Many bowls
I grew up being taught about the god envisioned by the Christian religion. I was aware some people in our community did not believe in a higher power. I do not remember any neighbors who were Jewish, Muslim or belonged to any other religious tradition. I had some vague idea of the spiritual tradition of Native Americans. Even though Native Americans were part of our “immediate family” and were a significant part of the community in which I grew up I have no memory of being taught those spiritual traditions were a rich part of her heritage or their religion were as valid as those posited by Christians.
As an adult in the United States Navy, I still did not learn about other religious or spiritual traditions. For the most part, I was only privy to the alleged distinctions between various denominations or branches of the Christian religion. All of them, however, posited a concept of the trinity – Christ, the holy spirit and god the father. It was not until the sixties that I begin to be more aware of various religions and various philosophies. I was excited to learn when studying or reading philosophy and history of religions of the varieties of gods and religions, which, though the centuries, had attempted to explain the meaning of the life journey of humans and their relationship to the rest of creation. There were moments when I was rather envious of the Greek gods who seemed to be more fun and more relatable than the rather punishing, self-centered, narcissistic, jealous, fun adverse God about which I was taught in first the Southern Baptist and then the Presbyterian branches of the Christian Church. Still, I was convinced that the mission of the Christian church was to follow the simple teachings of the Jesus fellow who, like my then understanding of the Buddha, did not get attached to money, power, or titles. His disciples, did, on the other hand, seem quite concerned at times with proclaiming Jesus as the one true path to God. I was convinced that as an ordained minister I could emulate those renegades William Sloane Coffin, Peter Dougherty, the Berrigan brothers, Martin Luther King, Jr;, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and others who lived as is they really believed the teaching of Jesus. The creators of “Godspell”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and others imbued the example of Jesus with an energy which skirted on the edges of the organized Christian church. As it turned out my “ministry” was not to be contained or permitted by the Christian religion. Yet, because I have been used to thinking within this framework I continue to this day to often envision within the Christian religion a radical people who believe that all are equally deserving of the resources of this planet. I no longer believe in a narrow minded, angry, jealous, self-centered God who is the one true God and only shows up in so the Christian Church. The god of my understanding shows up in all forms, in all religions and in all places.
In my childlike mind the god of my understanding is an equal opportunity playmate; contains all that is and whose only requirement is that we humans respect the fact that all is interconnected; that all parts of this magical universe is sacred and has a role to play. Although I eat plants, eggs, other dairy products and even meat, I believe I must do so with gratitude and humility. I respect those who are vegetarian or vegan.
I believe that us humans will continue to ponder our role and purpose in this brief life journey. We my even posit more frameworks or bowls into which we attempt to fit the gods and their creations. I suspect that each has a piece of truth but none is large enough to contain the whole of the truth. I also suspect that we need to quit envisioning gods whose self-esteem is so fragile that worth is dependent on being more than, bigger than or smarter than; so fragile that worth is at the expense of the rights and needs of others. It may be that Mark Twain’s Letters From the Earth contains more wisdom than any of our individual bowls.
Written February 2, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I grew up being taught about the god envisioned by the Christian religion. I was aware some people in our community did not believe in a higher power. I do not remember any neighbors who were Jewish, Muslim or belonged to any other religious tradition. I had some vague idea of the spiritual tradition of Native Americans. Even though Native Americans were part of our “immediate family” and were a significant part of the community in which I grew up I have no memory of being taught those spiritual traditions were a rich part of her heritage or their religion were as valid as those posited by Christians.
As an adult in the United States Navy, I still did not learn about other religious or spiritual traditions. For the most part, I was only privy to the alleged distinctions between various denominations or branches of the Christian religion. All of them, however, posited a concept of the trinity – Christ, the holy spirit and god the father. It was not until the sixties that I begin to be more aware of various religions and various philosophies. I was excited to learn when studying or reading philosophy and history of religions of the varieties of gods and religions, which, though the centuries, had attempted to explain the meaning of the life journey of humans and their relationship to the rest of creation. There were moments when I was rather envious of the Greek gods who seemed to be more fun and more relatable than the rather punishing, self-centered, narcissistic, jealous, fun adverse God about which I was taught in first the Southern Baptist and then the Presbyterian branches of the Christian Church. Still, I was convinced that the mission of the Christian church was to follow the simple teachings of the Jesus fellow who, like my then understanding of the Buddha, did not get attached to money, power, or titles. His disciples, did, on the other hand, seem quite concerned at times with proclaiming Jesus as the one true path to God. I was convinced that as an ordained minister I could emulate those renegades William Sloane Coffin, Peter Dougherty, the Berrigan brothers, Martin Luther King, Jr;, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and others who lived as is they really believed the teaching of Jesus. The creators of “Godspell”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and others imbued the example of Jesus with an energy which skirted on the edges of the organized Christian church. As it turned out my “ministry” was not to be contained or permitted by the Christian religion. Yet, because I have been used to thinking within this framework I continue to this day to often envision within the Christian religion a radical people who believe that all are equally deserving of the resources of this planet. I no longer believe in a narrow minded, angry, jealous, self-centered God who is the one true God and only shows up in so the Christian Church. The god of my understanding shows up in all forms, in all religions and in all places.
In my childlike mind the god of my understanding is an equal opportunity playmate; contains all that is and whose only requirement is that we humans respect the fact that all is interconnected; that all parts of this magical universe is sacred and has a role to play. Although I eat plants, eggs, other dairy products and even meat, I believe I must do so with gratitude and humility. I respect those who are vegetarian or vegan.
I believe that us humans will continue to ponder our role and purpose in this brief life journey. We my even posit more frameworks or bowls into which we attempt to fit the gods and their creations. I suspect that each has a piece of truth but none is large enough to contain the whole of the truth. I also suspect that we need to quit envisioning gods whose self-esteem is so fragile that worth is dependent on being more than, bigger than or smarter than; so fragile that worth is at the expense of the rights and needs of others. It may be that Mark Twain’s Letters From the Earth contains more wisdom than any of our individual bowls.
Written February 2, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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