So, If She Weighs Less Than a Duck...

[happiestsadist]

As I was trying to fall asleep, I started wondering about witch hunts. Okay, specifically the Salem with trials of 1692-1693. Some people have claimed that there was in fact an outbreak of ergotism behind it, explaining the claims of the "bewitched" as a result of the hallucinations and physical sensations that ergot (so related to LSD) produce

Comments

[arthur_sc_king]

NP. IMHO, faith requires some suspension of critical thought, but I don't think you have to check your brain completely at the door, actually. I'm not "up" enough on the concept to express my thoughts very well, but I think it's very possible to have faith in something supernal while still retaining reason and critical thought.

As for the concept of hell, here's something interesting that not a lot of people know (hell, not a lot of Mormons know). You know that book that's gotten a lot of press by some minister who suggests that a loving God wouldn't really send a bunch of his children to eternal fire?

Well, in Mormon theology, there isn't a "standard-issue" fire-and-brimstone hell. First, when you die, your spirit goes somewhere, which for lack of a better name we call "the spirit world". Then, eventually, everybody is resurrected. Almost everybody goes to one of three "degrees of glory", the idea being that even the lowest of those three still has glory "which surpasses all understanding".

I see that "lowest" place as something a bit like what Hunter S. Thompson said about hell:If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix - a clean well lighted place full of sunshine and bromides and fast cars where almost everybody seems vaguely happy, except those who know in their hearts what is missing...
So, yeah, I share your "hell is fundamentally anti-humanity" viewpoint, and it is in fact one reason why I did adopt the Mormon model.

(I do indeed have lots of problems with other bits, especially how there's no place for gay or transsexual people in the church unless they're willing to be completely abstinent/unexpressed respectively. But, like any model, it doesn't work for everyone. I just wish more of the stupider more heartless type of Mormon would just shut up and dig that, but can't always choose your fellow congregationalists.)

And finally, to tell you the truth, I don't fully understand how I stick with the church, either. It's a long twisted story that even I don't know all the corners of.

[happiestsadist]

Huh, I did not know that about the Mormon afterlife. I only really knew about the planets, and the harems of baby-making space wives.

I'll be honest, I hate the LDS church to an extent that's up there with my hatred the RCC for its commitment to fucking over women, queers, trans people and hell, POC. You're a good person, and don't seem to feel that kind of animosity toward the aforementioned groups or me. So I remain baffled, not that I'm demanding an answer. I'm sure I could be clearer or gentler, but too many miniature and delicious homemade burritos turn eloquence and thinking into a pleasant elastic-waisted-pants kind of haze.

[arthur_sc_king]

Where you're coming from is totally cool. And yes, the Prop 8 thing specifically and the way the church and its members and its culture often treat "others" often pisses me right off, too. My feelings on this are largely informed by the facts that (a) I have many gay cousins on my mom's side, even though I was never close to any of them (occasional summer vacation "hi how are you" visits), (b) at least one (or two? can't remember) died from AIDS, (c) one was gay-bashed to death (around 10-15 years ago, somewhere in NS), (d) another was a prominent figure in the same-sex-marriage debates in Canada (google "Pamela Dickey Young" if you're bored) and is obviously someone to be admired, not hated, and (e) dammit, they're children of God too, and God must have made them that way for some great reason, not just giving small-minded idiots targets for hate.

And much envy on the homemade burrito front. I'm late at work and I'm starving.

[happiestsadist]

I've heard of Pamela Dickey Young! And now you got Gaga's "Born This Way" in my head. Which isn't such a bad thing.

They are very good burritos. From-scratch refried black beans, guacamole and tortillas because I am awesome at cooking, and some sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers for texture.If you ever find yourself up this way, I do love cooking for guests. :D