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Hi Lee. I'm a 1973 graduate of Boston University School of Theology. Harrell Beck was my mentor.
Dear Mystictrek
Good to hear you went to bu! I was there from 1998-2004. Lots of fun. Boston is my favorite city. I had Wesley Wildman as a mentor. He was cool. Robert Neville had good ideas, too.
Why are you picking on the Catholics? It seems like a lot of Protestants are behaving pretty badly these days.
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Ah, why am I picking on the Catholics? This is tricky. I like to pick on both camps, protestant and catholic, but of all the christian traditions out there, I've found the catholic one to be the least passionate about god and its parishoners the least knowledgable about the bible and christian doctrine. I don't mean to judge them, but after my experience on both coasts, as well as the Mid-west--and after what my catholic minister friends have said--I'd have to say the RCC needs some education, the Spirit, whatever. Mass seems like empty ritual every time I go. Yes, there are real, believing catholics out there; I know many of them. But many, as the former chaplian at BU's Newman Center once said, "Most don't have a clue."
I'm now Catholic. Technically, at least. I finally made it through. Since that time I've run into problems with G-d. I'm having to do a re-evaluating of sorts; I even struggle to go to church now. I hope that will change.
Until then, I find my faith journey is nourished by writing fiction. Reading a lot also helps. Somebody mentioned Christopher Moore. He doesn't go to church much either, yet he would probably stand somewhere within the christian tradition.
Anyway, this gets very complex. I'm still trying to work it out. At times I'm an atheist obsessed with G-d. That's the only honest thing I can honestly about myself. But I have a lot to learn, and perhaps things will come together someday. I hope they do.
best,
lee