tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post113078155484913514..comments2023-12-22T03:49:21.303-05:00Comments on Reflections of a Happy Old Man: Primer of Christian MythsLarry Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11571190213288384302noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1141347662108441902006-03-02T20:01:00.000-05:002006-03-02T20:01:00.000-05:00yesyesLarry Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11571190213288384302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131830263180617212005-11-12T16:17:00.000-05:002005-11-12T16:17:00.000-05:00Well Twyla, I do believe that revealing ourselves,...Well Twyla, I do believe that revealing ourselves, telling our story, who we are is one of the best ways to promote love and understanding.<BR/><BR/>In the 60's Harvey Cox was a 'guru' for many of us progressive ministers. His <A HREF="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1861" REL="nofollow">Secular City</A> was probably the most famous religious book of that generation.<BR/><BR/>Among other things Harvey advised what he called 'ecclesiastical civil disobedience', and many of us put it into practice in various ways.<BR/><BR/>But what impressed me most among his ideas was his belief that 'telling your story' may be the most vital form of religious worship.<BR/><BR/>Thereafter I felt that the only really effectual preaching was <I>confessional</I>. To say who I am and what has happened to me-- and to you, is the closest thing to preaching the gospel. It's what Paul did, and the others as well, what Jesus told us to do, I believe.Larry Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11571190213288384302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131746471660963932005-11-11T17:01:00.000-05:002005-11-11T17:01:00.000-05:00Great post. Reminds me of one of my favorite poem...Great post. Reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Rumi, "Unfold your own myth". I love the title,even! I use that as my descripter on Whimsical Mystic. Please indulge me as I include a few lines:<BR/><BR/>But don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth, without complicated explanation,so everyone will understand the passage, <B>We have opened you.</B><BR/><BR/>That makes me think of you.twilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16800761576930255800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131574510392480902005-11-09T17:15:00.000-05:002005-11-09T17:15:00.000-05:00Anna said, "you seem to treat myth as if it has to...Anna said, "you seem to treat myth as if it has to be something untrue." I don't know where you got this, Anna. If you can specify any such insinuation in my post, I would appreciate your telling me about it.Larry Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11571190213288384302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131517527564402472005-11-09T01:25:00.000-05:002005-11-09T01:25:00.000-05:00Hello Larry! I am enjoying reading your blog - you...Hello Larry! I am enjoying reading your blog - you hold deep conversations on spiritual matters, for which I am thankful. I was noticing in your post that despite saying myth is anything that informs a person's life, you seem to treat myth as if it has to be something untrue. Although that is typically how we use the word, myth can also be defined as a story (often old) that explains the why of something, whether cultural, supernatural, etc. Just like allegories, stories can sometimes capture a deeper and more complex picture of the truth than a much longer codification of doctrine or ethics. I prefer a broader use of the word myth so as to avoid objectifying or belittling it; fiction or fantasy seems a better description to me, with the provision that you find it personally touching. What do you think?Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18010640643530189141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131213332098172222005-11-05T12:55:00.000-05:002005-11-05T12:55:00.000-05:00Good creative comment, George; thanks.Crystal, tha...Good creative comment, George; thanks.<BR/><BR/>Crystal, thank you, too, for keeping up with my ramblings.Larry Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11571190213288384302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131067246478145412005-11-03T20:20:00.000-05:002005-11-03T20:20:00.000-05:00... this myth is that Jesus is God.... speaking f...<I> ... this myth is that Jesus is God.</I><BR/><BR/>... speaking for myself, I hope that's not just a myth :-)crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009563.post-1131059434599851192005-11-03T18:10:00.000-05:002005-11-03T18:10:00.000-05:00Alright Larry! Speak it out!My myth is that all th...Alright Larry! Speak it out!<BR/><BR/>My myth is that all that exists is the embodying, continuous transformational embodying, of a Great Mystery, which we call many names.<BR/><BR/>We are nerve endings of God (to use a name).<BR/><BR/>Krishna's hand is seamlessly inside the puppet that I am. And yet I'm independent -- the puppet that wags the hand.<BR/><BR/>Jesus was telling us this -- we are children of the living father -- but instead of listening to what he said, we bagged him, stuffed him, and made a religion of him.<BR/><BR/>To use one of my currently favorite phrases -- we are embodyings of the universe!<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Larry. You allow folk room to speak.George Breedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16460918581432345337noreply@blogger.com