Monthly Archives: January 2008

Cromwell’s Head

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Oliver Cromwell came from ambitious stock, which brought him to a bad end—two ends, in fact—and quite a long journey. His great-great granduncle, Thomas Cromwell, was chief advisor to old King Henry VIII, the one with the wives. When Henry broke with the Roman Church (1534), Thomas egged him on, even inciting the arrest and execution of his old friend Sir Thomas More, who remained loyal to Pope Clement. See “A Man for All Seasons,” a wonderful movie, for that … Read on…

Vestments of the Unbeliever

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First he dons a long alb woven from one hundred percent skepticism. Next a sort of sleeveless cape: the chasuble of doubt. An atheistic neck pivots the stole that hangs like twin scarves celebrating various seasons of mortality. The same neck (for he has only one to risk over and over) fills a short stiff collar buttoned invisibly in the back. Thus attired the unbeliever serves questions and performs answers. He understands looms and can explain historically Jesus’ seamlessness.

Feeding the Unbeliever

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On what sacred platter does history serve an agnostic meal? What the unbeliever wants is to be the consumer instead of the dish. This is the most human of our needs: to fill the inner pit, keep the fire burning in every splendid cell. But life has become Swiss cheese with an emphasis on holes. Knowledge pulls apart like lettuce. Beauty is lace gusting at the window. What the priest holds outstretched is a manmade miracle. Like the faithful, the … Read on…

Eucharist for the Unbeliever

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Squinting at a jar of pickles the unbeliever wonders what is true, if a unique blend of spices indeed awaits him. He knows what to do, which of the can opener’s ends will pry the metal lid, spirit escaping. Therein: bodies and juice. In the priest’s white-fingered pinch the wafer used to look full of promise, unleavened by doubt or brine. Its taste was paper on which to write every frailty, another chance for good to sustain his mazy journey. … Read on…

Autumn Unbeliever

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On Sundays he takes to the woods where every mortal step pushes countless acorns closer to a life of their own. Nor can he enumerate the odds, chances and possibilities that float past on their golden sails. Maybe this slow death (his slow death) occurs law by law. Surely no divine hand separates stem from twig, one by one, or his life one day at a time shorter. With his whole heart he has faith in winter, that monochromatic season … Read on…

Credo

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I will give you your belief if you will give me my doubt. I will own there’s a god if you will own all the huddled humanity holding itself up with no help from you or your god is wholly heartbreaking. I’m willing to pray if holy shit is a good prayer if jesus christ is a good prayer if oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah is downright devotional. Dance with me for the chance, for the chance is in … Read on…

Prediction

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On February 21, 1205 In the noise of busy marketplace Lost in the Middle East, An astrologer-sage predicted That in 800 years exactly I would get myself drunk as a cobbler And when a girl starts playing With my belly button I shall cry like a baby, And get horrified that At any moment I will get unwrapped And break apart in thousand pieces.

My Country Isn’t

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My country isn’t my country because I’m not myself. I haven’t been myself since I don’t know when. My mother said just be yourself. My father was himself all his life and everyone loved him. But I loved the smell of the rain before the rain more than the rain itself. And I lived in the country of myself all my life. The food was bad. The language odd. The peace unsteady. So I moved to the country of I’m … Read on…

The Eloquent Engineer – Imaging Memories

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The belief in an afterlife rests firmly on the idea that humans have an immortal soul that is distinct unto itself in the same way the heart or liver is. Some people call it spirit, in ancient Egypt it was known as ka, and Hinduism refers to it as atman. Cultures describe it as their life force, their innermost self, the part of them that provides individuality and personality. I think, therefore I am. It must seem obvious to any … Read on…