The De-nomination Habit
My birth family is a veritable, self contained protest army. My mother was the oldest of 14 children. My father was one of the younger children of 8 or 9. Denominating one another is the only family tradition I am aware of out of that tribal collective. I do not know if my parents were the denominators or the denominated. I grew up without extended family. That is all the summary I need. My parents were such dedicated faith bashers that they could talk a child out of their belief that ice cream is nummy. Nietzsche forbid that children should have faith in themselves. Collectively, we routinely contradict ourselves in order to argue with each other.
Yet I somehow grew a very deep connection with an invisible friend I sometimes call, "God." Of course I have grown other names which I use in the company of folks who find that word offensive. My invisible friend does not speak to me in words and assures me our names for it are not at all important on the cosmic scale. My invisible friend keeps telling me to find a way to carry our relationship into a church.
Yikes! Give me something simple, would ya? If names are not important to you, how 'bout, "Shithead"?
But... I been trying... But... I don't care if you are quoting a saint, an ancient scripture, Zarathustra or the latest prime time crackpot. Religious (or anti) quotations are dogmatic to my senses. Being able to walk out on religious (or anti) debates is my primary coping mechanism. Wrap it in a collective ritual and how do you gracefully walk out?
I haven't tried since my son lead my newly confirmed Catholic ass into a Lutheran Reformation Mass shortly after I learned that my mother's family tree suffered its current denominational split during the very reformation these folks were celebrating.
Done is done. I am not ready to celebrate the wreckage of my family tree.
My son and his fiancee are taking a very spiritual approach to their premarital preparations, all the way to a "Worth the Wait" contract and the search for a church community in which to nurture their family. It is a multi-denominational-Christian search. They want me to be a part of it.
Yikes!
Words may not be important to you, my invisible friend, but they rule in this endeavor. How 'bout some verbal guidance here? The next generation is seeking a peaceful dialogue for it.
Yet I somehow grew a very deep connection with an invisible friend I sometimes call, "God." Of course I have grown other names which I use in the company of folks who find that word offensive. My invisible friend does not speak to me in words and assures me our names for it are not at all important on the cosmic scale. My invisible friend keeps telling me to find a way to carry our relationship into a church.
Yikes! Give me something simple, would ya? If names are not important to you, how 'bout, "Shithead"?
But... I been trying... But... I don't care if you are quoting a saint, an ancient scripture, Zarathustra or the latest prime time crackpot. Religious (or anti) quotations are dogmatic to my senses. Being able to walk out on religious (or anti) debates is my primary coping mechanism. Wrap it in a collective ritual and how do you gracefully walk out?
I haven't tried since my son lead my newly confirmed Catholic ass into a Lutheran Reformation Mass shortly after I learned that my mother's family tree suffered its current denominational split during the very reformation these folks were celebrating.
Done is done. I am not ready to celebrate the wreckage of my family tree.
My son and his fiancee are taking a very spiritual approach to their premarital preparations, all the way to a "Worth the Wait" contract and the search for a church community in which to nurture their family. It is a multi-denominational-Christian search. They want me to be a part of it.
Yikes!
Words may not be important to you, my invisible friend, but they rule in this endeavor. How 'bout some verbal guidance here? The next generation is seeking a peaceful dialogue for it.
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