Riffin' On Global Vision Summit Derivatives

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil- this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13

This is also the intention for the template that is human civilization. We come together into communities and live as we do as a species contingent upon this fundamental truth to embodied existence, as it exists (I guess it didn’t necessarily need to be this way, but I struggle to think of any other ways it could’ve been…).

This is why we rail against the creation of social “others”…why we fight to ensure meaningful social equity as a means of continuing to accomplish the spiritual mission, which truly is one in the same as the social mission…

It’s also this Bible verse, amongst the rest of them, as it does appear to be a well-constructed book, this “Bible”, in that I agree with it and don’t see much contradiction entailed within it…which communicates clearly to us that the modern Church still doesn’t “get” it, particularly regarding homosexuality…

To keep this brief; in the early 00’s, in response to public controversy both in the US and on the world stage, in the media, the Church doubled-down on its homophobic tendencies by revisiting the specific sections of the Catechism which frame what is really happening in the world when we run into somebody “experiencing” a homosexual identity, and they essentially made sure they were framing homosexuality in a way that wasn’t needlessly rude… while backing up every belief they ever had against the institution. They framed homosexual life as an outright attack on behalf of God/the Devil/Nature itself…they acknowledged homosexual feelings are not a choice… people have homosexual feelings from birth and tend to have them until they die…it’s only certain people who experience them, and these people typically only experience homosexual sexual urges…and for these people, as opposed to the heterosexuals, there is no way for them to ever act upon their sexual urges. The honest framing is that they, especially, as some struggle with drinking while others don’t, will have to be Beings who do not get to act upon their sexual identity. Because they were born with the wrong one.

Essentially they’re saying God is being really mean to only these people. That’s about how well developed their perspective on the situation is.

And this Bible passage here quite simply refutes that work they did revisiting the Catechism. There are many, many, many other passages from both the Old and New Testaments which do as much. Those cats over there in the Vatican made a mockery of intelligent and compassionate, spiritually concerned individuals the entire world over when they did as much in early 00’s or so when they did their work. I can honestly say they would’ve been fired from the fast food sandwich company I had my first job (Jimmy John’s) at if they tried to do that as a response to the situation at hand- it’s just poor work, lazy work, and they clearly aren’t doing their jobs as spiritual leaders, and I'd wager that they don't feel too hot while doing this work, either.

Meanwhile (and I assure you, this is out of character for my day to day character) the hot shot within me is kinda bragging...I keep an open door. Hook me up to the blood pressure squeeze thingy and take my vitals as I do what I do- it's written over every square inch of existence who's telling the truth and what really is happening, in the grand scheme of things, here....

The thing about identities is that they ultimately amount to the same thing. The same is true of individuals who at times have multiple identities... it truly is that all roads lead to a singular destination. I just want to ensure all people are enjoying their ride.

But...it's more than that. The reason I harp on it endlessly when it seems as if, at this juncture, the church isn't particularly strong in my area and is nearly nonexistent in my age group/the patterns of my peers, is that I respect the Church deeply...and also too...they have like so many buildings covering like every square inch of this country. If there's a town, there's a church.

Beyond ruminations of the Ultimate...of the Elephant in each and every room whom has control over and actually is every atom in existence...including your body...we have here something tangible and human/at least partially/staffed by humans, that is incredibly meaningful, and that has undeniably touched the lives of most Americans in some fashion whether or not they are of the faith. It's a real social entity, and it would be so easy for it to be adored/prosper.

Just get with the times! Or rather, listen to what the people somehow know to be true...