Talk:February 10, 2003
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amanda
IP: 66.13.135.106
URL: http://www.ospreydesign.com/foreword
DATE: 02/10/2003 07:27:50 PM
It's sad that many, many Christians are in their own little boxed-in, cookie-cutter world.
Anne Lamott (a writer with a Salon.com column) described her Christian conversion like this:
"I began to cry and left before the benediction, and I raced home and felt the little cat running along my heels, and I walked down the dock past dozens of potted flowers, ipened the door to my houseboat, and I stood there a minute, and then I hung my head in my head and said, 'Fuck it: I quit.' I tood a long deep breath and said out loud, 'All right. You can come in.'
So this was my beautiful moment of conversion."
Gerald, read Patrick Allit's "Catholic Converts: British and American Intellectuals Turn to Rome" (Cornell Univ. Press), read Pearce's "Literary Converts: Spiritual Inspiration in an Age of Unbelief" (Ignatius Press) and for gosh's sakes read C.S. Lewis.
Your mom says/thinks, "I donít know who poisoned your mind, Jerry. You were brought up right, then you go off to college and it ruins you. You shouldnít look too closely at things."
Don't do that! Look very closely at things and keep looking. Look at what happened when C.S. Lewis went off to Oxford. Yikes!
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: grl
IP: 68.1.150.55
URL:
DATE: 02/10/2003 10:43:07 PM
Thanks, Amanda, but I have no desire to be converted, or "reverted" would be more appropriate. I have read C.S. Lewis, St. Augustine, the Bible, etc. Great literature, but religion? Nah. I'll check out your other suggestions.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Gerald Lucas
IP: 216.111.20.193
URL:
DATE: 02/12/2003 10:48:54 PM
Dr. Lucas:
I happened upon your website and read all of the above and do have some comments.
It was very wise of you to respond the way you did to her concerns about your "immortal soul". Your response indicates that you understand her concerns are due to her love for you. She does love you dearly and is very proud of you. She obviously has reasons for her concern. As do I.
The great apostle Paul was a bad-ass aweful person until he "believed". He then wrote about half of the Bible and is quoted daily by millions of believers. Many Christians, including my wife, can tell stories about how offended they were when well meaning friends tried to "force" their Christian faiths upon them.
At some time in our lives, we all go through times of trial. And it is during these times that we discover who we are and we discover our Lord.
I believe that that day has not arrived for you, but when it does........you will put the apostle Paul to shame, because you are MUCH more intelligent and you drive a better car!
I love you.
Yourpa
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: MOM
IP: 205.188.116.137
URL:
DATE: 01/24/2005 04:40:45 PM
Jerry, Immortal sole, who said you had an immortal sole. You put a lot of words into my mouth that I did not say. I do care about your sole and that is why Terry and I were concerned and still are. You are so very dear to me that I, as your mom, will not ever stop trying to bring you back to God. Never
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jhary
IP: 68.15.220.222
URL: http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/
DATE: 01/28/2005 12:41:05 PM
Indeed, Mom, you did not use the specific words "immortal soul." However, you did say "I want you with me in heaven." What is the difference?
Also, why are you so convinced that your position is the only valid one? You must realize that, despite what the church might have you believe, that you do not have all of the answers for everyone. This attitude is dangerous.
I respect your beliefs. Why can't you do the same for me? What if I made it my mission to turn you away from your God because I think my way is the only right one?
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: MOM
IP: 152.163.100.137
URL:
DATE: 01/28/2005 09:17:13 PM
Jerry, Read Jeremiah 9:23 & 9:24 What is dangerous is losing your soul. What's the danger in serving a God that offers eternal life?
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jhary
IP: 24.252.198.183
URL: http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/~glucas/
DATE: 01/28/2005 11:26:07 PM
Mom, read Hamlet, or The Brothers Karamazov, and we'll talk. I've read your bible, but it's just one book. Humanity has written a lot more. Why narrow your possibilities?
There are lots of gods that promise eternal life. Achilles thought that being the best warrior would win him immortality. Faust looked for his in life and learning. Aeneas founded an empire that outlasted our current one. Jesus died for espousing radical beliefs. All can teach us about ourselves. All speak of gods.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: MOM
IP: 205.188.116.137
URL:
DATE: 01/29/2005 02:37:45 PM
Jerry, Enough, If this the way I get to talk to you and argue with you than I'll not write again. It looks to me like you still like to win and have only opinions that are so out of it that I'll discontinue this discussion. How can you compare anyone elso to God Almighty? I'll get my pleasure looking at pictures of my beautiful grandson. He makes me happy for he is a happy little soul, living in a happy home around loving parents.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jhary
IP: 24.252.198.183
URL: http://www.earthshine.net/
DATE: 01/29/2005 04:36:31 PM
Easier to ignore me. I know. It's tough looking at the issues that question these big ideas. If you want to talk about these things without getting indignant or preachy, let me know. I'm not sure what this has to do with liking "to win." If you mean asking questions, then you're right. I do not have all the answers, and I do not like to limit the possibilities, especially with what amounts to a bunch of medieval superstitions and narrowmindedness.
The bible is about people. Literature is also about people. There is no one answer for me. I'm glad you're comfortable with the one you've believed all your life and can so easily not consider anything else.
I know you love me, as Dad states above, but part of that love is letting me choose my own path. This choice, after all, is integral to your flavor of christianity. I think this is something that many christians out there have forgotten. They can't even agree what they believe. Do you and Terry agree, or is there still a battle between the christians and the Papists? Do you agree with everything the bible suggests is correct? How can one embrace a religion that ostracizes and even kills people for not sharing a single perspective?
I could go on and on. Ask the difficult questions about your faith; if you can still go back to it, then it'll just be stronger. Read what <a href="http://www.ccel.org/a/augustine/confessions/confessions.html" rel="nofollow">St. Augustine</a> has written in his <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/7/1/" rel="nofollow">Confessions</a>. It's not so easy, and it is not hopeless. Perhaps God is a metaphor? . . .
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Autumn
IP: 4.152.132.59
URL:
DATE: 01/29/2005 05:42:47 PM
At this point, I think it's time to say that Jerry and I, too, have a home that is filled with love and happiness. Our happiness is rooted in each other, and in all of the things that we enjoy doing. This is the truest form of joy that I can imagine, and we are too lucky to take this for granted. Jerry loves life, and I love him for that. As far as the differing beliefs go, there is always more to say, but I will stick with this: The most effective sermons are given through actions, not rehearsed or written words.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jhary
IP: 24.252.198.183
URL: http://www.earthshine.net/
DATE: 01/29/2005 06:54:09 PM
Amen.
