Divinity. It’s a fudge.
February 10th, 2009
According to Arkansas Senator Mike Huckabee, the stimulus bill is “anti-religious.” He focused on the proviso that the education funding not go to divinity schools.
Whew! Remember when we discovered, I think in 2007, that about half of the Bush Justice Department had been educated at the Liberty Law School, a division of Oral Roberts University?
Anything that isn’t explicitly religious is — to Huckabee & Co. — anti-religious. There’s no provision that funding must go to Jewish schools either. Would you expect Michael Bloomberg to call the stimulus package anti-semitic?
It’s always nice when we see our leaders struggle against the temptation to fall into the Piously Correct line. It was a relief, for instance, when Obama included non-believers in his faith lineup.
One of the best moments of late was on 60 Minutes the other night. Katie Couric was interviewing Chesley Sullenberger — a man rightfully dubbed a national hero. She had him take us through the three minutes from the time the Airbus hit the birds until he successfully put the plane down in the Hudson.
At one point she asked him if he prayed during that time. He said he didn’t. He was busy doing his job. He allowed that others might have been praying, but his every conscious moment was given to saving the lives of everybody on board. And to see to it lives on the ground or the river were not endangered.
Working your ass off. Exercising your training. Putting your phenomenal mortal skills to work. That’s Prayer. Because you’re serving a calling so lofty that many never achieve it: Competence.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:16 am
What a great post. Assuming there is a god, don’t you think she would want you to use your god-given intelligence to do great things, not sit there whining to her to save your sorry ass?
February 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Thanks Iron Knee –
I’m a regular at your blog, too.
For all you fans of of Political Irony check out http://politicalirony.com/
February 12th, 2009 at 9:29 am
In Judaism we say that work — “avodah” — is a form of worship. Ancient usage refers to sacrifices made to God or something done in service to God. (Keeping God happy.) Today we use the infinitive “la’avod” in Hebrew for “work”. I noted that Sullenberger said he didn’t pray as he took the aircraft safely down — it’s a luxury. Great piece, Fred!
February 12th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Step 11 of the 12-Step programs suggests that we pray “ONLY for knowledge of god’s will for us and the power to carry that out.”
Imagine that. Not for our guys to win. Not for lots of money and new toys. Not even for starving orphans.
Rather — as the (Iron Knee) post above says — to use your god-given intelligence to do great things, not sit there whining to her to save your sorry ass.
February 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Exactly, Jean! What kind of god would create (imperfect) humans, just so that she could carry out *our* will — by answering our prayers? Seems more likely that an intelligent god would create humans in order for us to carry out *her* will.
In other words, if you are religious, you should get to work!
February 19th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I don’t understand any of this religious mumbo jumbo in these posts, whatever the religion be that is being referred to.
Just do your best and treat people the way you would like them to treat you. Nuff said !