Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, February 25, 2010

[Pius V’s] bull, Regnans in Excelsis, dated April 27, 1570 ….
declared Elizabeth I [of England] a heretic and released her subjects from
their allegiance to her. In response, Elizabeth, who had thus far
left Catholics alone, now actively started persecuting them.

History of Pope Pius V and Queen Elizabeth 1 of England


From my perspective in 2010, this seems utterly absurd! But, looked at from the contemporary history, we can see what’s happening, politically, theologically, etc. Seen from hindsight, one can only sigh and lament “the times”. Even more absurd, the Bull said that anyone who killed her would go immediately to Heaven. Does this sound lie the modern absurdities of suicide bombers [male] going to meet with their reward of 70 Virgins? Pul-eeze! (And: what about women suicide bombers???? What do they get?)

However, the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy and many Muslims and several other fundamentalist expressions of their Faiths continue to act out of an hopelessly primitive context. What bothers me is that any sensible people pay any attention to them! It really does diminish my desire to think of human culture as evolving to a deeper more human dimension!

NO RELIGION HAS THE WHOLE “TRUTH”. All parts of the human community have invented gods/goddesses in a process of trying to understand our meaning, our purpose. Religions may align themselves with political and cultural agenda, but Faith is beyond such venial manipulation.

Look Friends: it is my unshakeable belief that “Jesus” is a universal symbol for our common community as human beings living in the power of Love.

“Those who have ears, let them hear”.

Or we are doomed.

Brian+