You're welcome Mr. Taibbi. Great post. As I get older I realize that my elders' Christian ways were more sensible and based than I was told by the boomer era turds who laughed at religion and cynically dismissed it. It's all part of our journey. How will it end? Only time will tell.
Also a recovering Catholic but I watch the Daily Wire podcasts a lot and those guys are really religious and very smart. I wish I could be a part of a community but but today churches are either crazy leftist or semi-literate bible thumpers and/or grifters. I thought about hanging out with the jews because they have a pretty intelligent approach to the Bible but the traditions are too foreign to me. So I spent Easter morning picking up some things I needed at Walmart.
As a long lapsed Catholic ( who was the beneficiary (?) ) of a Catholic education, I appreciate your humor….my sentiments exactly. The more important thing often lost in our festivities is family, and the important bonding throughout the generations.
Interestimg aritcle in Barri weise's substack this a.m. Evidently, there are a number of sites that are now discussing the "meaning of life" issues that people have faith have struggled with for generations.
David Mamet had a great interview with Joe Rogan the other day. Mamet is an observant Jew and he and Joe talked about the Hebrew scriptures being myth in the form of stories about the human predicament. . - We tend to thnk that myth is untrue when it may be the truest of all. He says the claims of both the Jewish and christian religions have people saying "oh that is rubbish" (not a diredt quote) but he goes on to say if one says two octopuses walk into a bar" people don't argure that Octopi (?) don't walk - they know a joke is coming. So, Mamer argues, the religious person knows that a lot of wisdom is coming when someone says quotes scripture.
Just for fun, I googled the word "apostate" this morning. What a delightful experience. Found several long diatribes by good Christian theologians, mansplaining how apostates are NOT in fact Christians who had unrequited doubts about the inherent logical fallacies of religion, but, au contraire, NEVER WERE actually Christian at all--and therefore deserving of neither the Lord's salvation nor sympathy on earth. Honestly, it was the type of language I would expect from the radical Islamists who encourage their followers to throw battery acid in the faces of women who wish to get a divorce.
This type of thinking is disturbingly similar to some of the crazy women I've dated in my younger years, who insisted that breaking up with them meant that I never loved them in the first place, and that I wasted their time; as if I was planning the breakup from day one. Well, as I have had to explain numerous times, Twizzlers were once my favorite food--and now they're not. I once had an aversion to scotch whiskey, which tasted like bad medicine when I was 16 years old--and now I love it. People change, which inevitably upsets other people.
But isn't that at the root of the current epidemic of ill-mannered discourse in America, as well as the wider world? When someone converts out of a foreign religion into my religion, that stranger becomes a friend. But when they convert the other way, that's the ultimate betrayal, isn't it? It can't be simply explained as their personal evolution that no longer includes my tribe; it must be evidence of a morally bankrupt soul. Such a worldview sounds so miserably myopic that I don't know why I even have to spell it out...but that's still how most people think, is it not?
I grew up Catholic but it never took. I went to Catholic school so Easter week was hell week. We had to go to Mass 3 or 4 times. I am still not religious- but as you get older you see the community it creates and it’s value to society.
This past Christmas (like Matt, I'm a recovered Catholic) I put up lights for the first time in forrr-everrrr... It was pretty cool. I'm 63, no grandkids and I just did it because it's kind of cool.
Well!
This past summer a new family moved in across the street. I no sooner finish MY lights when my new neighbor puts lights up. Hmm...
So I go to the store and pick up another display thingie and put that outside.
The next day my neighbor lines his walkway with illuminated candy canes.
IT'S ON BUBBA!
I wrap solar lights alllll around a tree out front- the trunk, and branches! Think of a poor man's Tavern On The Green...
WELL! Buddy across the street lights up the tree in front of his house!
My inner Clark Griswold is incensed!
Back and forth for a week it goes- I put out illuminated wire reindeer, Bubba puts out illuminated wire presents! I put out a small Christmas tree, Bubba does his windows!
AAAaaaa!
On the 23rd, we got hit with a whopper of a snowstorm. I go out and blow out my driveway and see Bubba struggling w/ his snowblower. I can hear from the sounds it's making that there's an adjustment needed.
So I wander across the street and introduce myself to Sammy. We have a laugh over our light rivalry. He does it for his little kids (he's got 4). I explain what a choke does on a small engine and we fire his snowblower up right away. Now my nemises is my bud.
Get this: Sammy's Muslim. He puts up the lights 'because the kids like it and it's cool, y'know?' That's a quote.
Well, this April, Sammy's out front of his house, and he's stringing lights again. He hangs banners too. One says 'Ramaden' and the other says 'Mubarak'. Professor Google tells me what that means.
Hmmm...
So guess who BREAKS OUT HIS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AGAIN!
And so on my street at night Sammy's home is illuminated with wishes of peace and joy, and across the street my home replies in kind.
Matt, I love your insights...they often cause me to think. But this piece for some reason caused me to stop in my tracks and think. Thank you and Happy Whatever to you, too.
I lost my Christian faith (raised Methodist) during high school, when I began to think for myself. My wife and I never had our children baptized nor sent to Sunday school. But they are healthy adults now, of good character, so apparently everything turned out all right. However, the one thing I miss most about Easter is hiding Easter eggs at home, as the children spent an hour looking for them and never found them all.
Had a Seder last night with my Ashkenazi Armenian Japanese grandchildren. Going to an Easter luncheon today. Only in America. Happy whatever.
You're welcome Mr. Taibbi. Great post. As I get older I realize that my elders' Christian ways were more sensible and based than I was told by the boomer era turds who laughed at religion and cynically dismissed it. It's all part of our journey. How will it end? Only time will tell.
All the best to you and your family.
I am an old Catholic who loves your writing, your wit, and your intellect. It’s all about family, enjoy!
Also a recovering Catholic but I watch the Daily Wire podcasts a lot and those guys are really religious and very smart. I wish I could be a part of a community but but today churches are either crazy leftist or semi-literate bible thumpers and/or grifters. I thought about hanging out with the jews because they have a pretty intelligent approach to the Bible but the traditions are too foreign to me. So I spent Easter morning picking up some things I needed at Walmart.
I got bounced from CCD as well. Instructor was tired of my questions. I kept asking for some kind of proof. I might have been missing the point.
As a long lapsed Catholic ( who was the beneficiary (?) ) of a Catholic education, I appreciate your humor….my sentiments exactly. The more important thing often lost in our festivities is family, and the important bonding throughout the generations.
Interestimg aritcle in Barri weise's substack this a.m. Evidently, there are a number of sites that are now discussing the "meaning of life" issues that people have faith have struggled with for generations.
David Mamet had a great interview with Joe Rogan the other day. Mamet is an observant Jew and he and Joe talked about the Hebrew scriptures being myth in the form of stories about the human predicament. . - We tend to thnk that myth is untrue when it may be the truest of all. He says the claims of both the Jewish and christian religions have people saying "oh that is rubbish" (not a diredt quote) but he goes on to say if one says two octopuses walk into a bar" people don't argure that Octopi (?) don't walk - they know a joke is coming. So, Mamer argues, the religious person knows that a lot of wisdom is coming when someone says quotes scripture.
The pagan holidays were the best part of being Catholic.
Just for fun, I googled the word "apostate" this morning. What a delightful experience. Found several long diatribes by good Christian theologians, mansplaining how apostates are NOT in fact Christians who had unrequited doubts about the inherent logical fallacies of religion, but, au contraire, NEVER WERE actually Christian at all--and therefore deserving of neither the Lord's salvation nor sympathy on earth. Honestly, it was the type of language I would expect from the radical Islamists who encourage their followers to throw battery acid in the faces of women who wish to get a divorce.
This type of thinking is disturbingly similar to some of the crazy women I've dated in my younger years, who insisted that breaking up with them meant that I never loved them in the first place, and that I wasted their time; as if I was planning the breakup from day one. Well, as I have had to explain numerous times, Twizzlers were once my favorite food--and now they're not. I once had an aversion to scotch whiskey, which tasted like bad medicine when I was 16 years old--and now I love it. People change, which inevitably upsets other people.
But isn't that at the root of the current epidemic of ill-mannered discourse in America, as well as the wider world? When someone converts out of a foreign religion into my religion, that stranger becomes a friend. But when they convert the other way, that's the ultimate betrayal, isn't it? It can't be simply explained as their personal evolution that no longer includes my tribe; it must be evidence of a morally bankrupt soul. Such a worldview sounds so miserably myopic that I don't know why I even have to spell it out...but that's still how most people think, is it not?
I grew up Catholic but it never took. I went to Catholic school so Easter week was hell week. We had to go to Mass 3 or 4 times. I am still not religious- but as you get older you see the community it creates and it’s value to society.
Every day that I received another example of your extraordinary journalism, gives me reason to smile!
Here's a true story...
This past Christmas (like Matt, I'm a recovered Catholic) I put up lights for the first time in forrr-everrrr... It was pretty cool. I'm 63, no grandkids and I just did it because it's kind of cool.
Well!
This past summer a new family moved in across the street. I no sooner finish MY lights when my new neighbor puts lights up. Hmm...
So I go to the store and pick up another display thingie and put that outside.
The next day my neighbor lines his walkway with illuminated candy canes.
IT'S ON BUBBA!
I wrap solar lights alllll around a tree out front- the trunk, and branches! Think of a poor man's Tavern On The Green...
WELL! Buddy across the street lights up the tree in front of his house!
My inner Clark Griswold is incensed!
Back and forth for a week it goes- I put out illuminated wire reindeer, Bubba puts out illuminated wire presents! I put out a small Christmas tree, Bubba does his windows!
AAAaaaa!
On the 23rd, we got hit with a whopper of a snowstorm. I go out and blow out my driveway and see Bubba struggling w/ his snowblower. I can hear from the sounds it's making that there's an adjustment needed.
So I wander across the street and introduce myself to Sammy. We have a laugh over our light rivalry. He does it for his little kids (he's got 4). I explain what a choke does on a small engine and we fire his snowblower up right away. Now my nemises is my bud.
Get this: Sammy's Muslim. He puts up the lights 'because the kids like it and it's cool, y'know?' That's a quote.
Well, this April, Sammy's out front of his house, and he's stringing lights again. He hangs banners too. One says 'Ramaden' and the other says 'Mubarak'. Professor Google tells me what that means.
Hmmm...
So guess who BREAKS OUT HIS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AGAIN!
And so on my street at night Sammy's home is illuminated with wishes of peace and joy, and across the street my home replies in kind.
Good holidays and peace and joy to all our homes.
Matt, I love your insights...they often cause me to think. But this piece for some reason caused me to stop in my tracks and think. Thank you and Happy Whatever to you, too.
I lost my Christian faith (raised Methodist) during high school, when I began to think for myself. My wife and I never had our children baptized nor sent to Sunday school. But they are healthy adults now, of good character, so apparently everything turned out all right. However, the one thing I miss most about Easter is hiding Easter eggs at home, as the children spent an hour looking for them and never found them all.
Matt, thumbs up to you from a Jewish atheist. Shalom.
Really appreciate you, Matt. You are right, those are the things that matter in the end.