and I’m not talking about inexplicable medical miracles. I’m talking the night and day cold hard dirt of fact. Like the sun and the moon.
If there is a benevolent god, it would seem she/he/it (SHI) is only present in memory and shadow. Like our ethical bent and need for acceptance and love are the remnants left in the pixie dust wake of god’s departure from SHI’s creation. Why would god not speak to our world leaders? Why would god not mention the incoming tsunami that is about to kill thousands? Why would god only channel surf through our history instead of jumping on the dance floor and grinding with the locals?
I’ve labeled myself a hopeful agnostic. So I guess what I’m asking is, “Why does god refuse to speak?”.
Oh wait. He is speaking. I just can’t hear him. Thanks guys. That’s oh so helpful. It’s my fault.
You’re all pretty.
I have lots of things that flow through my head but when I try to write them down, they sound fake and preachy and forced.
I took the kids to our *new* church. Not sure we’re going to go there often but whatever. Spoke to the Rev for a bit.
There is just something in me that can’t stand religious relativism. I understand fighting for the right for freedom of belief, but I don’t understand someone who actually believes that everyone is right. Not just the right to believe, but the actual beliefs are all right. That’s like being asked by your prom date if you think she’s pretty and you look at her, with conviction in your eyes and wave your hand at the whole room and say, “You’re all pretty”. Doesn’t wash.
You have to believe something to be true. And in doing so believe something else to be not true. That kind of conviction is important for survival. It doesn’t mean you know you are right, it just means you believe something to be true. I don’t see those as conflicting positions. One persom believing in one and only one god means that person doesn’t believe in many gods. It doesn’t mean that person goes to war against the many gods dude. The communal right to believe is intrinsic to humanity, but so is the personal conviction to truth.