The working plan

...for the time being:

1. Pray like a Catholic.
2. Read Scripture like a Protestant.
3. Attempt to worship the Trinity at a Unitarian church.

What could possibly go wrong?

7QT 2012-10-12

I'm back with (what else?) 7 quick takes, since I am incapable of an original thought. Fortunately Jen Fulwiler has provided a structure and theme that even a hack like me can glom on to, so away we go:

1. First, I have to unsay some of my previous recommendation of Bob Schneider, at least as a live act. I'd still say he's a brilliant songwriter, and his skill as a performer was entirely enviable, but I was... well, disturbed by some of his humor. I don't mind profanity and bodily functions-- I've always believed that there are two kinds of jokes, clean ones and funny ones-- but at one point he sort of stepped over the line (in my opinion) by applying very crass humor to the person of Jesus.
   
   Tried to explain to the Agnostic Spouse why this troubled me (or rather, why I felt a little bad for laughing). She told me I'm taking myself too seriously. Which of course I frequently do, so maybe she was right about this one, too. But I'm sorry to say that I don't think I'll listen to Bob Schneider for a long time without feeling a bit of lingering disappointment.
2. HT to Betty Duffy for reminding me about the "Year of Faith", or as I like to think of it, "The Year of Marginally Less Doubt... Maybe?" And also: If you happen to read this, Mrs. Duffy, I'd like to wish you a belated Happy Birthday and thank you for your thoughtful writing.
3. As the existence of this blog attests, I've long since waded into the Tiber, and asked myself what, exactly, I and the church of my upbringing were "Protesting" against. I find that I like Catholic blogs, Catholic music (though the Protestants have J.S. Bach-- ouch), Catholic churches, and I can be persuaded on an intellectual level to believe much of (what I know of) Catholic doctrine... But a few concerns still remain. Like saints. And talking to them as a part of one's prayers.
   
   I "get" the Rosary-- really I do-- and how the repeated Hail Marys function as an opportunity and an inducement to turn one's eyes toward the One at the center of the Christian faith. But it still creeps me out a little to go to a mass and turn with the rest of the congregation toward a statue(!) of the Virgin and "hail" it three times.
   
   Not to suggest that "it creeps me out" constitutes an apologetic argument. But there it is.
4. On the foregoing topic I sometimes think to myself "a billion professing Christians can't be wrong." It's funny how you'll use number-of-adherents in trying to evaluate a truth claim. There are way more Christians in full communion with the Pope than there are Christians who identify as, say, "Reformed", but you'll always hear the argument advanced that any church that's grown large (be it the Catholic Church or the neighborhood evangelical megachurch) has compromised in some way with "the world". Apparently there's no safety in numbers, whether they're big ones or little ones.
5. It would be a lot easier for my family life if I could convince myself that I was neither evangelical, nor Catholic, but a liberal Protestant. Consequently I frequent Rachel Held Evans' blog. As a father of daughters, I can only be sympathetic with her program to give women a voice in the church, and she often has some worthwhile observations on scripture and culture. But yesterday her husband Dan posted and, honestly, reading it made me feel like a total loser as a husband. I love when he writes (with emphasis!), "I have Rachel's back and I'm doing everything in my power to make sure her voice is heard." It's so neat to see him supporting her this way. But I read this as a veteran of all these conversations/arguments/decade-long struggle I've been having with my wife about religion, in which she always ends up telling me, "I don't feel like you're on my side," because I'm arguing (as gently as I know how to-- God help me!) for Catholic social teaching or some Protestant variant thereof.
   
   And she's right. I'm not on her side. I want to be. I really actually wish I still believed in her side.
6. Anyway, this has already become more like "7 Quick Gripes", so moving on to something more positive: I get to spend tonight at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center along with my second-grade daughter and the kids from her school's math club for a, um, special math event. If this doesn't sound like a blast to you, well, you're just not a turbo-nerd like myself, are you? I-- I mean, she-- will get to ride the simulators, see an Imax movie and spend the night in the same "habitats" used for Space Camp. Space Camp! My geeky little cup runneth over.
7. I'll use this last "quick take" to say an advance thanks to Jen Fulwiler for her "7QT Participation Appreciation Day" giveaway. I am never one to turn down free books, and I'll confess that it was the lure of a shot at that $50 gift card that provided the impetus for me to finally write another post. (I know, I know: what a great service Mrs. Fulwiler has done to the blogosphere by encouraging me to once again raise my voice.) Seriously: thanks Jen, and good luck to all you other 7QTers.