Dave and I don't celebrate Easter in a Christian sense, though it's hard not to feel a sense of rebirth, reawakening, at this time of year. If Easter is an outgrowth of earlier Pagan rituals, as is commonly said, I suppose we do celebrate it. We're certainly paying attention to all the signs of life around us.
I grew up in the Presbyterian church and sometimes I feel a sense of guilt that I left it behind. I don't miss the sermons and the religiosity -- I always struggled with questions of faith and belief. But I do think attending church and regularly hearing messages that focused on goodness, kindness, and forgiveness was a net positive for me as a child. In retrospect, I appreciate the sense of community that the church gave my family.
I often worry that as people of my generation matured, and many of us abandoned moderate Christianity, we left it to be defined by the right-wingers -- the loud voices we all hear today. Perhaps we moderates and liberals did a huge disservice to society by not supporting more mainstream churches that were more about love and less about hellfire and brimstone. Or maybe the church would have turned rightward anyway in response to external pressures. Maybe I'm overestimating my own importance in the scheme of things.
I do wish I'd developed a greater sense of awareness about the positive social aspects of church when I was younger. I wish someone had said, "It's OK that you don't believe in the virgin birth and Jesus as the son of God. The church is still valuable because it helps people connect and focus on a positive, hopeful message, and it helps us care for the vulnerable, and it creates healthier communities." (Assuming all of that is true!)
Anyway, I'm not planning on going to church anytime soon, though I might have persevered if I'd had children of my own. These are just the idle thoughts rolling around in my head on Easter Monday, which is a holiday here in the UK.
We moved our clocks ahead yesterday morning, so now we're on British Summer Time, the equivalent of Daylight Saving Time in the USA. I didn't even realize it when I woke yesterday morning -- I think I only tumbled while I was blogging and looked at the time on my computer.
I took Olga out for a walk, as you can see, and she met up with her old pal the mustachioed cat on the housing estate. She wanted that cat in the worst way. The cat was only mildly apprehensive. You can see it basically saying, "Go ahead. Make my day."
Then Dave and I met his co-worker Carolyn and her two daughters at a restaurant in Marylebone. We had a good Easter meal (crab salad and chicken for me, Beef Wellington for Dave), and then while they took the tube home, I walked. It's about four miles from Marylebone back to West Hampstead, at least via the route I took, and it felt good to get some exercise and some air.
I walked through Regent's Park, where I found the ladybug (or ladybird, if you're British) in the top photo, sitting on some bright green euphorbia blossoms. I also found this fun graffiti (above) on a bridge in Camden...
...and a handmade fiber-arts sign for the Belsize Library. I love that!
Back home again we took it easy in the evening. We didn't even eat dinner. We watched the second half of a Netflix movie we'd started the night before, "The Accountant" with Ben Affleck. It was OK. I give it a C+.
Then we watched "Northern Exposure." Several weeks ago I bought the first season on Amazon -- it's not free to stream here in the UK -- and we only have one more episode to go. I wasn't a huge fan of that show when it first came out, even though my friends loved it -- and I gotta say, I'm still not. I thought my impression might have changed with the passage of time, but even now I think the acting is wooden and some of the scenarios are just bizarre. Doesn't anyone think it's weird (and creepy) that an 18-year-old girl would marry a forty- or fiftysomething man? Or that another fiftysomething guy would try to adopt a twentysomething guy as his son? It doesn't give me the warm & fuzzy feels that it seems to give a lot of other people. I know the quirkiness is supposed to be part of its charm, but I find it painful.
I don’t know why I never watched “Northern Exposure.”
ReplyDeleteI love that library sign. That graffiti has wonderful energy.
I used to miss the community created by a church and tried a few, but even very liberal, modern, enlightened churches expressed teachings and beliefs that got on my nerves.
There is something very protective about belonging to a religious community or any community, if you ignore the disadvantages that are not few for people who are individualistic in their nature. I have often envied religious people who feel protected and are sure that someone will already find the right answer for them.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are as always so beautiful.
I enjoyed reading the post. I went to a Catholic convent school and am quite religious but keep it to myself as it is not always understood by others who have a rigid understanding and view of religion which does not fit all but they think it does.
ReplyDeleteIf you learnt how to crochet, I am sure you would be capable of producing a similar knitted sign for your school library. Ask The New Boss if she will pay for the wool.
ReplyDeleteWhile never a fan, I appreciate Christopher Hitchens who when asked about organized religion replied "Just to stay within the letter 'B', I have actually had that experience in Belfast, Beirut, Bombay, Belgrade, Bethlehem and Baghdad. In each case ... I would feel immediately threatened if I thought that the group of men approaching me in the dusk were coming from a religious observance."
ReplyDeleteI wish I could go to church as I still believe in something, but essentially I am anti-social. Yael says it. I think "faith" is what it says on the tin, you still believe even though there is no proof.
ReplyDeleteI celebrate Spring and Renewal not so much Easter. we celebrated by doing yardwork and then having a lovely meal outside on the back deck.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great sign for the library; cool and unusual
Interesting thoughts on church and why to attend. All the advantages you describe are what I get from women's organizations and my groups at various libraries. The common denominator seems to be making.
ReplyDeleteYou can get that feeling of belonging and socializing from any group you might join. It really depends on the others involved and the connection you might make.
ReplyDeleteI, too, was a Presbyterian (by birth) growing up. An extremely white bread religion. I just couldn't go any more when I started really thinking about the Apostle's Creed that we had to recite (drone) every Sunday and even the hymns bothered me with their treacly verses that annoyed me. I'm the sort of person who has an almost overpowering urge to stand up and start yelling about things that are so patently untrue and weird. The thing is- I bet that a great many members of more nuanced religions don't believe the things they hear and say on Sunday mornings and I have no idea why this doesn't bother them the way it bothers me.
ReplyDeleteChurch is not for me.
Our takes on Northern Exposure are so different! I think the acting is wonderful and the writing better. For some reason, Holling and Shelley's relationship doesn't bother me at all. I mean- she's eighteen (at least) and so obviously loves the man. On the show, of course. Maurice Minnifield is a bit creepy but that's his character and he does it well.
Thankfully, we do not all have to agree on everything.
The way that cat is looking at Olga is the same way my cats look at Jessie's dog, Sophie. Like, "Really? Really? Calm down, you silly dog. No, I will not participate in your canine games."
I was raised Episcopalian. we went to church every Sunday until I was about 14 when some family drama happened and my mother stopped going leaving it to my agnostic father to take us. that lasted one time, second time us kids talked him into taking us to breakfast at the diner instead and that was the end of our church going. but I disagree that the lack of attendance and belief these days has allowed the extremists to define the religion. historically, christianity has always been extreme and very controlling. the small congregations that focus on love, acceptance, and charity are the fluke. if churches had been doing their job governmental aid would not be necessary. the lapse of belief has instead allowed for more acceptance of 'others', less discrimination, and equal rights.
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of Olga eyeing the cat and the cat eyeing Olga.
ReplyDeleteI said no to religion at a very young age but, I agree the togetherness for positive purposes is a good thing. We could use a more of that.
That is a nice shot of the Euphorbia and Ladybird.
ReplyDeleteHa, you have it spot on with the cat and Olga!!
That was a good walk, finding paint and fibre art.
I have the exact same thoughts about religion that you do. I was raised as an Episcopalian, and I do miss the community that the church brought. I haven't been to church in years.
ReplyDeleteA few days ago I listened to NPR, "Hidden Brain" . "Escaping the Matrix" - you can google the podcast and I think you will enjoy it ! There are some astute statistics and observations re: religion, the right, and the solid community that "church" offers . Also what online social BS and smart phones are doing to unravel the children of these times. It is predictable and shocking.
ReplyDeleteThe high jacking of Christianity by the right has taken advantage of the old adage to not criticize Christianity or faith or religion , it was off limits in polite conversation. The right ( so wrong) have an agenda, to become a theocracy, striking all of the knee jerk emotional attachment to "faith". There is not critical thought involved. I its not "polite"...
I've definitely had my ups and downs, doubts and periods of disbelief, but I'm glad I've weathered it all and still go to church. I've found I need it. Ellen Abbott made some good points in her comment. I like to believe the far right is a vocal minority, but I might just be kidding myself! It's been my experience the Episcopal Church in the US is fairly liberal and falls into the "fluke" category Ellen mentioned. While I certainly don't think religion, organized or not, is for everyone, I believe some of those who like to dis Christians might be surprised about a few things if they weren't so quick to judge. I've finally trained one of my atheist children to quit making assumptions and stop painting everyone with the same brush.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which photo I prefer.... Olga and the cat or the ladybug!
My thoughts on religion - Organized religion is a sham created many times throughout human history in order to gain control of the populace and perpetuate power for a handful. Historically, organized religion has caused far more harm than good.
ReplyDeleteReligion vs. atheism is one of those topics I avoid because I don't think one can ever "win" a discussion on it. It is nearly impossible to prove religion and it is impossible to prove the absence of it. I find comfort in faith and being around others with shared values but I am friends with many who are atheists. We simply avoid religion as a topic of discussion. If asked, I usually respond with, "If Heaven is real, I have everything to win and you (atheist) have everything to lose. If I am wrong, we both have lost nothing."
ReplyDeleteLike others above, I think the religious right extremists are a minority but because of the political hot potatoes that are front and center right now, they wield more power than they would otherwise. Perhaps someday something like climate change will become the topic that is front and center and the religious extremists will fade into the back again.
I of course LOVE that fiber sign. And I remember liking Northern Exposure, but I don't know why or if I would now.
ReplyDeleteYou know I do go to church pretty regularly (UCC, which is open and affirming). And as you also know, I don't always believe all the things. But I think you're right about it making ME a better person, so I persevere.
I agree with you about renewal, Easter and religion. I was reared Episcopalian which was and is a relatively liberal denomination. I still can't wrap my mind around the Bible and its stories though, so I would make a bad churchgoer. I wish the churches would get back to the positive and caring messages and away from the hellfire, judgement and right wing politics. That cat has its paws and claws tucked away. Not scared a bit of Olga.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up Presbyterian and left the church (and religion) as a young man. When we lived in Mexico we occasionally attended a Unitarian Universalist gathering (the UU's, as they were known) and that was interesting without the dogma.
ReplyDeleteI love that picture of Olga and the cat. It just shows you who's the boss!
We watched Northern Exposure in its first time around and loved it. As of your comment about the 40-50'ish guy with the 18 year old wife, does anyone think it's weird that a 77 year old former President has a 53 year old wife? That's 24 years difference.
I think you may well be correct with your interesting point about moderate people leaving churches. There were or are many good social aspects to churches but they could also be very socially judgemental against anyone who was 'different' and I don't just mean gay people. Aside from the Catholic Church, other mainstream religions in Australia are generally welcoming to all nowadays, but it seems that came too late for most people.
ReplyDeleteLadybird in Australia too.
My partner watched Northern Exposure but I wasn't keen on it at all.
Nice street art. I like the idea of having a religious home but have given up on finding a good match. That cat is telling Olga,"Bring it on." To funny. For Easter I cooked for family and friends and it was all very pleasant and festive. Everybody probably ate and drank a bit to much but it was all good fun.
ReplyDeleteSouthern Baptist here. I mentally left when I was 12 after being told that the reason we send missionaries to Africa is because all of the Pygmies who have not heard of or accepted Christ as their savior are going to hell. How is that even fair? So, that was it for me.
ReplyDeleteThat's a gorgeous euphorbia.
I enjoyed the quirkiness of Northern Exposure. I liked the idea that no matter how weird you were, there was a place where you fit.
ReplyDeleteI have some season of it, I found it funny still, but have wathced only a couple episodes. Tim can't stand it, so we tend to look for things we both would enjoy.
I like your comments on Easter and your view of present day religious practices.
ReplyDeleteMitchell: I don't remember our church ever expressing a viewpoint that I thought was bothersome. They avoided politics, generally.
ReplyDeleteYael: I envy them in a way, but it also seems awfully easy to simply have faith that some greater power has it all worked out.
Rachel: I do think non-religious people should do a better job of tolerating religious viewpoints, however much we may disagree with them.
YP: Old boss was a knitter. Maybe she left some behind?
Sabine: That is a great quote. I actually enjoy Christopher Hitchens for being such a provocateur. I will never forget him calling Mother Theresa a "withered Albanian gnome."
Tasker: Yeah, that's a pretty good description of faith and the aspect I struggle with. I am somewhat anti-social too, but I worry that we're ALL becoming less social and therefore less able to interact with each other.
Bob: That sounds like an ideal spring/Easter celebration. That's pretty much our approach, too.
Boud: Well, that's a good point. The social benefits of a church can also come through many other groups, though perhaps there are few groups people attend for as many years as they might attend a church.
Ellen D: Yes, that is true. But it's a phenomenon in our culture that people are withdrawing from clubs and groups, as more and more of us spend all our time online. (Guilty!)
Ms Moon: I try not to get too caught up in the details -- the treacly hymns, the recitations. A lot of that is just tradition, really. But then the flip side is, if it's meaningless tradition, why continue it? I am so surprised the Shelly/Holling relationship doesn't put you off. I find it very uncomfortable!
Ellen: Did you find your Episcopalian church extreme and controlling? I never got that feeling from Presbyterianism, though the church certainly reinforced society's expectations of mainstream behavior.
Sharon: We really could, and I'm not sure how we'll get it if not through church. There are social clubs and that kind of thing, but I don't think people attend them for as long or with the same degree of commitment.
GZ: One thing I love about London -- any walk is going to produce an encounter with art.
Michael: It's interesting that so many of us raised in "mainline" Protestant religions found it easy to walk away in adulthood.
Linda Sue: That sounds interesting; I'll look for it! Yes, there's no doubt that the extremists are using tolerance of religious difference to further their extremist causes (which are, ironically, not at all tolerant).
Kelly: I also think the far right is a vocal minority. It bothers me that they are so often the ones who are heard, and thus have come to represent Christianity in many people's minds.
Wilma: I think that's historically true -- it was and is a tool for control -- but I also think the less extreme varieties are less controlling. I think churches do a lot of good, too. (I always think of Jimmy Carter, who in my mind is a model for progressive Christianity.)
ReplyDeleteEd: I hope you're right about the extremists falling back in terms of visibility. I feel like they have come to represent Christianity in the public eye, which is a shame.
Bug: I think you and Kelly represent the kind of churchgoers I would be, if I were a churchgoer. I can see how it could benefit a person.
Margaret: My mom always used to say that all those Bible stories are allegorical or metaphorical and not meant to be literally believed. Of course, the fundamentalists would disagree!
Catalyst: I went to UU churches a couple of times in my life. As for Trump and his marriage, well, there's a LOT weird about that. I would argue that older adults are more suited to May/December romances, but when an 18-year-old is involved, it just seems predatory.
Andrew: Yeah, it's a shame that many churches have tried to evolve and embrace differences, but they're still losing members. (Many still struggle with having gay or even women priests, though, and that seems crazy to me.)
Susan: I sort of feel the same. I tried many churches and faiths and I never found one that felt like a good fit.
Allison: I'm impressed that you had the awareness to question that kind of message at a young age! I used to hear about Missionaries but I never gave any critical thought to what they were doing.
Debby: I can see how the quirkiness is appealing to some people, but I side with Tim! It definitely seems like a show that people either love or hate.
Red: Well, thanks!
It sounds like a wonderful Easter -- and who needs dinner after your luncheon out! That sounds fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI was raised Congregational which is about as loose as you can get in a lot of ways and it was a great church till the minister died and no one could replace him. Things because very divisive. It always made me sad because while I wasn't that big on the church stuff (I'm sort of a mix-and-match person when it comes to religion -- they all have something to offer), I do miss the idea of a church family and that fellowship. I remember how good it was for my parents when they were ill as well. But somehow it doesn't seem worth the effort. To me faith is a personal thing that doesn't have to be played out once a week in public. It's what you do every day. But I do love the holidays!