For those who didn't know, Batman does have a biological son . . .

. . and he's a complete d*ck.






The little charmer's name? Damian, appropriately enough.

WHY I've been avoiding posting, lately . . .

I tend to talk in comic book and movie imagery, being very much a visual person. It's why theology and philosophy have never appealed to me as much as mysticism and poetry.

So, here:

This is Ra's al Ghul from Batman. He is classed as an eco-terrorist. His philosophy is that, humans and their rampant free-will being the problem that is destroying the planet, you do away with the problem and the solution presents itself.

And, here:

This is Heath Ledger's Joker. His philosophy is that all humanity, just below its surface, is just ravening animal. A little push, and all rules and regulations, all decency vanish.

AND, of course, here:

Magneto, Magneto, Magneto. My villainous hero. His philosophy - We are different, they try to destroy us for it, we destroy them first.

Unfortunately, these are the sorts of philosophy I find myself embracing when I'm exposed for long to Reasserters (more Ra's and Magneto than Joker - I've never had so much of a problem with forcing the less-evolved to evolve or . . . go away, though I resist that impulse on principle). Sadly, they can't - just cannot - leave liberal bloggers the hell alone. They claim to be watching "the enemy," but you don't yell out your position when spying. They just can't shut up and stop spraying their toxin EVERYWHERE, like a tomcat spraying everything in sight.

Here, though it rarely receives comment, I will simply erase the comments from Reasserter-orthodox-neo-cons. Totalitarian? Yes. Intolerant? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.

In the same way, I'm avoiding posting on Reasserter-heavy blogs, as that inevitably breaks down my good intentions, and the blogs that Reasserters aren't interested in (or scared of, in MadPriest's case) generally don't need my less-informed input.

But I do still love you guys!

More From the Overgrown Child

This is a section of LEGO Batman: The Video Game in which you play as the Joker and Killer Moth.

MOST. HORRIFYING. GIANT. ROBOT. EVER.

Just 'Cause I'm a 41 Year Old 12 Year Old

Some of my favorite movie villains transferred to film.

Including:

Syndrome
Karl Ruprecht Kroenen (and his tick-tock heart)
Joker (Nicholson and Ledger - Romero: definitely NOT)
Lex Luthor (Hackman and Spacey)
Penguin (one of the rare instances in which I PREFER the campy tv version)
Catwoman
MAGNETO! (We loves us some Magneto!)
Mystique
Lady Deathstrike (not a good translation to screen, but Kelly Hu made a lovely and lethal interpretation)
Pyro
Toad
Agent Smith
Top Dollar
Deacon Frost (not one of the best film incarnations)
Dr. Octopus
Green Goblin (and the unfortunate Mr. Osborne)
General Zod, Ursa, and Non (the only good parts of Superman II - but then, I don't like Superman)

Sign of the Times

David is concerned that he might be in danger of losing his job and asks for our prayers.

JimB has in that lovely British turn-of-phrase been made redundant.

A major employer in my community is closing down.

Your prayers, your help, both for these and the president who is now faced with leading us through this, please.

UPDATE - 1/26
JimB is dealing with pancreatitis. Pop over to MadPriest's to see more, then let JimB know he has your prayers and/or thoughts.

Movement and Stillness

I've been commenting less and doing less on my own blog.

A lot of it has to do with the fact that, for months now, there has been increasing anger and negativity all around. Not just the blogs, nor any particular blogs (though I refuse to visit the Reasserter/neo-con blogs), but everywhere - sullen, disappointed, irritable people everywhere I look. Even on the liberal blogs, I've noticed - perhaps it was always there - a tendency to turn on one another, arguing, really arguing, over things that are exceptionally inconsequential - grammar, personal views, little perceived slights.

Comments by the neo-con/reasserter crowd show predictable bitterness and rage where the liberal voices are happy and peaceful - one anonymous commenter flying in to Mimi's just long enough to talk about Gene Robinson and "his fellow pedophiles" being "#1 haters." Mimi responded with characteristic good grace. On several blogs, I've seen comments from the Reasserters, sneering at Gene's "fluffy, feel-good" prayer which isn't "Christian" enough for them, and in still others, I've seen several atheists indignant that Gene Robinson prayer wasn't directed to atheists (yeah, try wrapping the ol' brain-stem around that one)!

IRL, all I see around me is snarling, sniping, at the president-elect, the outgoing administration, at what someone did, at what someone didn't do, at what someone should or shouldn't or may or mayn't have done, at someone who didn't seem happy or submissive or . . . etc. enough.

I feel I can't comment, because all this bullshit (no better term, sorry) brings out in me is rage, wrath, white-hot condemnation. It's dangerous and unhealthy.

Not for reasserters or neo-cons, mind you. This isn't altruism towards them. I've finally had to give up hope on them. Nothing outside of direct Divine Intervention is going to help them.

I'm refraining for me. To find Peace, I must become Peace. To find God, I must embody God. I can't respond from love and compassion, but, from love and compassion, I can refrain from responding in hate. Perhaps what I'm seeing is the fruit of all the hate I've put out in the past.

This is what I aspire to: Enlightenment. The Peace that Passeth All Understanding. Theosis.
I'll fall again and again, but I'm trying.

I suppose, part of it is this: I live alone, other than my cats. My family is not what you'd call - approachable, so there's little contact there. My human interaction is a few coworkers, while changing shifts, clerks, and church on Sunday, usually limited to the choir members and a few fellow parishioners. Being exceptionally - read: pathologically - shy, I don't make friends IRL; a deeply-damaged emotional makeup makes it fairly impossible. I'm not the type to live with somebody else, or seek a relationship, as I'm intensely - read: pathologically - private. Visitors are treated with hospitality and exceptional courtesy - I hope - but I couldn't, I think, live in close proximity with a roommate or lover - I need a place and times very apart from others. Most human contact is in the blogosphere, or James on the phone. That's it.

Sad? Maybe. It largely works for me because I am such damaged goods. But, what it does do is make me deeply appreciate those who are there and reach out to me, who exist outside me. Who carry on while I rest, and rest while I carry on so that we can make a world.

Maybe my best prayer would be that Every. One. Of. Us. know absolute aloneness and enforced self-dependency until we learn how valuable each and every one of us is - even the ones I'd like to smack the hell out of.

Pointless Update to Pointlessness

I want . . .







A SAMPO!!!!

Update to Pointlessness!

Still love the game Okami.

Happy-clappy "praise music" still sucks.

1. So does Rick Warren.
2. So does wild rice (on its own)
3. So does the probably non-existent Dawkins (can't call him Richard, because that's his Christian name!)
4. So does Peter Jasper Akinola

For the one or two that don't know, a nutjob is threatening to circulate ricin poison to clients of gay bars in Seattle.

--- and yet, we're told homophobes are nothing like those awful terrorists. The only differences between an American fundamentalist/Reasserter/Bible-believer/orthodox and Al Qaeda are those of degree and opportunity.

I have discovered that units of measurement for ambient temperature change in the Deep South, once a certain point is reached; e.g. - It's not "It's 27 degrees," but "It's 27 fucking-degrees!" The fucking-degree system sets in at about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Finally, Completely Lost My Faith

I've done all I can but I just don't believe in him, anymore.

In a way, it feels good to say it, to finally say, "There is no Richard Dawkins."

Oh, I know what you'll say, "Look! We have his writings!" No. We just have writings. Who knows who really wrote them or what for. You may say, "I've seen him, talked to him, touched him!" Well, the nuthouses are full of people who say they've met someone famous - or are that person. Yes, I'm aware of a historical personage calling himself Richard Dawkins, but how do we know who he really is? I mean, living in Miami, I met a lot of men called Jesus with the documentation to prove it, but none of them fed 5,000 or walked on water! Others, of course, speak of his "unseen influence" - utter rot! I mean, how is the world better for the belief in Richard Dawkins?!

I think it's time - finally and at last - to put an end to this, this . . . Dawkins Delusion.

What's The Problem? Where Are They Going?

One of the constant themes in the ongoing battles between Reasserters and Liberals is that none of the churches seem to be actually growing. Now, this is based on statistics, which I distrust almost entirely - statistical analysis is, at best, a vague answer which reduces reality to ciphers. I cannot ignore, however, that young people who are idealistic, devoted, energetic, ready to be involved, grow weary and disinterested and move away from the church.

Some, like Dawkins, would undoubtedly say that it's because they are growing up and moving away from "fairy-tales." This is not supported by my own experience in dealing with these young folks, but it surely is the case with a few.

Others, like Duncan, would say it's because we're not preaching the "True Word." This is patently untrue, as Reasserters aren't seeing that great a retention or expansion, either.

Still others, like most "grow-your-church" self-help books - looking suspiciously like a mysticized (or mystified) management course - say it's because we're not actualizing our drawing potential by having a more energetic, young-family-friendly, entertaining service. It's just too much to expect actual committment without a good show. This is patent bullshit - excuse me - and comes from people who couldn't hack it doing management seminars. Again, personal experience shows these same young folks turned off by that garbage.

Finally, most in the trenches would say, "Well, that's just part of growing up, I guess!"

And that's the problem.

Pluralist has an excellent piece on a socialist-leaning understanding of Christian potential, and that's what got me thinking. You see, I don't oppose Chris Hedges' position - I think he is likely right - but it is too broad to be a practical answer for us concentrating on parish and diocesan level difficulties. The problem and its solution is as complex as society itself, but, from my place, I see one very clear problem: We accept it.

We say, "Oh, they're just growing up!" or "Oh, that's just how the real world works!" When we say that, we - Reasserters, Revisionists, Catholics, Protestants, and all God's lil' children - show these young people that we cannot offer what they are looking for; change. Not vast social change, but personal change. How many Christians, myself included, can you think of who demonstrate serenity, joy, true compassion and wisdom? There are a few, surely, but that's true in business, sports and entertainment. What these young folks are looking for is something that will bring these changes to them.

We simply are not, regardless of race, color, creed or national origin, practicing a Christianity that's Transformative, and the youth see that.

The surges that Fundamentalism occasionally enjoys comes from novelty. The novelty is a religion that requires something of you, demands much. The downswing in numbers comes because the demands don't lead to true Transformation, but simply to a sort of caricature of the prevailing society - all its hates, worries and struggles sanctified. But, what we can say, is that Fundamentalists/Reasserters/ Neo-Orthodox hold out some illusion of Transformation. We Liberal/Mainstream churches don't even do that! Every time we say "Oh, that's just how the world works!" we're telling these young people that nothing will change, nothing will Transform, from practicing with us. Why bother?

Make demands for discipline, for pledges -- they don't object to that -- but offer them something in return, a better life, a Transformation to a better person, a centered, fulfilled person.

We can't do that because it so rarely happens in us. We have life-changes - like my stopping drinking - but Transformation requires ongoing group discipline and committment, not a simple tacit agreement to what already is. When we run churches like businesses, call priests like looking at applicants for jobs or colleges, when we emphasize giving money and not time, or craft, or skill, or just plain presence, we're saying we're no different from any other organization out there - AND WE ALL DO JUST THAT.

We offer nothing to the young, to the unchurched in general, because they see we don't have anything different. Fellowship? Be a Rotarian. Sermons on life's themes? Book group. Counselling? See a psychotherapist! Friends? Got 'em. Family? Ditto. Youth groups? After school activities. Ceremony? Fraternities, clubs, debate teams, ROTC, Masons . . . you name it.

The only thing we can offer is transformation, and we don't know how. It's hit or miss, haphazard. In that, the Buddhists got it all over us. Maybe they could teach us how to strip away all the enculturation, cut away the degenerated and decayed parts of our faith, and become what we were actually supposed to be - the only thing we can offer - a community of real Transformation. Here, I'm not speaking of merely becoming nice or sober or outgoing or less selfish or . . . whatever . . . but of being truly, really, deeply content, secure and serene forces that know how to respond to the world around them, rather than merely reacting.