Ah, what a lovely weekend this was. First, I got to stuff my face and hang out with the Kellys, who were preparing for the latest in our 4-wedding year. My uncle Matt got married in Portland at St. Patrick's in Portland, an old church, very draughty and echo-y. I was wearing heels that made my feet feel like they were being slowly turned inside out, but they did look foxy.
The whole family was there, including a lot of second cousins. We all walked up to this stone church in our finery, all hugging and putting arms around each other. We're a touchy family. The ceremony was ... nice. It had a lot of the basic catholic elements: I-say-this, you-say-that; standing-kneeling-sitting; shaking hands. The priest, an old family friend (Father Ron) was aware that most in our family are no longer practicing catholics (in fact, he and my mother are like to tease each other a bit about their respect beliefs/lack of belief) and so he toned down the holiness and focused on Matt and Anne's wedding. I was a little sad when he was giving communion and only a handful of people took it - we've really got very few catholics in the family any more. I got blessed (crossed arms - like Lauren, I do not eat christ anymore) and so did most people.
What I thought was more interesting was talking with my dad's cousin, Hal, at the reception. Hal's a Baha'i, and I have always been told he's a "socialist" and all kinds of mysterious, romantic things. He moved, with his four children and wife, to Norway many years ago. He has returned to the U.S. (and is now living in Grants Pass - not so romantic) but his children have remained in Norway. Hal and I spoke about Baha'i, about Lauren and I trying out churches, and so on. Hal thinks that Baha'i is the next step for mankind - that religions guide society at particular times and places, and that Baha'i is the religion for today. Also, other religions will follow - Baha'i isn't some kind of end-all truth, but that prophets come from God and are like mirrors, reflecting God to the extent that we as a society can handle it. He's going to get us in touch with local Baha'is, but he said they're not really into organized gatherings so much - it's more of a personal journey. I'm intrigued by them people, who seem to be very educated and open-minded and full of goodness. We'll see, I suppose.
The reception was fun, and there was lots of drunkenness but also sadness (poor Beavs). I made it back to (friend) Sarah's house pretty early and had a fitful night on her five-foot couch.
Back to work! Gah!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
For Heaven's Sake....
Despite our Thanksgiving split (we have, after all, the rest of eternity to celebrate T-Day together), we continued on with our mission. This week: Catholicism in two different cities.
It is clear that I have a love for religions with pretty decor. I have to say that the Catholic church I visited looked a lot like a Jewish temple-they are both set-up with high ceilings (to remind you of how small you are), a large altar/stage area on which the important people sit, a choir, leaders in fancy dress, stained-glass windows, and etc. (Except that Jews aren't into pictures of Mary.) I walked in and upon suggestion by Erin, I "tested" out the holy water. I have to admit that because of my 5 months in Kenya when I volunteered with many Catholics, I am an expert on doing the "cross." "Cross," of course, being the technical term. So I did the cross with the holy water, and I sat down on a bench, only to realize I missed the whole kneeling ritual before you enter the rows. My bad.
The service started, we shook hands with our neighbors, listened to the choir, sang a little, and listened to the priest tell an anecdote about how our bodies frequently move too fast for our souls to keep up with. That story got me thinking about why I like walking. Even biking feels too fast for me, sometimes, and walking really helps me regain mental sanity. I was nearly brought to tears several times throughout the service-the existential state of mind I've experienced lately, combined with beautiful choir music, moments of silent prayer and a community of people accustomed to Sunday's ritual, reminded me of my own humanity. Well, all of that plus lots of talk about sins and repentance...
So that brings me up to my favorite part of the whole service: the holy communion. What is a Jew in church to do? After some coaching from Erin and others, I decided to go up for a blessing. This means you walk through the communion line, and when you get to the priest, you cross your arms over your chest to show that you're not Catholic and you can not eat Christ. So, I was blessed today. I can't recall what the words were exactly, but they included something about me becoming a Saint (or something or other). So that's cool. I dig Sainthood.
I was surprised by how little Latin was used (especially after all the take about how some of the service is in Latin). I was also amazed by how diverse the community is! I saw more racial, ethnic, and age diversity there in that one hour that I can see in a week on the streets of our fair city. Moral of the story: I felt a connection to this experience. It felt real. It felt like how I expect a church experience to feel. I feel like I need to repent for my sins and be a better person.
It is clear that I have a love for religions with pretty decor. I have to say that the Catholic church I visited looked a lot like a Jewish temple-they are both set-up with high ceilings (to remind you of how small you are), a large altar/stage area on which the important people sit, a choir, leaders in fancy dress, stained-glass windows, and etc. (Except that Jews aren't into pictures of Mary.) I walked in and upon suggestion by Erin, I "tested" out the holy water. I have to admit that because of my 5 months in Kenya when I volunteered with many Catholics, I am an expert on doing the "cross." "Cross," of course, being the technical term. So I did the cross with the holy water, and I sat down on a bench, only to realize I missed the whole kneeling ritual before you enter the rows. My bad.
The service started, we shook hands with our neighbors, listened to the choir, sang a little, and listened to the priest tell an anecdote about how our bodies frequently move too fast for our souls to keep up with. That story got me thinking about why I like walking. Even biking feels too fast for me, sometimes, and walking really helps me regain mental sanity. I was nearly brought to tears several times throughout the service-the existential state of mind I've experienced lately, combined with beautiful choir music, moments of silent prayer and a community of people accustomed to Sunday's ritual, reminded me of my own humanity. Well, all of that plus lots of talk about sins and repentance...
So that brings me up to my favorite part of the whole service: the holy communion. What is a Jew in church to do? After some coaching from Erin and others, I decided to go up for a blessing. This means you walk through the communion line, and when you get to the priest, you cross your arms over your chest to show that you're not Catholic and you can not eat Christ. So, I was blessed today. I can't recall what the words were exactly, but they included something about me becoming a Saint (or something or other). So that's cool. I dig Sainthood.
I was surprised by how little Latin was used (especially after all the take about how some of the service is in Latin). I was also amazed by how diverse the community is! I saw more racial, ethnic, and age diversity there in that one hour that I can see in a week on the streets of our fair city. Moral of the story: I felt a connection to this experience. It felt real. It felt like how I expect a church experience to feel. I feel like I need to repent for my sins and be a better person.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sorry, buddy. I'm just plain awkward
So I'm sitting at this computer at 7:40 pm after our theory club meeting. I'm having a bad day (or at least I'm in a bad mood) and this post may unintentionally reflect some of all of this. I apologize. (Or as Charles Tilly would say, "Sorry, buddy. I'm just plain awkward." Excuses, excuses.)
In reading Erin's post from today's meeting with our revered academe, I contemplate some of the hour spent with those wholesome folks as well as our debriefing on our walk back to school. I spent some of our time with said Prof not actually listening to what he was saying, but staring at the many books in his library. I found myself looking over certain titles, but always coming back to the Jewish section. Jesus's Jewishness, Jewish Thoughts something something, and etc. I kept thinking, Yes. Jew preceded Christian. My people only ever studied Old Testament, God was only "God" (never "he"), we're still waiting, and our culture is, for the most part, very different. I claim very little understanding or knowledge of Jewish religion, but these basic tenents of Judaism are unquestionably a part of my upbringing. I can approach other, much different religions, with a more distant viewpoint because they are so "other": I get Hinduism, I get New-ageyism, I can maybe even get Scientology. But the fact is Jews are so damn close to Christians in so many ways (and so far in others) that I have a really hard time "getting it." So I guess the motto would read as follows: you can take the girl out of Jewish, but you can't take Jewish out of the girl. How many Christian services would I have to attend to get it? I guess that's part of our mission.
Moving right along... Since we were pressed for time (aka I made sure to mention my very unimportant meeting), Said Prof took us into a classroom and showed us the very linear map of the plan of salvation (as shown above). It is pretty eye opening to Mormonism and their basic tenents. We then watched a video about Joseph Smith that they show to investigators. It was an 18 minute video, and the first 3/4 of the film were about Joseph's seeking of truth as a child-his wide-eyed wonder of all things on earth and in heaven just served to reaffirm the importance of child-like qualities in the Mormon faith (which was mentioned in Sunday's service visit). They sort of rushed through the most important part of Joseph's life (having visions of God, finding sacred texts, translating sacred texts, being a teacher, and etc) and may have left me wanting to know more about what these teachings are. I'll leave the home teaching visits up to Erin and I may just rely on Jon Krakauer.
Why in the name of all the gods, am I so into this?
So, I figure that as we visit more churches, and I write and reflect more, I'll see some kind of growth of awareness of why other people believe, what they believe in, and as extension, what I believe in. I have to admit, I was taken by surprise today when Lauren and I went to meet with this Mormon prof about their faith and I found myself agreeing with much of what he said. For one thing, he has a PhD and he approaches faith academically. For another thing, he said things that struck a chord with me. One was that Mormons do not believe in the Nicene Creed (something I've always thought was BS). Another: when you die you don't suddenly become something else, but rather go to another place - as yourself. There were others, but I'll have to think about them.
I'm going to be a bit self-reflexive, so you (throngs of admirers) can skip the rest of this, but I'd like to get it out while I'm thinking about it. I've long been fascinated by these 19th century religions, for one thing because they're so recent and adherents are so enthusiastic about them (Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Mormons). For another, they seem, generally, to fit well with Weber's theory of rationalization. It's something that both fascinates and repels me, like most aspects of modern culture. It's the cleanliness, maybe; the efficiency, the presumption of progress through effort. Mormons are the ultimate expression of this: if protestantism gave rise to capitalism, then Mormonism is its perfection. I need to think more about it, but I think that Mormonism could represent more than just the "renewal of God's word" on earth; I think it could represent a truly American, and so truly modernist, cultural turn.
On a totally different note, I told Lauren about "my" Jehovah's Witness, Joan. Joan came to my house every week when I was a young ... um ... child. My mind was open to information in general, and I was willing to stand at the door for an hour or so every week and talk to Joan. My mom wouldn't speak with her, though Joan would pass me a Watchtower or two to give to my dad. I don't think that Joan ever thought I was going to convert, but I think she got some kind of comfort from trying, or maybe she just liked the company when so many people probably slammed their doors in her face. Anywho, Lauren said she felt some guilt because she had no intention of converting and (I presume) doesn't want to lead on the missionary girls. I don't have the same hangups; first, I don't have any intention of converting, but I guess I can't rule out the possibility and second, that's what missionaries are there for: to tell you about their gods. I'm happy to learn about the Mormon gods; I hope there's more than one (I've heard you too can become a god, so I'd like to think of the very blond, cute pantheon of Mormons up there) and there are so many questions I have for them. Like, if your spirit and your physical body are reunited at the resurrection, is your race eternal? Your gender? (I think they'd say that one's a yes).
I won't convert, but I'll leave this with one more self-reflexive thought on religion. My friend Sarah's mom used to talk to me about Buddhism and all these things that she believed in, and I wonder why religion and lifestyle are intertwined. Of course my friend's eccentric pseudo-buddhist mom was a hippie, and she wore flowing skirts and talked about auras. And of course, Mormons wear suits and don't drink caffeine. Why? Couldn't a Mormon just be like, you know, I'm all into the stuff you're preaching, but I'm also really into coffee and beer?
I'm going to be a bit self-reflexive, so you (throngs of admirers) can skip the rest of this, but I'd like to get it out while I'm thinking about it. I've long been fascinated by these 19th century religions, for one thing because they're so recent and adherents are so enthusiastic about them (Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Mormons). For another, they seem, generally, to fit well with Weber's theory of rationalization. It's something that both fascinates and repels me, like most aspects of modern culture. It's the cleanliness, maybe; the efficiency, the presumption of progress through effort. Mormons are the ultimate expression of this: if protestantism gave rise to capitalism, then Mormonism is its perfection. I need to think more about it, but I think that Mormonism could represent more than just the "renewal of God's word" on earth; I think it could represent a truly American, and so truly modernist, cultural turn.
On a totally different note, I told Lauren about "my" Jehovah's Witness, Joan. Joan came to my house every week when I was a young ... um ... child. My mind was open to information in general, and I was willing to stand at the door for an hour or so every week and talk to Joan. My mom wouldn't speak with her, though Joan would pass me a Watchtower or two to give to my dad. I don't think that Joan ever thought I was going to convert, but I think she got some kind of comfort from trying, or maybe she just liked the company when so many people probably slammed their doors in her face. Anywho, Lauren said she felt some guilt because she had no intention of converting and (I presume) doesn't want to lead on the missionary girls. I don't have the same hangups; first, I don't have any intention of converting, but I guess I can't rule out the possibility and second, that's what missionaries are there for: to tell you about their gods. I'm happy to learn about the Mormon gods; I hope there's more than one (I've heard you too can become a god, so I'd like to think of the very blond, cute pantheon of Mormons up there) and there are so many questions I have for them. Like, if your spirit and your physical body are reunited at the resurrection, is your race eternal? Your gender? (I think they'd say that one's a yes).
I won't convert, but I'll leave this with one more self-reflexive thought on religion. My friend Sarah's mom used to talk to me about Buddhism and all these things that she believed in, and I wonder why religion and lifestyle are intertwined. Of course my friend's eccentric pseudo-buddhist mom was a hippie, and she wore flowing skirts and talked about auras. And of course, Mormons wear suits and don't drink caffeine. Why? Couldn't a Mormon just be like, you know, I'm all into the stuff you're preaching, but I'm also really into coffee and beer?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Moroni was a good man.
This might, all together, be the third time I have ever visited a church service. My youth was spent repenting in the Jewish temple on high holidays and I rarely ever saw the inside of an American church. I have also spent a great of time traversing various Indian (the dot, not the feather) hot spots-mostly Hindu temples. So, my knowledge of all things Christian is fairly limited...
All I know is I have never visited with nicer people. Ever. The Mormons were so full of warmth. Everyone was incredibly open and willing to explain everything to us. We even went to Bible study-which up until now has been a real mystery for me. I met several "Elders" and "Sisters" and learned what a good family is made of. They gave us free copies of the Book of Mormon when we asked (to peruse at our leisure). We also sang some very uplifting songs about God and bounties and etc. It was an unusual service, as we were told multiple times, because of the "changing of the Bishops" and we saw several grown men cry. It sounds like they develop really strong relationships with their community over the 3 or 4 years they are stationed there.
Another thing that really stood out to me is the eating of blessed bread/drinking of blessed water. The alter boys (not sure if that's their appropriate title) would walk around and pass out trays with pieces of bread and cups of water. I noticed how your neighbor to your left offers you a piece of bread from the tray before they hand you the tray and you offer your neighbor a piece of bread. It seems like a real sign of community- the most holy act of offering your neighbor sacred food. I think that Erin and I are going to visit another Mormon service to see what family services are like so that we may compare. I can't wait for more testimony!
All in all, I think Erin covered most of what we saw and observed in the above post. It was a fairly uneventful service. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was kind of hoping for more songs, more reading of text, more bling bling on the outfits... Bummer, dude.
All I know is I have never visited with nicer people. Ever. The Mormons were so full of warmth. Everyone was incredibly open and willing to explain everything to us. We even went to Bible study-which up until now has been a real mystery for me. I met several "Elders" and "Sisters" and learned what a good family is made of. They gave us free copies of the Book of Mormon when we asked (to peruse at our leisure). We also sang some very uplifting songs about God and bounties and etc. It was an unusual service, as we were told multiple times, because of the "changing of the Bishops" and we saw several grown men cry. It sounds like they develop really strong relationships with their community over the 3 or 4 years they are stationed there.
Another thing that really stood out to me is the eating of blessed bread/drinking of blessed water. The alter boys (not sure if that's their appropriate title) would walk around and pass out trays with pieces of bread and cups of water. I noticed how your neighbor to your left offers you a piece of bread from the tray before they hand you the tray and you offer your neighbor a piece of bread. It seems like a real sign of community- the most holy act of offering your neighbor sacred food. I think that Erin and I are going to visit another Mormon service to see what family services are like so that we may compare. I can't wait for more testimony!
All in all, I think Erin covered most of what we saw and observed in the above post. It was a fairly uneventful service. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was kind of hoping for more songs, more reading of text, more bling bling on the outfits... Bummer, dude.
Young and Single: Our First LDS Church Day
11/23/2008
Lauren and I, after an intense study of the Mormon church (which has mostly consisted of watching Big Love) decided to make our first church trip to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We readied ourselves with lots of coffee (oops) and bagels at Interzone, and walked over to the College Hill Ward, a special ward for young single people. "Young" was defined as 18-30, which leaves me out of the loop. It occurred to me that people would think we were Prop 8 protestors or something - a couple of old (ish) single women, together, at church. I suppose that if they knew we were mostly interested in them because of an HBO show about polygamy, they would be equally offended.
Here are a few impressions:
1) So, nobody thought we were visiting from another ward. It's like we don't look Mormon. Not enough glow? Lots of people came up and introduced themselves, usually by saying something like "you're a new face around here ..." and extending their hands. Big handshakers. Several people explained things about what to expect, whether we had to eat the bread, and so on, but nobody asked whether we were Mormons.
2) I really dig the weird stuff in the Mormon church. Your babies come from the spirit world, where they've been living with God? Sweet. You receive direct testimony from God? Boogie down. Jesus came and lived in America, and Joseph Smith found out because of an angel? Yessiree. But it's all smothered in a bland sauce. A bland white sauce. I can't take the overbearing blandness of it. I think I could get into this Mormon stuff if they would add some dark eyeliner and a few icons into the mix.
3) They love their families. Yeah, big surprise there. Husbands and wives are "equal" but have "different roles." That is, men have to wear suits and flag pins and tell people what to do, women have to wear dresses and lipstick and tell each other how sweet they are. Also, families are "eternal." This part is kind of cool (see spirit babies, above), but also has uncomfortable implications, as when Mormons get all weird about family history and bringing their ancestors into the fold.
All in all, this was a great first church-going. We have a meeting with Tom on Tuesday next week; he coordinates classes for "investigators" like ourselves. Everyone was so damn nice at the Mormon church, and several had stories of when they were brought into the church. I can't imagine actually wanting to join any church, let alone one where everyone's so clean, but I did feel very righteous after all the praying and singing.
Personal note: my mom's great-grandfather was Mormon, along with all his family, who came to Utah in the early days. But her grandfather left the church, which (so I'm told) meant he left the family. He raised my mom's dad an atheist, and her family are all atheists or next to it. So I feel like I have a little Mormon in my blood. I didn't find out much about it until my mom told me about her second (third?) cousin who'd contacted her because he's gay and has left the church. And she (mom) told me that he was looking for family. I guess that you can't have a fag in your celestial kingdom. I'll have to think on that.
Lauren and I, after an intense study of the Mormon church (which has mostly consisted of watching Big Love) decided to make our first church trip to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We readied ourselves with lots of coffee (oops) and bagels at Interzone, and walked over to the College Hill Ward, a special ward for young single people. "Young" was defined as 18-30, which leaves me out of the loop. It occurred to me that people would think we were Prop 8 protestors or something - a couple of old (ish) single women, together, at church. I suppose that if they knew we were mostly interested in them because of an HBO show about polygamy, they would be equally offended.
Here are a few impressions:
1) So, nobody thought we were visiting from another ward. It's like we don't look Mormon. Not enough glow? Lots of people came up and introduced themselves, usually by saying something like "you're a new face around here ..." and extending their hands. Big handshakers. Several people explained things about what to expect, whether we had to eat the bread, and so on, but nobody asked whether we were Mormons.
2) I really dig the weird stuff in the Mormon church. Your babies come from the spirit world, where they've been living with God? Sweet. You receive direct testimony from God? Boogie down. Jesus came and lived in America, and Joseph Smith found out because of an angel? Yessiree. But it's all smothered in a bland sauce. A bland white sauce. I can't take the overbearing blandness of it. I think I could get into this Mormon stuff if they would add some dark eyeliner and a few icons into the mix.
3) They love their families. Yeah, big surprise there. Husbands and wives are "equal" but have "different roles." That is, men have to wear suits and flag pins and tell people what to do, women have to wear dresses and lipstick and tell each other how sweet they are. Also, families are "eternal." This part is kind of cool (see spirit babies, above), but also has uncomfortable implications, as when Mormons get all weird about family history and bringing their ancestors into the fold.
All in all, this was a great first church-going. We have a meeting with Tom on Tuesday next week; he coordinates classes for "investigators" like ourselves. Everyone was so damn nice at the Mormon church, and several had stories of when they were brought into the church. I can't imagine actually wanting to join any church, let alone one where everyone's so clean, but I did feel very righteous after all the praying and singing.
Personal note: my mom's great-grandfather was Mormon, along with all his family, who came to Utah in the early days. But her grandfather left the church, which (so I'm told) meant he left the family. He raised my mom's dad an atheist, and her family are all atheists or next to it. So I feel like I have a little Mormon in my blood. I didn't find out much about it until my mom told me about her second (third?) cousin who'd contacted her because he's gay and has left the church. And she (mom) told me that he was looking for family. I guess that you can't have a fag in your celestial kingdom. I'll have to think on that.
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