Upon reading Lamb
Feb. 23rd, 2006 08:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nnyI think everyone assumes that God is the same nationality as them.
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ms_ntropy and I were talking, once, and she mentioned that Americans do religion so fervently because they had to do what the English do bigger, better and louder. And that just reminds me of Good Omens:
"No, when it came to avoiding going to church, the church he stolidly avoided going to was St Cecil and All Angels, no nonsense C of E, and he wouldn't have dreamed of avoiding going to any other. All the others had the wrong smell - floor polish for the Low, somewhat suspicious incense for the High. Deep in the leather armchair of his soul, Mr Young knew that God got embarrassed at that sort of thing."
I picture an American God as fat, covered in sequins - an Elvis Impersonator Big Daddy. I imagine an English God, the Church of England God, as pleasantly befuddled and somewhat old-fashioned and not very excitable about anything, really. Neither of them are how I see God, but I'm not sure how that is.
Morality is sometimes argued to be subjective. And in some cases, sure. Maybe it is a product of how you're brought up, what you're taught. But Christopher Moore, who wrote Lamb, says this in the Afterword:
"While there are astounding similarities between the teachings of Jesus and those of Buddha (not to mention Lao-Tzu, Confucius, and the Hindu religion, all of which seem to have included some version of the Golden Rule), it's more likely that these stem from what I believe to be logical and moral conclusions that any person in search of what is right would come to..."
I think there are things that are just better than others. That there is something, outside of ourselves, that can be referred to as 'good'. And that's quite reassuring. (It's what I try to put across through Aziraphael inna bar a lot, too.)
I think... the most important part of what Jesus said - regardless of whether you think he was the Son Of God or not, which I don't, and which moreover I think is unimportant (but that's a whole other argument) - is to treat others as you want to be treated. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Okay, I'm not so big on the loving myself - maybe that's the part I need to be working on. But it's something so very basic and fundamental; regardless of how the world treats you, treat them as you want to be treated. Try to teach by example, and if they don't learn from it that's their problem, not yours. That's the part that matters, in my opinion.
Sorry for the ramble - I was advised to sort out my beliefs because my head is a mess; I need to know what I believe so that an area is organised. I don't have to find a group to identify with, but at least I should know enough that I would recognise people who thought the same as me if I found them.
Anyway, this is a start of sorting, which would explain the random nature and incoherence. I don't talk about what I believe very often, but I always find it interesting in others. I wanted to be a theologian; I wish I'd stuck to my guns and done the degree.
ms_ntropy and I were talking, once, and she mentioned that Americans do religion so fervently because they had to do what the English do bigger, better and louder. And that just reminds me of Good Omens:"No, when it came to avoiding going to church, the church he stolidly avoided going to was St Cecil and All Angels, no nonsense C of E, and he wouldn't have dreamed of avoiding going to any other. All the others had the wrong smell - floor polish for the Low, somewhat suspicious incense for the High. Deep in the leather armchair of his soul, Mr Young knew that God got embarrassed at that sort of thing."
I picture an American God as fat, covered in sequins - an Elvis Impersonator Big Daddy. I imagine an English God, the Church of England God, as pleasantly befuddled and somewhat old-fashioned and not very excitable about anything, really. Neither of them are how I see God, but I'm not sure how that is.
Morality is sometimes argued to be subjective. And in some cases, sure. Maybe it is a product of how you're brought up, what you're taught. But Christopher Moore, who wrote Lamb, says this in the Afterword:
"While there are astounding similarities between the teachings of Jesus and those of Buddha (not to mention Lao-Tzu, Confucius, and the Hindu religion, all of which seem to have included some version of the Golden Rule), it's more likely that these stem from what I believe to be logical and moral conclusions that any person in search of what is right would come to..."
I think there are things that are just better than others. That there is something, outside of ourselves, that can be referred to as 'good'. And that's quite reassuring. (It's what I try to put across through Aziraphael inna bar a lot, too.)
I think... the most important part of what Jesus said - regardless of whether you think he was the Son Of God or not, which I don't, and which moreover I think is unimportant (but that's a whole other argument) - is to treat others as you want to be treated. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Okay, I'm not so big on the loving myself - maybe that's the part I need to be working on. But it's something so very basic and fundamental; regardless of how the world treats you, treat them as you want to be treated. Try to teach by example, and if they don't learn from it that's their problem, not yours. That's the part that matters, in my opinion.
Sorry for the ramble - I was advised to sort out my beliefs because my head is a mess; I need to know what I believe so that an area is organised. I don't have to find a group to identify with, but at least I should know enough that I would recognise people who thought the same as me if I found them.
Anyway, this is a start of sorting, which would explain the random nature and incoherence. I don't talk about what I believe very often, but I always find it interesting in others. I wanted to be a theologian; I wish I'd stuck to my guns and done the degree.
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Date: 2006-02-23 01:22 pm (UTC)And btw - i love your image of American God. He would definitely have a giant belt buckle as well :D
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Date: 2006-02-23 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-23 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-24 12:54 am (UTC)And I hope you find what you are looking for, what you need. From this, it sounds like you are starting to see some results. And I am very glad.