Letters to the Editor
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spiritual freak
I also got what Sandra L Hubsher (p. 2) and Jess (p. 3) picked up but maybe with a more positive view of its value and meaning. The elements of Sara’s experience of spirituality seem largely independent of the institution of religion: unmediated connection with the transpersonal as a child; the comfort of nurturance and the loving touch of another (atheist) human; communion with inner experience (which she calls “prayer”); the profundity of an empathic connection with a friend; the transpersonal nature of the merging, giving, and joining of flesh, of the body. All without need of church, religion, or sanctification.
"It's not about the church," I said. "It's about -- "
Exactly.
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Just Don't Do the "See No Evil" Thing
Another commenter noted that there is not a lot in this excerpt about grappling with the oppressive and violent aspects of Christianity's history. (Though that may be in the book, who knows).
During my own several-year journey into Christianity, I experienced a similar gap in self-reflection that eventually became a deal breaker for me, at least in terms of participation in the Church as a community of believers. We were a liberal-minded, open and affirming church, pastored by a gay man and a woman. We had a wonderful emphasis on social justice that was inspiring and changed the course of my life.
However, I experienced a persistent avoidance of self-criticism that eventually came to feel like defensive, willful blindness. I so longed to wrestle with the horror and sadness of the story of Jesus' crucifixion. I wanted to ask hard questions about a God that would require such violence and pain as a prerequisite to salvation. I wanted to confront openly and honestly the deeply ingrained misogyny, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, etc. of the historical church, and understand how and why abuse and violence could be perpetrated in the name of a God who was supposedly a God of Love. I did not want to ask these questions to deconstruct the faith, but to experience it more honestly, authentically, and responsibly.
These topics were not taboo, exactly, but they did seem to be religious buzz-killers. When raised, by me or others, in thoughtful rather than accusatory ways, they seemed to just suck the energy out of a room and leave even the most articulate believer somewhat speechless. That was unfortunate. It felt constraining and sad, like an opportunity repeatedly and regrettably lost.
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thinking about what the thoughtful "DonaQuixote" noticed
perhaps because that type of question can never "get an Amen" or "Hallelujah".
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American Presidence for Christian Presedents?
George Washington died with six doctors at his bed side and no ministers of any religion. Abraham Lincoln was opposed by 16 Christian Religions when he ran for the presidency in 1860. Thomas Jefferson was the father of the doctrine of separation of church and state laws in both the USA and VA. So often American Christians want to re-write history to their own perspective and leave out the truth.
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Defining Christianity by its symbols
"It was a religion in which divinity was revealed by scars on flesh. It was an upside-down world in which treasure, as the prophet said, was found in darkness; in which the hungry were filled with good things, and the rich sent out empty; in which new life was manifested through a humiliated, hungry woman and an empty, tortured man."
Such a cheerful and uplifting religion. So much related to torture and mutilation. Well, Sara, you're welcome to it. Enjoy it, just keep it to yourself. Some of us prefer to enjoy the world we have here without the hysterics of the "mystery."
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More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
Ultimately, you don’t need to buy into the mythology of religion in order to feel the things she’s feeling: self-esteem, calm, purposefulness and love. These are all qualities that can be attained through living the self-examined life.
Ultimately, there's no reason to criticize the angle at which someone arrives at improved self-esteem, calm, purposefulness and love. These are all qualities that can be attained from a multitude of avenues, including spirituality. Who are you to say one is superior to another?
Also, fantastic letter, Chloe. I'm an atheist, and I agree with you 100%. The only thing that annoys me more than a shrill, close-minded fundamentalist is a shrill, close-minded atheist. Believing or disbelieving in the Almighty doesn't automagically afford one the right to be a snarky asshole.
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whence the anger?
But it’s clear from this excerpt that rationality and critical thought are not what Sara was looking for— and certainly not what she got!
Another article about religion, another predictably snide, self-righteous, and intolerant rant from Chad Bagley, leader of the militant atheist brigade.
Because someone has examined the great mysteries of the universe, and has not reached the same conclusions as you have, does not make their worldview devoid of rationality or critical thought. A mature, tolerant, fully socialized human being ought to recognize this. The most civilized and humane forms of religion not only recognize this, they are built upon it. I'm not a Christian myself, but I know a lot of people who are, and I have found them to be perfectly capable of critical thought, rationality, and every other sacred tenant of the militantly secular. They are good people whose presence in my life I value, like the good Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and atheists I know.
People may disagree about the rational basis for believing in God, but even if you maintain that there isn't one, "faith alone" is a legitimate counterpoint. Hope, love, optimism about the future of the human race - there are many things rationality would tell me I ought not to have, yet find myself far better off with. I so no reason why the religious can't count faith as another thing on this list.
From the level of vitriol in your posts, methinks you're working out some of your own subjective issues with organized religion. Nothing else explains such anger.
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'Turned the bread she ate at Communion into groceries for a food bank'
Just how do you do that? Those poor people at the food bank!
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Overeducated?
Ms. Miles,
I can tell the difference between fact and fiction. Does that make me overeducated?
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Context, Please
There's nothing particularly wrong with this excerpt. It is earnest and colorful, and it seems to have a distinct story and voice. But it lacks context.
In the past, Salon has paired brief excerpts with reviews of the full text or of an author's work, in general. Such a pairing offers the reader a chance to consider a critic's views as well as react to an author's voice. To those of us who read as much for the tone, spirit and language of a text as for its topic, the excerpt is very useful. The critical essay is also useful, however.
A bit of writing cannot provide enough insight for us to know whether the tantalizing personal voice descends into mawkish sentimentality or the clever twist is wrung dry in only a couple of chapters. We need a critical appraisal to weigh the promise of the excerpt against the effort and expense of the book.
Please, put this and other excerpts in a meaningful context.