-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 3rd Annual Konkan Fruit Fest, Goa - May 6-8, 2005 | | | | Today's Events include Fruit Carving - Decor - Watermelon eating | | Fancy Dress. Check out http://konkanfruit.swiki.net | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANK YOU! Cecil for posting the Humanist's worldview. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it works for me. However I was intrigued by your concern for Catholics leaving 'the religion of the community you were raised in'. Does it affect the quality of your worship if your numbers decreased? Could it mean that more and more of them are being turned off the high-handed approach which will eventually just leave the fundamentalists? ----------------------- Mervyn/Jenga I have edited the Humility prayer...... I hope you like my secular version ;-)
Subject: IMHO Can I change my compulsive habit of thinking I must always have something to say on every subject on every occasion? I will endeavour to mind my own business. (Not very conducive to a discussion forum, however) I will restrain myself from the recital of boring, endless and pointless details and get to the point (preferably with a hyperlink to more information should anyone need it). I will endure the fluff with patience and tolerance. I will accomodate well presented opposing opinions with humility. I will accept that sometimes I may be wrong. I will acknowledge, preferably in writing and in a timely fashion, good things in unexpected places and talent in unexpected people. I will be as good, honest and cheerful as I can be without resorting to asceticism. I will be thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy, observing but not critical. And will not allow my vast store of self-proclaimed wisdom to alienate those who care for and help me present my views on this forum. Amen (optional ;-). -------------------------------- I was never really keen on the sacrament of reconciliation (general absolutions were great until they were shut down) and as Gabriel has noted, public confessions are the most redeeming. (Please keep the last line of para 2 of IMHO in mind as you read on.....) So in that vein, I must emphasize that my deconversion was not solely the responsibility of organised religion but a culmination of factors that were probably precipitated by the 9/11 tragedy (cliche but true). At that time, I resolved to try to understand the psyche of those responsible and do as much as I could to live a life without regrets if I ever were faced with such a situation. I was professionally successful, spiritually content and generally comfortable with life. I joined a men's weight loss group in Oct 2001 (still struggling to maintain a healthy BMI); became a vegetarian in Dec 2001 (initially for health reasons until studying the philosophy of vegetarianism, which has kept me away from meat and fish since, working towards veganism); joined the Knights of Columbus and turned 45 in Jan 2002 and had an amazing experience during the World Youth Day Papal visit to Toronto that July (yes, attended the vigil in pouring rain, escorted cardinals to events through the KoC duties etc.). This was the culmination of a close association with our local parish, serving on the building committee for several years and eventually being immortalized in stained glass!!! I feel vegetarianism got me on my current path, other events just confirming my decision. Through it I realised the immense scope of the misery and suffering we inflict on other creatures that "we have been given dominion over" as well at the resources consumed by the livestock industry. (Fr. Ivo's comment on enjoying sausages stuck in my mind). Many of my colleagues make a living from it and I too had been part of it (postgrad in Poultry Nutrition) but failed to make the connection between the pets that I treat daily and the meals I ate. The more I thought of the dichotomy between how we treat different species of animals, the more convinced I became that, although more intelligent than them in some aspects, we have a lot to learn from our co-inhabitants of this planet. It was during this phase of my life that I researched the evolution of life and the evolution of religion, coming to the conclusion that a thorough understanding of evolution is mutually exclusive (at least for me) with the concept of an external, supernatural deity. I really don't have a burning desire to tear apart the teachings of the church (& Christ) and so will not argue theology or intelligent design concepts. But I do know that ever since I made the committment to myself to live my life as ethically as possible, I have been a lot more confident and at peace with myself. I'm sorry for boring you with this blog but I thought that a clarification was in order. Sincerely, Kevin Saldanha ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * G * O * A * N * E * T *** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Make your mother in Goa happy on Mothers' Day. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/expressions/mothersday/ Limited "Mother's Happiness" packages. First come, first serve. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
