"[N]ot to be scandalized by anything I might divulge about myself or might say about Christian tradition." Please, David, have a little faith in your followers. If I, for one, am to be scandalized by something you write at this late date then I have not been paying the serious attention to your work it deserves.
Of course, I am assuming that in disclosing your scandalous views you will not follow Lewis and Clark in using Latin as they did in their Journals to describe them. My Latin, never good to begin with, is not up to the task.
Also as far as the Christian tradition is concerned, for American readers you’ve already said the most scandalous possible thing, that Christianity has never reached these shores. Nevertheless, pittances can add up, which is what I am rooting for
Yes, I seriously doubt I will be scandalized either after reading so much of your writings—or even if I had not read any of them. And I can also understand your reluctance, at least from my own pre-Episcopal experience of American evangelicalism and what can be an expectation to divulge. However, I realize now, as I think about this, that I have been effectively reading your writings to get some sense of how what you have learned has shaped your own faith and experience of God and the world. I most certainly am not reading your writings just as an intellectual exercise or an aesthetic experience (both of which they most certainly are)—but for my own faith and experience of God as both a Christian and a priest. Because, the longer I live into this the more I know how far I still have to go. Whether or not it is true, as you’ve said, that you don’t have “a pastoral bone in your body”—nevertheless, in my experience, somewhere in the midst of all my ongoing reading and re-reading of your writings, I am being pastored. Thanks for all you do, and blessings on your health.
If we survived your stoned-face answer in the interview with the representative of the Theoaesthetics Institute that, if you were to convert now, you would choose Sikhism, we will survive anything.
For my part, I'm already scandalised and have become inured. A little more wouldn't matter; you can't put the tooth-paste back in the tube. So I'll be interested to read.
David, I am very excited for that article. I'm writing yet another ordination paper, this time for the UCC, and a quote from God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss heads up the whole thing.
1. I just sent $10. I wish I could do more. With the world's richest man looting the government's coffers and Republicans not lifting a finger to stop him or other rapacious billionaires, we're bound to see more stories like this.
2. I'm glad to hear that you've experienced some signs that things are moving in the right direction. May you be free from pain!
Regarding Item 3: With all your fine works' burning embers upon our heads happily doing so well their double duty of refining sive enlightening, please don't share any personal backstory that would make it too easy for someone to stop the simmering by dousing it with some kind of all too familiar, "Oh, so that’s really why he said..." Leave all that bio for after a couple of decades letting us be fully put upon in coming to terms with all you have so tirelessly given us. In the meantime, let everyone mind their own business. Stay "mysterious."
"[N]ot to be scandalized by anything I might divulge about myself or might say about Christian tradition." Please, David, have a little faith in your followers. If I, for one, am to be scandalized by something you write at this late date then I have not been paying the serious attention to your work it deserves.
Of course, I am assuming that in disclosing your scandalous views you will not follow Lewis and Clark in using Latin as they did in their Journals to describe them. My Latin, never good to begin with, is not up to the task.
No need to worry. The whole post is in ancient Ugaritic.
I come here solely for the scandalousness and foolishness
That I can supply in abundance.
Also as far as the Christian tradition is concerned, for American readers you’ve already said the most scandalous possible thing, that Christianity has never reached these shores. Nevertheless, pittances can add up, which is what I am rooting for
Everything you do is scandalous. Why should this be any different?
I have been corrupted by seedy family members.
Yes, I seriously doubt I will be scandalized either after reading so much of your writings—or even if I had not read any of them. And I can also understand your reluctance, at least from my own pre-Episcopal experience of American evangelicalism and what can be an expectation to divulge. However, I realize now, as I think about this, that I have been effectively reading your writings to get some sense of how what you have learned has shaped your own faith and experience of God and the world. I most certainly am not reading your writings just as an intellectual exercise or an aesthetic experience (both of which they most certainly are)—but for my own faith and experience of God as both a Christian and a priest. Because, the longer I live into this the more I know how far I still have to go. Whether or not it is true, as you’ve said, that you don’t have “a pastoral bone in your body”—nevertheless, in my experience, somewhere in the midst of all my ongoing reading and re-reading of your writings, I am being pastored. Thanks for all you do, and blessings on your health.
I promise not to be scandalised. At least, not out loud.
“A case of contradictories which are true. God exists: God does not exist. Where is the problem?”—Simone Weil
If we survived your stoned-face answer in the interview with the representative of the Theoaesthetics Institute that, if you were to convert now, you would choose Sikhism, we will survive anything.
Well thank you in advance for your candour and generosity in writing such an article. I'm thoroughly excited to read it.
For my part, I'm already scandalised and have become inured. A little more wouldn't matter; you can't put the tooth-paste back in the tube. So I'll be interested to read.
David, I am very excited for that article. I'm writing yet another ordination paper, this time for the UCC, and a quote from God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss heads up the whole thing.
Not from The Mystery of Castle MacGorilla?
Maybe I could end with a quote from that.
Pretty hard to be scandalized by anything these days.
I don't know. Trumpism inspires fresh horror in me almost daily.
I keep thinking I've seen the worst, but it really has no bottom.
And in the lowest deep a lower deep …
That was a more eloquent Satan than the one we’re stuck with.
الحبيب د. ديفيد
في الواقع أنت تكتبنا
أكثر مما تكتب إلينا
هذا مثير
وهنا تتألق الجاذبية نحو
فكرك وكتاباتك
شكرًا لك
We long to be scandalized, David. I believe Paul’s interlocutors were. Go for it.
1. I just sent $10. I wish I could do more. With the world's richest man looting the government's coffers and Republicans not lifting a finger to stop him or other rapacious billionaires, we're bound to see more stories like this.
2. I'm glad to hear that you've experienced some signs that things are moving in the right direction. May you be free from pain!
3. Can't wait to read it.
Pearls clutched in anticipation.
Regarding Item 3: With all your fine works' burning embers upon our heads happily doing so well their double duty of refining sive enlightening, please don't share any personal backstory that would make it too easy for someone to stop the simmering by dousing it with some kind of all too familiar, "Oh, so that’s really why he said..." Leave all that bio for after a couple of decades letting us be fully put upon in coming to terms with all you have so tirelessly given us. In the meantime, let everyone mind their own business. Stay "mysterious."
Maybe what I'll say will make me all the more mysterious.