What magnificent writing! I have been struggling to articulate this position to myself for 68 years and today, here it is, perfectly formed and splendidly written. THANK YOU. I sing in church each Sunday because I live for Renaissance polyphony. Everything else makes me grind my teeth and yet, humanity seems to have SUCH a need for "religion." Your writing creates a structure that finally makes sense.
Thanks Cari. That's very sweet of you. I was brought up as a cathedral chorister in the Church of England, many years ago. The shock of fathoming out the truth, amidst such sublime architecture and music, was a paradox from which I am still recovering!
I, like every human that has ever walked this 'blackened, contaminated, unpleasant land' was not born a religious being. That came about when I was in my early thirties, a long story that I won't go into here. I was soon a 'born-again', 'evangelical' 'fundalmentalist' xtian - I can't say the full word. I stayed like that for about 35 years - I know pathetic isn't it. My church was an American inspired, multi site affair of some 1000 people.
But bit by bit I did a U Turn on that Damascus Road as it hit me - all religions are man made constructs to belittle us and make us worship an invisible some deity.
I am now in my late 70's and disabled so I feel I have wasted nearly half of my life.
I searched for a 'non-religious' meaning to my life and came across Humanism and Humanist UK.
Despite the poor hand that was delt to me I have never been more content.
What magnificent writing! I have been struggling to articulate this position to myself for 68 years and today, here it is, perfectly formed and splendidly written. THANK YOU. I sing in church each Sunday because I live for Renaissance polyphony. Everything else makes me grind my teeth and yet, humanity seems to have SUCH a need for "religion." Your writing creates a structure that finally makes sense.
Thanks Cari. That's very sweet of you. I was brought up as a cathedral chorister in the Church of England, many years ago. The shock of fathoming out the truth, amidst such sublime architecture and music, was a paradox from which I am still recovering!
This process, while likely painful to recount, seems like an immensely important column, if and when you might care to write it.
I, like every human that has ever walked this 'blackened, contaminated, unpleasant land' was not born a religious being. That came about when I was in my early thirties, a long story that I won't go into here. I was soon a 'born-again', 'evangelical' 'fundalmentalist' xtian - I can't say the full word. I stayed like that for about 35 years - I know pathetic isn't it. My church was an American inspired, multi site affair of some 1000 people.
But bit by bit I did a U Turn on that Damascus Road as it hit me - all religions are man made constructs to belittle us and make us worship an invisible some deity.
I am now in my late 70's and disabled so I feel I have wasted nearly half of my life.
I searched for a 'non-religious' meaning to my life and came across Humanism and Humanist UK.
Despite the poor hand that was delt to me I have never been more content.
Richard, you are such an exquisite wordsmith. You seem to articulate my thoughts in a way I could never even dream of.
More power to your 'pen'.