John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16 (KJV)

I am by no means a ravening fanatical Catholic--I go to church a couple of times a year, and use my own Zen Buddhist study and meditation as a replacement for prayer. I'm sure most other Catholics would consider me a heretic for combining Zen with my Catholic faith, but it works for me, and I think that's what's important.

I've been meditating on John 3:16 lately, treating it as something of a koan. No true enlightenment yet (I'm afraid I have many more years of work before I become a good Christian, OR Zen Buddhist) but something struck me today.

One of the big issues I have in trying to find common ground amongst my spiritual influences is the idea that one must believe in Christ to be saved. Is it not enough to be a good person, and live as Christ taught us? Must we also believe he is the son of God, risen to the Lord's right hand to wash away the sins of the world? (point of fact, I do believe this, but I question if I should have to.)

But today it struck me--John 3:16 says only that we must believe in 'Him' (one would assume to be Jesus), not what we must believe about him. I wonder if the belief and faith in Christ's teachings (see the Beatitude for those teachings in a nutshell) would not also be a belief in 'Him', and would lead one to conclude that following the teachings of Christ (so similar in many ways to Buddha and other enlightened persons) and living as Christ lived might also count as belief in him. And that would see one with everlasting life.

I have a hard time believing that if God loved us so much he would send his only son to be crucified, he'd toss us away over not 'believing' enough even if we lived humble and righteous and 'Christian' lives.

Then again, I also wonder what is everlasting life, truly? But that's a meditation, and a post, for another day.

Cheers,

Sean

More Poetry

Just for a lark, I entered the CBC Calgary Cowboy Poetry Contest with this haiku:

Dusty chaps
worn like the rough varmint
Sunburned rattler

Not one of my best granted, but when it's got to be three lines, and you have to include three specific words, you don't have much to work with. Still, I'm pleased. Not that I have a hope in hell of winning ;)

Cheers,

Sean

UPDATE: Well I wasn't even picked as one of the top three, but there was another haiku (better than mine) see it (and vote for it) here.

A Distant Sadness

A distant and familiar sadness calls to us
As if carried on the wind, like burning sand
Brothers and Sisters, away, you endure
Stranded on our own land
A memory etched into soul and skin
Leaves a scar that never heals
Our family is strong, but scattered
Across the stars and fields
We will not abandon you
We will not forget you
We will return for you

by Bear McCreary.

These lyrics made an appearance in Battlestar Galactica's episode Occupation and on the Season 3 Soundtrack, sung by Raya Yarbrough in Armenian.

I've not been able to stop listening for the last several hours--there's something intensely moving about this song and it's lyrics.

Sean

Best Political Blog Post Ever

From BenGoshi at Daily Kos; "Read The Beatitudes Before You Vote":

I would suggest firstly that it wouldn't hurt any of us (whether Christian, agnostic, atheist, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, James Dobsonite . . .) to read these sublime words from "The Sermon on the Mount". Second, such a thing doesn't endorse any candidate or party. Third, it would likely drive people like James Dobson nuts: they'd know that this cornerstone of Jesus' teachings cuts against, actually refutes, all the nasty and hateful teachings, preachings and admonishments of their rather sad and craven ilk.

It's a must read, as regardless of your religious leanings, it outlines how the beatitudes really convey the type of society and social justice we should want to build--something I've always believed in myself.

{insert Deity here} Bless,

Sean

A Blast from the Past

Thanks to the Wayback Machine, I found some post-election thoughts I once had from 2000:

It's My Country Too (or We All Have Our Crosses to Bear):

My fellow Canadians, it seems to me that our country has come to a cross-roads. With the recent Federal Election having turned into a historic third Cretien majority government, it is becoming more and more apparent the fractured state of politics in this country.

Let me be clear: I blame Brian Mulroney.

He was the man who tried to do what Trudeau had been unable to: get Quebec to sign the constitution. The problem is he went about it all wrong. In his zeal to make a whole country, he was willing to make compromises that instead shattered the country. The West, already feeling alienated by the NEP from the late 70s thought the concessions to Quebec were outrageous, meanwhile Quebec separatists got a taste of power and refused to let go. In the yelling, the Maritimes seemed to be lost and Ontario just resolutely rode things out.

Now we have a country where each region seems represented by a separate political party. Frankly, this stinks. This situation is breeding dis-content within each region, not to mention a contempt for others and a growing insularity. Canada is broken my friends, and something needs to change before it can be whole again.

There's some hope though. The defeat of the Bloc in Quebec by the Liberals says that the sovereignty debate is nearly dead (or at least Quebecois understand how it's damaged their provincial economy), and maybe, just maybe The Canadian Alliance will see their defeat as a chance to work together unifying Canada rather than simply holding the fort west of Thunder Bay. There's also Joe Clark. If he can make the PCs a national party again, he might well unite the country.

But before that will come to pass, a couple of things need to happen. First, Alberta and the west need to get over it. They have a booming economy, and it wouldn't kill them to be a bit less bitter about 'how rotten the East is.' Be gracious, and other's will be nicer to you. It's time to stop bitching and complaining and start supporting an idea of a united Canada.

Secondly, Ontario needs to stop thinking of the rest of the country as the poor country mice. Toronto isn't everything, and I hope the politicians in Ottawa can understand the West, and Atlantic Canada (not to mention Quebec) all need to feel like they contribute, and not just ride on Ontario's coattails.

Finally, the Atlantic provinces need to come into the 21st century. Yes, there's much work to be done in the Maritimes, and no, it won't be easy to build a new economy without destroying our way of life, but it's time to stop being a welfare state and begin building towards a better future.

But you know what? For all our problems here in this country, at least we can elect a new government without suing everyone in sight.

Oh Canada!

S.D. Campbell
whytwolf@spots.ab.ca
12/04/00

Looking back, it seems not much has changed. So much for a post-9/11 world.

Cheers,

Sean