Our Father...
Today is Sunday, so invariably, I attended mass.
The reading was about Solomon, who asked God for wisdom to lead his people. I thought it was an interesting passage, but didn't really think much into it until later. During a Catholic mass, there are several "open" prayers, which are more like eloquently-phrased requests to God.
A lector reads each one and the parish responds with a "we pray to the Lord" or something similar. Today, one of the prayers asked that government leaders NOT trust their own judgment, but seek ultimate truth from God. As the parish murmured the proper response, my lips were sealed tight, and I stood straighter as if prepared to face the consequences for my rashact of defiance.
I looked up at the Cross and all I could think of was, "Do you really want that?" Does God want a theocracy? Or is the role of religion in government negligible, as long as its people are open to God?
The word "theocracy" has a negative connotation, especially with its modern association to the Muslim nations of the Middle East. The hypocrisy is heinous. How can so many of us condemn a church-controlled government while condoning or even promoting a similar, albeit less noticeable, religious insurgency?
As these questions flooded my mind, the years of Sunday school kicked in. I almost felt repentent for daring to question the intent of my religion. What would be the harm in having political leaders who seek to rule by the moral standards that are deeply rooted in their religious faith?
Before I could be contrite for my heretical thoughts, I felt... indignant. Did my rebuttal of the church doctrines make me immoral? Am I corrupt because I would support a woman who chose to have an abortion (under reasonable circumstances)? Am I profane and irreverent for strongly being in favor of marriage equality? What constitutes morality? Are humans not born with a congenital sense of right and wrong, of justice, of virtue, of morality? What authority does the church have to enforce its own code of ethics upon faithful individuals who simply want to love God? Is a secular government doomed by its lack of values?
Perhaps I am misguided by foolish arrogance, the misperception of understanding.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
With all due respect, I'm having trouble unconditionally trusting an elusive and distant figure in my life who only seems to be interested in me as a convert, not as an individual (or "Daughter," since I have been baptised) with perhaps a different perspective on fundamental principles and values.
The reading was about Solomon, who asked God for wisdom to lead his people. I thought it was an interesting passage, but didn't really think much into it until later. During a Catholic mass, there are several "open" prayers, which are more like eloquently-phrased requests to God.
A lector reads each one and the parish responds with a "we pray to the Lord" or something similar. Today, one of the prayers asked that government leaders NOT trust their own judgment, but seek ultimate truth from God. As the parish murmured the proper response, my lips were sealed tight, and I stood straighter as if prepared to face the consequences for my rashact of defiance.
I looked up at the Cross and all I could think of was, "Do you really want that?" Does God want a theocracy? Or is the role of religion in government negligible, as long as its people are open to God?
The word "theocracy" has a negative connotation, especially with its modern association to the Muslim nations of the Middle East. The hypocrisy is heinous. How can so many of us condemn a church-controlled government while condoning or even promoting a similar, albeit less noticeable, religious insurgency?
As these questions flooded my mind, the years of Sunday school kicked in. I almost felt repentent for daring to question the intent of my religion. What would be the harm in having political leaders who seek to rule by the moral standards that are deeply rooted in their religious faith?
Before I could be contrite for my heretical thoughts, I felt... indignant. Did my rebuttal of the church doctrines make me immoral? Am I corrupt because I would support a woman who chose to have an abortion (under reasonable circumstances)? Am I profane and irreverent for strongly being in favor of marriage equality? What constitutes morality? Are humans not born with a congenital sense of right and wrong, of justice, of virtue, of morality? What authority does the church have to enforce its own code of ethics upon faithful individuals who simply want to love God? Is a secular government doomed by its lack of values?
Perhaps I am misguided by foolish arrogance, the misperception of understanding.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
With all due respect, I'm having trouble unconditionally trusting an elusive and distant figure in my life who only seems to be interested in me as a convert, not as an individual (or "Daughter," since I have been baptised) with perhaps a different perspective on fundamental principles and values.
posted by christie at 10:44 PM
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