REPLACE OBEDIENCE WITH RESPECT –Don Hanley’s blog #82

Recently, I read that disobedience is NOT the cause of slavery and war—obedience is responsible for these two evils. I believe this is true, but I was taught to obey first my parents, then my teachers, then the priests, and then my bosses. It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I realized this obedience had stunted my growth as a person—spiritually, educationally, emotionally, socially, and personally. With this in mind, I believe that my church and most religious organizations require some adherence to a set of norms, rules, ‘divine’ laws, and commandments. If we want to reach heaven, achieve promotions, or make more money, we must obey and conform to the dictates of the organizations we choose to belong to.

I was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1964 (and left in l970 - whew!). Although I did not formally take the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience like those who belonged to religious orders, I was expected to follow the ‘spirit’ of these three vows. Reflecting on my life experiences and my understanding of ‘religious truth,’ I recall watching my first movie newsreel that featured a Nazi parade of soldiers and brownshirts. I wondered why thousands of young men were marching perfectly in sync, saluting a mustachioed individual named Hitler - and later after often doing horribly cruel actions, claimed "We were just following orders" - being obedient. I was well into adulthood; before I realized that I had often blindly followed the dictates that I despised in others and too often overlooked that I was doing the same thing.

I wanted to know from my friends in Nazareth in the first century CE if Jesus ever demanded obedience from his followers. I barely formulated my question when I sitting in Mary’s flower garden.  After our greetings, I asked about Jesus and his position on obedience and conformity. John immediately said, “First, Jesus never demanded anything, and he often said that we must respect our inner voices and thinking AND that of others. He said. "As you know, I respect all of you, my friends, and I learn from you, and I know I receive your respect in return. If you, John, think you must be like Peter or James or me, you will be going down the wrong path because you are different from them and me, and if you ignore that difference, you will lose at least some of your giftedness.”

Mary couldn’t wait; she insisted on saying, “Can you imagine what we and everyone would have lost if Joseph and I had demanded that Jesus say and do and think like we do! Thank Yahweh that we did not demand such a thing,” She paused and added, “From what you have said about the history of many of the so-called Christian believers, they have lost much of the true spirit and message of my Jesus. Is that not true?” I nodded and said that I had found that children of all ages (even old ones like me) would be respectful if we were respectful.

Then I was disappointed that I disappeared only a few moments after that, So …

Keep nurturing your giftedness, studying the menus, AND enjoying your pancakes.

Embrace Thoughtful Change - Don Hanley's blog #17

Pope Francis is working to change some attitudes toward homosexuality. The Catholic church and many Protestant churches have believed for centuries that homosexuality is sinful – in thought, word, and deed. And this belief and many more began when humanity believed in a very small three-decker universe – heaven, earth, and hell. The vast majority of people have changed their perception of the universe. Now, we must change our beliefs about human behavior and, with it, about human sexual orientation.

I can’t find a good reason for keeping this condemnation of homosexuality. “Orthodox” Christians state that it is in the bible does condemn ‘laying with another man’ but nothing about women. And there are countless other ‘laws’ and rules that condemn human actions as sins but now are not. Is homosexuality condemned because they are “different” in their behavior? Killing people is roundly condemned in the bible and in all religious writings, and yet we readily do it when it is in our interest to do it. We find a reason for killing – “It is self-defense” or “It is to protect our family or our property or community or nation.” We can always find a reason.

I have changed a lot of beliefs and behaviors in my 90+ years of life, and I didn’t need to change my belief about homosexuality, but I did need some education as I was very curious. It seemed odd. I never knew a homosexual person until I was twenty years old. I was shocked and could not imagine it, and that is about all. Oh, I did have a bit of a fear that “they” might try to make me like them, but that idea didn’t stay long.

I wonder if the priests, bishops, and other religious leaders who are condemning Pope Francis are afraid that they will lose some of their absolutist power to control people. Please give it some serious thought and . . . 

Nurture your heart, and don’t eat the menu.