I realize many of you come here bright and early every Thursday in order to play America's Most Popular Parlor Game, the Axis of Weevil Thursday Three, but in a break from the usual routine, today's T3 will be hosted by famed Long Island archivist and bowling guru, Skinnydan.
At least, that's what I HOPE is going to happen. We had an e-mail exchange earlier in the week on the topic of religion, and Dan said it would make a good question set, and in his last message to me, he said he'd volunteer to make up the questions.
OR, at least that's the way it came across to me via Chet the E-Mail Boy's neatly Linotyped printout.
If I am wrong in my supposition about Skinnydan's hosting today's fun (and I fear I might be given that there are, as of yet, no questions on Skinnyblog), I beg your forgiveness. Rest assured Chet the E-Mail Boy will be thrashed soundly for making such a mistake, and he will NOT be given ANY milk for his bowl of corn flakes this morning.
UPDATE: Ahhhh--Chet breathes a sigh of blessed relief, and is granted a full 4 ounces of precious moo-juice for his breakfast bowl of cereal, because the questions is now done up!
And here is what Mr. Dan has for us:
1) Are you now a religiously committed person, and have you always been one?
Well, I try to be, and I suppose I am better at it than I was in the past when I was more involved rather than committed. (Ref. joke about the pig and chicken and their breakfast meal.)
2) Did you come to your faith on your own, or are you simply continuing traditions instilled by your parents/grandparents, etc. (For the non-believers, feel free to describe your absence of faith in the same vein)
Well, again, early on I didn't have a whole lot of parental guidance, even though I was going to a Christian school from the time I was in first grade. My mom (who had grown up in church then fell away after a while) and my dad (a highly lapsed Baptisterian) didn't take us to church after I was about four or five, although my sister and I started going again when she got old enough to drive. My mother finally did return to the church, and years later my father even became a Christian. But I didn't really become strongly convicted in my faith (although admittedly still not quite there when it comes to follow-through) until I simultaneously became a husband and father. The responsibilities inherent in both of those jobs made me appreciate all the more the depth of our Creator's love and concern for us, and why throughout the Scriptures we are referred to as His children.
3) Have you ever abandoned your faith and its teachings for any significant period of time, or in any significant way?
Well, not abandoned totally, although that's a bit like being a little pregnant--you either believe or you don't. If you really DO believe, you show it by your actions. So, even though I might have never thought my beliefs were wrong, there have been some relatively long stretches of time in my life when I failed to live up to them as I should. Not that I don't still have those moments where I mess up--I do--but nowadays it's much more akin to going into the wrong room on the wrong floor rather than endlessly walking in circles in the desert.
SO, there you go. Thank you, Skinnydan!
Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 15, 2006 08:04 AMOkay. We're on. Check us out at skinnydan.blogspot.com
Nothing like a little late pressure to put one on the spot. I might even get my own answers on soon.
Posted by: Skinnydan at June 15, 2006 09:12 AM1) Yes!
2) I was raised in a Christian home, but I am a believer -- not just continuing a tradition. I saw my parents (and now my stepmother)LIVE their faith. I can't imagine going through the deaths of my first husband and my mother without the hope and comfort that I had. I also can't imagine trying to raise my children without praying daily for wisdom.
3) Not really. Like Terry, I am more committed now. I don't think I fully understood the love of God until I knew the love I had for my children.
I'm up.
Posted by: Grouchy Old Yorkie Lady at June 15, 2006 02:49 PMIs it too late? I checked at Skinnydan's Thurs. morning, but nothing was up - now it's Friday morning and I'm late again.
1. Committed? The more I learn, the more I realize how far I have to go, and how weak my efforts are. I suppose it's a perspective thing. I'll answer yes to being "committed". From years 16-36 I was a well trained scientist and did not have a desire for illogical Christianity, where you had to take things by faith.
2. I was raised in a Catholic environment, but it was done in an air of duty rather than love for the Lord. While youngsters would rather be playing than praying, I hope to instill in my son a desire to worship by love rather than proscription. My faith now is much different than what my mom (backslidden) or dad (involved in a church yet worldly) were at and are now "practicing".
3. I answered this partly in #1. I'm also learning to accept God's grace concerning some faith issues, where I know better, know the right way, know what God expects, yet I fall short and even occasionally think I know better. The implication that God's grace covers that and more is overwhelming, and it is very humbling.