I haven’t read much of Mary Karr’s work, save for an interview here and there, so what I know about her feels much like fragments drawn out from a fraction—she’s a poet, memoir writer and teacher, a former alcoholic and an agnostic turned Catholic.
Tochi, this is another beautiful piece and interestingly we were having a similar conversation with friends earlier today; the Pentecostal move somehow came without the reflective and studious life of the Catholic Church and even of the Protestant ethic. So, it wasn't as if it lacked the truth of the former but perhaps it lacked the language... The utilitarian approach to faith, common with this move, particularly as expressed within the African experience is indeed a lot more combative than surrendering... hence it could fail to bring all the letters required to write a complete treatise of the human experience.
You've indeed captured it well; many a good theology is birthed by honest reflections on matters at the intersect of the ideal that Faith is and the seeming imbalance that is the human condition. I believe that it is by so doing that we might see and experience the true joys of that which is believed. Kudos
Reading as I struggle to define what I have become. Catholic? Former Catholic? Still don’t have the right thoughts/language to examine where my faith is
Owolabi, I have come to look forward to your comments as a kind of addendum, your comments bring so much context to the letter. Thank you, and yes, I quite agree with you, to ask questions and not be afraid of the answer lends itself to a certain kind of freedom. Have a wonderful month too! :)
Tochi, this is another beautiful piece and interestingly we were having a similar conversation with friends earlier today; the Pentecostal move somehow came without the reflective and studious life of the Catholic Church and even of the Protestant ethic. So, it wasn't as if it lacked the truth of the former but perhaps it lacked the language... The utilitarian approach to faith, common with this move, particularly as expressed within the African experience is indeed a lot more combative than surrendering... hence it could fail to bring all the letters required to write a complete treatise of the human experience.
You've indeed captured it well; many a good theology is birthed by honest reflections on matters at the intersect of the ideal that Faith is and the seeming imbalance that is the human condition. I believe that it is by so doing that we might see and experience the true joys of that which is believed. Kudos
Thanks for sharing your incredible wisdom, Nelson.
This!
Reading as I struggle to define what I have become. Catholic? Former Catholic? Still don’t have the right thoughts/language to examine where my faith is
My darling Luce!To exist in the 'undefined' is also a valid place to be, we keep moving.
Happy new month, Tochi.
Thank you for this.
I believe absolutely that reflection and questioning are gifts to humanity. They help us understand deeper.
Once we get to the point of asking ourselves existential questions, we have gotten to a dangerous level of freedom.
This also helps us love and understand God more, not out of fear but out of total submission.
Owolabi, I have come to look forward to your comments as a kind of addendum, your comments bring so much context to the letter. Thank you, and yes, I quite agree with you, to ask questions and not be afraid of the answer lends itself to a certain kind of freedom. Have a wonderful month too! :)