The older I get, the more I appreciate Spring. Every winter, it occurs to me that, once again, I’ve forgotten to leave Indiana. And, every Spring, I’m a little happier to see the warm weather return. Easter, among other things, is in the great human tradition of rebirth celebrations. Jesus joined the ranks of Osiris, Baldr, Persephone, Adonis, Mithras, Inanna, and other deities who died and came back to life, frequently in the Spring.
I can only imagine that the importance of “rebirth” in the Spring would be that much more significant for folks in an agrarian society where famine was much closer at hand.
Another thing that struck me while I was poking around the Internet for background on some of these gods is just how many different gods have been worshiped over the years. And to wander even further afield, Neil Gaiman has a fun take on gods who have fallen into disuse in his book American Gods.
The central concept is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them. Immigrants to the United States brought dwarves, elves, leprechauns, and other spirits and gods with them, but their power is diminished as people’s beliefs wane.
Anyway, Happy Easter everyone.
Ever wonder why, when laying down the 10 commandments, moses did not write I am the lord thy only god? Instead of I am the lord thy god, thou shalt have not other gods before me. Supposedly, god, the all knowing, all creative, creator of everthing, must have known that there were other gods (because he created them) or he was not as all powerful and we make him, or he really is not the only one. Or–well, it is easter so lets believe in the magical story.
I really wonder what the conservation between the current pope and his cardinals was concerrning certain indiscretions, gods knowledge thereof, and gods apparent approval of how this pope has handled things in his life since this god saw fit to make this pope pope. Follow the logic and one ends up that god created the molesters and knew they would molest and knew the pope would approve of their behavior (he condoned it, he did not condem it) and he knew the pope would become pope–because he made it so. So god must condone the molestation, since he caused it (he made it) happen and knew it would happen and did nothing to stop it and rewarded those who did nothing to stop it.
Oh well, it is easter, so let the pope and his friends have their day. Just stay out of the aptly named rectory.
Is the Easter bunny mythical too? I have evidence of him–in the form of an easter basket full of candy and colored eggs.
The Hebrew term in the first commandment can be translated as “besides” or “before”. Either has interesting applications, but “before” is the more provocative. The reality is that other gods do exist in a sense– and we can give them power they would not otherwise have. (This is a recurring theme described by the OT prophets.) For example, some people have the bizarre belief that the number 13 has supernatural power– and can even give the number a power over their own lives.
More broadly, we can talk about the gods of negative, neutral, or even good things– that can take an inappropriate preeminence in our lives– e.g., from anger to wine to work.
I support your opinion on Spring. I so love Spring. I too hate Winter and wish I would have been born into a warmer weather climate. I’m just not cut out for 6 months of cold weather.
Akla,
I can say this much about the RCC. The leadership core is conservative and paranoid.They deal with their enemies before they even think of dealing with their rotten core.To me the church is who I see in the pews and the celebration of the mass..
But I also blame the civil authorities and the general feeling that we let churches ( not only the RCC) handle their own internal affairs. I have suggested to Protestants ,people of faith, that the local police should have gone into rectories and pulled out accused priests in handcuffs,if necessary, and this stuff would have been stopped years ago.There should be no immunity in the rectory. This country has just one Constitution for everyone..But even Protestants, who are critical of the RCC, are very reluctant to advocate arresting clergy in the rectory who are under suspicious of these acts. The boyscouts have been in the news lately because of siilar type covered up long term abuse,so it’s not just religion that makes us blind. It’s the institutional hierarchy protecting their domain with the acquiescence and support many rank and file people who just dont want to see what they love ,destroyed.I dont mean to justify anything,but try to explain why people react they do. But its mind boggling to see stuff come out from back in the 50s.
The other side of the church is the vehement reaction( not all catholic by a long shot) against Michigan Congressman Stupak when he compromised on abortion to help pass health care. His vote,along with his group of 7, was crucial.So now he’s being attacked persomally on ‘moral grounds’.So I suppose voting for the bill can’t be ‘a moral issue’ for some reason..