A disorganized, discordant Rant in B-flat Minor on Religion, Science, and Truth.
JMJ
What have we learned about the practice of our faith in the Covid-19 pandemic? How have we in the insistence of the outward sign of our cultural piety given rise to a greater faith in science and the turning away from God? How our own self-interest betrayed the very Love Jesus commanded of us and jeopardized our salvation and the salvation of our fellow man by becoming, even in our good intent, wolves is sheep’s clothing?
The denial of simple, self-evident fundamental truths that only contradict faith in the mind of the faithful, not the reality of the world, lead the world, in particular the young, to reject religion, even God, as some narrow-minded, superstitious, fairy tales. Christians remove themselves from the scientific conversation and deny what is obvious, thus, then when so-called science proclaims falsehoods, such as the existence of as many genders as humanity can imagine (and I do stress “imagine”), a sobering of fancy and return to reason of society cannot be fostered by the Christian having removed themselves from the conversation lacking credibility before a word is spoken. Denial of truth by Christians invalidate the truths Christian espouse as their selection seems to be dogma determining nature, rather than the true nature of things pointing to and reinforcing the dogma that derives from God’s will. For example, in all matters of sexuality, by looking to nature we see its purpose: to procreate. From this observation we can see God’s intent for sexual relations and thus determine that abortion or relations that deny the purpose of procreation to not only be in opposition to God’s Will, but even from a naturalistic perspective cease to make sense in what essential, for a cold reading, is the absolute physical function of the sexual act. Thus claims that God or nature willed a man to marry an man or a woman to marry a woman simply does not make sense as their physical functions are in opposition and not complimentary.
Do not mistake me. We are called to live in loving harmony with all our brothers and sisters even when we disagree on fundamental issues concerning the Nature of Man’s sexuality, but we are not called to deny truth, be it theological (I speak in the context of Catholicism a.k.a. Christianity) or scientific, both of which assign a biological gender to men and women into which each is born. No girl is born a boy, nor is any boy born a girl. No teenage girl can claim to be, know, understand what it means to be an adolescent boy, to empathize with what that confusing, sometime painful, stage of development where a biological male begins to workout his manhood any more than I, being a man, can tell a woman, “Stop your whining, your period cannot be that bad, why only last month, I identified as a woman and believe me, you are exaggerating. So buck up!” I am not a woman. I cannot be a women. I will never know what it feels like to be a woman. Thus it follows, just because a man does not “feel” like a man, it does not make him a woman, nor does it imply he “feels” like a woman. He remains a man, Even if he cuts up his body, adds attributes, and takes hormones, he remains a man who has cut up his body, has added attributes, and has taken hormones. If a man is tattooed with orange and black stripes all over his body, he does not become a tiger. Male and female are binary. Still, we are called to love everyone, regardless of his or her state in life. We are not called to affirm all world views. We must accept that there can only be one truth. Truth is not malleable–there can be no “my truth.” If, in this matter, I am wrong, I am wrong. If, however, I am right, then, I am right. I say it again, there is no, “my truth.” One does not show love for another by affirming a falsehood as truth, nor does one judge or shame the person. Speak truth to both the powerful and the powerless in love, with compassion, and remembering that there are many truths in which you are (I am) mistaken and to which we are blind.
Consider evolution, it states that “higher” species developed over time from lesser. We find some Christians denying this simple, self-evident fact. Genesis says man’s origin is fashioned of clay having life breathed into him by God His self. To me, these things are saying the exact same thing: the flesh of man was fashioned from the “flesh” of this Earth. When one looks at it this way, it becomes more interesting in that God doesn’t merely “command” us into being, rather, He made us of this world, for this world (that is not to say the world of man, instead the world God intended for us), and in doing so, has made this world sacred to man. Man is inextricably tied to this Earth as it provided the essence of his physical being, and is therefore called upon, not only for the sake of Earth itself but for his own sake, to care for this Earth and not to rape her, butcher her, and leave her for dead. The Garden was not created for us, rather we completed it, and are called to be Creation’s stewards within the world and within ourselves.
Thus says Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ “I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges. Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity. As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation”. All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”
A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
A Christian prayer in union with creation
Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!
Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.
Given in Rome at Saint Peter’s on 24 May, the Solemnity of Pentecost, in the year 2015, the third of my Pontificate.
© 12 December 2021
For Lourdes Sake 