Life is too short for depressing Jeremiads. Bring on the happy-clappy; the touchy-feely. What's truth got to do with it? Party on, dudes! Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Come whistle past the graveyard with me. Let's sing a New Church into being, my friends! (Ever read them lyrics? Dynamite.) These are the good ol' days. We are Church! AmChurch. The wave of the future. The hope of the young. The Voice of the Faithful. We've got to exorcise all those dark, judgmental, negative thoughts about sin, guilt, and condemnation. The light of FAITH and HOPE needs to chase away the clouds of DOUBT and FEAR. Feel that fresh breeze blowing in your face? That's the balmy breeze of the Spirit of Vatican II, and this is the springtime of the New Church, a New Pentecost.So, you surely won't want to listen to the wretched realism of this guy:
- Time for answers [on why the NCR is allowed to call itself 'Catholic'] (Jan. 3)
- The Larger issue [on who is actually in charge in chancery offices] (Jan. 4)
- What is going on? [naming bishops courting anti-Catholic politicians] (Jan. 5)
- Hell on earth [on the earthly effects of failing to uphold Church teaching on faith and morals] (Jan. 6)
- What to do! [on how to start bailing water from the leaking Barque of St. Peter] (Jan. 7)
Well, which is it? Which will it be? Happy thoughts? Or wretched realism? 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." And Hosea 4:6 says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children." Oh, how dark and dreadful! Listen. Do you hear that sound? That wouldn't be the distant rumble of thundering hooves. The four horsemen of the apocalypse. I mean, would it? Of course not. Don't be stupid. What are we? Fundamentalists?
Say, and as long as you're up, would you grab me another beer from the fridge and bring some more salsa for these Doritos? I think American Idol is coming on. Oh, and don't forget to smile. God loves you. Just like you are. But you knew that. God don't make junk.
Brilliant use of sarcasm, PP. This sort of "happy feelings" is hardly limited to Catholicism, though. It's everywhere in Protestantism too, including Evangelicalism. Robert Bellah calls it "therapeutic" religion. The problem is that it then becomes no longer serious about doctrine or the Bible, or what you Catholics call "Church teaching." Not good.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is going downhill -- a sort of male Palin.
ReplyDelete"everywhere in Protestantism too"
ReplyDeleteWell, that might be because "happy feelings" -- in the form of confidence born of the "certainty" of salvation as virtually contractually guaranteed with no codicil as to "works" -- is the very cornerstone of protestantism.
Seriously, that's where the "therapy" begins. Kant wouldn't be Kant without Luther. Kant's view of religion as practial "therapy" rather than metaphysical certitude follows the establishment of private judgment like convulsive shuddering follows the sound of Mary Hart's voice.
PP & Palin? Not bad company. Luther to Kant. Predictable. Add: Luther to Nietzsche.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous. The "downhill" is a foil. Duhh! Yer too literal.
ReplyDelete