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Right now, I’m engaged in a Bible study. Bryon likes his introspection about religion to be fairly intellectual, and I’m along for the ride. If the Bible study has done anything, it’s turned me into a more skeptical, less devout Christian. I don’t see this as a bad thing necessarily.

The Bible is always represented as the world of God inspired by God. Well, honestly, not so much. The books of the prophets read like the predictions of Nostradamus, and the prophets wrote these books according to what they wanted to say. The idea of a god who isn’t vindictive isn’t really introduced until much later in the Old Testament (Isaiah the third).

The first five books of the Bible are Jewish law, history, mythology, custom and society. Ecclesiastes is the book of doom–nothing matters but this life, so live well. And so on, and so on. Christianity isn’t in the Old Testament. I’m not sure why we feel this is an important book to read for Christianity, given that huge parts of it are directly opposite Christian philosophy

The New Testament? There’s a lot of “Jesus said” in the New Testament that contradicts the Old Testament, but there’s also a lot of writing by opinionated men. Paul shares his narrow-minded views with the rest of the world, and it turns out that his views have been used to promote slavery, sexism, and homophobia. Revelation is one big acid trip. Read it. Think about it. Discuss it. Don’t take anything as gospel, except maybe the first four books, because they are the gospel. I believe strongly that Jesus would want you to examine what he’s saying, because he is a consummate teacher.

My third problem is what isn’t in the Bible. Why am I reading excerpts from the Catholic version of the Bible for the study that are unavailable in my Bible? Who made that call? And why? And what does that say about what religious people want me to think?

So…the Bible seems to be a document that serves the purposes of man, written in large part by men to further their cultural and personal agendas. There’s room for loads of discussion here, but that’s what I’ve come to as I’ve been working through it.

One could venture opinions about how most of the “God as violent father” sections are ways to justify tragedy, especially if you believe that all things must have a cause in a pre-scientific society. For example, earthquake? God must be punishing you.

Does this mean the Bible is worthless? I don’t think so. I think it means the Bible should be read and questioned. I think that religion should be mulled over. I think that virtue can be both secular and nonsecular. I consider myself a Christian, although the divinity of Christ isn’t necessary for me to be one. I like the code. I respect other paths to spirituality deeply. Tolerance is my watch word.

Except when it’s not. Because I don’t understand fundamentalism in any religion. If I could think of a time when fundamentalism did something positive in regard to human rights and human dignity, I might have a different opinion, but I can’t find any examples. Usually, fundamentalism is a religious trench people dig when they want to fight the battle of us versus them.

Continue reading “Never Invite a Desert God to Dinner”

Tomorrow’s post today!

I’ve mentioned Realms of Fantasy’s All Women Issue for August, 2011, with submissions due November 15th, 2010.

AND some of us VP XIII women thought it might be an exercise in unity if the 14 women in the workshop all sent in a story.

Later, maybe, we can try to organize another mass submission for the whole workshop, men and women alike.

Thoughts, VP XIII?

Catherine

For the first writing session of the semester, here’s the log.

Time: 1 pm -2:30 pm
Verbage Useable: 35K
All Verbage in Project: 40K
New Scenes: 2
Revisited Scenes: 3
Cut Scenes: 1
Backweaving Plot Thread: Notes in scenes to ramp up David and Grant Conflict
Kill Your Darlings: Considering that godmother role could be usurped by Quartz?

Next Sessions
1. Revisit the Widow, Hild, Manuel thread.
2. Plump out and structure chapter 7.

Hope you all are well.

Catherine

Buckle up, because you’re writing from one until three. I’ll edit this with results accordingly.

Anyone else out there writing?

Catherine

Dear Economy:

Thank you for allowing me to work at an institution where people can come to retrain and get an affordable education during these difficult times. I feel like I’m making a difference.

That said, I understand that there will be a budget shortfall this year, and you will whack the crap out of our college’s budget.

If you could see your way clear to remembering that we need personnel and money to help out all these needy folks, I’d appreciate it. Because otherwise, you could be keeping me awake nights, and beating all of us Kirkwood people about the head and shoulders during the day.

Yours,
Dr. Catherine

Translation: Work was blindingly busy. From the moment I walked in until the moment I went to teach, I was talking to a student or a teacher. And I stayed late for a meeting. Just too much job.

So it seemed very natural that tonight’s writing was about hallucinations, rather than adolescent troll angst.

And yes, regardless of cost, I am leaving Kirkwood to write from 12-3 tomorrow, as I teach tomorrow night.

Head still spinning,
Catherine

Naught to do with writing, but if you want to see some beautiful pictures of Disney characters and holidays, with some Stumps mixed in, follow this link.

Just finished Wee Free Men as Bryon and I continue reading through all the Disc World books. When Tiffany asks how to find the Witch School, Miss Tick says first Tiffany must open her eyes and then open her eyes again.

Well, that’s producing art too, init?

Catherine

So far, most of this stuff has come in very useful as I write pieces where I get to know my two frost elves.

See some more Norwegian folk dancing.

Oliver Toddle is story of the week over at The Science of Fiction. Go say hello to Andrew. Here’s his flattering capsule review.

Story of the Week: A Gnome Affair

There are many variations of the Grimm’s fairy tale The Elves and the Shoemaker. Most notably to my mind is Charles de Lint’s Pixel Pixies published in a collection by Tor years ago. I love these updates. “Video game store has a real dragon in the basement,” is not only fun to read but is a perfect vehicle for asking questions about what we do with our myths in a world of bytes and bits.

For the story of the week I offer another such story. The Love Song of Oliver Toddle is sweet and erudite where the poetry described in the narrative grows in complexity and relevance as the relationship between protagonists grows in complexity. It is also a discussion between the modern and the ancient and how the two, made one, are better. It was published in The Absent Willow Review, a zine that I have been reading non-stop for a couple of days now. It is really accessible and fiction-forward so go there and enjoy!

I was feeling kinda down yesterday, so this is a nice way to thaw out and feel warmer.

Catherine

The Man made it home.

The blacktop was every bit as I intimated, but the Elantra managed to get behind a might drift busting machine and break through. Thank you, farmers everywhere, for your utility vehicles.

That said, he’s pretty done in and demoralized. As in, “I’m tempted to tell them to screw it tomorrow.” Well, I want to get into work at some point, but it doesn’t have to be morning.

January in Iowa. Tomorrow we scoop again. Right now the wind taunts us, but we will not be drawn into battle until it makes a difference.

Catherine