Hmm. Here's a bad idea.
Once upon a way back then, I got ordained. Mind, this by the ULC - I just typoed UFC, which would have been much cooler - back in 1992, and actually kept the stuff up to date - largely because it's my firm belief that solid ethics are just as important as the more traditional leap of faith. Now it's been pointed out to me that I might actually qualify to do sermons and suchlike. And get paid for it.
To this theoretical end, I have an extensive background in ethics, both applied and the philosophy spouting sort, and I’m good at making sense of complex crisis situations with human elements. Some places are looking for stuff like that, for people who are interested in service, care-giving, and work more than they’re interested in, “God says!” Whatever the prostletic blither of the day is.
I’ve worked with religious types of all flavors, from Catholic to Quaker, and the only generalities I’ve had troubles with are the obvious icks, “God says,” Followed by anything - that’ll cause me to become unpleasant. “Women/Men/Children should,” Followed by populist dogma tends to set me off as well.
No problem with things like, “People should,” If the upshot is people should be nicer to each other, be careful of each other, and generally not be arseoles at the earliest opportunity. A minister? I spent three years speaking regularly to people 8-18 regarding ethics, faith, and how to live a good life. Nearly all of that was, “Think, damnit. Question. Analyze, expect consequences, and act where you need to. Make life better for everyone, not just your lonesome.”
Regardless, it’s something to look into, I suppose.
In the meantime, go get yourself ordained. After all, whatever you believe, there’s no reason not to have a wee bit of legal paperwork that says you’re allowed to use that belief to marry people, teach people, and so on. Go to it - Douglass Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy advice on getting drunk - and good luck.
Bugger. I want a UFC ordination. Can you imagine hearing, “Let’s get it on!” or “Fight!” In a soup kitchen? “Eat! Action!” And we’d need corner support too. “Relax, watch your legs! Hot pot, hot pot! Relax!”
Clearly I want Bas Rutten’s corner.
To this theoretical end, I have an extensive background in ethics, both applied and the philosophy spouting sort, and I’m good at making sense of complex crisis situations with human elements. Some places are looking for stuff like that, for people who are interested in service, care-giving, and work more than they’re interested in, “God says!” Whatever the prostletic blither of the day is.
I’ve worked with religious types of all flavors, from Catholic to Quaker, and the only generalities I’ve had troubles with are the obvious icks, “God says,” Followed by anything - that’ll cause me to become unpleasant. “Women/Men/Children should,” Followed by populist dogma tends to set me off as well.
No problem with things like, “People should,” If the upshot is people should be nicer to each other, be careful of each other, and generally not be arseoles at the earliest opportunity. A minister? I spent three years speaking regularly to people 8-18 regarding ethics, faith, and how to live a good life. Nearly all of that was, “Think, damnit. Question. Analyze, expect consequences, and act where you need to. Make life better for everyone, not just your lonesome.”
Regardless, it’s something to look into, I suppose.
In the meantime, go get yourself ordained. After all, whatever you believe, there’s no reason not to have a wee bit of legal paperwork that says you’re allowed to use that belief to marry people, teach people, and so on. Go to it - Douglass Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy advice on getting drunk - and good luck.
Bugger. I want a UFC ordination. Can you imagine hearing, “Let’s get it on!” or “Fight!” In a soup kitchen? “Eat! Action!” And we’d need corner support too. “Relax, watch your legs! Hot pot, hot pot! Relax!”
Clearly I want Bas Rutten’s corner.