I am trying to be a better Catholic. Which is impossible because I'm not actually Catholic.....yet!
(Scared ya, didn't I, Husband!?)
It's part of my job to uphold The Faith, so I've decided to research it and really understand what it is. I'm involved in my own catechism-lite. Today I attended Catholic Mass. It was supremely beautiful. I loved it! Even though I didn't understand all of it. I got the gist. I liked the music. I really dug the Archbishop and his backup singers. (I'm sure they're called something else, but for now...perhaps I should have called them, "assistants").
Part of my foray into Catholicism is my new job, but also because, for some time, I've been uncomfortable with the fact that my children have no religious foundation. Husband and I have wanted to let them choose when they are mature enough to do so, but more and more I am suspecting that a moral compass outside of our family is important.
Moreover, it's the education about religion in general in which we are heinously remiss. We were driving past a mosque, when the Little Girl oohed, "Jasmine's Castle!".
Yesterday she was in helping me set up my classroom and asked me why there was a big T on the wall. Shhh! Don't say that out LOUD! People will hear you and know that you don't even know what a crucifix is! We're keeping this on the down low until Mummy can rectify matters. Daddy will have to deal. (He's already said I can take them to Mass but he's never ever coming with us - which will be a whole other interesting discussion.)
The last straw came this afternoon when I was telling both the Big Girl and the Little Girl about how I wanted them to go to mass with me - you know, just to see what it's all about.
Big Girl: "What IS is all about?"
Me: "Well, it's where you learn about God, and Jesus and ....and....Mary."
Little Girl: "Poppins?!"
Have mercy.
3 comments:
Oh boy, your daughters make me laugh!
I am facing a similar need for an education into Catholicism due to work prospects. I attend a contemporary Anglican church, however many jobs I am applying for are for Catholic schools. In Australia, you actually have to do a course or something to get 'approved' to do it.
If you are wanting to get your kids along to a church service and 'educated' in that area, it is probably worth finding one that has a kids church or a service that is more contemporary so they have a chance of understanding it- I know that when I went to a very traditional Catholic service when I was younger I was too freaked out by the Jesus on the big T at the front for me to be able to pay any attention :P
Everything you need to know about Catholicism can be summed up by Tom Lehrer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKWI41G8h_A
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah! “I need the kids and I to know more about religion.” That reads just like a line from some cute, overly amorous teen who says to her friends while camping at that lake WAY out in the country, “Hey, let’s all split up and go exploring. There’s no way that escaped axe-murderer is anywhere near here...” [cue scary music]
Religion not benign and it’s especially bad for the little ones. There are some good sites about this on the net, but an easy (and funny start) is “Penn & Teller’s BULLSH**.” Their latest episode is (appropriately) “The Vatican.” It’s only 30 minutes and well worth watching. One of the most interesting bits was when they got hold of the confidential orders, written by the current pope, ordering all bishops that, when dealing with cases of child molestation in the church, the emphasis must be on secrecy and protecting the church above all else – on pain of excommunication! (Closer to home, they’re also the only denomination NOT to pay their share of the Native Residential Schools settlement.)
For kids it’s especially bad. All those important sacred truths that the devout believe and are willing to kill heretics for (i.e. anyone else) believe those truths because they learned them as kids. Why is someone a Catholic/Protestant/Buddhist/etc. – because that’s what their parents were. A little ‘white lie’ about Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy is a fun part of childhood. This is different – "if you don’t believe what we say is true you are a SINNER and you will ROT IN HELL for Eternity." I think that that's a lot for the seven and under crowd to deal with rationally.
Children should know about Religion. Children should also know about the strange person in the park handing out the sweeties. Christianity is very important in the history and literature of all Western Europe. Many allusions and much imagery would be unfathomable without it. Pilgrims’ Progress ain’t about cowboys settling the West, boy!
Oh, and lastly, I can’t imagine why you would want to take the girls. Next to Shar’ia, it’s got to be the most anti-feminist flavour it there. (Ok, it’s generally anti-human, but the women do get the worst of it. [Readers' Digest version of the female in christianity.] Eve picked the apple, so it’s all your fault, and that’s why 50% of you died in childbirth before modern medicine and that’s all fine because next time you will not pick the apple and stay ignorant.
Religion. It’s a business. It makes a lot of money. It has no product.
Well. Rant over. Have a nice, secular day.
The Amiable Apostate
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