A Day in the Aftermath...

of the Blog Against Theocracy. I have to be honest. I can't let go. I'm obsessed. I keep checking for updates, reading more, checking back to see if a blogger I particularly liked has posted any more.
But I need to! I need to take a minute to be peaceful instead of outraged. To be grateful instead of dismayed. To be hopeful instead of defeated.
Because I don't know about the rest of you, but for every link that led me to something wonderful; something poetic, eloquent, heartfelt, outraged, worried, insightful... There were references or links to bits of absolute, devastating horror.

I wanna be an ostrich again!! Waaaaahhhhhhhh!!!

But I can't. I can't just go back to burying my head in the sand with my hiney in the air (with a big round target pasted on it).
Still, my spirit won't thrive under the impact of this new and deeper understanding I have, unless I can find a balance. It will shrivel and wilt and I'll become angry and bitter and cynical.

Yes, my Athiest friends, I said and mean Spirit. Whether one considers it divine or merely a product of molecular energy, there is no doubt in my mind that each of us is a human vessel (for/of/with?) containing this spark. As is every other living entity. (yup, right down to bugs n bacteria).
For me it is the spark that connects us all; the Good the Bad and the Ugly. (Love old Spaghetti Westerns...sorry!). It's what connects us not only to one another, but to nature and the earth and ultimately the Universe.

So to me creating a balance means I need to outwardly stay aware, informed and active, while inwardly remaining positive, hopeful and grateful.

I had a few more frightening links I was going to post today, but instead I think I'll be hopeful and post this link to What I Learned About Christianity From The Druids.
(Via SA. Thanks!!)
The author opens with the following:
This article is the result of research that I have been conducting on the revival of Druidry in Western society. While Christianity has much to offer the world, it is often thought of as a force of suppression or, at best, of social control. I think that it is important for us, as we discuss emerging theology, to be open to criticism from other religions. Here, I present simply one religious expression’s view of Christianity and draw some lessons that we as Christians can learn. I hope this will generate some beneficial discussion for us.

Now I know some folks will choose to see this as a christian who is seeking to "know thine enemy", but just for today, I'm going to choose hope. I'm going to choose to believe that this is not "Spin", but rather a sincere attempt of one theologist to discern and perhaps amend flaws in the christian perspective in a positive way which would perhaps change our perspective of christianity.

The article concludes with the following:

This current research is suggesting that a voice, not simply from Christian others, but from religious others needs to also be heard in order to address the contemporary perception of Christianity. That perception, whether correct or not, is increasingly considered mainstream. This paper has raised the criticism by contemporary practitioners of Druidry. Understanding their perception of Christianity will aid in enriching the Christian life. If Christians hear the criticism, doors of dialogue can open and lead to deeper appreciation and respect. By listening and responding to the criticism, the Christian voice might gain credibility.

Hope is good.

I'm gonna take a walk outside now around this beautiful desert landscape in which I'm privileged to live. I'm gonna check out the budding green on my Empress tree. I'm gonna see if there's any asparagus ready to cut. I might even pull a few weeds. I think I'll take along one of my birds. Kisses, My Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, because he loves the wind in his feathers. He's an amazing being who delights in his world. I'm gonna take my cue from him, today.