Christianity

22 October 2015

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Dear God,

“That is all I do. Throw stones in the air, and if somebody yells I know the stone came down.” Merton

I don’t feel like praying today. I don’t feel like writing. I don’t feel like working. At times, I wonder why any of this matters, this senseless spinning about, worrying over my own work and the world, when most of us seem intent on watching the whole thing go up in flames as long as Hollywood still pumps out movies about it. It would probably be best to just sit back and warm myself by the fire, to grab a bag of popcorn and enjoy the show as well.

I suppose I need hope and faith. Continue reading →

19 October 2015

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Dear God,

“But then the natural law can always find a way of being dishonest in honor of the Gospel. To save the Church. Yes, that’s what the dear old Church needs: the protection of natural law, or even, who knows, of gang law? At any rate, protection. She simply can’t get along anymore with this Christian stuff about charity, it’s plain ruinous and utterly against the moral theology manuals. So let’s wipe out the reds with a first strike. This will really put the Gospel message of peace across to the backward savages in those uncultivated and uncivilized countries where they still kill with spears. (Haven’t caught up with the more sophisticated angels of double effect.)” Merton

This comes from a letter written to the Jesuit priest, radical peace activist, and draft card burner, Daniel J. Berrigan, in 1961. It’s always fun to read Merton talk to a fellow man or woman of the cloth. It’s here where we see his more acerbic, jesting, and cynical side towards Christian religion come out. What a wonder, I like that.

Of course, for Merton it’s never destruction for destruction’s sake. Continue reading →