Acting in church

On the radio there was a recent discussion about whether or not the Bible and the sermons produced from it could be viewed as literature. This led me to revisit some thoughts I had had many years ago. I wondered if the preachers were more like actors than newsreaders.

You see, in some places that I have worshipped the preacher has had more dramatic flair than some of the people I see on either stage or screen. The pastors build up the tension. They stalk the platform like tigers ready to pounce on some unsuspecting prey, and they do just that – they deliver a killer verse to a nodding congregant.

They are snapped into alertness and all the focus is drawn back to the centre of the stage.

The pastor then recaptures the attention of the entire audience, bringing them back into his web of rapt attention with a few select moves (cunningly disguised as amusing anecdotes) after which he builds to another crescendo before dangling them above the open jaws of the devouring beast he has cleverly pictured; the one that will destroy them if they don’t do exactly as he says.

To complete his act as hero he draws his sword of truth and despatches the monster. The congregants all breathe breaths of relief as they relax in the safe knowledge that they have nothing left to fear as long as they follow the lead of the hero in his slick suit and silk socks.

After witnessing one such entertaining sermon, I was discussing the drama of preaching with my son and he said, “It’s like going to the theatre every week ... but without paying!”

Lent? Meaning and importance

It's amazing how some things change over time (writing styles, for example) and other facts never change.
At this time of fasting (for Ramadan) I was reminded of this old piece of writing that I did way back in 2007. It is on the local BBC website.

Lent is a time for giving up luxuries

Taken from bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire:

Forty lines for Lent

Read Marjorie Morgan's poem explaining the meaning and importance behind Lent, set out in 40 lines.

http://bbc.in/riBvJ6

Mafia with crosses

I offer no apologies for this piece.

I am going to talk about an O.C.G. That is not an Organised Crime Group – like the Mafia, but an Organised Christian Group (although this applies equally as well to all O.R.G.’s – Organised Religious Groups).

To see if you are paying attention there will be a spot quiz at the end. Ready? Good, let’s proceed.

O.C.G. 101

Characteristics of an O.C.G.:

It is a form of government or governance that controls territories and processes.

It has an element of the state within its structure.

The O.C.G. has a hierarchical structure for the ease of monitoring and controlling its members.

The O.C.G. operates a system of totalitarian governance.

It has a strict code of behaviour.

The O.C.G. has a ritual for the initiation of new members.

It bestows new names upon full members when they enter the fellowship of the organisation; this new name marks the start of a new life. Links to the former existence is severed when the new identity is given.

It has rules of ‘proper’ behaviour.

It has a specific dress code.

Members of the O.C.G. must learn the distinct language of their particular O.C.G. in order to distinguish themselves from members of other O.C.G.’s.

Members must have allegiance to the O.C.G.’s world-view.

The O.C.G. has its own court and judgement system to deal with its members’ perceived wrongdoings or misbehaviours.

It metes out punishment without sanction; it cannot be questioned.

It uses its influence to penetrate politics and the judiciary to enhance its interest.

The O.C.G. operates on a currency of power and fear.

Local branches of the O.C.G. have families that rule all of the decision making process.

O.K.

So those are the main points for this section. You will, however, be required to spend some time in reflection and you must apply these characteristics to any organisation that you believe may be an O.C. G. – what you do next is up to you.

The characteristics that I have listed above belong to the mafia. They also belong – without exception – to many churches that I have observed, including the one I attend.

If you do not believe me I suggest that you infiltrate your local O.C.G. and report back with your individual findings. A word of caution, the organisation is formidable and does not take kindly to any attempt to make changes from within. After an extended period of field research you may decide to convert or try to leave and become affiliated to another O.C.G. – this is, of course, easier said than done.

In many churches – as with the mafia - the rights of citizens are not recognised. The church will go against the law of the government of the country and impose its own beliefs on citizens. Within this environment there is no appeal to justice. Churches regularly, and openly, flout the law of equality, especially with regard to sexuality, and there is no right of appeal for justice within the organisation. The churches frequently operate outside the legal rules that bind ordinary organisations and its actions effectively declare that it sees the state as redundant. The church operates in its own world, its own underworld.

My question at the end of this short session on O.C.G.s 101 is why are churches so much like the mafia?

Do they feel they have some kind of monopoly on God? Or do they think they are God? I suppose within their O.C.G. they really are.

Where will the competitions end?

What is present in most human interactions? Some of the common occurrences are love, desire, fear, hatred, anger, need and competition.

Competition is there in the desire for improvement in comparison with others. Also present is the need for attention and affection which are usually learnt as a child – from an early age we hone the skills needed to seek and gain these things in our lives. Because people consistently have different points of view there is an ongoing battle for the resources - natural and manufactured - to do better than the next person in order to achieve each one’s personal aim. This means that there will always be conflict.

Is all of life destined to be a competition?

From the cradle to the grave people are competing for something. We live in a competitive world and what we have others want, so they compete for it. Our time, our affiliation, our intelligence; how we vote, study, worship can all become affairs for personal advancement.

American Senator Henry Clay wrote, “Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition”.

21^st century television is awash with shows based on competition: who is fastest, who can last longest, and who has the most, who is biggest, who is smallest, and who can endure the most. It seems that for every human interest there is some contest for supremacy.

How then does humanity decide the differences of religious faith?

Is global terrorism the answer to the competitions of which religion is right, which faith follows the truth, what belief holds sway against the errors of the masses? Will this ultimate competition lead to the end of all contests as humanity destroys each other to prove that their own creed is the basis of light and truth?

How can we cease religious rivalry? Can we cease religious rivalry? Is there only one right way or are there many ways to illumination? Is the only way to answer this found in the annihilation of all opposition? Will there ever be one supreme religious conviction on this earth? Questions continue because the terror continues relentlessly in the name of devotion to one’s belief.

There is no dispute from me … terror in the name of faith is always shown as hostility and destruction, not a demonstration of holy persuasion and love. With religious terror there are no winners. Religious terror is destructive. That competition will never have a winner.