tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261488431860109218.post4756456525673156669..comments2023-04-29T03:51:39.633-04:00Comments on Ankle Deep in the Silver Sea: ColorStanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02744611628375476156noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261488431860109218.post-56452064997253684182010-04-26T17:10:54.312-04:002010-04-26T17:10:54.312-04:00Matt, I'm not offended at all by your thoughts...Matt, I'm not offended at all by your thoughts. I'm actually really happy that there are readers!<br /><br />But I know exactly what you're talking about because I harbor many similar thoughts. And for what it's worth, I think the similarities and differences are worth exploring but we'll take it at its own pace. <br /><br />I think I'll respond in another post as I want to think it through well.<br /><br />Thanks again for reading!Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02744611628375476156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261488431860109218.post-8828801457190854452010-04-26T00:47:59.378-04:002010-04-26T00:47:59.378-04:00At its core, I believe religion should be about pr...At its core, I believe religion should be about providing both social moral guidance as well as internal, spiritual oneness. It should foster a deep sense of commitment to building and participating in a community of people who all share the common goal of leading a good life. Somewhere, though, that message gets lost in the "whiteness." "We have a special collection this week for the Cardinal's Appeal." "We have a special collection this week to defray the cost of our envelope program." "We have a special collection this week to provide for our other special collections." Somewhere in the mechanical demonstration of the modern mass, Christ seems to be lost.<br /><br />You and I might not remember when it was all fire and brimstone and we were all sinners destined for an afterlife filled with pain and suffering, but those from our parents' generation sure do. It's interesting to see how far the (Catholic) church has progressed on the issue. One would like to think that it is because of some metaphysical epiphany where the clergy realized that the flock should be taught how to lead righteous lives instead of being admonished for being imperfect...but that doesn't seem to be the case. We have a kinder, gentler church simply because people stopped coming when they grew unafraid of the threats.<br /><br />I hate for this all to come across as some angry diatribe against the church, Christianity, and God Himself...but it's not. I'm confused because what I've been brought up on--the whiteness--has blinded me, in my opinion. It is now in direct conflict with what I see all around me--the color. I wonder why more people haven't opened their eyes, which then, in turn, makes me wonder if I truly have opened my own. It reminds me of the third Matrix movie when they break through the clouds. Am I truly rising above the mess and seeing clearly? Or is it all a facade that I've created for myself?<br /><br />The bottom line is this: God resides in all of us and regardless of if you're a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Shintoist, a Pagan, or whatever else you could possibly be, what's important is to seek out that inner oneness and to achieve that internal peace in cooperation with a homeostatic social existence. Whatever team you align yourself with only indicates what rules you want to play by but the actual handbook is the same for everyone--it's just a matter of semantics and how the game is played. <br /><br />I say--if you want to sack the quarterback and let loose a throat-ripping roar, then do it! But if he needs your help getting up, don't pull an Iverseon and step over his Lue. <br /><br />--MattThe Stay At Home Scholarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13136325477506837723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261488431860109218.post-91566576902351750352010-04-26T00:47:33.999-04:002010-04-26T00:47:33.999-04:00It's really amazing how God provides for us wh...It's really amazing how God provides for us when we really need guidance. I've been in a rut for the past few days (in truth, much longer, but more of a conscious rut recently) regarding my faith and organized religion. Before I get to that though I'd like to comment on some of the points you made and issues you raised in your post.<br /><br />I love the entire thrust of your thoughts; color IS missing from Christianity, at least our Americanized version of it. I can speak only from my Roman Catholic experience but, from what I've seen, all that is white is more muted--it's closer to slate gray. Everything about Catholicism, as it is practiced here in New York at the very least, is solemn and drab; there is no vibrancy--no color. The "celebration" of Christ is often rarely that...and it begs the question why?<br /><br />The whiteness of Christianity (and many things in our culture) has always bothered me and, I suppose, has contributed in part to my recent distancing from the organized aspects of religion. I know that you weren't necessarily going down a racial or cultural path with your analogy but I would be remiss not to point out at least a few issues that I have with how important white has become to Christianity. Isn't it amazing that most pictorial representations of God feature an old white man with a white (or grey) beard? Every pope (as far as I can tell) has been white and even Jesus is most frequently portrayed as caucasian...despite the fact that he came from a region not exactly known for its whiteness. Go figure.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the point. I've been in a rut lately with regards to church. My relationship with God feels fine, it's the conflict that has popped up with regards to church, priests, and organized religion as a whole. I can't get my head past the idea that it's all artifice. More importantly, that it's all MAN-MADE (sorry--no italics option). Maybe that's why there's only white? Too much color would be distracting and would ruin the hypnotic trance that's created? We are all supposed to be (white) sheep after all, no?<br /><br />I've found myself at a metacognitive standpoint with regards to religion. I've always identified myself as a Christian and align myself with Christ...but I have to wonder what's more important--the ideals that he embodies or the stories that have been told about him? There are dozens of flavors (if you will) of religion, dating back thousands and thousands of years. Each one features a creation story, a battle for power between warring factions, a single Godhead or God-like figure, and countless supporting characters. Christianity has it, Islam has it, Judaism has it...but so do Norse Mythology, Greek Mythology, Celtic Paganism. The list goes on and on. <br /><br />For me, I've tried to remove the human element from religion; I feel that it has marred what would otherwise be a compelling argument for our existence. Too much of the organized religion we encounter deals with hypocrisy and contradiction. Your mentor chided you for being competitive and wasting your time on your frivolous endeavor. But, with all due respect, could not the same thing be said for HIM (or them)? Isn't the purpose of spreading the Gospel not simply to spread the word but to GET IT OUT THERE FIRST? To CONVERT people from other religions or belief sets? That sounds fairly competitive to me! And yet, because what YOU are doing doesn't directly further the aims of the religious body, it is deemed fanciful.The Stay At Home Scholarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13136325477506837723noreply@blogger.com