Cass, Suela, I almost feel like it'd be easier if I were more agnostic--I'd be able to say fuck the hierarchy, I don't need this shit, and walk away. But upbringing, study and personal experience (along with probably just plain wiring; I know there's some neuro research that suggests that some people are neurologically wired for faith) have conspired to make me actually believe it. Eternal inconceivable creator become a small smelly human baby, grown to adulthood and emptied out for all of us, transubstantiation and sacred confession and the communion of souls and the whole nine yards.

I'm just faithful enough to want to stay in the one church that teaches the stuff that pings me to the core, and just educated enough to know all the doctrines that allow for wiggle room and admit of less-than-absolutes, especially WRT gender and hierarchy, so when the hierarchs throw bullshit down, instead of saying, "That's bullshit and I don't need it; goodbye," I dig in my heels and say, "That's bullshit and you're wrong and I'm right, and if you want me to leave you're going to have to physically throw me out."

I swear, sometimes I feel like Lucy in The Wolves in the Walls, down in the garden and feeling grouchy because I could make a home somewhere else, but what I really want is for the rest of the family to get some spine so we can march back up the hill and kick the goddamn wolves out. It's our house and we're not the wolves, they are. Why the fuck should we leave?

I have absolutely no clue what was the first 45/album I bought. I would have been a kid, around 9 or so, so it was probably something easy-listening-ish like Little River Band or Air Supply.

Aw, love for the Aussie easy listening.

I don't recall my first album (I think it might have been Peter Pan), but the first CDs I bought were Phil Collins' But Seriously and the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

I'm sorry about all the diocese conflict, JZ.

JZ, that's so hard. I'm glad you hae your faith, though.

The neighbors got us really drunk. T Hat was fun.

It's our house and we're not the wolves, they are. Why the fuck should we leave?

The church needs more of you, I think. That's the only way.

I'm glad you hae your faith, though.

You're drunk posting, missy!

The thing that's obvious from an outsider's perspective is that this parish priest was installed to basically break up this parish. They'll dissolve it, and probably sell the large lot and valuable property in North Berkeley and I expect a large apartment complex to be on that site within four years.

That's a double win for the diocese as they eliminate the most progressive parish and also bolster their coffers which have been depleted after huge pedophile priest payouts.

And, it was clear from the moment the Oakland Bishop was put into place that he was far more conservative than the previous Bishop. And the Northern California bishopric were, of course, actively involved in recruiting the Mormon money to get Prop 8 passed.

So what's gone down in JZ's parish is not the action of some rogue priest, but part of a larger strategy to break up liberal parishes. Basically, people like JZ are not being made welcome. I think the parish priest that was installed at her old church purposefully brought in polarizing, controversial anti-abortion advocates to drive people away.

I keep pointing JZ to the many Belgians who have schismed off from the Church on the revelation of pedophile scandals in their country. It's simply untenable to them to support the Vatican, yet they want to maintain their faith and follow the teachings.

I'm glad you hae your faith, though.

I was being Socottish.

whoops

I was being Socottish.

Bwah!

When I was in college my friend Alison got very drunk, and as we walked into a party she said, "I just don't wanna lose my digginy."

"If you meant 'dignity' consider it gone."

Drunk Amy! Awesome neighbors. And an excellent way to enjoy a night where the kids are away.

But upbringing, study and personal experience (along with probably just plain wiring; I know there's some neuro research that suggests that some people are neurologically wired for faith) have conspired to make me actually believe it.

I really admire your belief. I don't share it, but I do often wonder what it would be like to truly know something so deeply. The people I know who truly believe are really amazing and some of my favorite people. Fantastic conversations. I assume because when you respect someone having a different belief, you can talk about it. You can, you know, talk. About things.