Choosing Faith

I just finished watching the movie/screenplay extravaganza of the 70's, "Jesus Christ Superstar". I couldn't truly endorse any of the actual content. The parallels to the bible were very loose and ineffectual in my opinion. The singing was overly dramatic and lacking true talent to my unsophisticated ear. However, there is a slow crawl of admiration rising in me as I watched. I couldn't put my finger on it til I remembered the one word...Blasphemy.

This word was introduced to me over and over as a inquisitive Catholic child (a sort of blasphemy of its own kind). I asked my mother. I asked each new priest. Each had the same answer for me, "it is blasphemy to question God". Unsatisfied, confused and bruised mentally I believed myself to be wrong for seeking. Yet even that doubt could not still my need for answers. I continued asking, searching. I found many answers, some resembling one another, while others contradicted. Funny that today, when my questions have been stilled that I finally have the answer. The one that makes me say Jesus Christ Superstar and all of its ilk are brilliant films.

Choice is the short answer. The long answer is because I seek, I open my mind to all possibilities. That is the only way to truly choose. Choice, my friends is the only real faith. Anything else is enslavement, as the Romans held us long ago. 

CHRISTmas?

I'd like to begin with disclaiming that nothing I am about to write is a new concept , or even thought. It has been humbugged about for years, perhaps longer. Nevertheless, this has become a reality for me now so I must add to the controversy in my own way.

First of all, I love Christmas. More to the point, I used to love Christmas. I love so many sights at this time like people are generally kinder; the milling shoppers; cold, wintry days with people in brightly colored-scarfs; the lights strung everywhere. All these phenomenon remind me of the person that this holiday is truly about, should I say, supposed to be about...the kindest human being possibly ever born, Jesus Christ.

Anyone that knows me, is aware that I have no religion, per say. However, they might not know that I am very spiritual and that includes an adoration of bible lore. I will not dispute the validity of each story but I'd like to say that each one has some basis of truth. The one of Jesus is my very favorite. In other words, Christmastime is, indeed sacred to me. I enjoy remembering the teachings of Jesus Christ and seeing them come out in others, if only for a few weeks.

That said the Christ in Christmas has diminished , neigh, replaced by personal desires. The joy of this holiday is severely dampened by the stress of buying presents. Financially, it is a strain, more and more as technology increases, so do the wish lists. The stress of pleasing people with your gifts has become a personal pride that is only measured monetarily. Increasingly, I find people are much more concerned with the price of not only the gift they purchase but the ones they receive equally. I can't express the disgust I feel at this notion.

Now for the solution. Within my family I have proposed that we no longer exchange gifts on Christmas. Instead we make the day about family togetherness. Instead of gifts we will bring dishes carefully made with our own hands to be shared. In exchange for this sacrifice of personal pleasure I have suggested that we make birthdays a bigger event. The money that would have been exhausted on Christmas can be used, in part, on each individuals birthday.

I'll let you know how it goes.