Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Sunday, December 30, 2012
I think Sunday is a good day to bring this up.
You know I have been saying some version of this for years.
I've always hated meetings and have felt that nothing real is accomplished in them. A church service is no different. Prayer without action accomplishes nothing.
In my humble opinion, what a church service ought to be is about 10 minutes of sermon (at the most) then the congregation gets on a bus, goes out into the community, and actually does good works for people. Fixing houses, cleaning yards, bringing meals to people who can't feed themselves, tutoring students who need it, helping at the humane society, etc., WITHOUT proselytizing or asking for donations. Just leave a card behind that says, "Want to be a part of this? Here's how...".
Let people admire you for what you actually do instead of what you say. They might actually want to be a part of that and join up. Being told every Sunday that you are going to rot in hell unless you fall in line doesn't work so well for a lot of folks.
What a great idea! My mom actually has sat in a room alone at her church to do a 4 hour stint of just praying. I was incredulous at this notion. She also said, when I questioned her about the football thing they push now, that the team that gets the most prayers wins. To which I said...Why are you all not praying for the sick and hungry children in the world?! I got no answer. I am embarrassed that she can't think critically about these issues but she is now in her late 70's, so I leave her alone with her ridiculousness. smh.
Shallow bumper sticker thinking. I know many people who are believers. I do not know any who believe that praying is an adequate substitute for action.
I have no use for organized religion, but the either/or characterization of people who *either* pray *or* actively work to make the world a better place is intellectually and logically sloppy.
Then you probably don't live in my section of the South! All a lot these local idiots want to do is pray, proselytize and drink beer while watching Nascar!
And the only reason a lot of them pray is it looks good to others!
I repeat, 10:23. You probably don't live in MY section of the South.
I WILL make one alteration to my first statement, though. They are really good about praying for hateful things like getting rid of all the gays and the blacks and.... You know, the typical Xtian hopes. (And if you don't know what an Xtian is, search it here. You'll get an eyeful.)
That's powerful! I love the teacher challenging her students, she took the time to make it a "teachable moment" and it'll stay with them for the rest of their lives. Anne Curry's idea makes the world a better place.
Praying is an action. One good deed accomplished, an act of kindness, may be an answer to a prayer. No action(s) can grasp the limitless. Act onto the other connectedly, socially, know other as the truth of self, fearlessness as the awareness.
My prayer is to fall asleep at the end of an awakened day knowing I continually sought and brought ahimsa-truth, neither causing nor experiencing any disturbance in the flow (tao, dharma).
Do all actions as though only one existent-limitless-consciousness is the ground and nature and truth of "all-within-all", the constant witness without engagement. May only goodly-ness (nickname godliness), the peace of non-disturbed "I", "other" and the transactional "system" (its the matter of god). Peace on all levels.
THEN, as Jesus said, "we'll have the power to move mountains" and though not written down, he said ("and knowledge of why the mountain is there thus no reason to move it."
What a great way to live! After the "season of giving" and the great pains people put themselves through to buy the "perfect gift", the best things in life are free. My favorite "present" this year was an old friend calling to wish me happy holidays and reminding me of a fantastic Christmas we shared before she moved away. A present from the past and a phone call.
I've gotten many bouquets of flowers in my life, the ones I've cherished most were the lush organically grown, local dandelion/weeds/buttercup bouquets given from the hearts of my children.
It depends on what "well intended" means. Whatever it is, if it's done to show other people how good one is, the good deed may have the same outcome, but the deed doer doesn't give the same result to the giver.
I've always hated meetings and have felt that nothing real is accomplished in them. A church service is no different. Prayer without action accomplishes nothing.
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion, what a church service ought to be is about 10 minutes of sermon (at the most) then the congregation gets on a bus, goes out into the community, and actually does good works for people. Fixing houses, cleaning yards, bringing meals to people who can't feed themselves, tutoring students who need it, helping at the humane society, etc., WITHOUT proselytizing or asking for donations. Just leave a card behind that says, "Want to be a part of this? Here's how...".
Let people admire you for what you actually do instead of what you say. They might actually want to be a part of that and join up. Being told every Sunday that you are going to rot in hell unless you fall in line doesn't work so well for a lot of folks.
You are exactly right! Just imagine all of the help and support that could be given if this actually did happen.
DeleteWhat a great idea! My mom actually has sat in a room alone at her church to do a 4 hour stint of just praying. I was incredulous at this notion. She also said, when I questioned her about the football thing they push now, that the team that gets the most prayers wins. To which I said...Why are you all not praying for the sick and hungry children in the world?! I got no answer. I am embarrassed that she can't think critically about these issues but she is now in her late 70's, so I leave her alone with her ridiculousness. smh.
DeleteShallow bumper sticker thinking. I know many people who are believers. I do not know any who believe that praying is an adequate substitute for action.
ReplyDeleteI have no use for organized religion, but the either/or characterization of people who *either* pray *or* actively work to make the world a better place is intellectually and logically sloppy.
What's shallow? The picture or my comment?
DeleteThen you probably don't live in my section of the South! All a lot these local idiots want to do is pray, proselytize and drink beer while watching Nascar!
DeleteAnd the only reason a lot of them pray is it looks good to others!
I don't know who you know, but believe me there are a lot people that believe prayer alone works.
DeleteI repeat, 10:23. You probably don't live in MY section of the South.
DeleteI WILL make one alteration to my first statement, though. They are really good about praying for hateful things like getting rid of all the gays and the blacks and.... You know, the typical Xtian hopes. (And if you don't know what an Xtian is, search it here. You'll get an eyeful.)
One positive thing to come out of the horrific events in CT is the 26 Acts of Kindness movement. No religion, just good works.
ReplyDeletehttp://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/20/16047746-26acts-of-kindness-movement-grows-as-feel-good-trend-goes-viral-after-newtown?lite
That's powerful! I love the teacher challenging her students, she took the time to make it a "teachable moment" and it'll stay with them for the rest of their lives. Anne Curry's idea makes the world a better place.
DeletePraying is an action. One good deed accomplished, an act of kindness, may be an answer to a prayer.
ReplyDeleteNo action(s) can grasp the limitless. Act onto the other connectedly, socially, know other as the truth of self, fearlessness as the awareness.
My prayer is to fall asleep at the end of an awakened day knowing I continually sought and brought ahimsa-truth, neither causing nor experiencing any disturbance in the flow (tao, dharma).
Do all actions as though only one existent-limitless-consciousness is the ground and nature and truth of "all-within-all", the constant witness without engagement. May only goodly-ness (nickname godliness), the peace of non-disturbed "I", "other" and the transactional "system" (its the matter of god). Peace on all levels.
THEN, as Jesus said, "we'll have the power to move mountains" and though not written down, he said ("and knowledge of why the mountain is there thus no reason to move it."
What an absolutely beautiful concept!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to live! After the "season of giving" and the great pains people put themselves through to buy the "perfect gift", the best things in life are free. My favorite "present" this year was an old friend calling to wish me happy holidays and reminding me of a fantastic Christmas we shared before she moved away. A present from the past and a phone call.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten many bouquets of flowers in my life, the ones I've cherished most were the lush organically grown, local dandelion/weeds/buttercup bouquets given from the hearts of my children.
It depends on what "well intended" means. Whatever it is, if it's done to show other people how good one is, the good deed may have the same outcome, but the deed doer doesn't give the same result to the giver.