Growing up somewhat Catholic in a dysfunctional family, I married a non-religious man who also grew up Catholic. When I was pregnant with my first child, my mother died and, out of all 7 of my siblings, I was in charge of her funeral. It was then that I decided I wanted spirituality = religion in my life. Hubby reluctantly agreed. We lived in a southern state and our parish was huge - 6000 members. I, of course, became a Catechist and taught my son and his peers for years. I never met anyone who would talk to my son like you shared from Phyliss Tickle. My son, and I endured the “you are a sinner” looping mantra for years until we finally broke free. My son may never enter a church again, and for a while his spirit was broken. Then, mine, too. PEOPLE, please be like Phyliss - like I think you are since you’re already here!
I could not read this story about belief in the virgin birth without immediately seeing in it the danger as well as power of the young man's statement that "it has got to be true - whether it happened or not". Yes, myth may be a story that contains truth while not itself being literally true. But this approach can allow anything to be true if we are not careful. Our democracy is threatened by those who do not need facts to believe that an election was stolen. Human rights are threatened by those who do not need to know or understand an oppressed person's life and thus allow their oppression. I'm sorry, but this story - at least at this point in a world beset by a pandemic, climate crisis, White supremacy crisis, and democracy crisis - frightens me.
This reminds me of the method used by Native Americans in passing along ancient stories and myths.They began by saying that the story about to get told mag not have actually happened, but it’s it’s true. It’s an understanding of the limits of language. Beautiful.
I loved the story about Virgin Birth especially the Teen's statement of “I believe in the Virgin Birth. It is so beautiful that it has just got to be true—whether it happed or not.” HE had ears to hear and eyes to see.
Thank you for this, Diana. It reminds me of a discussion we had in Base Community last week. The young man reminds us that we don't have to debate the literal facts to understand the truth of a story.
I miss Phyliss although I have her with me daily since I use her Divine Hours. Our conversations extended over the years. I received one of my best compliments from her at a gathering of Episcopal Franciscans. I was leading a small group discussing where the Church is heading and I didn't see her slip up behind me. We were deeply engaged as a group and Phyliss interrupted: "You aren't going to let this Presbyterian lead you, are you?" she said. The startled brothers looked up as she said: "You better." and she walked away. The group howled in laughter.
If the virgin birth is a historical event, then Joseph is not Jesus' biological father, and therefore Jesus is not of the linage of David. There are over 20 other virgin birth savior deity stories in antiquity that even precede the Biblical account. Attis, Orpheus, Mithra, Dionysus, Tammuz, Adonis, Osiris, to name a few. Such a list can be easily searched.
Oh, yes! What is true and beautiful - think on these things!
Growing up somewhat Catholic in a dysfunctional family, I married a non-religious man who also grew up Catholic. When I was pregnant with my first child, my mother died and, out of all 7 of my siblings, I was in charge of her funeral. It was then that I decided I wanted spirituality = religion in my life. Hubby reluctantly agreed. We lived in a southern state and our parish was huge - 6000 members. I, of course, became a Catechist and taught my son and his peers for years. I never met anyone who would talk to my son like you shared from Phyliss Tickle. My son, and I endured the “you are a sinner” looping mantra for years until we finally broke free. My son may never enter a church again, and for a while his spirit was broken. Then, mine, too. PEOPLE, please be like Phyliss - like I think you are since you’re already here!
I could not read this story about belief in the virgin birth without immediately seeing in it the danger as well as power of the young man's statement that "it has got to be true - whether it happened or not". Yes, myth may be a story that contains truth while not itself being literally true. But this approach can allow anything to be true if we are not careful. Our democracy is threatened by those who do not need facts to believe that an election was stolen. Human rights are threatened by those who do not need to know or understand an oppressed person's life and thus allow their oppression. I'm sorry, but this story - at least at this point in a world beset by a pandemic, climate crisis, White supremacy crisis, and democracy crisis - frightens me.
This reminds me of the method used by Native Americans in passing along ancient stories and myths.They began by saying that the story about to get told mag not have actually happened, but it’s it’s true. It’s an understanding of the limits of language. Beautiful.
I loved the story about Virgin Birth especially the Teen's statement of “I believe in the Virgin Birth. It is so beautiful that it has just got to be true—whether it happed or not.” HE had ears to hear and eyes to see.
Thank you for this, Diana. It reminds me of a discussion we had in Base Community last week. The young man reminds us that we don't have to debate the literal facts to understand the truth of a story.
I miss Phyliss although I have her with me daily since I use her Divine Hours. Our conversations extended over the years. I received one of my best compliments from her at a gathering of Episcopal Franciscans. I was leading a small group discussing where the Church is heading and I didn't see her slip up behind me. We were deeply engaged as a group and Phyliss interrupted: "You aren't going to let this Presbyterian lead you, are you?" she said. The startled brothers looked up as she said: "You better." and she walked away. The group howled in laughter.
Yes! I'm with him!
Love this!!
If the virgin birth is a historical event, then Joseph is not Jesus' biological father, and therefore Jesus is not of the linage of David. There are over 20 other virgin birth savior deity stories in antiquity that even precede the Biblical account. Attis, Orpheus, Mithra, Dionysus, Tammuz, Adonis, Osiris, to name a few. Such a list can be easily searched.