Sunday musings – November 5, 2017
For many religions, there is a weekly Sabbath. Depending on the tradition, this may be a time for the community of believers to gather to praise the God of their understanding, to ask for His/Her intervention and to be reminded of the fragile ego of God. Even in the Christian tradition which professes to be based on Grace, on any given Sunday in many churches, one is reminded that God is badly in need of working the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous or one of the other anonymous programs. The God which is often posited seems to have many of the same characteristics of the addict including:
Working a 12-step program can allow the addict to identify and let go of many of these thinking and behavior characteristics.
Last evening I attended an excellent production of the play by Arthur Miller, “The Crucible”. The story is a somewhat fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials and it said by some to be an allegory for McCarthyism.
There are many fascinating books written about both the Salem Witch trials and about McCarthyism. I experience the central, unseen character in the Miller play and in McCarthyism as God. It was during the McCarthy period largely at the urging of the Knights of Columbus that the words “Under God” were added to the The Pledge of Allegiance. For many, still today, patriotism is closely linked to one’s belief in a Christian God. There have, of course, been efforts by some to be more inclusive of the different religions and the understanding of a supreme being that each religion and often each sect brings to their religions practice.
In the Miller play the ministers and the judges are clearly the personal representatives of a God who is highly offended by those accused of not being good Christians.
The United States has a long tradition of acting in the name of the God of their understanding – usually Christian – when they have made laws which oppress African Americans, women, members of the LGBT community, Native Americans, Japanese during WWII, and any others which they decide would displease the God they so righteously defend.
There are, of course, exceptions. There are those who believe that Jesus taught unconditional love and acceptance. There are even those who believe that the God of one’s understanding evolves as one evolves in their understanding of the interdependence and ultimate unity of the universe(s).
For those who continue to posit a God who seems remarkably similar to the addict when they first enter treatment, I recommend a prayer which includes the recommendation that this God get a sponsor and practice the HOW of the program (honesty, open mindedness, and willingness) and apply themselves to working the 12 steps.
Written November 5, 2017
For many religions, there is a weekly Sabbath. Depending on the tradition, this may be a time for the community of believers to gather to praise the God of their understanding, to ask for His/Her intervention and to be reminded of the fragile ego of God. Even in the Christian tradition which professes to be based on Grace, on any given Sunday in many churches, one is reminded that God is badly in need of working the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous or one of the other anonymous programs. The God which is often posited seems to have many of the same characteristics of the addict including:
- Self centered – It is all about them.
- Quick to anger and judge.
- Quick to blame others for their decisions and misdeeds.
- Controlling
- Quick to punish others (and themselves)
- Conditionally loving.
Working a 12-step program can allow the addict to identify and let go of many of these thinking and behavior characteristics.
Last evening I attended an excellent production of the play by Arthur Miller, “The Crucible”. The story is a somewhat fictionalized account of the Salem Witch Trials and it said by some to be an allegory for McCarthyism.
There are many fascinating books written about both the Salem Witch trials and about McCarthyism. I experience the central, unseen character in the Miller play and in McCarthyism as God. It was during the McCarthy period largely at the urging of the Knights of Columbus that the words “Under God” were added to the The Pledge of Allegiance. For many, still today, patriotism is closely linked to one’s belief in a Christian God. There have, of course, been efforts by some to be more inclusive of the different religions and the understanding of a supreme being that each religion and often each sect brings to their religions practice.
In the Miller play the ministers and the judges are clearly the personal representatives of a God who is highly offended by those accused of not being good Christians.
The United States has a long tradition of acting in the name of the God of their understanding – usually Christian – when they have made laws which oppress African Americans, women, members of the LGBT community, Native Americans, Japanese during WWII, and any others which they decide would displease the God they so righteously defend.
There are, of course, exceptions. There are those who believe that Jesus taught unconditional love and acceptance. There are even those who believe that the God of one’s understanding evolves as one evolves in their understanding of the interdependence and ultimate unity of the universe(s).
For those who continue to posit a God who seems remarkably similar to the addict when they first enter treatment, I recommend a prayer which includes the recommendation that this God get a sponsor and practice the HOW of the program (honesty, open mindedness, and willingness) and apply themselves to working the 12 steps.
Written November 5, 2017
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