Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Fundamentalist religious background
mighty mouse:
Ellie,
Hi.
The rabbi who wrote the book (seeker post) has the last name Kushnir. And I have read "People of Lie" as well. It's an interesting book.
Seeker brings up the AA - not god. I used to go to Coda meetings and they emphasized the same principle.
I find my NMom becoming more emeshed in the church every year. She always says she's praying for me (praying for me to be Nsupply once again I'm sure). And my NPD sister thinks she's very spiritual - always talking Dali Lama and likes to spout Bhuddist sayings as well....I elucidated more about her on another thread (very vitriolic emailer and stalker).
I think this is a very fascinating subject.
MM
Less:
I am reading a book right now written by one of Canada's most respected theologians, Tom Harpur. -Rhodes scholar, former Anglican priest, Professor of Greek and New Testament Studies at the University of Toronto. The book is called "The Pagan Christ."
"As he reconsiders a lifetime of worship and study, Harpur reveals a cosmic faith based on ancient truths that the modern church has renounced. His message is clear: our blind faith in literalism is killing Christianity...long before the advent of Jesus Christ, the Egyptians and other peoples believed in the coming of a messiah, a madonna and her child , a virgin birth and the incarnation of the spiriit in flesh. The early Christian church accepted these ancient truths as the very tenets of Christianity but disavowed their origins. What began as a universal belief system based on Myth and Allegory became instead a ritualistic institution headed by ultraconservative literalists."
The premise of his book is that the early Christian Church made a "fatal and fateful error." "Either deliberately or in a competitive bid to win over the greatest numbers of the largely unlettered masses or through wilful ignorance of the true inner sense of the profound spiritual wisdom it had inherited from so many ancient sources, the Church took a literalist popularized historical approach to sublime truth. What was preserved in the amber of allegory, it misrepresented as plodding fact."
He draws on the teachings of many of the earth's religions present and past and teases out the common threads and roots.
Tom Harpur, in perhaps true Canadian style (or so people say) apologizes if he has offended any Christians but gives encouragement to them to expand their understanding.
Well it's hard to capture the essence of this book in a couple of paragraphs but it really is fascinating. Less
mighty mouse:
Hi Les(s),
I'm going to read the book you mentioned. It sounds great. I read a book about 5 years ago by a Bishop John Spong entitled "Christianity Must Change or Die". It dealt with literal translations of the bible as well.
I think it would be interesting to get another perspective, especially one written by a Canadian! You guys up there are just so great. When my H and I visit Canada, everyone knows how to pronounce our last name. In the U.S. it gets mangled all the time even though it's not really a hard name at all. What can I say....I just love Canadians....except the Ns. LOL
MM
Less:
Hi MM, Keep me posted (so to speak) on getting/reading the book. It's actually more profound than I managed to convey here. I found learning about paganism(a word for some that has such neg. associations) and the earliest rumblings of religion in the world so illuminating.- Don't think you'll be disappointed.
Sidebar - as people of all countries do - Canadians like to think they are a bit different! IF Canadians are a little different the speculation is that it was the way the nation was born - fairly peaceful, full of compromise and advancing the values of community and lawfulness more than individual freedom. Who knows, maybe the vast cold wilderness defines us more than anything. Many of our writers think so. Anyway, great to hear you like us and hope you like the book. By the way--you were great yesterday - going into battle with me - Do you own a red cape by any chance?!
Les(S)
mastercubb@comcast.net:
Les(s),
Howdy from Texas.
I checked out the book and can only get it on Amazon.com Canada. I've bookmarked my calender in August to check back so I can get it in the U.S. (cheaper shipping). I read a whole lot (seems you do too judging by your post on another thread), so I have to save any way I can.
Your assessments of Canada are right on IMO. I especially like the observation about the cold and wilderness. I do so like your country and people. I used to have friends in Allison (sp), Ontario.
I'm glad I was helping you "save the day" (LOL) yesterday. And you should keep the red cape as a visual even though I don't have one, ha. ha. I DO have a red duvet cover...guess that's not quite the same.
How is the 91 year old mama perfectamente (throwing in some Spanish)?
At her fighting best or about to croak (in her opinion of course)? I hope that didn't sound too rude. Will you miss her if she does (croak)?
MM
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