Dirt and water, when mixed, make mud.
Dry mud is just dirt with a past.
Dirt blows away in a strong enough gust.
It takes water to make a soul last.
To keep from drowning, you'd best get a boat.
To have a boat you've got to have wood.
To have wood some trees have got to be grown.
To have trees you'll need dirt under foot.
Once you've scouted for trees that are sound,
Your body will be dried up by dust.
When washing you'll need to make sure you don't drown.
I hear tell that a foot-bath's enough.
Once you're all clean you can finish your boat.
With a boat you'll be ready to sail.
The wind knows the best moment to take you away.
It won't blow 'til you're sure that you've failed.
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8 comments:
He's no perennialist, for sure, but Fr. Tobias just wrote a piece of Islam and Orthodoxy - somewhat timely considering our conversation today. Have you seen it?
I just skimmed it. I get annoyed when I read position-paper stuff like this because it tells you so little about Islam and so much about the person writing. If the Christians and Jews have a monopoly on the God of Love, then He's not much of a God. Rather, I should say that the Being who would leave the Hindus, the Muslims, the Pagans, the Native Americans and the entire far Eastern world on the outside of Love looking in is a monster. "You shall know them by their fruits". Sanctity is as plain as day to the one who wants to see it and as far as I can see is not restricted to the Christian world. To think that Muslims submit themselves primarily out of a servile fear of God is to ignore the mystical side of Islam which is so clearly perfumed with love of the divine that I can't relate to someone who, in their assessment of Islam, just brushes past it.
A little calmer now, but still stubborn. It's true that the Muslims have nothing to teach the church theologically, but it seems closed-minded to say that they have nothing to teach me theologically. If I knew how to be religious naturally, like a saint or an unintellectual person, then I would just say my prayers and ignore the other religions. The fact of the matter is, that it takes a lot of work for me to be faithful and that burden is eased when I look at Christianity from the outside in. I don't know to what degree it's a duty for me to keep studying other cultures, but I do believe that it's a duty; one that the church doesn't need to perform, but that I need to perform to be churched.
"It's true that the Muslims have nothing to teach the church theologically, but it seems closed-minded to say that they have nothing to teach me theologically."
I think that's an insightful statement. I knew he'd get you up in arms, my friend, but the coincidence of our conversation was too great not to mention his post. Mind you, I don't fall on one side of this. I am an agnostic in these matters, believing that somehow Christ must be involved in anything holy.
That being said, I doubt Fr. Tobias would say that Jews and Christians have a monopoly on God's love. He would probably say that the Christians are the ones that have managed to recognize it as it has been fully revealed, i.e., incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth.
Your words on the mystical side of Islam are very important. I wonder, though, how widespread the acceptance of this side is in the general Islamic world. I don't ask this rhetorically, but seriously. I know next to nothing about an average Muslim's mystical beliefs....(a glaring lack, to be sure).
And, of course, Fr. Tobias was writing an eloquent polemic. Polemic's have a purpose, and equity is not usually one of them.
Oh, your final thought "but that I need to perform to be churched.", is wonderful too.
...
No apologies necessary for your comments. I'm never happier than when up in arms. :)
"Both Jews and Christians posit a God Whose nature is love. The same should not be said of Islam."
Fr. Tobias seems to be saying here that the God the Muslims worship is, in his nature, unloving. He doesn't seem to me to be saying that they have failed to fully recognize the loving nature of the God they worship. Their God is not Love. A bit extreme, don't you think?
I'm no historian and I have a terrible head for sociology so I can't tell you how the mystical side of Islam relates to the life of the average worshipper nowadays. But I can say that it's generally accepted by Muslim scholars that Sufism was instituted by Muhammad as he sat talking with his closest friends. Every Sufi brotherhood traces their lineage back to this meeting. Also, the generally accepted view in the Muslim scholarly world is that Sufism is a necessary complement to Sharia, and not just a superadded institution or a denomination like Shiite or Sunni.
As far as love and mercy goes. If I remember right, at least one of the five daily prayers ask for peace and mercy for all. Also, every chapter of the Koran begins with the phrase "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful". But, without a closer look at the Quran or Muslim practice, I can see how someone could believe that that stuff doesn't actually penetrate the heart of the average believer. It's an open question to me, but I'm obviously inclined to believe that Muslims are motivated by love.
As for Fr. Tobias and his polemic: He's the best "cranky dude" on the Orthodox web and I think he's right on about the war not being a religious fight.
I like this poem. Actually reminds me of balance and the 5 elements.
I thought of that when I wrote it ma!
You did NOT think of the 5 elements, did you? Just a reminder that tomorrow we are heading off to the Black Hills and will return Sunday night. Gosh, I guess I won't be at church again on Sunday. BTW, all of our family seems to be very safe from the fires so far...
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