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What I Gave Up for Lent

posted in: On My Mind 4

Copy of Linderhof, Wies, Ettel, Musik 100I’m not religious now. I’m one of those new things called “None” or maybe it’s “Non.” I’m sure it’s not “Nun.” It means being spiritually minded but without a religion. In other words, valuing good qualities and trying to stay in tune with the unseen creative power everywhere. Something like that. It varies person to person. But I was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, and was very religious, including getting eight years of schooling by Sisters of Mercy. Sometimes they lived up to their name.

As a kid, for Lent I’d give up things like chocolate, roller skating, or coke (that’s Coca-Cola, not crack cocaine). My family followed the tradition of denying themselves pleasant activities or yummy treats in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made when he died for our sins. I never quite understood how that worked, and I still don’t (someone dies 2,000 years ago, and all of us living since get saved from going to hell, but oh yeah…only if we confess our sins before we die?) Anyway, I did not think about that too much back then, but I did know that giving up chocolate felt like a big deal. I was a little girl, clueless about metaphysical aspects of theology. I am a big girl now and still trying to understand.

This Lent 2015 even though I’m most definitely excommunicated from the Catholic Church, (do you get a certificate with that?) I’ll be doing the same thing I did in 2012. I’ll be reworking another major rewrite to create a more acceptable version (fingers crossed) for an agent to shop around to publishers for me. At least, that’s the plan, the hope, the nail-biting angst-riddled belief…today. Ask me again tomorrow. Light a few candles for me.

4 Responses

  1. carol welch
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    I’m a “none” too. 🙂 I recently read that term in an online book, “The Authoritarians.”

    I just read your poetry. The images are captivating. I will be lingering in my mind today…beside a window…with a shirt and old-time iron in hand.

    I’m looking forward to the release of your book…and all the updates leading to it.

    Congratulations on the launch of your site. I know it will bring richness to all who read.

    I’ll think of you when I light a candle today. 🙂

  2. Charlene L. Edge
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    Hi Carol,
    Nice to hear from you. I’m so glad you like this site. The book you mentioned sounds like something I’d like to read, too. The other day I found a list of books I might check out…perhaps you’ve seen some of them. Visit: http://www.bustle.com/articles/69793-9-fascinating-books-about-cults-and-strict-fundamentalist-movements-thatll-get-you-totally-swept-up-in

    Cheers,
    Charlene

  3. carol welch
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    Thanks for the link. I have heard of a few of those books and authors, but I haven’t read any of the books. I continue to be intrigued by how various groups with differing beliefs mirror one another in their control and indoctrination tactics. That was a big realization when I was first emerging from decades of biblical fundamentalism: “Oh. My unique experience in my unique Bible group is no more unique than her unique experience in her unique Eastern religion group.” That may be obvious to folks on the outside…but for me, it brightened the lights and I could see more clearly.

    I’ve not yet finished reading “The Authoritarians.” I almost stopped reading it after I took the first test and then scored it with the crazy-looking scoring system. But, I later understood it. And the book has kept me intrigued, though it is tedious at times.

    It is mainly the author’s (and I think, also other social scientists’) results from tests/studies with 1000s of people, over how many years I can’t recall, in regard to authoritarianism … followers and leaders.

    I’m currently in the last chapter which is most intriguing to me…as far as the relationship between the leader and the follower. The author states: “This is now called the ‘lethal union’ in this field of research.” He has footnote there to a study(?) by some people other then himself, and he expounds further. I was taken by that term, “lethal union.”

    Here’s a link to the PDF:
    http://members.shaw.ca/jeanaltemeyer/drbob/TheAuthoritarians.pdf

    Here’s a link in wikipedia regarding the author’s work:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_authoritarianism

    I did think of you when I lit my candle the other day. I had bought a new candle just this past Monday…daisy scented. I never recall experiencing a daisy candle before. It’s nice. 🙂

  4. Karen
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    Congratulations Charlene. Good job.

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