Monday, August 18, 2008

Let's Try This Again


Saturday evening I put up a post titled "Ol' Grumps Of The Desert," which, when I looked at it again Sunday morning, was not one of my best rants so I deleted it. The subject was good but I didn't express myself as well as I'd like. I'm going to try again.

The other day the Lovely Mona and I were walking to the grocery store, and we were talking about some research she is doing for a class. The subject is how Creationism and Evolution are portrayed in the mainstream media. We agreed that it's hard to believe that we're still having this discussion here in the twenty-first century. Actually, I don't care if some spittle-flecked snake handler wants to believe that God created the world in six twenty-four hour days and that the earth is only 10,000 years old; what I don't like is when said spittle-flecked snake handler interferes with the education of my children. Now, fortunately, my children are both adults and accept the theory of evolution, in fact, when Tara was about seven she laughed at my mother when my mother expressed creationist views. I don't want any spittle-flecked snake handler or even orthodox so called Anglican interfering with my grandchildren's education, either (no, really; read some of the comments at Titus 1:9. Some of those people are creationists! They believe in Intelligent Design). My faith is not based on everything in the Bible being factual; I have no problem with the Creation Story as myth, so it's difficult for me to understand people whose faith is threatened by evolution. As far as I can see, evolution is the method God used in creation. The idea that one can't be a True™ Christian and believe in evolution is simply not true; I have a dear friend who is an Evolutionary Biologist and he is very orthodox; he and I don't always agree on theology (we're still arguing Cyril and Nestorius) but we do agree that evolution is real.

I was first attracted to the Episcopal Church because it's a church that encourages questions and doesn't condemn folks to hell for having doubts. I was also attracted to the Episcopal Church after my childhood in the Assemblies of God and the time I spent in the Divine Light Mission cult, two groups who discouraged questions and curiosity and expected everyone to toe the party line, because I wasn't expected to believe in Biblical inerrancy. Now we have people who call themselves Anglican who are demanding just that, which makes no sense at all. They have veered from Anglican thinking and are demanding that everyone accept their idolatry of the Bible or be cast out to outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Some say that "I didn't leave the Church, the Church left me." Well, I've only been an Episcopalian for twenty some years, but when I was a boy serving as an acolyte at the Chapel at Sukiran, the majority of the chaplains were Episcopal priests, and I don't remember any of them being Biblical literalists, so I'm thinking that the orthodox so called's idea of Biblical Authority is just so much baloney.

The other subject the Lovely Mona and I discussed was this article I read at Pandagon. Now, why should I care what fringe-Evangelical Protestants think about birth control? Because nowadays the ideas of the spittle-flecked are soon voiced by the orthodox so called Anglicans, unfortunately. The Lovely Mona and I were wondering why some traditionalists and conservatives see pregnancy as punishment for sex. I think that what really amazes me is that there are still people in the West of the twenty-first century who view (heterosexual) sex as something that men do and women submit to. They don't see any reciprocity in the act.

I guess I'm somewhat frustrated that humanity is moving backwards. When I graduated from high school thirty-six years ago (really, granpa?) I never expected that we would still be arguing about evolution and creation and birth control and biblical authority. To be fair, I did believe that I'd have a flying car by now where the hell is my flying car? Frankly, if some folks want to believe in Creationism, that's fine; just don't demand that everyone else believe it. If some Christians want to believe in Biblical inerrancy, that's fine, just don't demand that all Christians do so. If someone wants to believe in a three-tiered universe with God living in the sky, watching and waiting for us to mess up so he can smite us, fine, just don't demand that I buy that bill of goods. If someone wants to pretend that they're living in the sixteenth century, well, there's always the Ren Fair, but don't demand that we who live in the twenty-first century must go back in time with you!

Here endeth the rant.

James over at The Three-legged Stool is thinking along similar lines. Padre says, "Check it out."

13 comments:

June Butler said...

Padre, I grew up in the RCC in their strict days, days they are quickly moving backwards to, and I never was taught of a conflict between the Catholic faith and evolution. When all the foolishness about creationism started, I was amazed, because I had never heard of such a thing.

Fran said...

Holy feck Padre Mickey. I sit here shaking after reading that linked birth control piece.

To Grandmere's point, at least officially - the RC church does not embrace creationism - at least just not yet. I hope that one thing does not go hurtling backwards at high speeds, but it could.

I am forever astounded by how in times like this people move with fear and loathing and turn everything inside out.

Fine - as you say, go have at it. Just leave the rest of us out of it.

I am at the point where I hope the freaking rapture (that i do not believe in) comes and that they all get the hell out of here so we can live in peace.

Leonard said...

, if some folks want to believe in Creationism, that's fine; just don't demand that everyone else believe it. If some Christians want to believe in Biblical inerrancy, that's fine, just don't demand that all Christians do so. If someone wants to believe in a three-tiered universe with God living in the sky, watching and waiting for us to mess up so he can smite us, fine, just don't demand that I buy that bill of goods. If someone wants to pretend that they're living in the sixteenth century, well, there's always the Ren Fair, but don't demand that we who live in the twenty-first century must go back in time with you! " PM

Amen, and yes, let the "rapture" cometh and suck them all up and maybe, just maybe, we can have a WORLD filled with love and PEACE!

PseudoPiskie said...

Um, "Orthodox" Anglican seems to me to be a euphemism for "Gay sex is a sin. Period". I'll bet most of the Iker/Duncan/et al crew are evolutionists except when they are discussing homosexuality. Evolution stops when discussing the idea that strait parents have lgbt kids because lgbts are cultured not born. Duh.

Matthew Hubbard said...

Good rant, Padre. I gots one of my own in teh pipeline. Prolly get around to it on the weekend after my travelogue is over.

Andy said...

From one recovering holyroller to another..
Spittle-flecked Snake handlers? C'mon Padre. BTW, Whats your take on old earth creationism/Theistic evolution?

Padre Mickey said...

Hi Andy.
Spittle-flecked snake handlers is one of my favorite phrases 'cuz it reminds me of the really scary AofG church my grandparents belonged to way back when. They didn't handle snakes but, man, was there a scary vibe in that place!

As far as theistic evolution is concerned, while I don't know much about it, I agree that evolution is the method God used to create life. Now, did God plan the whole thing out or just put things into motion to see what would happen? I'm attracted to the latter, but I have no idea.

Brother David said...

Did I hear the words spittle-flecked snake handlers?!?!

I luvs me some o' dem!

Hallelujah, praise da Lawd, and pass me da wata macosin!

Andy said...

Trust me D, you'd much rather be passed a copperhead. Those water moccasin's are meaner than Bill O'Rielly on a bad day, and in dire need of paxil or a stiff mojito.

Andy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jane R said...

I wants a flying car with red velvet seats, in case Elvis comes back. Also +Maya Pavlova wants the whole back seat to herself, also velvet, with a nice soft cushion.

We also thought robots would be doing the housework by now. Damn!

Paul said...

Yeah, where's my robotic housekeeper?

Snakes belong outside eating mousies, thanks.

Believe whatever myth system you choose, don't assume anyone else needs to sign up for it. If part of your myth system calls for total sign-up, adjust your expectations. Downward. Sharply. If you feel called, or commanded, to shout your myth system from the rooftops, STFU, people are trying to sleep here. Oh, and wipe your drool.

Preach it, Padre!

it's margaret said...

Padre --I thought maybe you had removed your post for other reasons.... but this rant is just fine.

We are not moving backwards nor forwards.... the falls into false historical thinking, kinda like prosperity theology and the like.... we are just always limping along, and the kingdom keeps breaking through...

keep the faith padre....

I See You!

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