tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61285332430427428032024-03-13T02:30:38.239-07:00The OutsiderThe Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-62433627248593102182014-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:002014-09-10T22:23:01.283-07:00Temple Square and Why I'm not a Mormon - Temple Square Area - Salt Lake City, Utah - September 7th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while since I've explored my reasons for not believing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and why I don't think I could ever rejoin. The last post I did that explored my story was this one here: http://thereligiousoutsider.blogspot.com/2011/05/mormonism-and-me-leaving-organized.html, and a lot of still stands though I didn't really go into the details behind the why and what I meant by behind certain things like the racism and sexism and the historicity issues. </div>
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With those post I don't mean to offend, but I'm not going to lie. This was my first time going and exploring Temple Square since I was a little kid and it was here that really captured a lot of the pros and cons of the Mormon Faith for me. Obviously the cons outweigh or else I'd be a member, so I'll tell about my experiences of revisiting the Mormon Mecca here. </div>
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My friend lives right next to Temple Square and after visiting the Greek Festival I decided coming here would be a good way to both see how the Church tells it's own story and through that illustrate my reasons for why I don't believe in it. Much like the articles posted around Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Temple Square is the Thesis Statement of the Mormon Church that explores how it sees itself. </div>
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The first place we reached was the home of Brigham Young, this is a guy who had some similar problems to Joseph Smith as he took a bunch of wives (some of whom already had husbands in Joseph Smith's case or were young (14 or younger) like Aisha and Muhammad) and believed it was his right because he was a Prophet to do so. He was pretty racist towards African and Native Americans too.</div>
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After Brigham Young's home we reached the area where the Church Office is and the Joseph Smith memorial building. The area was beautiful, but the the memorial building was closed on Sunday. </div>
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One very positive thing about this area is how green it is. There are lots of flowers and trees and it really is a beautiful area, there is another side to this too, which I'll get into further down. The area itself reminded me of a greener Vatican actually, in more than a few ways. Came here with my cousin when I first moved here and I do love how pristine and beautiful the location is. </div>
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The next place we visited was the North Temple Visitor Center. It was here it had the brief history of the 40 years it took to build the Temple and showed a small miniature house of it too. One of the reasons I couldn't be a Mormon is actually the existence of the Temple, much like how non-Muslims aren't allowed in Mecca, non-Mormons aren't allowed in the Temple and for me it is difficult a God would be that exclusive. More often than not exclusivity leads to isolation of perspective which makes it difficult to see where others may be coming from because if you have the exclusive truth than everyone else must be wrong...and when it comes to religion that claim is more often than not something based on faith which can't be proven with evidence by it's very nature. </div>
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After we found a video of some of the current President/Prophet's talks and one of the ones we listened was great until it got into theology. It basically covered everyday things that are important, like honesty and integrity. It was once the Bible and Book of Mormon were quoted that it felt like a non-sequitur argument. Also the Family Proclamation on the wall was a pretty big "Only Certain Families are Welcome" thing as it excludes Gay families and the sheer diversity of families from re-marriages and divorces, poly, and single parents raising children or existing as a couple. This is sad as there is so much beauty that can exist in these relationships and that it matters less the type of family it is and more the character of a family. A couple being a straight couple does not make them good, they could be abusive or have any other types of problems. Just because people can have kids, does not make them good parents. I hope someday this proclamation can be expanded to include all families and have more focus on character rather than family make-up as this proclamation is part of what fed the homophobia against LGBTQ folks in the U.S. and lead to the funding against Gay Marriage in California and elsewhere in the U.S.A. </div>
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The other issue I have is tied to not seeing any evidence on any person being able to have otherworldly powers or predict the future. Because of this I don't believe in the existence of prophets in any religion, though certainly open to the possibility. </div>
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Afterwords we visited The Assembly Hall which is a place for non-members to come and worship, I am glad this place exists as it is one of the more areas of simple beauty on Temple Square and it isn't big or large like most of the other buildings on the premise...and it is an area that welcomes all, which is good, even if it doesn't have the same significance of the Temple. The inside is simple with an organ, wooden seats with the most ornate thing being granite pillars inside the Hall. </div>
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Our next stop was the Church History Museum. First I'll go into the good, it showed the struggle of a lot of the immigrants who came across the plains and oceans to get to Utah for religious freedom. What it doesn't say though is how there were people already there. The natives are only mentioned as Lamanites the 13th Tribe of Israel (historically inaccurate, Native American's don't have any Jewish genes) and how Jesus came and preached to them. This is shown later on the floor on the top level where Joseph Smith is shown preaching to the natives. It has an imperialistic feel to it as the warrior natives look frightened as Smith and another preach, this was disturbing on a lot of levels because it showed the racism and justification of both Manifest Destiny (Zion is ours on this Land) and Imperialism (educating the sinful natives and saving them from the wrongs committed by their ancestors). The issue of polygamy (saying it's right and God wants it and after saying it's wrong and God doesn't want it), racism (Black's exclusion from the Priesthood for a long time) or the Mountain Meadows Massacre (Mormon Settlers targeting other Settlers and attempting to frame the Native Americans in the process) are never addressed either, it's a very idealized picture that does a disservice to the First People's of Utah and the complex history of the Church (the darker sides are never dealt with). The Vatican was very similar in regards to not showing the darker side of the Catholic Church's history which I wish more religions did...confessing the problems of your past up front does solve some issues as it shows integrity and with that a possible willingness to learn from the lessons from those mistakes. </div>
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I think one interpretation we may see and might currently exist among some believers of the Book of Mormon is it all being mythology and symbolic. Similar to the Old Testament and more fantastical events of the New Testament. If this catches on it could be a step in the right direction in relation to the Native Americans here and the actual history of this place. </div>
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The next place we went to were the Church grounds, which are beautiful and right near is a covered patio with chairs, a great area for reading. Right next to it would be part of what I see as the problem both in the Vatican and other Churches too. The homeless are kept out. </div>
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If you look across from Temple Square you see City Creek, where the church invested a lot of it's money. Just outside the gates is a homeless man. I heard from my friend the Church does provide a service where homeless can work for lodging and food, but I haven't seen it (though I know individual members who do care for the poor and other groups in need). Everywhere in the city I've seen the poor being cared for by religious organization are the Catholics (the area near Cathedral of the Madeline, Catholic Community Service in Old Greek Town and The Virgin of Guadalupe Church in the poor area of Salt Lake City). I haven't seen any of that, looking out the door I saw tons of money that was poured into City Creek. The Orthodox Church had businesses endorsing an event, but the Church didn't own any of the businesses. The Mormon Church owns City Creek, which is good publicity, but all one has to do is see how the poor are being kept out for image and how much money was poured into a mall, also in regards to the Trinity Orthodox Church visit, I saw no charities or food banks in regards to the poor in Utah, it was more more focused on self and not self in relation to the outside, which for me is a problem if religion is supposed to make one better. </div>
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I'm sure the Church provides services, but I haven't seen them in the areas that need it the most and Temple Square feels less welcome to all when a homeless man has to beg outside the gates...it kind of promotes the exclusivity problem. </div>
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If you've been reading the blog you know where I stand on equality of leadership in any organization (a person's sex should not bar them from leadership positions in any hierarchy) and the matter of Gay Rights. These are the biggest reasons beyond my agnosticism of the Supernatural and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and Bible for why I could not become a Mormon. I do have hope that these things will be dealt with as time passes, as in the case of Gay Rights especially there are consequences, there are many homeless gay youth on the streets because of how they have been rejected by their families because of their sexual orientation. There are people and families excluded for who they are. How does that make any sense in reference to a loving higher power? This is hardly just a problem in Mormonism, my biggest issues are pretty universal in most conservative religious communities, but this was my visit to the Temple Square area and visit the locations and my chance to explore it in regards to Mormonism first hand.</div>
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<u>Native American Genetic Ancestry</u>: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/02/12/earliest-american-genome-proves-siberian-origins-for-native-peoples/</div>
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<u>Joseph Smith</u>: http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/</div>
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<u>Brigham Young</u>: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57241071-78/church-lds-says-mormon.html.csp</div>
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<u>Mormon Church and Marriage Equality</u>: http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB122186063716658279</div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-12667286679597116612014-09-07T20:09:00.000-07:002014-09-08T08:54:26.878-07:00The Salt Lake City Greek Festival - Trinity Orthodox Church - Salt Lake City, UT - September 7th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since moving to Utah I have not attended any festivals until today, and it was worth it. I'm doing this for the religious blog both because of what my friend I discussed while here and the fact that it has been the Trinity Orthodox Cathedral Community that has been hosting these events for over 30 years. Suffice to say much like religion, the experience was mixed. </div>
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I arrived at the event earlier than my friend and grabbed food, while here I had the chance to observe what was going on during the event. There tons of dance troupes that were on a stage in the large tent that hosted most of the folks there and many of them were named after Greek Gods (Dionysus Dance troupe for example). This is where I saw for a lot of the Church community history and legends are just as important as the faith from the Middle East (Christianity) that most of Greece is now. </div>
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I also saw how many different vendors had taken hold which after hearing a conversation between two old men has been at least somewhat of a controversy between some members of the group. Which is understandable, community is created and the event brings in lots of money for the local Greek Families and the Church but it also brings a corporate sell out feel when you have Bud Light stands and commercials right next to a Church and are selling jewelry in items when that was what pissed Jesus off in the New Testament with the money changers in the Church. So I get both sides on this debate. </div>
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Next I ran into the monument that was made in honor of sixteen Greek migrants who had died in their helping build the railroad through Utah, which was part of what brought many of the first immigrants here to Salt Lake City. I'd see more of this history in the Church's Hellenistic Museum after going through Trinity Cathedral.</div>
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Trinity Orthodox Cathedral is a beautiful place, and there a lot of members there to answer questions, which I didn't really have since there were so many papers around that gave the perspective of the Church. For one I saw the "One True Church"^tm that pervades most religious communities as there was a flyer that showed how the One True Holy Apostolic Church has a straight line that doesn't branch through the Orthodox Church, but that things branched and kept on branching with the Roman Catholic Church into the reformation showing that they didn't have the right idea. I always find this a bit disturbing and intriguing since the events of the Bible are so sketchy historically that I don't see how the tradition can justify itself except through making and believing the claim, regardless of the questionable circumstances and events of the life Jesus and the early Church. I talked about this with my friend when she arrived at the event and we grabbed coffee in the cafe that had been created next to the Church and Church Museum. </div>
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It was here we discussed religious fanaticism, our agnosticism on the supernatural and are questioning of organized religion. This quote by Carlin pretty accurately discussed our problems of people in groups which (looking at news and the communities we interact with) show how religion tends to make this problem worse. </div>
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“The larger the group, the more toxic, the more of your beauty as an individual you have to surrender for the sake of group thought. And when you suspend your individual beauty you also give up a lot of your humanity. You will do things in the name of a group that you would never do on your own. Injuring, hurting, killing, drinking are all part of it, because you've lost your identity, because you now owe your allegiance to this thing that's bigger than you are and that controls you.”</h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22782.George_Carlin" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">George Carlin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/6908947" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Last Words</a></i><br />
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After the festival we went to Temple Square and the locations there (and the Mormon Church History Museum) which will be a post for another day...since that one has much more to cover than this one and goes into more detail on why I left the Mormon Church and would find it pretty impossible to rejoin. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-88834820439947124082014-08-31T18:34:00.000-07:002014-08-31T18:34:32.024-07:00The Importance of Character - City Church - Sandy, UT - August 31st, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My experience at City Church was mixed. There were things that were great about it (a bit of the sermon and the music) and things that weren't (tithing, tithing, tithing and argument from Authority). I'll get into it more later in the post.</div>
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City Church is pretty close to Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, which made the drive there pretty easy. Once there I found that the area was pretty spacious and that the main area where the sermons take place looked like a performance venue. </div>
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The service kicked off with an add, and the add wasn't too bad. They said they were a lot about Jesus, weren't perfect (all churches need this disclaimer) but that they're willing to grow (maybe true?). After this there were three Christian Rocks songs that were pretty good and after an announcement video by the pastor. Way too much talking about the Church and donating to it, that was the the entire middle portion before the Lead Pastor's sermon. At least some of that money is going to service work in Guatemala though and service work in the area, so that was a plus in a mostly bad introduction to it. The church is also moving locations so that was talked about too. </div>
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Finally the sermon. What I liked about it was the emphasis on character, that people notice if you are good at what you do since that was why Joseph got promoted by Potiphar, the Warden and the Pharaoh. He was good at working and noticed attention to detail. In the story the pastor said this was true until Joseph advocated for himself and pointed out the how unjust it was that he was in prison for a crime he didn't commit and that he was sold into slavery. The pastor said God punished him for depending on the Butler whose dream he interpreted to rescue him rather than counting on God. In the story this makes sense, since God is a horrible person in the Old Testament who only values loyalty, when in reality a person has to advocate for themselves to reach their goals. Life generally doesn't hand you rewards, opportunities pop up, but they can only really happen with action...which is what Joseph did with the Butler. </div>
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The idea about character being noticed, being positive, not lying, working hard...these things can be rewarded depending on circumstances so I'd say this was a pretty good universal lesson. The idea of God providing everything (a deity with personality taking action in the world) doesn't quite hold up. Which is why the story works well as a metaphor and lesson on patience and forgiveness (Joseph forgiving his brothers at the end) but when it comes to a God or Gods, the fact that it is unknown doesn't really give a basis for me to take action for it. Also the Old Testament God is not a being worthy of worship given the things that orders the Israelites to do for their enemies and it's lack of love for it's own creations.</div>
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The sermon ended with the pastor calling to take Jesus into one's heart. I really don't like when pastors do this. It's like a way of pressuring someone to believe something that there isn't concrete evidence for either way and effectively allowing the pastor power over the individual. Besides the money, and God should be followed because God (argument from authority and circular reasoning problem), it was mixed. The theme of character was a good and important lesson though. </div>
<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-12012091606464158452014-08-31T18:33:00.001-07:002014-08-31T18:33:49.170-07:00Christ and the Ego - St. Thomas More Catholic Parish - Salt Lake City, UT - August 31st, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was a day that captured a lot of the good that can happen in religion, and Christianity specifically. Both came from expected and unexpected sources. I started out the day with a visit to Saint More Catholic Church, it is one of the easiest for me to visit, since they have a lot of service times and are really close to my house. This was good since I'd be spending time with family later. </div>
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The church is beautiful, it is surrounded by trees and has an interesting design, it's like a pyramid almost and has a school right next to it. The building was packed and I was lucky to find a seat in the back. When I arrived the Hallelujahs began, confession and the readings...which were the same as Saturday based around carrying the cross for Jesus and giving ones own desires up. What I noticed this time though in the Matthew reading were the similarities to Eastern thought. </div>
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Depending on the interpretation, and I'll be taking that Eastern philosophy interpretation in this post. Jesus wanted the apostles to put their own desires aside and to be as he was. It was similar to the Buddha and the giving up of possessions. He also calls Peter Satan when Peter says he wants him to stay around. Whether Jesus saw the Crucifixion coming or not this line is good at establishing that his teachings were bigger than him as well as his actions. Which makes sense why his followers would see him as God later. How Satan was used here too was as the ego, don't remind me of the things that make me want to live for me...let me live for others, which you should do too. Here God is like Enlightenment, complete understanding and perfect action. </div>
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Of course this was taken literal, and though I don't agree with that interpretation if it brings you to good action in the world than do it. If you take inspiration from an undefined outside source, than I am happy for you...if it leads you to do good. Which it clearly has done for quite a few people throughout time and up to current day. </div>
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Late I would head to City Church in Sandy which would have a different theme that is universal while also emphasizing the second interpretation of Jesus as a deity. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-68300245481373944272014-08-30T17:27:00.005-07:002014-08-30T23:23:51.500-07:00Why I Don't Believe in Original Sin - Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church - Sandy, UT - August 30th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that the blog is back, time to explore some of the issues that the visits bring up. Issues usually being the theme of the Mass or service and analyzing the thesis statement of the sermon. Before I get into that though. Blessed Sacrament really is a beautiful church, I arrived early today for the church visit so explored the grounds again and found more Mary statues, one of which was in a garden. The day was beautiful as well and not too hot. </div>
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When I arrived at the Mass I found the parking lot pretty crowded. Inside the church it was as well. It was largely made up of older folks with one or two families present before the music began. The Mass also started ten minutes later because two of the ministers didn't show, which annoyed the priest who was doing the sermon understandably. </div>
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We all stood, there was a song about being the City of God, the "Peace be with you," "and with your spirit." Call and response...the readings which were based around Jesus asking his followers to deny themselves in order to be like him and to follow him. I'll get into this more in the analyzing of the sermon. </div>
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The sermon was based around why Jesus is needed. That humanity's sin at the beginning was infinite so needed an infinite sacrifice to atone. The priest followed it up on why there was the Sacrament of Atonement and the Sacraments in order so that we can be saved through God. </div>
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How can any finite action go on infinite? This seems to be the basis of original sin, and part of why I don't believe it. Is it right to punish a child because one of his parents was a murder? This is basically the actions we see take place in the Bible and the psychology behind the atonement. </div>
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The idea of the atonement that I also have is how it allows a get out of jail free card. You could be a psychopath or serial killer, but if you accept Jesus in the end, you are okay. The saving through grace and belief really doesn't involve much work if it is taken just at it's word. </div>
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I am at the point now, where humans overall and throughout history have done a lot of terrible things to each other. They have also done good too. I don't see how paradise or Hell is really just either way and that the legitimate problems of murder and rape aren't really dealt with... </div>
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The final thing is on the denying oneself for God. What is being denied? For many Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other communities...this means if you are Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Queer or otherwise, denying your love for your partner. This isn't healthy and is in no way good. It has real effects on people and is being done for reasons that can only be justified by claiming the supernatural (of which there is always the possibility of - The Supernatural - but no concrete evidence). This can also happen in regards to women in leadership roles as if she is a good leader and would be able to lead, is kept from it by men quoting scripture and asking her to deny her pride. How is this just or good? These are a few of my big issues with the denying self issue and how it is tied to sin. </div>
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Sin I guess is the final thing...again, I don't think humans are good or bad. We're very much a mixture...but sin assumes we were once perfect or that a perfect human has existed. I haven't seen that. Even the character of Jesus as he's written isn't perfect. He gets angry, he's violent and not to the killers and rapists...but to merchants. He also only ever calls a women by their name once. He certainly did a lot of good, and was most likely a mad sage who may or may not have been divine, if in fact the divine exists. For me, where I am inspired the most from Christianity isn't in the mythos of Original Sin, Virgin Birth, the Resurrection or even Jesus's miracles...for me the inspiration is in the actions that we can see as good, in the words that were good. Giving to the poor, turning the other cheek and the times the stories actually inspire the followers to do good. The Desmond Tutu's of the world like my friends who are in the priesthood in the Episcopal and Catholic Church, etc. and my friends and family who I see living that action. </div>
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I can't believe because of the issues surrounding the unproven Supernatural as well as some of the things that I don't think are ethical (treatment of Gays and women in some sects), but I do still find inspiration in some of the stories, especially when they are taken as stories and not reasons to persecute or as fact...and for the times when it does inspire equality and fighting for the persecuted and the poor. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-19086804292495240552014-08-09T17:34:00.003-07:002014-08-09T17:34:53.475-07:00Baby Blessing for Step-Niece - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Butler West 33rd Ward - August 3rd, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First, it has been a while since I've done the blog. I plan to change this, as there are many places I want to see in Utah before I go, and there are still the big moments that happen in the religious context, even if I myself am agnostic on matters of religion. I definitely plan on doing some more reconnecting with folks and churches I've visited...especially as my work schedule opens up making it easier. So, what is it that brings back the blog? My amazing step-sister having a baby! </div>
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There seems to be three things that bring people together in the large community context...a birth or a child, a marriage or a death. This time I'm happy to say it was a sweet baby who I feel lucky is a part of my life. </div>
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My time in the Church was actually pretty short, I left during communion since I'm not a Mormon and was pretty exhausted from waking up early and the party that was thrown to honor the baby that early afternoon, but I came for my step-sister and her amazing husband their baby. When I arrived a fairly political baby blessing was going on (you will spread the word of God and be an example to the world of the True Gospel), which reminded me of what I don't look forward to in my visits to the more conservative church communities and later was my Step-Brother-in-Law's blessing for his and my Step-Sister's baby.</div>
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The blessing was beautiful. It was a tying to the past to the future in the best way possible. Their baby girl was named for both their grandmothers. For the first name it was my step-sister's grandmother, and for my step-brother-in-law it was his grandmothers...and the blessing was focused and I'd say focused on the core good. It was about being a good person and example to family and inspiration to community. This was great to hear as it encapsulated a father's hope as well as recognizing the freedom of the child's choice and the village it would be a part of. </div>
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Whether the baby is biological or adopted, the importance of raising a child cannot be ignored, which is one reason recognizing all loving couples is so important. When a couple is accepted and loved they have even greater support for themselves and any children they might have or adopt regardless of sexual orientation or the amount of people in the relationship. This is the beauty that can come out of a community...religious or otherwise, helping raise and care for a child and why I think it is so important to recognize and appreciate all caring families. For the couple and whatever child there maybe. For today was proof of that. Divorce, Sexual Orientation, Race...these are are things that have no bearing on how good a person is and the fact is, all children, regardless of parents are the future. </div>
<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-18768050689955170612014-05-14T21:45:00.000-07:002014-05-14T22:05:26.518-07:00Evening Meditation - Salt Lake Buddhist Temple - Salt Lake City, Utah - May 14th, 2014<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a while since I've visited a non-Christian denomination for the blog. This visit was well overdue. I'm glad I did it too, and plan on visiting again. The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple hosts meditation classes every Wednesday with different teachers. The style isn't from the sect of Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) that hosts the meditation classes, but all the members of the class are members of the Temple or were new like me. <br />
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First, I should mention I've always related to Buddhism as a philosophy. The whole attachment leads to suffering is spot on, as well as living right action being the best way to live. The philosophy is great at growing discipline which is something I hope to continue to develop. <br />
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When I arrived we did introductions before beginning the silent meditation. Silent meditations are in my opinion one of the best and most difficult meditation types. Visualization can keep the mind active, but to clear the mind and have it remain clear more often than not, needs silence.<br />
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It is difficult. I try to meditate a little everyday, but usually don't last more than 10 minutes, this meditation lasted for 20 and during it I felt my mind beginning to think and analyze before I quieted again by counting my breath like the man hosting the meditation had advised. I also felt occasional itches and anytime I moved my arms to get comfortable felt being taken out of the silence again. The whole process was letting go. If I felt a certain way (the itching, thinking mind and analyzing my own thoughts when mind should be clear), letting it go. It was a quite relaxing process and afterwords I felt energized and relaxed.<br />
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After the meditation we discussed our experiences. From looking at self from the outside (visualizing is what one person said), falling asleep, or letting go. It was a great experience. Myself and a few others had opened our eyes once and from that we talked about how community or Songha in Buddhism helped set the intention to continue rather than leaving or doing something else (like what would be more likely to happen if doing it alone). The discussion also covered different ways people have tried to change or alter their state of mind. It was cool since a few of the folks their were psychiatrists. It was during this discussion to that I learned that this meditation has a different person host it every week and with it a different way meditation is tackled or practiced. We also discussed the similar mysticism bent that most faiths have a branch of before doing some whirling from Sufism.<br />
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Mysticism at its best is ethics in practice. Since "Do no harm" and looking in at ourselves in relation to others seems to be the basis of most mystic traditions. Rarely do you find mystics condemning outsiders to Hell. Hell if it ever is brought up is the Hell we experience in this life not some metaphysical eternal place of punishment. <br />
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I haven't whirled since high school when I visited the Seattle Dervishes with the Interfaith Voices of Youth group I was a part of (and when they visited our Interfaith Festival at Eastshore Unitarian Church). The experience was great and also a wonderful way to clear the mind and simply be. After we all talked again and I made friends with the man who had hosted, after the whirling we discussed the experience of it and what had brought us to the event. It was wonderful and an experience I look forward to repeating again and bringing into my life more fully. <br />
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Mother's Day...when I think of Mother's Day I think of a celebration of all Mother's regardless of their gender, sexuality, nationality, past or present. I experienced some of that here in the final talk, but the first talk left a bad taste since the legal expression of it has been witnessed in the world today in places like Uganda and Russia...<br />
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First, for new readers I am an ex-Mormon. This is largely due to my disagreements with doctrine and the past of the Holy Books and history of the faith and the fact that the Supernatural is unknown and cannot be tested so I cannot by the very nature of it believe in the supernatural (same reason I'm not part of any religion outside of Unitarian Universalism really). I'll go into more detail as I talk about the service. <br />
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The service began with a song from the old hymn, which was pretty and after the Bishop made the opening remarks and a woman did the opening prayer.<br />
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After was another song and finally the first talk.<br />
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The first talk started out okay (the man thanked all the women in his life and who he admired in the congregation), it could have easily continued on the theme of humanism and still remained just...instead it used Cicero to argue for the Nuclear family and put Cicero in agreement with conservative religion. The man than tied the talk into how other families are against God's plan (implying divorced, gay, lesbian and queer couples are bringing about the end and second coming). I hadn't heard that much implied hate since visiting the Muslim Association of Olympia, Mars Hill and Calvary Chapel...<br />
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What does attacking different families actually do? I agree that marriage is good for society, it is one reason I support Gay Marriage. Marriage promotes stability and acceptance and connects us all together. It recognizes the love a couple shares and with it the community who would be there anyway will help raise the child. Nothing is gained and only harm is given when LGBTQ families are attacked and their children taken from them. <br />
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The argument against these relationships hinges on arguments from authority. The weakest of the arguments since it says nothing for the content of the argument which is usually always circular in nature. It is right because it is right, basically.<br />
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After was another song and finally the last talk which was more more inclusive. The woman who spoke recognized all the women in her life and how important motherhood is. Except for her mentioning Satan destroying the Kingdom of God on Earth if people don't stay righteous at the beginning (Red Flag for me with any religion - see the ones I mentioned above), it was a good talk. It was personal stories of her life as a mother and growing up with an adopted mother. The message was nearly universal except for defining women purely by their sex which happened once during the talk.<br />
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Today was one reason I don't like visiting religions with a conservative bent...because it is never just kept in the group, it is brought out into law that seeks to criminalize or separate those who are different. Religions and groups that I connect to do not seek to tear apart families that differ in gender or sex, nor do they seek to destroy "Traditional families," (The 1950's Nuclear Family ideal). All are welcome, which is one thing I admire so much about secular humanism. It gives the freedom for each person to worship and live as they will without infringing on their freedom. The golden rule of "Do no harm," is lived in practice and all families are recognized. I hope this can happen worldwide for there is so far yet to go.<br />
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A religion has every right to live by its own rules as long as those rules do not infringe upon another's well being, love and happiness. For it is in that legalism that love and justice die replaced by a religious form of tyranny. The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-74827692489386339702014-05-11T14:06:00.000-07:002014-05-11T14:06:07.202-07:00Personal Jesus - Saint Thomas More Catholic Parish - Sandy, UT - May 10th, 2014 <br />
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What a great service there was today. First, it was a pretty full Saturday, many more people where there than one of the Holy Days. The age range was all over the place, though there were many older folks. The music was the thing that stood out the most, besides the sermon which I will get into later. The music was sung by three women and was one of the best traditional church music I have heard, especially when they sang the psalm, "The Lord is my Shepard," Which was also the theme of the Mass.<br />
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The readings leading up to the sermon were about Peter and how Jesus is the messiah and is there for those who seek him. Later was the reading about Jesus making allusions to being the Shepard and the Pharisees being thieves in the fold. <br />
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What was taken from the readings by the priest was that Jesus is there for those who need him. He didn't take the tact of seeing outsiders and unbelievers as thieves in the fold, which was how an Evangelical church called Blue Sky I went to years ago interpreted it. This fit in with the loving compassionate Jesus that honestly is the one I wish we would see more of in the world.<br />
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What I mean by this is what each person believes God or Jesus wants is different...just like the Bible. Each person interprets it in their own way because there isn't a physical entity that can be judged. We're going off the words of the past and the words of priests and pastors. From that though can come great inspiration for good and for evil.<br />
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My hope is that the inspiration for good that I have seen it (and what Jesus the man means to me) becomes prevalent and not the Dominionist Jesus who persecutes Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender folks and keeps women unequal. Like any idea or like any living person today, how we choose to use that inspiration is entirely in our hands.The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-6712998973887107452014-05-03T21:30:00.003-07:002014-05-03T21:30:55.047-07:00Capital Church - Salt Lake City, UT - May 3rd, 2014<br />
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It has been a while since I have visited an evangelical church...and this one definitely had a similar feel to Eastridge Church and Meadow Creek Chapel. I mean this in regards to the aesthetics, the church like the website is clean and polished and very corporate/concert feeling. This was made greater by the pastors books being sold at the entrance (generally a red flag for me - Hello Mars Hill) and a hip cafe that sold coffee to the congregants. </div>
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There were some great differences this time though, first it was easy to be invisible. Which I appreciated. It made it possible to leave early when I had to catch my bus, and to fully experience the great Christian rock concert music. Which a question I have for believers. </div>
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Is the modern Christian rock of today in Churches meant to be like the psalms of old? There is a romantic feel to the music though thankfully some sorrow thrown in to a good degree. I always saw the psalms as people wrestling with themselves and God as that glass in which they could see themselves and their hopes and fears through. If Christian Rock is meant to be this (even if I'm not a big fan of it because of my love of the more traditional sounding stuff), I can appreciate it more. </div>
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The second difference (since I wasn't around for the sermon so I don't know if they were conservative or liberal leaning) was that they were active. They had missions were they were doing more than building churches for believers...they were helping local areas improve housing and orphans have schooling. That was somethign great and actually living love in the world. Which I appreciated. Both Meadow Creek and Eastridge had way too much naval gazing and all events and money went just into that community...</div>
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The third difference was diversity. There was a great variety of race and age which I hadn't really seen in many evangelical churches which have largely been white. </div>
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It was an interesting experience, and definitely not what I was expecting. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-83670087347949051702014-05-03T19:32:00.002-07:002014-05-04T05:19:53.365-07:00Evening Vigil Mass - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church - May 3rd, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a smaller Catholic Church connected to a school. It is beautiful inside with the stations of the cross and life size colored statues of Jesus and Mary, as well as the Golden Eucharist holder and open Bible on both sides of the altar.<br />
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Before I arrived and read the magazine they had for vocations. Apparently Vestel Virgins are a still a thing, you just have to talk to your Bishop...it only applies to women though, which again with the obsession with female sexuality that religion seems to have (like the native religion Cuzco where the Priestesses were kept locked away for their virginity to remain pure). <br />
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The congregation is old and when I arrived contradictory. Everyone who came sat in their own pew and had distance between them. It was private, though before I'd heard two people conversing about life and in one case what sounded like fighting. Once the service started everything settled down, and an older woman announced the theme as being a journey as we would be journeying with the apostles.<br />
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The theme I got was different. First, before we get to the sermon. Besides the fact that sound carries (so the fighting was loud before the service as well as every conversation) the music wasn't my thing. <br />
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Now for the pros. The priest was one of the most humble of men. His favorite quote was him admitting that he doesn't have what the congregation has. That the priest may be a stand in for the Sacrament but based off the readings...Jesus is where two or more people in relationship are. This was the story, which the priest saw as a metaphor since the town the apostles were heading to there is no archeological evidence for of it even existing and Jesus appearing and speaking to them (them discussing the Bible amongst themselves lead to them returning to the "City of Peace" Jerusalem, after the conflict and lost place they were. I think this shows that to do good and to live with virtue there has to be those who you are being or virtuous to. He expressed how this was important to him and his ministry as a priest. It was a powerful sermon and definitely the best part. <br />
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I had to leave early to catch the next Church visit but I plan on visiting again...at the very least to talk to the priest who was definitely one of the most humble and smart men I've heard up on the podium. The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-83274324478456534872014-04-26T20:53:00.000-07:002014-04-27T13:38:49.014-07:00On Doubting Thomas - Evening Mass - Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church - Sandy, UT - April 26th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I would say that I generally have had a good experience at evening masses...this one was mixed. But before I get into why, I want to describe the Church. The Blessed Sacrament Church also has a school that is pretty large attached to it as well as a few statues and flowers growing around the premises. It is quite a lovely area. <br />
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Inside the Church is very similar. It actually reminds me of Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, but the actual Church feels bigger, though it may not be. It certianly has more information. When I arrived early I walked around...seeing the Tombstone Memorial the Unborn (also have seen one of these at Saint Joseph's in Salem) and has information on the memorial Mass for the Sanctification of John Paul II and John XXIII. It also had their brief biographies.<br />
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There were tons of posters, notices and free information for anyone who was visiting. As someone who had arrived to the Mass early it was perfect for me in exploring the Church. After it got closer I made my way into the main Chapel. <br />
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The chapel is beautiful. The tapestries were white and had Thomas touching the risen Jesus with the quote, "My Lord, My God." and the quote "Blessed are those who have not seen and believe." This was the focus of the sermon, which I enjoyed.<br />
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Now for why it was mixed, besides the Tombstone...the music and the fact the Church is connected to the radio. The songs were just Christian Rock songs on the radio in the worst artificial way...beautiful, but no soul and turning words into lyrics for no other reason then for there to be singing...the congregation was quite on all the responses because the singer dominated...there wasn't much of a congregation it felt like even though the Chapel was full.<br />
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This is one reason I'm grateful for the sermon...the sermon tied to the belief after the readings (all of which were New Testament Readings) on belief and being saved and finally tying it into Thomas's doubt. I might have covered this in a past post but I think Thomas is the minimum that someone like me could ask for. When Supernatural claims are made (someone raised from the dead) I need more than people who lost a friend...if not it is in all probability just inspiration.<br />
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That is one reason I find Jesus's quote hollow...St. Paul asked people to think but then assumed to trust authority and his word regardless...if that's the starting point, how can one start clearly doubting and seeking the truth? <br />
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The priest had a great quote about questioning with an agenda (and tying it to the media as wrong) and I agree with him...but can't the same be applied? Would you apply the same doubt to you and your own beliefs as you would apply to another religion? To another supernatural event?<br />
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For me as an agnostic this is huge. If there is something that I can know for certain about what I can find beyond my senses...you can bet I would like to know. It would change the way I perceive the world beyond the very real human relationships and ethics of this one. The thing is, I haven't had a way to test that...I've had experiences but nothing so certain as touching the holes in a risen corpse and the wound in his side. <br />
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For any religion, any supernatural thing...I would want that. To know the world as more than what I've known so far. Knowledge is power and with an ethical mind that power can change us for the better, and it is sure as hell a lot better than ignorance. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-23526277569113488972014-04-20T11:53:00.000-07:002014-04-20T11:55:51.011-07:00Easter Day - Community of Grace Presbyterian Church - Sandy, UT - April 20th, 2014 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What an amazing way to spend Easter day, and it wasn't even purposeful. I had meant to take a bus downtown to catch First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church in downtown Salt Lake City, but it turns out the busses aren't running today. I did manage to get back to my car before 11am though and looked up a service that would be occurring around that time from a Church I hadn't attended (or denomination I hadn't visited yet for Holy Week). <br />
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Community of Grace Presbyterian Church is a medium sized congregation who has a lot of energy. One of the first things I noticed when the service began was how common call and responses were...it was the most outward passion I've seen in a Christian community in a long time. </div>
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As for the look of the church, the theme today was purple. Which is ironic a bit since Purple was the royalty of Rome but Christianity came to adopt as the nobility for Jesus. As far as I know it has no historical basis in Judaism, it comes directly from the world that ended up adopting the religion from the small sect of Jews who founded Christianity. </div>
The sermon itself had aspects of the High Church (which is shown in the colors throughout the Church too...I've never seen High Church symbolism adopted by the newer Christian sects only those that came out of the Reformation). The big difference that separated it, since the hymns were traditional hymns that are in any Traditional service with some modern hymns thrown in for good measure was the call and response. After the confession of sins and was the forgiveness of sins spoken by the pastor in Jesus's name. The beginning was beautiful since through the music and confession there were moments of silence taken which allowed great time for reflection. It didn't feel rushed.<br />
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The sermon itself was "Rejoicing in the Graveyard" which was the story of Mary in John and how Jesus found her when she was mourning for him missing from the tomb. This was tied into the Christian theme of God finding us. He told the story of a baby his friend a fellow pastor had found who the mother had entrusted to the church since she was an addict. It was a powerful story but chance and the action or lack of action in regards to love...and our desire to be loved and safe.<br />
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Given that I have no idea of Jesus was/is literal God for me the power in the story was that by being present with ourselves where we are the good and right action will come to us. When we allow ourselves to not be consumed but aware...our mind will lead us to right action if we give it the chance.<br />
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The story of Easter reminds me of the power those who have died has on us too. I've heard stories of people seeing or hearing loved ones who have died. Whether it actually happened or not is beside the point, but many times it inspires the person to action. Just like it did with Mary and Apostles. Sadly, many times it takes someone dieing to realize how significant they were in our lives. I don't believe in any person or persons as God(s) but I do believe in the power we have to inspire one another and the power that sacrafice has in peoples' lives.<br />
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The service ended with collection, three prayers...one beautifully sung by the pastor, one silent prayer and one where people called out communities and people in their thoughts. Finally it ended with the Lord's prayer and all the congregation holding hands with a call to live Christlike. It was powerful, and I do think I'll visit here again. <br />
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Have a very Happy Easter. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-63065444911926252732014-04-18T20:28:00.002-07:002014-04-18T20:28:25.737-07:00Good Friday - Friday of Holy Week - Grace Lutheran Church and School - Sandy, UT - April 18th, 2014 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was the day I visited the Lutherans. Specifically Lutherans of the Missouri Synod which is the more conservative branch of the Lutheran Church in America...and it showed. The speakers and pastors were all men, though it did look like at least some women were in leadership positions though sadly not in leading the service type of ways.<br />
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The Church itself is connected to a school and the Chapel is beautiful. The colors today were black, rather than the White of Yesterday and the Red of Tuesday. The High Church or Churches connected to the High Church are good in regards to using the traditional colors to represent where and what should be felt during Holy Week. Black covered the empty cross, a smaller cross with a figurine of Jesus on it (which you generally don't see in Lutheran Churches), and the podium. <br />
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After I arrived the first hymn was sung...and they have an organ! This is one small detail I've loved about all the Lutheran churches I've attended. Organs are great at creating a good somber ambiance and are lovely when played. <br />
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It opened with variation on the Nicene Creed where the pastor said Christ did this, and congregation replied "To do this for us." With details relating to atonement and resurrection. After was the old Testament reading which was about Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah and later the Epistle from Hebrews about Jesus being the Sacrifice and High Priest of the Christian Church before the final New Testament reading of Jesus's crucifixion with the two thieves. <br />
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After was the sermon about evil, which to be frank didn't really answer any questions about evil. God is good and destroys evil was the basic jist of it and Christ who is God came to do that as well. The problem was it was only spoken in generalities of sin and the Devil, both themes have historically been used to oppress...if it had been targeted at oppression or even hypocrisy than it would have made more sense...but given that Sodom and Gomorrah was brought up...well, no such luck. The problem was never truly addressed and in the end all I got from it that I didn't know from Christianity before was that it doesn't help on dealing with actual problems in the world, bringing up evil and the Devil I mean. I've only seen them used to hurt innocents like those with mental illness (saying their possessed by demons) and LGBTQ folks and attacking the people we love. <br />
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The part that was beautiful was after when the seven words were spoken and candles that had been lit at the beginning of the service were snuffed out as different quotes of Jesus's last day were read from the New Testament. One candle was left lit for Easter and a drum was pounded after it was lead out by one of the men in charge of the service.<br />
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It was good for reflection and I was invited back here for Easter. Don't know if I will be coming back or not...I hope to visit more Christendom...and maybe find another community like the Unitarians or Episcopals to get involved with. Regardless, it was a good Friday. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-8682034291238793182014-04-17T19:39:00.001-07:002014-04-17T19:39:50.399-07:00Maundy Thursday - Thursday of Holy Week - Saint Thomas More Catholic Parish - Sandy, UT - April 17th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maundy Thursday, the day of Holy Week that celebrates Jesus's foot washing of his disciples and his famous, "Love one another as I have loved you." Essential Christianity and Christianity at its best. The first thing I noticed besides how there were half as many people as Ash Wednesday was the color change. The priests were wearing white and the tapestry was also white a lamb that had a halo around it. The congregation was also quite as the choir practiced. I had come early worrying about getting seating because of my last experience here. <br />
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The service itself was beautiful. It emphasized community and living love out to the world. This was symbolized in the hand washing which was done instead of foot washing...I'm guessing to save time, and feet are something that is pretty vulnerable and hard to share (touching a person's feet anyway) so I can understand why it wasn't done. I don't know how I'd feel having my feet washed by a stranger even if it did feel good and refreshing. <br />
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The hand washing still served the same purpose, it was a small symbolic and kind act to share with a stranger. I had my hands washed and dried off by another and I dried off another's hands too. It made me sad in hindsight that we aren't able to share this a lot of the time with the people we meet because I know I at least can be an island at times and enjoy my space...which makes it hard to reach out to another unless they are already a connection...a friend, partner or family member. <br />
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That is why I think there is power in the "As I have loved you, love one another." To give up the clothes on your back to a stranger, to give up your possessions to service to God and the poor. These are radical life changing things...things I hope to strive for...though I still hold on to practicalness. Money for living, community and self. When the fact is, all that is much bigger than me and what I am aware of. <br />
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One thing I noticed too was the dichotomy surrounding the Eucharist. After the reading about the last supper the priest emphasized we were to eat the bread and wine in memory of Jesus as he asked...there was nothing about him being the literal body and blood, not until we got the Eucharist. It was a realization that the practice of the Eucharist and seeing it as more than just a memory of a supper shared, probably came around later. Since during the supper Jesus emphasized how he was Teacher and Lord (which in the context felt like a Lord and his vassals not God). <br />
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It was a wonderful service, and I once more left before the Eucharist since I'm not a Catholic and I'm not about to eat at someone else's table out of respect unless I'm invited too. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-61300346985250422462014-04-15T19:13:00.004-07:002014-04-20T18:47:16.310-07:00Tuesday of Holy Week - Saint James Episcopal Church - Cottonwood Heights, UT - April 15th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a great return to Saint James Episcopal Church...the last time I was here was during Ash Wednesday for a noon service. This time I got to talk to the priest at the beginning of the service as well as another member of the congregation. <br />
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The church was draped with the colors of Holy week...Red. Red for the suffering and blood, the action of the Christian story. <br />
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The service began at the Baptismal font, where there was the confession of sin before Kyrie within the service and the readings. I love the High Church service, it seems designed to create as much reflectiveness as possible outside of a Buddhist meditation.<br />
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The readings dealt with the idea of the Trinity and the first reading was God becoming the Son of Man and later Paul's letter to the Corinthians where he says the priests and ritual and the non-believers and wisdom. It perfectly expresses my hangups surrounding the supernatural and faith. To those who belief what happened is apparent, but if not...than you aren't going to get it. This goes for any great claims for me that involve some sort of supernatural premise. <br />
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This was contrasted with the reading of Jesus knowing about his death and saying he will be bringing all people too him...which is a pretty universalist Jesus, which is a contrast of no one knowing the Father except through him...it really showed why there are so many interpretations of who Jesus was. <br />
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The sermon focused on Jesus and how he used the Bible to inspire his action. I liked how the priest related to us using it to live like Jesus did...to live as he did. This struck me as practical and how the good can be taken out of the Bible and how it can inspire right action (just as it can inspire bad), but how following the actions of Jesus's action...caring for the poor, calling out hypocrisy...these are things that do make a difference and how I am inspired by the story of Jesus Christ. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-61383218363404214562014-04-13T12:07:00.001-07:002014-04-13T12:07:52.195-07:00The Return Home - South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society - Salt Lake City, UT - April 13th, 2014<br />
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I have been away too long and one thing I realized is that in a way I never left. My values have always been aligned with Unitarian Universalism and I guess up to that point it I've really come to recognize that. This realization will be reflected throughout my visit today, which was where it first hit me that my values align and that it is from this Unitarian Universalist base that I explore other faiths. <br />
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Why is this the case? A good question considering I think that the community can be more active beyond environmentalism...that at least my visit here, I wanted to see more helping of the poor and hungry like I found with the Catholics and Episcopals (reason I plan to get involved with Episcopal communities besides being welcomed and finding it a good place for reflection and action). <br />
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The reason is values and I think it gets down to the base reason of why religions exist...they exist to wrestle with our mortality and reasons for being alive. This is seen in the seven principles which are:<br />
1) The inherent worth and dignity of every person.<br />
2) Justice, equality and compassion in human relations.<br />
3) Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation.<br />
4) A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.<br />
5) The use of the democratic process in decision making in the congregation.<br />
6) The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.<br />
7) Respect for the interdependent web of life we are a part of. <br />
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All of these things were reflected in the service. The pastor recognized Palm Sunday being celebrated elsewhere and honored those doing it, as well as incorporating the story into the theme of "Releasing from Life: Lessons from Near Death Experiences," which was the sermon and it was reflected in the music of <i>Crosby, Stills and Nash, Indigo Girls</i> and the hymns.<br />
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The service began with welcoming and recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every person in how all were welcome. An ex-Mormon lady who had greeted me at the front then shared her journey to the congregation. This I've found is almost universal in congregations and communities...stories of how the people arrived there and became a part of it.<br />
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After a person in the community was recognized for making possible the church being run by solar panels. What churches do that? That is one thing I love about the Unitarians and the action in regards to trying to live in relation to everything on the earth rather than just taking or taking it for granted. <br />
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Next was the story for all ages, and after the children going to class. Than was the sermon on how the Saints found peace in facing death and how near death experiences change people. It was a good service and reminded me of how also, all religions and a lot of people are really looking for solace in whatever is they are doing and living. It was a powerful sermon. </div>
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The sermon ended with introductions, which at this point was where I put words to the feelings and reality of where the base of my search has come from this blog. From the Unitarian Universalist ethics and desire and search for truth and community with others. </div>
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After I talked to some members of the congregation at went to the chapel where I honored those who are suffering. The chapel reminded me of my Mom's home where the symbols of people wrestling with their mortality...the symbols of religion covered the walls and were on altars with candles to illuminate silence. </div>
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For however long I am here in Utah, I look forward to making time to be active in the Unitarian Universalist, the Episcopal Community and continuing to visit other faiths and form connections as the journey continues. Today, was the metaphorical return home. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-11343142700256699092014-04-04T11:56:00.001-07:002014-04-04T11:56:24.580-07:00Conversation with Pastor Peter - Salt Lake City, UT - April 2nd, 2014 One of the greatest joys of this blog is making new connections with people and out of it new friendships. Wednesday morning was the chance when I got to build a friendship with Pastor Peter, the Reform Pastor at Mountain Springs Community Church. <br />
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Before I went to work on Wednesday we met for Breakfast at the cafe nearby. It was there we talked about the Reformed Tradition (which I learned comes from the same branch of Christianity as Presbyterianism and also the Church of Christ). As well as social justice and our connection and responsibility to one another. <br />
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We also discussed the diversity of beliefs within my generation and the approach to religion that I've noticed in my traveling (of younger people becoming agnostic, embracing liberal faith or becoming more conservative (Mars Hill and similar Evangelical Traditions). <br />
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In the discussion there was the similarity of how meditation and prayer have helped in regards to finding balance in the trials in life and the importance of a community being welcome. I told him how for me if my friends (LGBTQ and others) are not respected for who they are at a Church, I won't return that church...that my friends have to feel safe and welcome for me to build a relationship with a community.<br />
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Along with the important things like community, justice, responsibility and family there was the lightness of discussing comedy movies too. <br />
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It was a great discussion and I look forward to doing so again and other events in my time here in Utah. The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-7741002863116785702014-03-21T19:55:00.003-07:002014-03-21T19:58:53.307-07:00Erev Shabbat Evening Service - Congregation Kol Ami - Salt Lake City, UT - March 21st, 2014 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been away from the Jewish community too long. My visit to Congregation Kol Ami reminded me of so many of things I love about organized religion. The Congregation Kol Ami is a community born out of the combining of a Reform Jewish Community with a Reform Jewish community. The group that was there for Friday was smaller, but still a big small congregation and had quite a few visitors like me who were there. <br />
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Throughout the service there was familiarity and discussion of some of the ideas that the service covered, which I'll get into further down on this blog. There were two families present and when I arrived everyone was socializing. <br />
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The service began with prayer in both English and Hebrew. One thing that Judaism and a few other faiths have that I found beautiful is that prayer is song, rather than them being separate. Which, along those lines...what does song mean in the Christian context? Is it considered prayer? Or only if it is a psalm? Within Judaism, every prayer is a song...and it is the this celebration of something greater, the unknown, God, Virtue and the Good (which was mentioned in almost all the prayers that were read today), is something I find important and beautiful.<br />
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During the service the Rabbi lived the theme with making right with others and reminding us that the important thing was repentance and atonement to actual people we'd wronged or hurt. It took the sin beyond the abstract and was a call to action. It wasn't on God, it was on Us.<br />
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There then was a discussion in identity and how we lose sight of the literal symbols in the book (The Red Heffer, Golden Calf or Temple of Solomon) as examples rather than seeing the symbolism and looking at the point of the stories and how the Red Heffer is noticing our own value versus the Gold Calf our mistakes and how it is important not to to forget.<br />
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The service ended with us all introducing ourselves and check-ins on the congregation as whole who wasn't there in regards to how people were doing. It was lovely and I plan to visit again. This community, like the Sikhs and Episcopalians are ones I would like to be more a part of, even though I don't see myself converting to any faith.<br />
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For this visit, was long overdo and reminded me of one of my communities back home (Bet Alef Synagogue) that I've missed visiting and taking part in. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-27380601983094293742014-03-18T20:52:00.005-07:002014-03-18T20:52:59.160-07:00Second Tuesday of Lent Memorial Mass - Cathedral of the Madeleine - Salt Lake City, UT - March 18th, 2014<br />
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My turning up at the Cathedral of Madeleine was not planned. I'd originally only planned to explore around Temple Street, but soon found that the time I arrived at the Cathedral was right when Mass was supposed to start. Little did I know that I would be attending a memorial mass.<br />
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One thing I noticed on the way is that the Catholic Diocese headquarters in Utah are right next to the Cathedral, as well as the Samaritan society. Like the other Catholic Churches I visited they like the Episocopals are active helping and feeding the homeless in their areas and Salt Lake City. <br />
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The mass this time was quite and reflective. There was no music and everything was said or chanted. On one side of the isle were family members of the departed, and on the other side visitors. I realized it was a memorial mass when the prayers were being said before communion. One of the prayers expressed, "To honor this individual with this Mass." <br />
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Like any memorial, there was that quite sadness and passion...one had only to pay attention to see where people were in their thoughts. It was during this time that as a stranger, the most I could give was my silence and honoring the person in the mass.<br />
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After communion a few of the people stayed after to reflect in the silence. As I made my way out I thought of the person who had touched the lives present here today and their relationship to this place and congregation. <br />
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The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-68965329381420597012014-03-18T20:37:00.002-07:002014-03-18T20:38:07.306-07:00St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Salt Lake City, UT - March 18th, 2014<br />
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What an amazing adventure and experience my exploration of St. Paul's Episcopal Church was. I came here for the evening prayer that was going to be happening as a way to partially commemorate my job success, but it turns out the event was canceled since the man who hosts it is also a coach. This ended up being an awesome chance to explore the church and find my own ways of meditation and gratitude. <br />
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First, the church is beautiful. It is a huge building made up of the Chapel, sanctuary and also a preschool and a pantry that serves the hungry and homeless. My appreciation of the Episcopals has grown even more since coming to Utah. I have not attended a church that did not provide food and resources to the community that the city is in. There were also flyers that provided information to people who experienced abuse and how to get help. Sadly, abuse seems to be ignored by so many organized religions. Power is seen as justification in and of itself and authority is to to be obeyed not questioned...which leaves the door open for a person to use that power to abuse (and later cover it up or victim blaming) as we have seen happen in many religious communities, but especially the conservative ones that have been in the news. <br />
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My journey to the chapel started out with me running into a kind woman and her daughter who directed me to the chapel area where Evening Prayer and morning Mass are hosted. Here there is a candle lit for all those who have been abused. I lit one for the victims and survivors before talking briefly to a woman who might have been the priest and after read a prayer out loud in the prayer book before taking a moment of silence. <br />
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The silence, sometimes there is nothing more prefect and beautiful. It was there I was able to reflect and simply be while resting after the walk it had taken to get there. Afterwords I found a library, with a ton of books. Every church should have a library...scratch that, any community should have a library. The potential to learn so much is just a flip of a page away. <br />
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I was impressed with what I saw and plan on attending a service. It was nice being able to explore at my own leisure though, and to be welcome. I was a stranger and was treated kindly by every person I met here. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-73079473744524425382014-03-16T18:00:00.000-07:002014-03-16T18:00:07.822-07:00Second Sunday of Lent Evening Mass - Saint Vincent DePaul Parish and School - Salt Lake City, UT - March 16th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My visit to Saint Vincent DePaul Parish and School was the perfect evening. The Parish and School are off the highway and are three buildings. The School, Holy Room and Chapel/Church where the services take place. It was a clear day and quick drive to get there. <br />
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Outside the Holy Room is a statue of Vincent DePaul who was famous for the caring of orphans of children. It is because of this he's always seen holding a child. Next to the Holy Room is the Bell and Chapel. Outside the Chapel is a statue of Mary and a woman bowing to her.<br />
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Saint Vincent DePaul is one of the simpler Catholic Churches I've been too outside of the UW Catholic Newman Center and some of the Churches in Romania and Peru, which I liked. It had a simple zen to it that was beautiful. <br />
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The one thing that put me off from the experience was the prayer, which was mostly a call to bring people back to the fold. "Any sinners please consider rejoining the communion of Christ," and the prayers were very much targeted only at the Saint Vincent DePaul community, with the exception of a prayer to end wars. It was here that Ukraine, Venezuela, Syria and Sudan were in my thoughts and prayers. </div>
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As to why it was a perfect way to spend the day...it was a place that was peaceful and easy for reflection. When the Mass began there the readings, which were focused on the Transfiguration, in which Peter, James and John were present when Jesus was with Elijah and Moses and where God says, "This is my Son of whom I am well pleased." The priest spoke on this, and how Christians are pilgrims heading to that perfect place that the apostles experienced in that moment...that they are pilgrims being guided by God. He dealt briefly with the problem of evil (problems that happen aren't God's fault - free will), but that God can make possible growth in those times. He then described how the Eucharist is a part of that being both physical and spiritual food of God that can allow for a taste of that moment the apostles had with Jesus. </div>
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After the sermon was a moment of silence, where I thought about the power of story. Whether the resurrection happened or not, it is pretty cool how a story inspired so much. The music was perfect too, the main singer reminded me of my mentor Lupe when I was in choir at the Catholic Newman Center at UW. I must say, I have not been to a Catholic Church that didn't have great music here in Utah. </div>
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After the sermon ended one of the women greeted me and gave me a calender and bulletin, since I was curious. I think I'll probably be visiting here again. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-57203255737555885972014-03-15T22:32:00.001-07:002014-03-16T10:04:58.672-07:00Saturday of the First Week of Lent Service- The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark - Salt Lake City, UT - March 15th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My visit to the Cathedral Church of Saint Mark was for me a chance to see a lot of what I like about organized religion, mixed with the reason on why I don't see myself ever becoming a complete believer in a Deity, and why I consider myself Agnostic.<br />
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What I like about religion is social action and involvement with helping surrounding area and community, the quiet place for thought it can give as well as a place to think on ethics and in many cases provide good ethics as well as social justice in regards to helping the poor and equal rights and treatment of women and members of the LBGTQ community. <br />
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First to describe the location. The church is old, dating back to the late 1800's and has two buildings connected to it. The Episcopal Center of Utah, which is their headquarters and the Hildegarde's food pantry, which provides food to homeless in the area. <br />
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The pantry is somewhere I could see myself volunteering because of the direct action and help it gives in peoples lives. It also doesn't discriminate like some religious agencies and groups do in regards to who they help and serve. This living love and treating all with fairness and equality is what I look for in any group, especially one that ties so much of its identity into something greater than itself. <br />
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The main building has a gate and garden, as well as a bell at the very top. Inside the Cathedral is the main area with the altar and on the other side a beautiful organ, much like Cathedral of the Madeleine's, the Catholic Cathedral that is the street behind Saint Mark's. The area where we had the service was in a tiny chapel that was right next to the main altar. It was here that the Eucharist was kept and candles covered another altar. </div>
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Now for the service. At the service there were four people present, including the priest. The priest was a kind older man from Tennessee. The service began with the Confession of Sin and after Trisagion, which reads:</div>
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Holy God,</div>
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Holy and Mighty,</div>
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Holly Immortal One,</div>
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Have Mercy Upon us.</div>
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After were the readings, which were Genesis, when Abram is blessed by God and goes out, followed up by Paul's Letter to the Romans about how Spirit can only beget Spirit and Flesh can only beget flesh, and ending with Jesus's famous quote from that day's reading from John about "No one can come through the Father except through me," and that the "Son did not come to condemn, but to save." </div>
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The homily described faith as the main thing that Grace is something so beyond us that we can never understand it, but that it gives us more than we know. I understand the idea theologically of Grace but find that I can't fully believe in it or really anything like it...whatever comes from something that I cannot see or know I can only doubt. This is a major reason I don't think I could join most organized religions. I may think there is something greater simple due to probability for the complexity of life and possibilities of the universe. But I cannot know. There is no way for me to test, so I continue to explore and learn and grow. It is in these halls that the ethics of Christ's life are an inspiration to me and the social action in the community of truly living with love towards all. </div>
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It was a great service and I enjoyed talking to the priest and two of the colder congregants afterword. We mostly talked about how much Salt Lake City has changed and a bit more of the community of Saint Mark's. Who I look forward to visiting again. </div>
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-17633539982934571852014-03-12T19:47:00.001-07:002014-03-13T08:17:11.167-07:00Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Service - Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church - Holladay, UT - March 12th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What an experience tonight was. This was my second time visiting the Orthodox Christian community, and my first time visiting a Greek Orthodox Church. If you want to go to a place where a service is set up for full devotion, this would be the place.<br />
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First, to describe the setting. The setting is like crossing into a portal to the past. At the entrance there are three icons where I made the sign of the cross at each like the person before me and after crossed into the sanctuary. The sanctuary doors glass is dark enough that you cannot see what is inside. Once inside you are greeted by chandeliers, candles and a huge golden covering with life-size icons on an Angel (I think Michael), Prophet Elias, Mary and the baby Jesus and a few others. These are doors to the back where other icons and the altar is, the one area not covered except by a red curtain when the Eucharist is prepared. <br />
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A few minutes before the service started one of the priests (there were four of them) began chanting prayers. These prayers lasted until the Lenten service began and continued on from there. The only time when the chanted prayers stopped is when the head priest came from behind the curtain where the Eucharist was prepared on an altar below on Icon of Jesus on the cross and when the time for communion began. <br />
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There were certain times where myself and most of the older folks crossed themselves and that was when "Hallelujahs" were said three times, and "By the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." There were also a few times were there was full bowing, such as during the communion prayer, and at one point the head priest bowed to all of us and we returned it...it reminded me of the Buddhist "Namaste." (The light in me honors the light in you).<br />
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Besides the setting there were some other major differences I noticed, for one the Eucharist chant was more descriptive on it being a good meal intermixed with us becoming like Christ from the experience and that our kindness should be a living sacrifice to God. The kindness as a living sacrifice was something I very much agreed and supported. <br />
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The experience was very long in the best way possible, there was respect for the people and the service taking place and the prayers/chants were like mantras with a positive and good message greater than the self. The theme was letting God transform intermixed with accountability to the self and to God...it was a somber service but not consumed by it...the somberness was reverence for the event taking place and honoring something greater that all were a part of. <br />
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Suffice to say, I am looking forward to my next Orthodox Church visit and hopefully having a good conversation with one of the priests at some point during my stay here in Utah. <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128533243042742803.post-24107682280350127132014-03-11T19:02:00.000-07:002014-03-12T22:21:13.462-07:00Tuesday of the First Week of Lent Mass - Cathedral of the Madeleine - Salt Lake City, UT - March 11th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My experience at the Cathedral of the Madeleine was troubling in some of the best and worst ways possible...it kind of encapsulated everything I like and dislike about religion which made of a fascinating experience. For a bit of context there is currently a Western Conference on Canon Law being hosted in Salt Lake City so there were tons of Priests and Bishops at the Cathedral...most were from the west coast but one had come over from Lebanon. Because of this there was almost a conference and concert feel about it at the beginning, mostly because the Bishop who looked like Richard Dawkins thanked people at the beginning and the end, and pointed out how great the music was. This was one of the things that took me out, it made something that was supposed to be transcendent and greater than self like any other public event where there are a lot of important people present. <br />
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To the Bishops credit though, his sermon was wonderful, and the reading was the one where Jesus first tells his followers to say the Lord's Prayer. This prayer is a call that our words don't matter that God already knows everything anyway, so it is about how we choose to live...what we do with the time that given to us. This sermon nailed the theme of service and sacrifice of Lent and was great.<br />
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The sad thing was during the service people were taking pictures...yep, it strikes me as the kind of thing you don't do...I mean a Church service is supposed to be more important than a concert or a movie right? Folks were taking a picture of him during the service. I took pictures, but I waited to before and after...if I were up there speaking I wouldn't what lights blinking in my face or people taking pictures of the place I'm preaching...isn't the content of the words more important than the beauty of the place?<br />
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For positives that brought me into it...the music...the choir was angelic, and that would not be an understatement. They were all ages and all the songs were sung in latin, giving it an even greater feeling to it. The psalms also were beautifully sung and focused on important things like justice.<br />
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The most important thing that took me out of it were two things - one was how people aren't welcome to camp outside the Church (there are a fair amount of homeless in Salt Lake City) and the other was the homeless man behind me. Here was where he'd come for rest and to be safe...I hope when he eventually got kicked out that he had somewhere to go...the church provided a place for him during the service and with the Samaritan Society next store...but the church itself was not a permanent sanctuary. Shouldn't a house of God be that? What can we do to help? What can I do to serve? <br />
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<br />The Outsiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00516263914572555124noreply@blogger.com0