a true first person testimonial of a Christian Science parent. It is terrifying when a child has a medical emergency that doesn't heal immediately. My heart goes out to the family.
Reading the Wrong People
If only the accusations hurled at me were as simple as "reading the wrong people." I was accused of "letting mortal mind win" and being a failure as a parent for not "protecting" my children, and doing untold damage to them because I've chosen NOT to radically rely on Christian Science (my misplaced faith nearly … Continue reading Reading the Wrong People
Good Homeschooled Girls: Hide the Real You
Reblogged from http://homeschoolersanonymous.wordpress.com Good Homeschooled Girls are supposed to be perfect. They’re supposed to be Pollyanna, Elsie Dinsmore, and Jane Bennet. They’re supposed to be completely innocent, unnoticed, modest, graceful, but still look beautiful and unblemished (while not thinking too hard about it). Good Homeschooled Girls are impossible. All of us are wearing masks, we’re all acting … Continue reading Good Homeschooled Girls: Hide the Real You
golf balls, sand & chocolate milk
Regular reader and commenter Bill S. recently shared the following inspiring video with me, many of you have probably heard the analogy of the pickle jar (or mayo jar) that you fill with golf balls, little rocks, and sand which represent things in life. It is a striking visual reminder to take care of the … Continue reading golf balls, sand & chocolate milk
What is God (and why was it stolen by religion)?
a very thought provoking piece, it also reminded me me that I started a series of posts about what Ms. Eddy borrowed and added to her own variation… maybe I should work on them a bit.
We are surrounded by literalists, by those who have been raised in a society gorged from the teat of the religiously-besotted, by those all too willing to believe what their neighbours believe for the sake of convenience and peace. Also, in growing numbers, are those who recognize that they have no compelling reasons adduced from reality to grant such literal divine agencies any role in their considerations of it. At all.
This is altogether a crying shame.
Although I cannot possibly hope to do the topic justice in a single blog post (or even a series), I think gods (and the rest of the supernatural pantheon) play an essential role in how we think, how our brain physiology produces the kind of language we need to live authentic lives rich in purpose and meaning, and – most importantly – how we gain access to wisdom to carry it out.
Anyone…
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what I’ve been reading – women
Pope Francis: Women called to service, not servitude There's Nothing About Abortion in the Bible -- So How Do Right-Wing Christians Justify Their Crusade Against Women? (found via the incredibly thought provoking abortion tag at Defeating the Dragons) "Babies are Cute" And Other Non-Starter Arguments for Forced Childbearing How I Learned I Was Pro-Choice By … Continue reading what I’ve been reading – women
the Right Dictionary, what is Love?
While Buddhists focus on the Rights of the Noble Eightfold Path, Christian Scientists focus on things like “the right hand soap,” the “right Sunday School teacher” and the “right” dictionary. Yes, the right dictionary. You might think all dictionaries are the same, but you’d be wrong. If you’re a good Christian Scientist you spend a … Continue reading the Right Dictionary, what is Love?
$148 off the cover price if you subscribe to both!
It has been four months since I sent in my letter officially resigning from the Mother Church (see Parts 1, 2 and 3 if you are curious). When I printed out my letter, my husband found it and asked if I could change up the information and print one out for him too. I obliged, … Continue reading $148 off the cover price if you subscribe to both!
I Walk With Love
This was shared a few days ago and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Emerging Gently sums how I feel about my Christian Science experience so nicely when they say:
- As I’ve learned to look back on the journey of my life so far, I am grateful to come to the realization that my time in Christian Science, while I view it as misguided, was not wasted.
For a time, when I heard CS hymns, my blood ran cold and I wanted to run, but over the last year or two I’ve come to embrace their familiar comfort. Some nights I sing Shepard Show Me to Kid1 at bedtime (it is “the song about sheep”), I mostly sing the melody and badly botch/make up the words as I go along, but Kid1 doesn’t mind, it is comforting.
A favourite hymn of mine is #139 in the Christian Science Hymnal. The first line is “I walk with Love along the way…” These words have always brought me great comfort, as does the musical setting. Some of my most cherished childhood memories are of my Mom singing that and also #304 (Shepherd show me) and #207 (O gentle presence) to me when I was sick. The words of all of these hymns still comfort me when they come to mind, and I can still hear her voice in my mind as vividly as the last time she sang these hymns to me when I was a child. The marriage of poetry and music in hymns has tremendous mental/emotional healing power. But, it is the line from #139 in particular, that inspires this post.
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what I’ve been reading – thought provoking blog posts
I think my Sunday School teachers should be grateful that the internet wasn't as prevalent when I was in their classes... Or maybe I should be grateful, I suspect I would have had a LOT more conversations w/the Sunday School Superintendent. Not a fan of Jesus at Godless in Dixie Fascinating Womanhood: Pandora's Box at … Continue reading what I’ve been reading – thought provoking blog posts
kind-ism 