March, 2003

After doing a quick read on "Philosophical Notes" (1/03), in between scoring student exams, Marcia Sullivan wrote:

Okie dokie, here are some reactions to your circular -stream of consciousness style, in no logical order, and based on a speed reading of your document- as I am one who ponders the role that intuition, idiosyncratic experience, birth order,religion, cultural assumptions, and astrology play in one's perception of life and in one's resulting philosophy, with a lower case p. My father left the Catholic religion, to which he returned in his tortured later life, because his priest told him not to ask questions like yours but to accept all on faith. Hence I was not Catholic despite the last name Sullivan. What might Dad's life have been like if he had received a different answer? Is orthodoxy orthodoxy no matter what religious label it bears? How does one grow enough in self-awareness to know when one is on automatic pilot and to switch it off in favor of a more reasoned reaction? Is it sometimes better to go with intuition? Can temperament bombarded with new awarenes and approaches to life really be altered? What role should anecdotal evidende play as opposed to statistics and philosophy? And, finally how does one put it all in perspective, especially inquiriies about immortality, when a four-year-old granddaughtershortly after the death of her paternal grandfather, asks "Grammy , do people love us after they die?" Somewhat taken aback, I belatedly answered,"I do not know for sure, but I think that even though they can not hug us and kiss us and read us stories anymore, we can feel their love in a different way."Her reply was, "I think so, too. I just love Grampa Bob!" So where do her intimations on immortality fit?

Bonnie Wentworth had an experience, in her words:

This is so interesting..you must have been searching at the same time I was.

 

From the age of 12 on, I asked my minister, then my pastor, then my priest...What are the doctrines of this faith and how do they differ.? I knew I was not happy at home, (divorce-step-father and all that stuff] , so I sought spiritual goodness and happiness. The kids next door, our best friends growing up and still are, were Catholic and were always in May processions etc They went to parochial school in Natick for grades 1-6 They told my sister and me of their catechism lessons and I just thought they were so lucky to have all those rules and holy days and confession. We used to walk with them to St Paul's when we were older, so they could go to confession.

 

Anyway, I got the same answer as you did from the priest and nuns: FAITH and don't listen to ANYONE who is not Catholic!!! Scarcely reassuring to a young child and then young adult, looking for rules to live by. Our Congregational minister and Methodist pastor just COULD NOT put forth their doctrines. They just didn't seem to know them!!! much to my chagrin. However, in my 30's, my husband and I and my children ( 9yrs & 7yrs both baptized Catholics...the 7yr old just preparing for her 1st communion,) read The Book of Mormon and knew in our hearts and souls that the Book was true. With all the discoveries made in the past 20 years in Guatemala and Central America, the tablets, the stories and facts deciphered on the tablets, etc just serve to prove this Book, written in 1836, is the most true book on the earth today. I would love it if you could read it and I would be glad to send you one if you'd like me to. I don't want a religious debate. I'm just grateful I found a church that puts family values first and enriches and blesses my life and that of my children and grandchildren daily. It answers the questions:

 

1. Where did I come from?
2. Why are we here?
3. Where are we going?

 

Our 13 Articles of Faith set forth our doctrines explicitly, and are not subject to the whims of man. When the Catholic church changed its outlook on hats, fish on Fri, 'Ski Mass' Sat night, etc, etc I felt betrayed. I thought these were LAWS, but, to satisfy its members desires and wants, exceptions were made and rules changed almost overnight. I knew then that this was not God's Church if man could make, break, and change the rules and doctrines at whim.

 

You may have read about our 100th temple in Belmont, Mass referred to as the 'Boston Temple'

 

Our leaders and prophet have counseled us not to debate religion but to be a living example. I believe in the Ten Commandments and I told my children that until the Lord came down and changed them, they were still in force no matter what everybody else was doing in the 60's-70's. I'm so proud of both of them and the choices they have made in their lives. I KNOW their religion has had a lot to do with their choices and the peace and happiness that they enjoy.

 

I feel a kinship with that little boy who was getting ready for his confirmation...but still doubting and wondering at the same time..I can still remember the feeling of apartness from everyone else and a kind of sadness (for lack of a better word) that I felt, not having the certainty and security and unquestioning of faith that the Harringtons did. I see now that I was heading in the right direction, although it took 30 years to find the truth.

 

I don't think I've ever written, let alone TYPED such a long letter to anyone or discussed this with anyone else...but you brought this all to my mind.

With all due respect, please delete my email address from your files when you are sending your political views.

Regarding the war, Steve Bell writes:

Well, it looks as though we're on our way to test some new military hardware. Just saw on my BBC news web page that the Australians will commit troops. Seems like old times. Hope it'll be over soon. Probably will be, but if not, what then? If we beat the daylights out of Iraq, will Syria, Libya, North Korea or France be the next country to be targeted? Remember according to Bush if you are not for us then you are against us. Will the smart bombs be accurate and will they be better than the Patriot Missiles from the prior conflict with Iraq. Can only hope that the administration is correct in their assumption that Iraq has more of the biological and chemical weapons that is claimed. IF WE DON'T FIND THESE WEAPONS that will be another kettle of fish.

Chuck S says:

 

Sorry Walt. Silence does NOT automatically mean approval, nor does it mean support for Pres Bush. It does mean you are a good American and support your country. Because you are not against something does not mean you support the opposing position 100% either.

 

That argument has been the downfall of nations and has been used for centuries to gain support for radical arguments.

 

Roger White said "hi" last February: