OMG...Pagan roots!

Every generation discovers that Christianity has some pagan roots... (there are some pretty good scholars who say it ain't necessarily so)... and gets all hot and bothered about it and throws out the baby Jesus with the bath water.   So what else is new and worth getting excited about?

Any Satanists out there?

Strange things you find on Facebook.  "Satanists are more Christ-like than Conservative Christians." I'm not equipped to answer that.  I don't think I know any Satanists.  If I do, they are keeping it under wraps.

Good Old King James

I like the King James Bible. The Thee and Thou language has a certain appeal. I like snark, too. Here is my snarky comment to the very religious and the equally anti-religious. Thou takest thyself  too damn seriously. 

Saints Preseve Us!

I am into Saints these days.  All Saints. I'm glad they have their day.
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Did you ever go to a church where there was a JackO'lantern on the altar at Halloween?  I did.  No, they were not Satan worshipers or anything like that...just "progressive." Had any fundamentalists wandered in, they would surely have been horrified.  I thought it was kind of funny.   

The Tillich and Barth Show.

OK, here's a couple of interesting ideas about God.  God is not some kind of  super person, something like me but a lot better.   Paul Tillich, a hot shot theologian and a pretty smart fellow, said God is "The ground of being." Another big deal theologian back in the day, Karl Barth, said God isn't like me at all, but "The wholly other. " If you don't like either of those, make up your own.

Just the facts Ma'am.

I can think of few things more boring than some kind of "alternative spiritual center" or "church for people that hate church" that has been stripped of all religious myth, legend and tradition and replaced with historically, archaeologically, scientifically provable, factual "truth."  How dull.

But if it makes you feel like you are one with the universe, be my guest.

Why Goofy?

Why goofy?  Am I in the camp that declares  all church teaching and activity inherently  goofy... or worse?  No No No.  What I declare is that most of the ideas that most people have about church are basically goofy.  That includes mine. Join the club. Let us accept each others goofiness.

A Good Old Word

I guess I was raised in a "liberal" church a very long time ago.  But I don't remember the loaded Liberal and conservative labels being hatefully fired at anyone who doesn't agree with you.  What "liberal" meant to me was that I was free to question and make up my own mind. That's my kind of liberal.  Today's liberals are pretty close to being reverse fundamentalists.

Religion gets bad press..

It's big time cool to say vile things about organized religion in general and Christianity in particular.  Churches and church people do a whole lot of good things.  But that's not news.

What's Next?

Oh yeah, I said it a time or two already.   I do not know what happens when you die. I know a lot of theories about it.  I like some of them. Others not so much. You are quite welcome to tell me I am hell-bound.  I will respectfully listen but I won't change my mind. Or maybe I will.  So keep hammering away, just in case.

Are consultants evil?

One of my stronger half baked opinions:  Much of what's wrong with the world is caused by consultants.  You know a church is in big trouble when they hire a consultant to tell them how to attract customers.

I LIKE LENT

I have subscribed to Bishop Barron's daily Lenten meditations and I'll listen to his take on the traditional "Last seven words of Christ." Feel free to tell me I need to outgrow all that childish religious stuff. 

Still in the oven

Before you get bent out of shape about anything you read here, , kindly note that it's my half baked opinions.  I claim nothing more.  If you care to respond with your own half  baked opinions, I might answer.  But only if it can be a friendly exchange.  No silly pointless arguments or preaching please.  OK? Get your own blog to do that.  If you have one, feel free to link to it.  I might reply if I can think of something profound to say. 

Cool Church

Matthew Fox...what an interesting fellow.  No, not the actor.  The priest, if he still is one since the Vatican told him top shut up and behave himself. He says the way to save the Church from extinction is get rid of the pews and dance to deejay music.  He calls it a Cosmic Mass.