I'm so glad I'm not religious. Because if I was, there'd be a massive temptation to get power and praise from nice gullible chapel-goers over Wales. There are chapels crying out for ministers and a "nice young man" always goes down well. It could be so much fun getting to be a preacher man, spouting crap from the pulpit, with the right religious words and phrases to elicit "Amen"s from the congregation...
But I'm not like that. Firstly, I wouldn't be able to stomach the empty religiosity; and secondly, I'm above hipocrisy like that...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Parable
A man went to swim in the sea with his mates. He was determined to get the most out of the experience so- rather than paddle in the shallows or tread water and chat with a group of friends- he decided to swim back and forth across the bay. He loved the sensation the waves gave him, but felt bad that none of the others had wanted to join him. They weren't too concerned, though, as he was known to be a strong swimmer.
Eventually he got exhausted, but found himself far from the shore and the other swimmers. Because of the sound of the waves breaking on the shore the others were unable to hear him. Unable to relax and float on the surface of the water, he gradually succumbed to the powerful waves. By the time the others noticed he was sinking, it was too late...
Eventually he got exhausted, but found himself far from the shore and the other swimmers. Because of the sound of the waves breaking on the shore the others were unable to hear him. Unable to relax and float on the surface of the water, he gradually succumbed to the powerful waves. By the time the others noticed he was sinking, it was too late...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Flotsam and Jetsam (2)
Indian Restaurant Songbook
Girlfriend In A Korma- The Smiths
Tears On My Pilau- Kylie Minogue
Pappadum Preach- Madonna
It's Basmati And I'll Cry If I Want To- Altered Images??
Prawn Vindaloo S A- Bruce Springsteen
Anything by the Spice Girls (obviously)
Girlfriend In A Korma- The Smiths
Tears On My Pilau- Kylie Minogue
Pappadum Preach- Madonna
It's Basmati And I'll Cry If I Want To- Altered Images??
Prawn Vindaloo S A- Bruce Springsteen
Anything by the Spice Girls (obviously)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
November 11
Today is Rememberance Sunday and has completely passed me by. Not strictly true, as I did watch Blackadder Goes Forth to mark the occasion.
Don't get me wrong: The First World War was an utter tragedy and deserves- or rather demands- to be remembered. What it does not demand, nevertheless, is to be celebrated. The soldiers who fought in 1914-18 do not need to be thanked, as they were merely "Lions for Asses" sent to fight in a completely needless conflict. It should be remembered as the tragedy it was. The Second World War is different story, and I'm happy to thank those who fought to defeat Nazism. What bothers me is the institutionalisation of the whole thing- the celebration which borders on jingoism and celebration of things British. I'm no longer a rabid Welsh nationalist, but I couldn't really give a monkey's about the State of the United Kingdom.
Two other things: The lads who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War aren't officially remembered as their involvement wasn't officially sanctioned by HMG. And the whole contraversy (sp?) about the wounded soldiers worries me, as it gives everyone the message that this is a jingoistic celebration rather than a commemoration.
Don't get me wrong: The First World War was an utter tragedy and deserves- or rather demands- to be remembered. What it does not demand, nevertheless, is to be celebrated. The soldiers who fought in 1914-18 do not need to be thanked, as they were merely "Lions for Asses" sent to fight in a completely needless conflict. It should be remembered as the tragedy it was. The Second World War is different story, and I'm happy to thank those who fought to defeat Nazism. What bothers me is the institutionalisation of the whole thing- the celebration which borders on jingoism and celebration of things British. I'm no longer a rabid Welsh nationalist, but I couldn't really give a monkey's about the State of the United Kingdom.
Two other things: The lads who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War aren't officially remembered as their involvement wasn't officially sanctioned by HMG. And the whole contraversy (sp?) about the wounded soldiers worries me, as it gives everyone the message that this is a jingoistic celebration rather than a commemoration.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Flotsam And Jetsam (1)
"I've gone through life wondering, "What if the hokey-cokey is what it's all about?" Have you ever thought about that? It could be, couldn't it? 'Cause that's what I was told, when I was a kid. "You put your left leg in... that's what it's all about." I'm not saying it is, I'm saying "what if?" I never really knew what it was all about so any signsin that general direction I was willing to pick up. And that's a view of the world my parents regularly expressed to me at moments of high mirth and emotion. That's cockney Zen, that is."
-Billy Bragg "The Word" Magazine, November 2006
Haiku
by Simon Bird
Ironically
This haiku's final word is
Monosyllabic
If
by Arthur Smith
If you can roll along at a decent pace
And you find that your rear
Contains lots of space
If you have windows at the front
Yet none at the side
And offer a smooth unflashy ride
If you have a red and white flag
On your bonnet
And can never imagine doing a ton
Then yours is the road and everything on it
And, which is more, you'll be a van, my son.
-Billy Bragg "The Word" Magazine, November 2006
Haiku
by Simon Bird
Ironically
This haiku's final word is
Monosyllabic
If
by Arthur Smith
If you can roll along at a decent pace
And you find that your rear
Contains lots of space
If you have windows at the front
Yet none at the side
And offer a smooth unflashy ride
If you have a red and white flag
On your bonnet
And can never imagine doing a ton
Then yours is the road and everything on it
And, which is more, you'll be a van, my son.
Christians
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mohandas K Ghandi
Interestingly enough, I have mellowed quite a bit since I had the intention of writing about Christians, but- though the spirit is more benevolent- the criticisms still stand.
My problem is that Christians seem to deny their creed and their belief in a life-changing God by being so... well, Unchristian!
Ultimately, it is they (correction: we) who put me off the system known as Christianity. It's our hypocrisy- the gaping abyss between our beliefs and our practice; our selfishness- our complete inability to see others' needs; our religiosity- our little obsessions with silly rituals and rites which have nothing at all to do with Jesus of Nazareth; and our self-righteousness- our sick tendency to look down on others without seeing how filthy we ourselves are. There are many other traits too, but I would wind myself up into a frenzy...!
Now, I know what the response is to this: "We're saved by Grace...none of us are perfect...let he who is without fault...". Granted, we will not attain perfection in this life, but surely the Church is meant to be an outpost of heaven, a community of God's people, and surely we believe in a God that transforms lives into being more like Jesus, not more religious or self-righteous. I always liked the quote on the "Jesus Freak" album (DC Talk) about Christians confessing Christ with their lips and then denying Him with their lives. And I echo the sentiment that that is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
But I continue to seek Jesus...
Interestingly enough, I have mellowed quite a bit since I had the intention of writing about Christians, but- though the spirit is more benevolent- the criticisms still stand.
My problem is that Christians seem to deny their creed and their belief in a life-changing God by being so... well, Unchristian!
Ultimately, it is they (correction: we) who put me off the system known as Christianity. It's our hypocrisy- the gaping abyss between our beliefs and our practice; our selfishness- our complete inability to see others' needs; our religiosity- our little obsessions with silly rituals and rites which have nothing at all to do with Jesus of Nazareth; and our self-righteousness- our sick tendency to look down on others without seeing how filthy we ourselves are. There are many other traits too, but I would wind myself up into a frenzy...!
Now, I know what the response is to this: "We're saved by Grace...none of us are perfect...let he who is without fault...". Granted, we will not attain perfection in this life, but surely the Church is meant to be an outpost of heaven, a community of God's people, and surely we believe in a God that transforms lives into being more like Jesus, not more religious or self-righteous. I always liked the quote on the "Jesus Freak" album (DC Talk) about Christians confessing Christ with their lips and then denying Him with their lives. And I echo the sentiment that that is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
But I continue to seek Jesus...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
One step at a time...
I went to church on Sunday. I would have added a sarcastic "what a surprise" if it weren't for the fact that this is unusual nowadays. In truth, I turned up in order to collect a package a friend had left for me. The sermon was okay, but the interesting thing was that the assistant pastor decided to sit next to me. I am completely unable to lie, so when he asked me after the service how things were, I had to admit that things were quite crap. I can't hide my feelings either, so I would've been on a loser... The conversation was good and he was (externally at least) optimistic. We agreed in the end that we would meet up on Friday to read the Bible. We'll see how it goes...
I'm reading a book called "The Case Against Christ" at the moment, by John White. Unlike a few other Christian books, it's not overly patronising or pompous and presents a very intellectually rigourous argument in favour of Jesus' life and work. And more positively, it's making me want to read about Jesus in the Gospels about him.
Next post: why I don't like Christians!
I'm reading a book called "The Case Against Christ" at the moment, by John White. Unlike a few other Christian books, it's not overly patronising or pompous and presents a very intellectually rigourous argument in favour of Jesus' life and work. And more positively, it's making me want to read about Jesus in the Gospels about him.
Next post: why I don't like Christians!
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