Behind a cut for religious education...
Jul. 25th, 2006 11:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sildilIn my happy clappy church days (yes, don't laugh, I DID attend several incarnations of a large, independent, charismatic, falling down on the floor at times, dancing in the aisles church in south west London) there were in fact several ways that one could bitch, be spiteful and pass judgement on others, and trust me, no-one is as judgemental as a rabid happy-clappy churchgoer.
Obviously we weren't supposed to, oh no, that was definitely against the spirit of the original founder, but it was amazing just how much could be got away with under the guise of 'helpfulness' or 'concern'.
'Shall I pray for you?' could strike fear into the strongest of hearts, if said in a certain way that meant 'I think you have a problem even if you don't and I am bloody well going to make sure you do have by the time I am finished'.
And then there was gossip by prayer circle. 'Let's pray for our sister who has been struggling with her spitefulness and dependence issues who we are not going to name because that's not christian but she's sitting over there in the corner looking angry and spiteful'. All heads turn and nod wisely or smugly depending on their feelings for said victim.
Or; *person affects concerned expression* 'I heard that something was wrong with /mutual friend/ and wondered if I could help or pray for them?' In other words, 'dish the dirt, come on, you KNOW you want to,' to which the answer was either a superior, 'no, that's OK, the pastor knows about it and we are dealing with it' (ie; 'you, you lesser mortal, as if you are going to be included in amongst the illuminati' or, 'oh thank you, yes he's been struggling with /name problem/ for so long and every little helps' ie; 'at bloody last someone has asked me and I can gossip about it and please do spread the word.' ).
This doesn't just happen in church of course, it happens wherever there is a group of people in close proximity be it a religious group, a political party, an action group or even, dare I say it, a Live Journal.
I think I'll leave it with James:
'Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark...with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness, out of the same mouth come praise and cursing....can both fresh water and salt flow from the same spring?' (James 3:5, 3:9-11)
Obviously we weren't supposed to, oh no, that was definitely against the spirit of the original founder, but it was amazing just how much could be got away with under the guise of 'helpfulness' or 'concern'.
'Shall I pray for you?' could strike fear into the strongest of hearts, if said in a certain way that meant 'I think you have a problem even if you don't and I am bloody well going to make sure you do have by the time I am finished'.
And then there was gossip by prayer circle. 'Let's pray for our sister who has been struggling with her spitefulness and dependence issues who we are not going to name because that's not christian but she's sitting over there in the corner looking angry and spiteful'. All heads turn and nod wisely or smugly depending on their feelings for said victim.
Or; *person affects concerned expression* 'I heard that something was wrong with /mutual friend/ and wondered if I could help or pray for them?' In other words, 'dish the dirt, come on, you KNOW you want to,' to which the answer was either a superior, 'no, that's OK, the pastor knows about it and we are dealing with it' (ie; 'you, you lesser mortal, as if you are going to be included in amongst the illuminati' or, 'oh thank you, yes he's been struggling with /name problem/ for so long and every little helps' ie; 'at bloody last someone has asked me and I can gossip about it and please do spread the word.' ).
This doesn't just happen in church of course, it happens wherever there is a group of people in close proximity be it a religious group, a political party, an action group or even, dare I say it, a Live Journal.
I think I'll leave it with James:
'Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark...with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness, out of the same mouth come praise and cursing....can both fresh water and salt flow from the same spring?' (James 3:5, 3:9-11)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-25 03:11 pm (UTC)But isn't that just a clear and pertinent point in itself about the dangers of what we write for public consumption?! What is a completely impersonal comment by one can be seen as a dig or criticism by someone else!
Yes, those first impression judgements! Trouble is, it's SO HARD when people fall straight into the trap of behaving exactly as you expected them to!!!
Oh, the views on forgiveness! REALLY interesting. I used to have real difficulty with the (christian) command to honour your father and mother. First of all, my real father and mother handed me over for adoption by paternal grandmother, so that was a bummer from the start, and secondly, paternal grandmother (now 'mum') was an emotionally abusive manipulating...person. So how was I supposed to do that? In the end I came to an understanding of what made all parties the way they were and forgave them, but it was a rough road for a while. And still..honouring them? Well, I guess undertanding where they came from is the closest I could get.
Oh I recognise that last paragraph too! Heh, been there, done that AND have the t-shirts!
:D <3<3<3