When I was at the well dressing the other day I was
listening to the vicar spouting his Christian stuff, and it struck me that he
shouldn’t be saying those things in front of children. Christianity is a belief
system, and Christians are entitled to believe what they like. I’m also happy
to accept their choice to apply faith in the absence of proof. That’s freedom
and I believe in it.
The fact is, however, that nobody has any way of knowing how
Jesus really thought and what he really preached. The canonical Gospels were
hand picked from the many that were originally available, they were written
long after Jesus died, it’s almost certain that they contain much that is
subjective, nearly everything in them is a re-hash of earlier traditions, and
they’ve been through the filter of several translations.
So when I hear a vicar, or any other Christian, say to a
child ‘Jesus said...’ it gets my goat a bit. Presenting to children as
established fact a tradition based on spurious evidence strikes me as wrong. It
is at best patronising, and might reasonably be claimed to be a form of lying.
If only they would say ‘What we Christians choose to believe is...’
9 comments:
If you'd had things your way when i was a kid it would have saved me many years of confusion and worry and fear and the pain that had to come when i finally 'lost my religion'. Too bad things aren't more the JJ way.
Except for that Muslim idea you like about women dressing in a way that hides most of our bodies.
Well thank you, Andrea. That’s a very pleasing compliment. With regard to the ‘Muslim’ attitude to dress, I would have to say this.
In a JJ world there would be no rules. Women and men would be free to wear whatever they like. I would, however, ensure that young girls be comprehensively educated in the ways of the male mindset, and in particular the different biological imperatives to which it responds. I’ve been close to a lot of women in my life, and it’s become clear that they’re largely ignorant of the fact.
During my time at the charity I got to know a lot of both Muslim and Rasta women, and they assured me that the dress code is, at root, nothing to do with God’s will or male domination, but a recognition of a biological principle common in nature: that the female chooses when to provoke, and then allows the male to respond instinctively. It seems to me that modern western culture is ignoring this fundamental principle at its peril, and each sex is making the other the scapegoat for the consequences. That’s the brief version.
I’m slightly different of course. I’m driven by the same imperative, but handle it largely as an observer.
And I think you’re pretty ace, Andrea.
Vicars/Priests always assume that children need their head filled with guidance when children have the right idea by being curious not necessarily needing an answer but someone to pay attention to their questions first. You and I have a strong dislike of religious figures to spout and preach to intelligent beings. Children and adults!
Quite right, Wendy. We do. As a kid, I felt I needed answers, but they didn't necessarily have to be certainties, which I think is what you're saying. The teacher I most respected at school was the RE teacher, who effectively said: 'Some people believe this, some believe that. You look into it and make up your own minds.'
Thank you. Likewise. I do understand what you're saying about women's ways of dressing. And i know that there are biological reasons for why we women sometimes dress certain ways. I also know that there are psychological reasons and self esteem issues that cause some women to present themselves in certain ways, too. But i've never understood how objectifying one's self was a means to achieve self esteem or satisfaction... not lasting anyway.
Oh, and i never thought that you preferred a more conservative way of dressing because you are domineering toward women. If so i wouldn't have continued to visit your blog. Like i said, you're a good soul :) I think its safe to say that if there were more guys like you there would be less women who feel the need to be objects in order to be loves.
What a flatterer i've become!
loved*
Yo! Andrea, just don't put me on a pedestal, OK? I have many faults and heights make my head all swimmy. And I'm frightened of falling off. I had a falling dream throughout my childhood, and I think it stemmed from a reluctance to be born!
I don't put anyone on a pedestal!
Don't forget... i've gotten cranky with you before :P
Except maybe The Squish and all his adorableness. But not really... too much pressure for a baby/child/human.
Good priorities. The occasional cranky is is a damn fine thing.
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