Reading the thread in Dallyachen's post on homosexuality among clergy in Facebook on 10th February, to me it seems high-time to re-evaluate the functionality of the christian edifice.
Is the christian faith self- contradictory?
Do we have the elasticity to change (convictions) according to the seemingly prevalent needs of the time?
Are the followers of this faith deceived by the upper echelons who do not believe in its tenets and are USING the church to meet their time- serving ends?
Is priesthood just like any other job to earn a living- the remuneration and perks are really staggering; you name it: free boarding (almost always free food) and lodging (rent-free housing), free phone and electricity, petrol allowance, gratuity, provident fund, pension, big purse upon transfer in every three years, and even added money (consolation for being dumb) for non- working, idiotic, gossiping wives of priests, with no strings attached- where else have you heard about such a covetable job? Even one or two foreign (America, Europe or Gulf) assignments are guaranteed in the package where a car and crores of rupees on re-transfer are added benefits. Isn't the following joke- very familiar with web users- illustrative of today's state of affairs in the church? (just leave out the specifics relating to a certain denomination).
With apologies to the good souls who may find it repugnant, may I reiterate that the emphasis is placed on the need for self- analysis.
"A woman was having sex during the day with her secret lover, while her husband was at work.
Her nine year old son comes home unexpectedly, sees the scene and hides in the bedroom's walk-in wardrobe.
A few minutes later her husband comes home.
She hides the lover in the wardrobe, not knowing her son is already in there.
The boy says,"Its dark in here."
The man replies:"Yes it is."
Boy: "I have a soccer ball; do you want to buy it ?
Man: "No".
Boy: "My dad is outside, I'll call him if you don't buy it."
Man:" Ok, how much ?"
Boy: "US $ 200". A few weeks later it happened again;
Boy and the lover were in the wardrobe together.
Boy: "Its dark in here."
Man: " Yes it is."
Boy: "I have soccer boots, wanna buy ?"
The man remembering the last incident asks,"How much?"
Boy says,"US $ 400."
The man says,"Fine" and pays.
A few days later the father tells his boy,
"Grab your ball and boots son, lets go outside and have a game."
Boy says, "I cant, I sold them for US $ 600."
The father says,"That's terrible to over-charge your friends like that... US $ 600 is way more than what those two things cost, am going to take you to church tomorrow and make you confess your sins."
The next day they go to church and the father makes the boy enter the confession booth and closes the door.
The boy says,"Its dark in here."
The priest replies," Don't try to be smart again, boy!
The man replies:"Yes it is."
Boy: "I have a soccer ball; do you want to buy it ?
Man: "No".
Boy: "My dad is outside, I'll call him if you don't buy it."
Man:" Ok, how much ?"
Boy: "US $ 200". A few weeks later it happened again;
Boy and the lover were in the wardrobe together.
Boy: "Its dark in here."
Man: " Yes it is."
Boy: "I have soccer boots, wanna buy ?"
The man remembering the last incident asks,"How much?"
Boy says,"US $ 400."
The man says,"Fine" and pays.
A few days later the father tells his boy,
"Grab your ball and boots son, lets go outside and have a game."
Boy says, "I cant, I sold them for US $ 600."
The father says,"That's terrible to over-charge your friends like that... US $ 600 is way more than what those two things cost, am going to take you to church tomorrow and make you confess your sins."
The next day they go to church and the father makes the boy enter the confession booth and closes the door.
The boy says,"Its dark in here."
The priest replies," Don't try to be smart again, boy!
THIS IS MY CHURCH AND NOT YOUR FATHER'S BEDROOM!"
To sum up: "But that two-handed engine at the door,
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more"
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more"
(In Milton's 'Lycidas', St. Peter, the "mitred", "stern" and "pilot of the Galilean lake" speaks the invective against contemporary clergy: lines famous for their dark allusions.)
Thanks
