I’ve been walking to and from work downtown recently, depending on when I go relative to kids going to school or my wife going to work.
Today I rolled out of bed while everybody else was sleeping in, taking off to work in one of those beautiful mid-winter mornings in Fairbanks. New snow had blanketed the town during the late morning, and was still drifting down.
Snow in Fairbanks is unique to any place I’ve lived. It falls silently, rarely accompanied by any wind, and stacks quietly on any limbs, wires, or even twigs; forming an intricately woven organic lace of white on every tree, willow, or blade of grass long enough to still emerge from earlier snows.
It was a beautiful day for a walk, even if just to work.
After work, I headed home via the post office. It gave me an opportunity to cross the Cushman Street Bridge and pass by the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, as opposed to the pedestrian bridge where I usually cross the river.
I grew up Catholic, and although my views on religion stray far from the church these days, I still long for the spirituality and mysticism that can envelop a traditional mass. So much so, as I passed their front door, that I eyed the times for mass and even considered recruiting, or drafting, my family for a Christmas service.
I continued down the path, freshly cleaned of snow (the only disturbance during my early morning walk was the snow blower running over the church’s walks); to the little altar of stone for the Virgin Mary built in the Church’s front yard. The snow had been carefully brushed away from the altar. Within the apse, a statue of the virgin mother stands, surrounded by pots of brightly colored plastic flowers.
The irony of this little scene didn’t escape me.
So I stood there, in the low winter light of the Alaska midday sun, rays filtering through the branches of the snow covered birch trees, snow still softly falling upon me, surrounded by divinity as it was meant to be, in front of a poorly crafted altar to the mother of a god made in mankind’s own image.
I walked on, struck by the folly of man.
Of religion.
Of the obscenity of plastic flowers replacing real ones made by god.
Man does do it better, after all.
Meanwhile the pope is in Rome, railing against the evils of homosexuality, proclaiming how it will be the downfall of humanity.
Not overpopulation.
Not the disease, starvation, war, torture, abuse, injury, rape, environmental ruin or death brought on by overpopulation.
Just homosexuality.
Homosexuality?
for now it may be that they rail against homosexuality. but they are always railing about sexuality of some sort. flowers aren’t the only one of god’s marvelous creations that they don’t appreciate.
I just read your piece on plastic flowers, and the whole man made symbolizym of the Catholic tradition. I too feel that way each Christmas. Then it eats at me starting with Ash Wednesday, when I find myself envious of people walking around with ashes. I always feel guilty when I realize it is Good Friday right after I have eaten a burger or even had bacon and eggs that morning. Then how do you manage to show your face for Mass on Sunday knowing you didn’t even contemplate giving something-anything up for lent.
A direct oppression of women. Silently defined to conform to a mans way of the church. The church of man, oh I mean men. We were oppressed long enough. When will we form a solidarity amongst women. We couldn’t do much worse than they have.
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As a Catholic–a practicing one at that–who moved here from the Lower 48 in December, I found your blog and was enjoying many of the posts on it. Then I read this and was horrifically offended.
Not just because you paint Catholicism with a cold, ugly, and very tarred brush, but because you vilify a faith you clearly don’t understand. And as a result, you vilify those who love and believe in that faith. Who understand that behind the Catholic Church’s teachings on sexuality is a glorious vision that prompted this atheist to join her ranks. A vision that transcends the secular belief that sexuality is nothing more than a recreational diversion from the humdrum of life. A recreation with no meaningful, lasting consequences to our soul–other than to bond two people together most fully and to create another human being. But that would presume we have souls in the first place, wouldn’t it? And we know that the soul is just some metaphysical idea.
I’m also sorry you completely misinterpreted the grotto of the Virgin Mary and the plastic flowers. You have perpetuated one of the most common misconceptions about Catholic devotions to Mary–that we worship her. Really, this is something even a five minutes of research would have revealed to be untrue. If I walked into your home and saw a picture in it of your wife and children, I would assume that you have those images up not because you WORSHIP them, but because you love them and want to be reminded of the persons you love. It is the same for us as Catholics. We sweep away the snow and put flowers in front of her statues for the same reason you dust the mantle whereupon sits your loved one’s portrait–framed possibly with an ornate silvery or handmade frame–because we LOVE her for saying yes to God and for giving us our Lord.
If you are going to condescend to faithful Catholics about how much more enlightened you are as a Unitarian, at least learn about the faith you denigrate before posting things like this. It’s offensive, but more importantly, it’s erroneous. I would never spout off about Unitarianism–even if I grew up as one–the way you have about Catholicism here. You claim to be a tolerant, loving, inclusive people, yet you exhibit the same narrow-minded, exclusive, condescending opinion of those of different faiths that you accuse your fellow Catholics of espousing. Unlike you, however, I won’t judge all Unitarians by what I read here.
Misty,
I’m sorry you took offense to my post. As I read it now I don’t see that it bashes Catholicism specifically- but rather questions why we seek to replace God’s work with creations of our own (like plastic flowers). Likewise, subtly, it questions the validity of the Pope’s position on homosexuality (one man’s position unless one views the Pope as God) versus God’s creations of the world, including homosexuals.
Regarding misunderstanding the Catholic faith, I believe I have recited enough Hail Mary’s to have earned that right. Might I add, praying to an entity is usually interpreted as a sign of worship.
In closing, I have found those with the greatest faith aren’t threatened by one who questions it. I hope you are able to make peace with yours.
In peace,
DC