In your comment, “You’re so right, but sadly, those who need to hear your message were probably in church, singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” instead of reading something a little more germane, like this.” I felt a sudden pang. On Christmas Eve, my son got stuck in the driveway after a heavy snow fall followed by warm weather had turned it into slush. About ten church goers on their way home from candlelight services, stopped to push him out of the ditch. I’m sure they had been singing “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”. They may have had fundamentalist leanings, i really wouldn’t know, but they acted out of either their Christian teachings or their charitable natures.

Again, it wasn’t the article itself that provoked me to raise a debate, but the comments. Is that bad? It’s through discussion and debate, we arrive at common understandings. Because you didn’t comment on or about those who find light in the message while still following a fundamental doctrine, i felt i should bring their voices to the front. It just seemed fair to present all sides.

Take a moment to re-read what I wrote, and BREATHE! First-off, I rejected the idea of the “winner mentality”, citing that I wasn’t aware of a need for such things.

Second, I didn’t issue a blanket statement about a particular crowd. I made a succinct observation about biblical literalists. And I stand by that observation.

Yes, there are always those who find the light in the message, in any religion. But I didn’t comment on or about them.

Compassion often increases hand-in-hand with our ability to LISTEN and reallr “hear” (or read) what is written before superimposing our issues and judgments over it.

Namaste!

I think it’s a little mean to make a blanket statement about “The Little Town of Bethlehem” crowd, as though they, in particular, are sabotaging the message of love. Having been raised in a very loose religious framework that simply saw heaven (love) as the presence of God, and hell as the absence of this unifying spirit, yet still announced themselves Christians and believers in the philosophy of Jesus, i’ve been in and out of many Christian establishments, and perceived a basic pattern. Whatever the domination; a large percentage attended church for a variety of superficial reasons; sometimes for all of them. These reasons included: a) it made them look good and they wanted to present to the public, lives uninterrupted and flawless. b) a fear that if they did not comply with the dogma of their religion, they will be punished, either in life or in after-life. c) they were not sure if there was a God, but they wanted desperately to believe, so they clung to the ritual, while being tortured with doubts throughout the week. d) The church helped them to advance within the community; through financial assistance, joy opportunities, a home within a “safe” community, or other advantages.

In every church, i’ve always found at least a few who earnestly believed in the power and benevolence of their god. It had nothing to do with the doctrine or particular religious tie, but a deep abiding faith in a moving spirit, manifested in acts of love. My own belief system stepped away from Christianity and into something far more primitive a long time ago, but i still acknowledge those of Christian faith who abide by the principles of their savior. The message of Jesus was and continues to be, a vital one, although not an exclusive one, just as the history of a Hebrew tribe is not the exclusive history for all humanity. Our religious identities may be many, but they abide by one underlying principle; to go beyond the practices of self-involvement and demonstrate our love for others.

The trouble with the “winner” mentality is that as long as we choose to delude ourselves by pretending the facts don’t exist, which prove the mythos to be nothing more than that, then we doom ourselves to have to keep facing the same lessons, the same divisions, the same issues that have plagued humanity for 1500 years.

Only when we are willing to grow up a bit, and recognise that the legends can be recognised as what they are, without losing the value of their messages, can we move forward.

And until we can do that, there will always be those who, as you so aptly point out, spend all their time defending their superstitions, and not nearly enough time feeding the hungry, helping the poor, or caring for the sick.

You’re so right, but sadly, those who need to hear your message were probably in church, singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” instead of reading something a little more germane, like this.

Miss ya, buddy! Happiest of holidays to you and yours!