Thursday, September 20, 2012

seduced by my own threads

There is no such thing as coincidence. 

If something happens, there is a reason.  We often just do not see the connection

That has been true of this trip.  Who would think that my posts about church art and architecture, my stomach flu, and a friend lauding the satirical musical The Book of Mormon, could lead to a personal epiphany?

While I was in Morelia, a friend asked me if I had heard the songs from The Book of Mormon.  She thought I would enjoy it, knowing my love of satire.  But, I hadn’t.  Living in Melaque has cut my former cultural ties with current plays and musicals on Broadway.

For the past two weeks, I have been listening to the soundtrack.  And she was correct.  I have enjoyed its satire and humor.  Even more, I have been touched by its reverential treatment of faith in action.

The musical is a send up of young Mormon missionaries in Africa.  But it is far more than that.  In skewing Mormonism, the writers make a point I have been hinting at in posts the last few weeks.

Most religious doctrine sounds silly when judged from the outside.


A couple of months ago, The American Spectator conducted a Heaven symposium on its pages with essays written by an atheist, an Anglican, and a rabbi.  The question was whether Heaven exists.

Not surprisingly, I found the essay by the rabbi to be the most compelling in his assertion that being so heaven minded as to be no earthly good is not an exercise in faith.  It is self-righteousness.

My favorite rabbi said something similar:  “You are to love your neighbor as yourself.”

I received an email from a former co-worker in reaction to my post the road to perdition. He thanked me for the post because, like most Protestants, he said he seems to stumble when he comes to verses like “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

In reaction to the same post, Joanna at Writing from Merida shared her recent experience of rediscovering her faith while continuing to be skeptical of religious institutions.

On Wednesday, each of these threads came together.  I was wandering around
Pátzcuaro snapping a few shots when I ran into one of the men with whom I was supposed to have breakfast before my explosive digestion set in.

He asked if I wanted to see a project in which he was involved.  It turned out to be the daily feeding of the poor and elderly that Shannon Casey has written about -- El Sagrario.

Shannon has described the program in depth.  I will just say that it is exactly the type of work I have been seeking -- without really knowing I was seeking it.  People interested in sharing with others with minimal support from either the church where the kitchen is located or from the governmental social agency. 

There is probably little I can do while I am here, but I am going to do what I can.  Those Salvation Army instincts are hard to keep down.

Let me part with this song from The Book of Mormon.  If you look past the obvious mis-statements of theology and the thick layers of postmodern satire, you will hear a modern moral voice seeking ways to make the world a better place.

Or, in the words of the show’s creators: “An atheist’s love letter to religion.”

Enjoy.




Note -- Somehow Mormons have managed to take all of this in good humor without killing ambassadors or burning buildings.  There may be a lesson there.

13 comments:

Shannon Casey said...

Thanks for the video Steve, I would like to see the play. 
I was amazed by how my life was enriched by volunteering at El Sagrario. I miss the people there very much and I hope to find some similar work to do here in San Miguel. I imagine you will really enjoy it too.

Steve Cotton said...

Apparently, they are now experiencing difficulty in getting food.  A constant difficulty in operations like this.

Babsofsanmiguel said...

There's a wonderful program in San Miguel called S.O.M.E  So Orhers May Eat..........

Babsofsanmiguel said...

The other amazing program here feeds over 3000 children a day.  About 11 years ago that program started in the tiny kitchen at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  Now there are kitchens in many schools, food deliverers, food stackers and everything else to accomplish this mission.  It is a VERY heartwarming program that I once had a tiny part in...........in a distant village. 

Tancho said...

I am at a loss of understanding, that there have been no uprisings, killings or riots because of this Broadway play.......As you say there must be a lesson. The fact is there are people that simply do not or can not understand the concept of allowing others the freedom to think or express ideas and divergent thoughts, in here lies the true sadness that catapults them back to the stone age where they seem 100% comfortable......
Sorry to hear about your temporary distress......must be the change in altitude and a new strain of localized bacteria, or simply some trained tamales......

Nancy said...

I have to add my thanks to you for adding the video to your blog - - We could have some interesting discussions about the "just believe" lines of the song...  I'd like to hear more about El Sagario...in about 6 weeks we'll be able to catch up in person...

Steve Cotton said...

I have discovered each community seems to have its own outreach project.  In Melaque, it is the migrant Indian school and my church's community outreach committee.

Steve Cotton said...

 And an excellent example of how civic action can assist others.

Steve Cotton said...

I will see you then.  The song is filled with several interesting points -- along with its silly satire.

Steve Cotton said...

And what the play says about Joseph Smith is far more vulgar than any of the slurs against Muhammad in the video that has set part of the world ablaze.  I would be surprised if some Mormons are not offended by the piece.  I suspect they are strong enough in their faith to realize that satire is just that.   

Shannon Casey said...

Unfortunately this is not new. However, it is really amazing how the community steps up and helps when the call for food goes out on the message board. It warms the heart!

Shannon Casey said...

Barbara, we need to talk. I would really like to know more about that. Thanks.

Steve Cotton said...

 And that is what happened this past month.