This time of
the year, just before what is known as the “High” Holiday
season begins, we all go through a cleansing process. In doing so, we
mentally empty the negative contents of the inner vessel and ready it up for
the upcoming year… to be filled again.
It
has been said that guilt is the mightiest weapon the Catholic Church has at its
disposal; to those born into Catholic families, it is generationally taught from the cradle and it perpetuates itself
throughout their lives. This becomes especially so amongst the poorer folks in
the developing societies who look to the church as a saving body, for they have
not much more to hang their hats on in this lifetime. The biggest fear
instilled is that if the tenets are not followed very closely, their selves will be considered
outside the church and, therefore, unable to reunite with the spirit of The
Father upon their death(s).
I
am a believer; have been so by choice for many years now. Yes, my early
training was within the Catholic Church and its school system(s). There was a
falling out for a while and then I chose to believe in Our Father and to be
guided by The Son, Jesus. There is
nothing that cannot be achieved within their mandate and will. My personal
issue with the overall Church including the Catholic Church, is that its
provenance is man; yes, the founding tenets may have been taken from the Word
and Scripture, but as they (different churches) have developed over the centuries the instinct for
survival has taken over, and by now have become self sustaining entities. Too
far gone into the pomp and too far gone from the circumstance(s).
The
rituals used by the Catholic church especially, have remained static in a changing world; for some,
this seemingly eternal continuity is good but, for a growing majority, this is
not so good. Too many men in robes have taken to the rituals by rote,
forgetting to infuse the needed dose of spiritual strength and message that is
so important. Others, a minority it seems, have and follow a true call to
disseminate The Word with love and zeal, in a much more direct manner. I hope this group will prevail and
become a much needed majority in times to come. From time to time I do go to a
catholic church and feel very much at ease within the hallowed walls… a
personal communion just between The Father and I, a somewhat wayward son…
And
no, I do not think the Christian churches are free of sin (guilt?)… During this
long personal process of adaptation and acceptance, there have been many highs
and many lows. The road itself was one
which taxed the mind, the heart and the spirit. In the end, several concepts
were formed in my mind and heart. During my travels I have met and freely
discussed theology and religion with scholars of different faiths, but my primary
body of knowledge continues to remain within the Christian community of
churches and derivatives…
Throughout
this period (several years’ worth) I
attended services in several places and with groups representing several
denominations. The process of enchantment and subsequent disenchantment was
similar in most cases. At first, reception was akin that which the prodigal
son must have been given upon his return; then, as time and familiarity came to
pass, some issues were common to all these congregations:
- Their individual
(as a congregation)proximity to Jesus and The Father is much closer than
any other church or congregation’s, therefore,
- Your (my)
salvation is dependent on continued attendance to their services, not
another Pastor’s services or church…
- Apparently
each congregation has the direct ear of The Father; in actuality, this is
true, but not in the sense in which they profess it to be;
- If you
want to be saved you have to only go there and, lastly,
- You will share your moneys with the church. Beyond your means if necessary.
Sharing
is truly a religious experience. As opposed to just giving, sharing is passing
on to someone else part of what you have even, and especially, when what you
are giving is not from an excess, but is a part of what you need. Within all churches,
the giving of Alms and tithes is an intrinsic part of the teaching. These are
needed; the priests and/or pastors do have expenses, usually there is a mortgage and in the pastors cases, these also have families to support; there are precious few other means for economic
survival. Then there are the projects within the community which need to be
supported. All well and good.
However,
when the pulpit is utilized to coerce folk who have little to begin with, into
giving everything they have even when to the detriment of their own and their
families’ basic needs, then I believe the given power is being vastly misused.
Unfortunately, this happens all too often. I participated in congregations
where misinformed "helpers" made fun of other churches as being foolish and
useless, while having their congregation do exactly the same as those others
were doing; where the pastor threw guilt like a divine ray of vengeance into
the congregants, doing his utmost to take all they had in their pockets. I
believe this is utterly wrong. In fact, several pastors have in recent years run
afoul of their congregations and the law, due to misuse of funds; this misdeed has been explained
as a “need” to help them maintain a standard of living which is much loftier than
any one of the congregants’, sometimes into the realm of millionaires. Is this
the right use of available funds? I think not.
Tomorrow
is Thanksgiving Day; a traditional feast in the US
Most
of us will go into a church or another; others will celebrate at home, with a
special prayer of thanks; I will be included in this last bunch. If you know someone who is alone, call or visit if possible ... just to say Have a Happy Day!!! Truly assess what your life is and has been, recognize all the good that has
been given you and also what those most difficult moments have allowed you to learn
and to grow. Be thankful for all the
times gone and for the times to come; have the inner faith to accept that each
one of us is the son/daughter of Our Father, in His image, no matter what
religion you profess … these, in the end, all teach pretty much the same ideas
and tenets. Trust in yourself to be unique and don’t surrender your mind and
spirit to man… or woman, for that matter… these are very special and unique assets we have
been entrusted to put to good use, do not so easily give them up.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!
Be
Well … Be Thankful!!! … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
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