ARE WE WORSHIPING WORDS?
SAM
I had said to my fellow scholars, "I asked you to think about what Ella had brought up about words not being the things or the experiences, and I did that too. Now, it is Monday morning, and you all look eager to share. I'll go first. My thoughts have been about the word ‘enemy’. Who would we Americans consider an enemy?
Joe Johnson volunteered, “I was thinking of the word ‘fuck’”. Several students giggled or laughed, and Joe went on. “My grandpa told me that when he was a kid, he said fuck, and his mom heard him and tried to wash his mouth out with soap. It became a big deal because he bit his mom’s finger, and it started to bleed. Now.."
Gordo interrupted him, "And just last week my mom told my dad, and he really balled me out and said if I ever heard that I said that word again he'd beat the hell out of me."
Joe ignored Gordo and continued. "...we hear the word fuck all over the place, and it seems like just a word everybody is using for almost anything. So, it’s a powerfully bad word for my mom, and Gordo's mom and dad and lots of other people, and most people just use it as a throw-away word like 'oh damn' for everybody else.”
I commented, “And that demonstrates how we can give words power even when there is no obvious reason.”
Evie said, “My dad said that religions were built on words that only reflected some historical person or bunch of people’s thoughts rather than on some living event or experience. He said Jesus was probably a wonderfully gifted person, an honored and respected fellow..."
"Oh my goodness," Lucy interjected, "please don't tell me the bible is wrong. My parents would be horrified. I hope they don't hear that we are even discussing this in school."
Evie went on, "Lucy, my dad is a really kind, caring, and hopeful guy, and I think he's a lot better person than a lot of so-called 'Christian' men I know. Anyway, my dad said, and then. Years after he was murdered, St. Paul said he was a son of God. And a few more years later, several people grabbed onto the words " Son of God," and finally, a whole bunch of people declared that Jesus was the one and only Son of God..."
Three or four in the cohorts moaned a bit and shook their heads, and Evie went on, "And dad said a Roman Emperor made Jesus, the Christ, the official religion of the Roman Empire. And my mother, who teaches history in high school, says that more doctrines and moral edicts were added. And some popes even said that people had to believe, without doubt, that all of these doctrines were absolutely true, and if we violated any of them, we would commit serious sins that could send us to hell. Sam, do you believe this?”
I simply said, “That does reflect that such a development did seem to be based on the religious history of those who believed that Jesus was the one and only Son of God, especially in Europe, but it does not reflect the words and life of Jesus.”
Maria said that she did not bring up the idea that religion was not absolutely true because her parents would yank her right out of Smiles school. So, she had no discussion to report.
I told her I understood her position. I added that only a small number of people before 1900 could read, and most of those who did were preachers and priests of various religious sects. Unfortunately, they even went to war believing that their enemy was non-believing heretics who were leading people to sin.
Ella spoke up again, “Dr._Fuller, our history teacher, says that now that nearly everyone over seven years old knows how to read, we have lots of people who no longer believe in any religion at all. She says we can divide ourselves into the Absolute True Believers and the Free Progressive Thinkers. She likes the free-thinking idea and says that our school is promoting that. Do you agree with her?” Ella paused a moment and then went on, “And also said that in the seventeenth century, a war lasting thirty years got started as a war between Catholics and Protestants, and that couldn’t have been based on any kind of words or actions of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Several students wanted to know what I thought about all this religion “stuff”. I replied, “I think that we need to be free thinking and grow into mature, fully alive, creative, and authentic persons. And that we go beyond ego and become deeply concerned with humanity and the whole world. Now, how’s that for a bunch of words?”
Chris whistled and said, “Yes, that is a bunch of words, and, kind sir, are they based on experience and solid facts?”
“Yes, my fellow sir, they are based on a solid bunch of studies led by free thinkers. And it demonstrates our need for words. I agree with Dr. Fuller that we are divided among absolutists, free thinkers, and non-thinkers, and that we need to be respectful of those who disagree with us.
For next week, please consider whether Smiles School is educating you to be thoughtful and respectful people.
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