I'm absolutely fascinated by the most recent Catholic Church sex abuse case. It's less about the abuse, and more about how dangerous religion can be. I understand that religion and Faith can give hope when you're in despair and strength when you're weak. But it can also disguise itself as a priest and try to put its hands down your pants. (Not Cool)
Here is testimony from a woman who describes the time she was molested:
I went into absolute shock and denial and couldn't move. But once I realized what he was doing, I snapped to reality and ran from his office. His attempts at groping at my breasts ended there. I shudder to think how far he would have gone if I hadn't done that. I was one of the lucky ones. No, I didn't tell anyone. Not my parents, not my friends, other family members nor the school authorities. I instinctively knew that he must have done or tried to do the same thing with other girls. True, I was 16 y/o. But I was an impressionable, naive, innocent virginal child of those times and that age. I trusted this priest with my whole heart. Him abusing that trust is abominable. This priest is a horrible horrible human being. But to me this also proves the dangers of putting your trust in man rather than God. If that priest was just a clerk at the grocery store, chances are this young girl would have told someone. Or another way of saying it, when someone purports to be speaking for God. He isn't. He's just trying to put his hands down your pants.
That’s actually quite profound. You’ve nailed down the whole “What’s wrong with the church” argument with one analogy.
WIN!
Amazing Buck,
i think he nailed it with this quote:
Thats “Whats wrong with the church” (and again…profound).
In some churches, it’s only to grab your wallet *whew*…
Dear People:
It’s always a pleasure to share with other thoughtful people of faith.
I have a friend and neighbor who is a Presbyterian minister at a nearby church. His name is The Reverend John Shuck, and this is is blog:
http://www.shuckandjive.org/
He is a brilliant and very brave man to be doing what he does- in Eastern Tennessee, no less!
His writings are seen by many as heretical, infuriating, blasphemous and dangerous, because they are so thought-provoking, and because he is not inclined to cut any slack whatsoever to any man-made religious institutions that get between him and his God.
You will be surprised, maybe even shocked, to read his blog, but please do it. You will be treated to an all-too-rare viewpoint on contemporary Christianity.
John and I (and I believe God as well) believe that The Divine is far too great a topic to be explained away in simplistic, superstitious man-made dogma. To question is to understand. No God I believe in would ever be threatened by that (the very idea is absurd), nor will he cause you to burst into flames if you click the link above.
Face it- anyone who is fat, happy and dumb with the way things are, and who is content with swallowing, without question, everything their churches feed them probably wouldn’t even be visiting City Business Church blog to begin with.
Reading Rev. Shuck’s blog is guaranteed to make you think, and while you may not agree with everything he says, he wouldn’t be doing his job if you did.