Sunday Musings - March 17, 2024
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. The myth/story is Saint Patrick - originally from Whales - was brought to Ireland as a slave, escaped, and later returned He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. (history.com)
As is true for many myths this one has evolved to be adopted as a secular holiday in the United States and is a boom to retailers. Drinking green beer and the wearing of the green has become traditional for the Irish and pseudo-Irish on this day. Sadly, frequently many use this as an excuse to over imbibe
Obviously, there is nothing immoral with co-opting a holiday for secular purposes. Goodness knows many need a break from a routine which is often filled with hard labor and poor wages.
All life stories, including that of Saint Patrick, as they get retold take on a life of their own, often having little resemblance to the original story. Thus, a myth is born out of a mixture of one cup of historical fact and many cups of various ingredients added by each person who retells the story.
When myths, however, become the purview of religious institutions they are imbued with religious dogma, rules, and “TRUTH” leaving little tolerance for questioning or debate unless it is in the hallowed and private halls of theologians and exalted leaders who claim to have access to the one true God. Merriam Webster defines dogma as “a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith, or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.” Only the leaders of that religious institution can alter or add to the dogma of the institution. Thus, the Pope of the Roman Catholic church recently announced that same sex coupes could be blessed, but only opposite sex couples could be married.
Once a behavior is encased in dogma, no amount of scientific information or common sense can change what is ethical or moral. Thus, recently a certain Protestant church leadership reaffirmed that only males can be ministers. A friend of mine who is an ordained minister in a mainline Protestant denomination recently shared with me that their bishop when asked to consider the hearts of the lay people said, “I don’t do feelings.” A few days ago, I was accosted by a person campaigning to be a local city council member. She proclaimed that “God made males and females”. She was inferring that a current transsexual council member who is also running for major should have no agency in the city government. A judge in deciding that embryos are protected life forms cited Christian dogma. In the current war in the Middle East some members of both sides claim the moral authority of their God.
In this season of Lent and Ramadan both of which promote forgiveness, self-reflection, and a renewed devotion to the God of their understanding embrace dogmas which claims exclusive access to the one true God and thus, the right to dictate what is moral and immoral.
My friend who, along with others, suggested that they consider what is in the hearts of the lay people often implies or asserts it is our hearts which will guide us towards moral/ethical behavior. Her recipe for moral behavior seems to be a combination of ingredients; unconditional love, common sense, science, and openness to the “I am.” definition of God found in the Old Testament of the Christian faith. This God of her understanding is in all places and no place; has no name and all names; is present in every part of life and is more than any part. This God is not fearful of the heart; of science, or other attempts to describe the “I am”.
My experience is that every 4-year-old knows what makes sense and does not make sense. They know that violence is “stupid”; that humans of all colors, cultures, and genders are equally valuable. They know that resources should be shared and do so naturally unless they have already been taught not to share. They do not know one gender is better but are curious about all body parts. Often, they know what it is to be attracted to the same or opposite gender, people of colors or no color. They know if someone is not able to be safe.
It seems to me that as we join hands with our Irish neighbors in welcoming the teachings of Jesus - teachings which he knew and taught at a very young age in the synagogue; as we join hands with our Muslim neighbors for prayer and reflection; as we join hands with Christians as they prepare for resurrection as a constant process; as we embrace the historical pilgrimage of our Jewish neighbors to explore what it might mean to model the best of who we humans can be, we need to open our hearts, our ears and our minds to the simplicity of the 4 year old who resides in all of us.
Written March 17, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. The myth/story is Saint Patrick - originally from Whales - was brought to Ireland as a slave, escaped, and later returned He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. (history.com)
As is true for many myths this one has evolved to be adopted as a secular holiday in the United States and is a boom to retailers. Drinking green beer and the wearing of the green has become traditional for the Irish and pseudo-Irish on this day. Sadly, frequently many use this as an excuse to over imbibe
Obviously, there is nothing immoral with co-opting a holiday for secular purposes. Goodness knows many need a break from a routine which is often filled with hard labor and poor wages.
All life stories, including that of Saint Patrick, as they get retold take on a life of their own, often having little resemblance to the original story. Thus, a myth is born out of a mixture of one cup of historical fact and many cups of various ingredients added by each person who retells the story.
When myths, however, become the purview of religious institutions they are imbued with religious dogma, rules, and “TRUTH” leaving little tolerance for questioning or debate unless it is in the hallowed and private halls of theologians and exalted leaders who claim to have access to the one true God. Merriam Webster defines dogma as “a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith, or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.” Only the leaders of that religious institution can alter or add to the dogma of the institution. Thus, the Pope of the Roman Catholic church recently announced that same sex coupes could be blessed, but only opposite sex couples could be married.
Once a behavior is encased in dogma, no amount of scientific information or common sense can change what is ethical or moral. Thus, recently a certain Protestant church leadership reaffirmed that only males can be ministers. A friend of mine who is an ordained minister in a mainline Protestant denomination recently shared with me that their bishop when asked to consider the hearts of the lay people said, “I don’t do feelings.” A few days ago, I was accosted by a person campaigning to be a local city council member. She proclaimed that “God made males and females”. She was inferring that a current transsexual council member who is also running for major should have no agency in the city government. A judge in deciding that embryos are protected life forms cited Christian dogma. In the current war in the Middle East some members of both sides claim the moral authority of their God.
In this season of Lent and Ramadan both of which promote forgiveness, self-reflection, and a renewed devotion to the God of their understanding embrace dogmas which claims exclusive access to the one true God and thus, the right to dictate what is moral and immoral.
My friend who, along with others, suggested that they consider what is in the hearts of the lay people often implies or asserts it is our hearts which will guide us towards moral/ethical behavior. Her recipe for moral behavior seems to be a combination of ingredients; unconditional love, common sense, science, and openness to the “I am.” definition of God found in the Old Testament of the Christian faith. This God of her understanding is in all places and no place; has no name and all names; is present in every part of life and is more than any part. This God is not fearful of the heart; of science, or other attempts to describe the “I am”.
My experience is that every 4-year-old knows what makes sense and does not make sense. They know that violence is “stupid”; that humans of all colors, cultures, and genders are equally valuable. They know that resources should be shared and do so naturally unless they have already been taught not to share. They do not know one gender is better but are curious about all body parts. Often, they know what it is to be attracted to the same or opposite gender, people of colors or no color. They know if someone is not able to be safe.
It seems to me that as we join hands with our Irish neighbors in welcoming the teachings of Jesus - teachings which he knew and taught at a very young age in the synagogue; as we join hands with our Muslim neighbors for prayer and reflection; as we join hands with Christians as they prepare for resurrection as a constant process; as we embrace the historical pilgrimage of our Jewish neighbors to explore what it might mean to model the best of who we humans can be, we need to open our hearts, our ears and our minds to the simplicity of the 4 year old who resides in all of us.
Written March 17, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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