A Flight of Fancy for Friday - Lent 2024

 

Brook near Beomeosa Temple (founded 678CE), Busan, South Korea, 2014

(Photo krb)

The English Theologian and renown writer on Comparative Religion, Karen Armstrong OBE, FRSL recounts the story of her journey from Religious Sister through academic training to a much broader understanding of God in her best selling autobiography, "The Spiral Staircase - My climb out of Darkness" first published in 2004.

As well as telling her story she also recounts some of her discoveries about religion and about God along the way.

She writes:

 “Religion is not about accepting twenty impossible propositions before breakfast,

 but about doing things that change you. It is a moral aesthetic, an ethical alchemy. If you behave in a certain way, you will be transformed. The myths and laws of religion are not true because they they conform to some metaphysical, scientific or historical reality but because they are life enhancing. They tell you how human nature functions, but you will not discover their truth unless you apply these myths and doctrines to your own life and put them into practice.”

― Karen Armstrong, The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness

A Word for Wednesday - Lent 2024

 

Hospital of St Cross, Almshouse (1136) from the River Itchen, Winchester UK 2029

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The Rev'd Dr Chris Scott is a highly respected and insightful Priest of the Church of England, a Psychologist and Psychoanalyst. He is an honorary Chaplain to Winchester University, a published commentator on Religion and Theology and is the only priest who is also a Member of the UK Humanist Society.

This year Chris celebrates 50 years of being, as he terms it, 'professionally religious '. In a recent post, Chris comments on his experience and summarizes his views on the current state of the Church.

His most recent excellent and highly recommended book 'The Jesus Myth' is easily accessible. 

Here is what he had to say in his post.

"This year marks my 50th year of being 'professionally religious'. It started when I joined the Society of Saint Francis as a novice, continued with theological training, and then ordination in 1981. It continues today in retirement as an Honorary Chaplain to the University of Winchester.
It has to be said that I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Church as an institution. I was sacked from my first curacy. One of the things I was charged with was "wanting the Church to be a therapeutic community". Well yes, I still do believe that. But what so often gets in the way of the Church really being 'the healing Body of Christ', is Religion.

"Why are Church of England congregations shrinking year-on-year? Why is our message just not being heard by contemporary society? It is, I believe because the Church is peddling Religion rather than the message of Jesus. Religion is marked by belief - orthodoxy, right belief about Jesus, whereas Jesus was concerned with right living - orthopraxis. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven". The message of Jesus is being lost because of the emphasis by the Church of beliefs about him, couched in a language and beliefs emanating from the Bronze and Iron Ages.

"So much of the Biblical text is in the form of poetry, legend, parable and myth, and yet as often as not, they are read in Church as though they are all historical fact. The Nativity Story, which still draws crowds to the churches, has the same currency to the modern mind as Father Christmas and Elves. Nice for the children but irrelevant to modern society.

"Do we not need to start treating our congregations as 'grown ups' and explain the nature of myth in the Bible? The phrase I first heard at a lecture by Marcus Borg encapsulates it so well; "Myth is a story about something that never was, but always is". Like a parable, the truth lies behind the story, not in the story.

"My plea to the Church is that it stops concentrating on right (ancient) beliefs, and starts just BEING the church. In my experience, people find it a great relief in finding that they do not have to believe in the literal and historical truth in the Bible, but are able to find Truth 'hidden' in the stories. As a psychotherapist I have encountered many individuals damaged by dogmatic religion. I think that the Church, as an institution, is causing self-damage by failing to speak in a language modern woman and man can relate to.

"Chris is the Author of "Goodbye to God" and "The Jesus Myth" "

Peace, justice and blessings to all.

 

A Trifle for Tuesday - Lent 2024

 

Loch Lomond, Ardlui, Scotland 2019

(Photo krb) 

Anne Lamott is an American writer whose work I am beginning to explore. Her major works, 'Bird by Bird' and 'Travelling Mercies' are New York Times best sellers. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1960's. I am reading 'Travelling Mercies' and finding it a very good read. Its subtitle is 'Some Thought on Faith' 

Here is a quote from her other writings.

“You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

- Anne Lamott

Peace, justice and blessings to all.

A Moment for Monday - Lent 2024

 

Paris from Place de la Contrascarpe, 2007

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I am reading Richard Rohr's very recent book, 'Jesus' Alternative Plan' (Franciscan Media 2022). It provides an excellent insight into Jesus' understanding of the Reign of God as expressed in the Gospel according to St Matthew Chapters 5 to 7 which we know as the Sermon on the Mount. He seeks to apply the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount for our world today. 

As usual with all of Richard Rohr's writings it is an outstanding work which is very accessible which makes those of us who are engaged in the life of the church sit up and take notice and seek to do better. For those not engaged in the life of the church it opens an alternative view of the spiritual journey.

It is one of those books where the reader needs to keep their wits about them. His writing is not always linear. Rather to enter into the book is to enter Rohr's world of ideas and they come thick and fast and for me I often have to stop and reread because he has said something very significant, and I need to take it in before I move on to the next idea. It is amazing and mind-blowing all at once. 

Before turning to the issues raised by the Sermon on the Mount he writes about Jesus' Baptism. I have always thought that Jesus' Baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River was a pivotal moment in Jesus understanding of who he was and what he was called by God to do and to be but according to Rohr it was not only that, but it was also revolutionary.

Here is an extract from what he has to say. 

"Matthew's Gospel continues, 'Then Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole Jorden district made their way to [John]' (Matthew 3:5). {This is} why he would be a threat. These pilgrims are supposed to be making their way to Jerusalem and instead they're making their way out to hear this upstart in the desert! Among the crowd comes Jesus himself: .... 'to be baptized by John.' 

"In effect, Jesus is legitimating what John is doing, saying it's OK to pour water over people and tell them their sins are forgiven. That's revolutionary. (my emphasis) Jews were supposed to follow the Levitical law of Holiness, and suddenly John is making it far too easy to get God to love them, to get God to forgive them. God becomes available as Jordan River water. And, of course, the irony is that the water is in the desert, where water isn't supposed to be. In other words, we can find God everywhere - outside of institutions, official priesthood, or formal observance" (My emphasis).

Peace, justice and blessings to all.

 

A Flight of Fancy for Friday - Lent 2024

Radishes, Produce Market in a Park, New York City. 2015

(Photo krb)

Nadia Bolz-Webber is an American Lutheran Pastor, writer and speaker who came into her ministry somewhat by chance from a background of stand-up comedy. Do read about her and how she got to be where she is today. It is a great story. I have quoted from her writings from time to time over the years. She is very plain speaking as you will see from the prayer I am about to quote. Her message most certainly gets through to her audience. 

She publishes a regular newsletter online. Perhaps some will subscribe to it. It is easily found as are her books which are great reads.

In this quote she takes a short prayer for courage and adds to it to create her Extended Dance Mix. The original prayer was written for the Holden Village, a Lutheran Retreat Village in a beautiful but very remote location in Washington State in the United States. If you find its web site, you will see its remarkable location. 

Here is the prayer for courage extended dance mix. The original prayer is in bold print. Enjoy.

Good Courage Prayer – extended dance mix

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

O God, you have called your servants-

And you have such questionable taste in servants.

Your servant selection process needs some work

Because O God you have again called your

Foreign women and weary retirees

You have called your pole dancers and police sergeants.

O God you have again called thirsty

women and broken men and we who foolishly think we volunteered, as if

we raised our eager hand and you called on us when really we were

conscripted.

Oh God you have called your servants

to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,

I don't know how this story ends, Lord.

Could we maybe just skip to the end so I could read the last few verses?

I won’t tell anyone, I promise.

Because, If I can’t see the ending then how do I know if I am getting

close?

So God if you could please just give this servant that blue pin at the end

of my Google Map directions so that even if the route keeps changing I

at least know where I am eventually getting to. Then I’d know which

route takes 4 minutes longer, one graduate degree longer, a few

emotional breakdowns longer than the one I’m on. Should I face Moab or

Bethlehem? Egypt or promises? What I already know or what I will

surely learn?

Oh God you have called your servants

to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,

by paths as yet untrodden

We’ve not been where we are going yet.

Make a way on these paths we’ve not yet taken – through parks where

junkies fix and children play,

through starter mansions and public housing and suburban strip malls

and dry land wheat farms and cheap motel that charge by the hour if you

know how to ask for it.

Oh God you have called your servants

to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,

by paths as yet untrodden,

through perils unknown.

Wait. Perils? Well, ok so maybe I take back the thing about knowing the

end because I don't think Gandolf meant for us to go this way Mr. Frodo. I

want to know the end and also know the way to the end but not to know

the perils that get me to the end because if I knew the perils I would

never start the journey because I’m certain I am just not peril-ready.  I

am never peril-ready.

So, Lord of The Questionable Servants we’re gonna need some help.

So....

Give us faith

Hand it over. Seriously. Cough it up. We don’t generate enough of our

own so if you call us, equip us, Lord.

Give us faith to go out with good courage,

Or at least good enough courage.

Give us faith to go out with good courage,  knowing only that your hand is leading us

Your strong hand. Your soft hand. The one that molded us out of dirt.

If your hand can lead Jesus out of his own grave, then it is

indeed strong enough to lead us out of ours too.

Give us faith to go out with good courage, knowing only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us eternally; through Jesus Christ

…who breaks open prisons, frees slaves and captives,

feasts with the outcast and celebrates strangers.

Jesus who was so bad at choosing his friends and just as bad at

choosing his servants.

Jesus who even now stands among his faltering friends and shows us

his hand and his side and gives us his peace. Gives us his faith, gives us

his good courage, gives us his leading hand, gives us his love gives us

his support.

And it is enough for the ventures of which we cannot see the end. Amen.