Fiona's posterous

Life of Pi - Christianity

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:27:20 -0800

Profoundly moved by Chapter 17 of The Life of Pi as the author chronicles the lead character's discussion of why (and how) he met Christ. He writes:

"That is God as God should be. With shine and power and might. Such as can rescue and save and put down evil.

This Son, on the other hand, who goes hungry, who suffers from thirst, who gets tired, who is sad, who is anxious, who is heckled and harassed, who has to put up with followers who don’t get it and opponents who don’t respect Him – what kind of a god is that? It’s a god on too human a scale, that’s what. There are miracles, yes, mostly of a medical nature, a few to satisfy hungry stomachs; at best a storm is tempered, water is briefly walked upon. If that is magic, it is minor magic, on the order of card tricks. Any Hindu god can do a hundred times better. This Son is a god who spent most of His time telling stories, talking. This Son is a god who walked, a pedestrian god – and in a hot place, at that – with a stride like any human stride, the sandal reaching just above the rocks along the way; and when He splurged on transportation, it was a regular donkey. This Son is a god who died in three hours, with moans, gasps and laments. What kind of a god is that? What is there to inspire in this Son?

Love, said Father Martin.

And this Son appears only once, long ago, far away? Among an obscure tribe in a backwater of West Asia on the confines of a longvanished empire? Is done away with before He has a single grey hair on His head? Leaves not a single descendant, only scattered, partial testimony, His complete works doodles in the dirt? Wait a minute. This is more than Brahman with a serious case of stage fright. This is Brahman selfish. This is Brahman ungenerous and unfair. This is Brahman practically unmanifest. If Brahman is to have only one son, He must be as abundant as Krishna with the milkmaids, no? What could justify such divine stinginess?

Love, repeated Father Martin.

I’ll stick to my Krishna, thank you very much. I find his divinity utterly compelling. You can keep your sweaty, chatty Son to yourself.

That was how I met that troublesome rabbi of long ago: with disbelief and annoyance.

I had tea with Father Martin three days in a row. Each time, as teacup rattled against saucer, as spoon tinkled against edge of cup, I asked questions.

The answer was always the same.

He bothered me, this Son. Every day I burned with greater indignation against Him, found more flaws to Him.

He’s petulant! It’s morning in Bethany and God is hungry; God wants His breakfast. He comes to a fig tree. It’s not the season for figs, so the tree has no figs. God is peeved. The Son mutters, “May you never bear fruit again,” and instantly the fig tree withers. So says Matthew, backed up by Mark.

I ask you, is it the fig tree’s fault that it’s not the season for figs? What kind of a thing is that to do to an innocent fig tree, wither it instantly?

I couldn’t get Him out of my head. Still can’t. I spent three solid days thinking about Him. The more He bothered me, the less I could forget Him. And the more I learned about Him, the less I wanted to leave Him.

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Mission & Pastoral Measure - Final Approval (Synod)

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:48:00 -0800

Rev Stephen Trott – debate be now adjourned (so 33). Benefice problems. Backdated which clashes with EO(TOS) Measure. Needs to be addressed and bought back to Synod.

Clive Mansell – how will this issue be addressed properly? Could we have assurance that this will come into effect before the consolidated Measure?

London 358 – Rejoice that we are to pass a measure called the Mission & Pastoral Measure. Doing that symbolically, embolden us to do that in DMPCS – function of enabling and facilitating mission, subordinating other functions to this.

203 – Thanks to Stephen Trott for raising the issue. It does need to be sorted.

76 – Why are we consolidating this Measure? 3 Measures and 15 other things – are we shortening the paper chase? Section 5 – ambiguity about where comma should go.

Unknown – Problem of concern to clergy but if an assurance could be given that it would be ok would work.

272 – A consolidated will be much easier for us working in Diocesan Offices.

Doesn’t change existing law. Codes of Practice will be issued [editor’s note – that’s me]. 19 separate documents and bring it all into one document, for the ease of the people who are going to use it (mostly in Diocesan Offices). Can’t do Mission by Measure – got to get out there and do it.

Division by Houses, and Parliament will want to see that it has been voted on thoroughly (bad word but can’t think of better right now) so division by houses it will be.

*A few Synod members reappear after Division bell is rung*

Motion approved.

Bishops 17 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention

Clergy 71 in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention

Laity 79 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstention

Better post tomorrow. TTFN.

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New blog links

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:51:50 -0800

Electoral Reform retired academic and all around good guy - http://www.nigel-roberts.info/

To be added to blog

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Alternate Voting System

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:48:42 -0800

So I'm running late to the party but Gordon Brown is proposing an AV (or possibly an AV+) system for the UK. BBC article here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8505255.stm

Here's a link to the wiki on that - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_Vote_Top-up

The Electoral Reform Society's info here - http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votingsystems/systems2.htm

Apparently used in Australia and Fiji - take a look here - http://www.informaworld.com/index/727345091.pdf

Pros

Cons

Other suggestions

Constitutional Affairs Committee and possibilities for something similar here

Proper blog post to follow tonight at http://adventuringwithfi.wordpress.com

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Synod - Monday debate

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:56:40 -0800

Speaker 419 - Do wish he wouldn't speak so quickly. Outsider Archbishops. Effective and fascinating forum.

Speaker 264 - Online questionnaire doesn't work. Does it work now?

Speaker 145 - Progress of Measures and Statutory Instruments. Could we know when these things come into place? A notice paper?

Reply 133 - Meeting and worshipping both very important. Difficult questions are the best ones. Importance of talking publicly. ABCs at the heart of everything we do. Questionnaire is functioning - need to answer every question. Measures and Statutory Instruments in Business Done but maybe another notice needed.

Motion carried.

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Synod - Monday Draft Thoughts

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:45:10 -0800

Bishop of Manchester won't take questions on his presentation.

Varied agenda to clear the decks for July sessions.

Special presentation from ABC York regarding interviews for new diocesan bishops on Wednesday morning following communion.

Church buildings.

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