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| Stave Church, Borgund, Norway late 12th century |
One of the world’s once-official state churches has gone and
recognized same-sex marriage. Norway has not merely
issued an expression of tolerance for civil marriages; it has invited same-sex couples into the church, where they will bring them before the altar, wave some crosses in the air signifying God’s blessing at
them, and call them hitched before God and everybody. Holy
Homo Secks You Wells, Batman, that I
should have lived long enough to see this!
I know, I know. Too
little, too late, you say. It’s
happening in a country where religion is on its last legs, you say. Who cares, you say.
You’ve got a point.
It’s not like this was happening in Alabama or Poland, where the church
still warns you that putting chocolate bits in your oatmeal can lead to eternal
damnation. It’s happening in Norway,
where a mere 20% of the population even admit they still believe in God. And only 5% of the population ever goes to
church. There are more than four times
the number of people living in Ouagadougou as there are people who go to church
in Norway.
So why the big deal? It's not even the official church anymore, like it was from 1536 when it joined with other Lutherans in thumbing their noses at Rome, right up to 2012, when the nominal head of the church was the king. OK, it's still the national church, the "folks' church" recognized by the state as the religious home to the Norwegian people. But it's not a world player. Not like they've got a pope for Bernie Sanders to visit and talk about climate change with. Why should it matter what they do in Norway?
Glad you asked.
For years we have allowed the religious right to claim it
speaks for God. We have confused
religion with belief, doctrine with spirituality, morality with silks and satins, groveled around on the
floor when this kinder-than-most pope throws some crumbs to the gays and the
women under the table. We have not
fought back against slimebags like Ted Cruz working to persuade the dim-witted among us
that he will do God’s work like only the candy man can.
What this small move in a small snow-bound country far away
is all about, besides granting dignity to its members who happen to be gay, I
mean, is demonstrating to the world that it is possible to be Christian
and to live in full confidence and dignity that you are god-worthy, acknowledged and embraced by your religious community. Not an outcast to be pushed away from the communion
rail to make room for corrupt politicians, rapists and murderers who manage to
hide their sins while you ask others only to accept your god-given sexuality.
Conservatives like to stress tradition. We’ve always had male-female marriage, they
tell you. Wrong to change. Black kids next to white kids on the school
bench, maybe, if you insist, women in the voting booth, maybe, if you
insist. But gays at the altar rail? Why do you insist on slapping the face of
God?
The world is a bit less messed-up today than it was yesterday.
Norwegian Christians?
You’re a lovely bunch of people.
OK, so you’re following the values of the larger modern
society, the values of humanism, not the medieval ones of your founder Luther,
who thought Jewish homes should be burned to the ground. You pick and choose your official church’s
values.
I'm sitting here wanting to throw both arms in the air and give you a rousing Japanese "Banzai!"
One of those things, like wanting always to take my shoes off in the house, that come from twenty-four years of living in Japan.
Won't embarrass you. (Or myself.) Won't actually do it.
Oh hell, why not?
"Banzai" - "May you live ten thousand years."
One of those things, like wanting always to take my shoes off in the house, that come from twenty-four years of living in Japan.
Won't embarrass you. (Or myself.) Won't actually do it.
Oh hell, why not?
"Banzai" - "May you live ten thousand years."
1 comment:
Banzai indeed!
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