The Prednisone must be kicking in as I felt the urge to give my bathroom a good cleaning this morning, not a minute too soon. Such a good feeling when that task is finished.
Those of you who've read my blog for sometime know of the mortal wounds my faith suffered at the hands of fundamentalist evangelicals. Since the 80s I've watched to see if that situation would ever change and be good again. I've recently come across information that gives me hope that change is beginning to happen. There's evidence the old guard radicals are falling out of favor with younger evangelicals and change is happening. Death has eleminated some of the radicals as they age out and more of that has to happen but they're not being replaced by other radicals. It's been a long time coming but it is balm to my wounded soul. I am encouraged.
I've learned more this election about some fine young millennials, mentored by President Obama, that give me hope for the future of the Democratic Party. Many of Hillary Clinton's campaign team are of that group and they've run a splendid campaign. I'm going to be following these people to see where the future takes them. I am encouraged.
Last night I listened to Bill Maher interview President Obama at the White House. Oh that it had been possible for him to sit in living rooms across America and visit with Americans. I'm convinced this anger, fear, and hatred we're dealing with today would not have happened. Unfortunately he never stood a chance against FOX News and the fear that has ravaged the Republican Party. I'm looking forward to the work he's going to do free of FOX News and Republicans. He's young and I'm encouraged by the thought he will be able to accomplish much more for America out of the White House than he was able to accomplish in the White House.
I am encouraged.
Portland, Oregon
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Sunday Knock on the Door
Bob answered the knock on the door to find two middle age men who quickly began reading scripture to him from a mini i-pad. With a look of panic on his face he turned to me to rescue him.
When I went to the door the man read scripture from the book of Revelation to me straight from his iPad. I was somewhat amused by this. In my religious days I carried a nice leather bound Bible. An iPad just didn't seem the same. I wanted to ask him if he thought King James would be surprised.
I was more patient that I used to be in my youth. Perhaps I've matured. I know I'm more confident about my religious beliefs, and not easily threatened these days.
He wanted to talk to me a little bit about heaven and this sinful world. I knew it wouldn't do to talk about heaven. He really would be disturbed about my soul if we did that.
He wanted to leave me a WatchTowel pamphlet, which I declined. It has been many years since the Jehovah Witness people have knocked on our door, perhaps because we live in a large apartment complex.
There was a time when we lived in Texas the Jehovah Witnesses came almost every Sunday. The houses on the corner began the phone chain that went up two blocks of our street warning the neighbors they were in the neighborhood. No one answered the door to them.
I wonder why we were so reluctant to talk to them all those years ago? I think it was fear of the unknown. Not only did we know very little about their faith but most of us weren't that secure in our own faith, and of course some people did not attend church.
These days it doesn't bother me to talk to them but it certainly made Bob uncomfortable. He said he didn't know what to say to them.
I really wish people of other faiths would respect my right to choose, and give me credit for having the intelligence to make my own faith choices.
How do you feel when people approach you about religion? How do you deal with such incidents?
When I went to the door the man read scripture from the book of Revelation to me straight from his iPad. I was somewhat amused by this. In my religious days I carried a nice leather bound Bible. An iPad just didn't seem the same. I wanted to ask him if he thought King James would be surprised.
I was more patient that I used to be in my youth. Perhaps I've matured. I know I'm more confident about my religious beliefs, and not easily threatened these days.
He wanted to talk to me a little bit about heaven and this sinful world. I knew it wouldn't do to talk about heaven. He really would be disturbed about my soul if we did that.
He wanted to leave me a WatchTowel pamphlet, which I declined. It has been many years since the Jehovah Witness people have knocked on our door, perhaps because we live in a large apartment complex.
There was a time when we lived in Texas the Jehovah Witnesses came almost every Sunday. The houses on the corner began the phone chain that went up two blocks of our street warning the neighbors they were in the neighborhood. No one answered the door to them.
I wonder why we were so reluctant to talk to them all those years ago? I think it was fear of the unknown. Not only did we know very little about their faith but most of us weren't that secure in our own faith, and of course some people did not attend church.
These days it doesn't bother me to talk to them but it certainly made Bob uncomfortable. He said he didn't know what to say to them.
I really wish people of other faiths would respect my right to choose, and give me credit for having the intelligence to make my own faith choices.
How do you feel when people approach you about religion? How do you deal with such incidents?
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
An Old Recurring Sore
Sometimes I amaze myself at how clueless I can be to my surroundings. It was only recently I learned the KKK was formed by Christians, thus their symbol, the burning cross.
It seems the Ku Klux Klan was established by white Christians in the South immediately after the Civil War. During the early 20th century their membership grew to four million before beginning to decline. It gained new prominence during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. Now we're seeing the fourth generation of Klanspersons rise again in this 2016 election cycle. That ugly sore is back to deal us misery one more time.
The radical Christian Right has terroristic tendencies, much like radical Islam. The KKK and other radical Christian groups are seeking to have their voices heard and today's Republican race appears to be open to their message.
We all lose when this happens. We lose more than an election, we lose the soul of society, our basic humanity.
It seems the Ku Klux Klan was established by white Christians in the South immediately after the Civil War. During the early 20th century their membership grew to four million before beginning to decline. It gained new prominence during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. Now we're seeing the fourth generation of Klanspersons rise again in this 2016 election cycle. That ugly sore is back to deal us misery one more time.
The radical Christian Right has terroristic tendencies, much like radical Islam. The KKK and other radical Christian groups are seeking to have their voices heard and today's Republican race appears to be open to their message.
We all lose when this happens. We lose more than an election, we lose the soul of society, our basic humanity.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Not On My Street Corner
Daughter and I were out and about this afternoon when we stopped at a light about a mile from our home. Right outside my window was a young man with a megaphone and a Bible yelling his head off about the wages of sin. Standing next to him was a boy of about ten holding a sign telling me I was going to hell if I did not repent.
It was good my daughter was with me, otherwise the headlines in tomorrow's paper would no doubt have read, "Old Woman Assault's Street Preacher."
I had the strongest urge to leap out of the car, grab that young man by the collar and scream "You idiot, what do you think you're doing?"
From time to time some misguided soul feels compelled to come to Oregon to save our souls. Oregon is one of the so called "unchurched" states.
These confused souls don't realize how hard it is to market their god in a state like Oregon. I've never understood why hellfire and brimstone preachers think anyone would be interested in the god they serve anyway.
It just might be that the beauty that surrounds us in this state is all the evidence needed to believe in a higher power. A bricks and mortar church where the religious wrangle over the politics of religion doesn't hold a lot of appeal when your other choice is a day spent in the beauty of nature. Beats any church experience I've ever had.
I get a little hostile when someone yells at me that I'm going to hell. Go home street preacher. I don't want you poisoning the air I breathe.
It was good my daughter was with me, otherwise the headlines in tomorrow's paper would no doubt have read, "Old Woman Assault's Street Preacher."
I had the strongest urge to leap out of the car, grab that young man by the collar and scream "You idiot, what do you think you're doing?"
From time to time some misguided soul feels compelled to come to Oregon to save our souls. Oregon is one of the so called "unchurched" states.
These confused souls don't realize how hard it is to market their god in a state like Oregon. I've never understood why hellfire and brimstone preachers think anyone would be interested in the god they serve anyway.
It just might be that the beauty that surrounds us in this state is all the evidence needed to believe in a higher power. A bricks and mortar church where the religious wrangle over the politics of religion doesn't hold a lot of appeal when your other choice is a day spent in the beauty of nature. Beats any church experience I've ever had.
I get a little hostile when someone yells at me that I'm going to hell. Go home street preacher. I don't want you poisoning the air I breathe.
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