2 posts tagged “religion”

Sean relates an experience...

Pope Benedict XVI

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Yes, its true I was raised a good Catholic boy. I attended Catholic school from 1st through 8th grades. Both my parents attended Catholic school as well as did my sisters. Unfortunately, I always felt an outsider to that denomination of Christianity. Maybe it was the teasing a received while there, the feeling of not always meeting the moral expectations of the faith's beliefs laid out by the teachers and nuns, or the uncomfortableness with the faith's teachings. Or maybe it was my inner gay man rejecting teachings that excluded anyone who was not Catholic and/or not following the Catholic teachings as not being worthy of Heaven or afterlife.

I learned how to dig into my spiritual nature because of my experiences with Catholicism however and learned that you can talk directly to God without a priest listening at confession. Nowadays, I think of myself as a reformed agnostic Catholic of no particular denomination. I enjoy attending Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) services now where denomination isn't important, personal communication with God and good works is. I haven't been in a while but I truly miss my former church in Fairfax under Pastor Kharma. I need to find the one here that has a better time and invest in it more.

Pope in the Pope Mobile

Of course all this rambling brings me to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to DC. My whole office watched him drive by in his pope mobile from above Pennsylvania Ave yesterday (April 16, 2008). It was exciting I must admit to see a figure in a position that has been around for centuries and has had a huge role - positive and negative - in world events. I mean I ws so excited that I sent "I've been Poped!" text messages to friends and family to let them know of the event! But I also have to be a bit reserved to the fact that this pope is not the forgiver that Pope John Paul II was and he is not a friend to gays and lesbians around the world. I say this because that is where I lay my hat and until religion recognizes that living life according to the Golden Rule of "loving thy neighbor as yourself" is the most important in any faith regardless of sect or denomination then I will always be cynical or organized faith.

In addition, I was struck by President George W. Bush saying the following during the Pope's visit to the White House:

"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed."

Strange how a man can say this yet advocate the death penalty (which I actually support with some restrictions), torture, unlawful imprisonment, and corporate welfare as well as wage war (and I do support the Afghan conflict reasonings btw) at the same time without admitting he to has sinned.  But I guess "our" President sees it as a crusade or vegeance or something. Hypocracy is just one of many reasons January 20, 2009 needs to get here soon.

Anyone else have thoughts about Catholicism, the pope, or religion in general? I love taboo topics for the dinner table!

Stefan and Sean say...

Below is the letter we sent to Stefan's niece Sarah (4 1/2 yrs old ) and Sean's nephew Zachary (1 yr old). 

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Menora

Dear Sarah & Zachary –

Happy Hanukkah!

For 8 nights, the Jewish faith celebrates the festival of Hanukkah.  Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BCE after the Temple had been profaned by the Hellenistic Emperor Antiochus IV.  At the time of the rededication, there was just one day's worth of pure oil left that was needed to keep the Temple menorah burning. But tradition says a great miracle happened: It lasted for eight days!

Each year, Jews light candles in their hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs) to symbolize the miracle. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is placed in the menorah.  On each successive night, another candle is added.  By the last night of Hanukkah, eight candles are glowing brightly in celebration of this beautiful festival.

As you light each candle, say the following prayer the first night:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.

And on each of the remaining 7 nights recite this prayer as you light each candle:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

Jelly Donuts

potato latkas

Hanukkah, like Christmas, celebrates not just the lighting of a candle. In a box we each sent you both are your Hanukkah gifts for each night.  Each is numbered to make it easier to choose what to open! 

Enjoy your heritage and learn from it Sarah & Zachary.  It will always teach you something about yourself.

Love -  

Uncle Sean and Uncle Stefan