Mass in Time of War
God, we pray to thee to give us the courage, to end this terrible war. Which has taken so many lives, and given so little peace.
We pray for the return of those who serve. We pray that we will have the honor to remember the fallen, and all those who have lost a loved one to war.
We pray for the judgement that we lacked before, for as we have put our lives in their hands to defend - they have put their lives in our hands by serving.
We pray that we will have the fortitude to accept the debts, and apportion the blame for this enteprise. That we will not, in future, shirk paying for our own decisions.
We pray for the foresight to prevent the next war, so that others may not live in fear.
We pray for the forgiveness, of the cities that have been wounded by our carelessness, for New York and New Orleans, and all of those who perished from because we slept.
We pray for the vigilance to preserve our liberties.
We pray for the strength to bring to justice those responsible, of which ever nation, however high their station, and however long the road that we must travel to do so.
We pray that we may pluck the beam in our own eyes out, and see the past for what it was, the present for what it is, and the future for what we can make of it.
We pray to you, and we tremble, for we know that you are just. We pray to you in humility, because we have seen the results of hubris. We pray not knowing whether you can hear, or even whether you are at all - because it is for our own souls and self salvation that we pray.
This in time of war, we may humbly pray that in the next shrove of peace, we will not forgive the scourge that was ripped across the land by this time of wanton waste. That we may not forget the costs borne by our country men, our allies and by other innocents. And we may remember that never begins on the day that we dedicate ourselves, our efforts and our energies.
For this, in time of war, we pray.
Amen.
I'm not sure God has concluded that our moral account deficit is yet balanced, a metaphor I stole from this dude on a different occasion:
By this metric, we're completely screwed. So anyhoo -- what happened to BOPNews? It won't load at all these days.
August 21, 2006 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
At first I wrote a very snarky comment to this; not out of disrespect, but out of frustration. Now, I will say, in a tone that I hope will convey my thoughts in a way that doesn't cause even more trouble:
Sorry, Stirling. That prayer, or one very similar has been sent up by countless soldiers, and mothers of soldiers, and wives of soldiers since some people decided than pagans were wrong. If there were a god up there, all ears, waiting to hear humility and love, the mess we're in wouldn't be!
If there were a wise deity, just waiting for proof of faith from the multitudes, surely the rewards of peace would be in front of everyone's face right now.
If this god you're talking about delivered people from war, then why hasn't he done it?
Why?
Why?
Jan Knaus
August 21, 2006 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stirling,
Didn't you get the memo?
God kills.
August 21, 2006 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just finished watching the first two hours of Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke. I grew up in Houma, only fifty miles by road from New Orleans, which thankfully for them was on the west side of New Orleans, and had very little damage. Over and over again, they talked about praying. Over and over again, they wondered what God had planned for them.
I'm no longer a practicing Catholic, but I think someone like Wynton Marsallis (or his brother or dad) should write a Mass for the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina. (Those who did not survive the storm are already being cared for.)
George Bush may never have visited the Jefferson Memorial, but if he really was a Christian, he would probably not take comfort from Jefferson's admonition that:
You have it perfectly right, Stirling. We should not pray for God to take care of things for us. We should instead pray for pardon for our sins of omission and commission, and the strength to do what needs to be done.
Bushco delenda est
August 21, 2006 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
You might want to pick up a copy of "The War Prayer" by Mark Twain.
My local library has a copy, and Amazon has it too.
Read it all the way through. In these times it is chillingly appropos.
August 22, 2006 4:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
God. And the other "god" invented by the new American evangelicals as a marketing ploy. Diebold. Glands. McDonalds. And all those other excuses we use to shove the responsibility elsewhere. When do we say "it's our responsibility" and really mean it? Maybe when we've learned that democracy is our first responsibility?
The War Prayer can be found online here.
August 22, 2006 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Because we humans have to learn our own lessons and make our own mistakes. If some superior intelligence came along and fixed everything for us, what hope would we ever have of evolving and becoming better? We can't stay in the cradle forever you know.
And trying to figure out the purposes of God is about as impossible as if my cats tried to figure out my purposes. It's enough for them to know I love them, even though I occasionally annoy and grieve them mightily for reasons they can never hope to grasp.
August 22, 2006 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
If what you say is true, then why pray in the first place? Why ask for help at all? Why not acknowledge that we are alone in solving our problems, and learn to be honorable for the sake of doing the right thing, and not for fear of god's retribution?
I'll bet you actually take care of your cats, and have an actual, real relationship with them. Most likely you feed them, and intervene when needed, like taking them to the vet, or chasing the big dog out of your yard. They actually see you, and the food you actually give them to eat. You don't tell them that if they don't worship you and say that you're the best, the only one,(good luck on getting that from a cat!) that they are doomed.
So, yeah, I guess I still wonder why these prayers are sent up by people who are worried about their loved ones, when the fact is, that for one person's prayer to be answered another's HAS to be refused. But the fact is that what happens, happens, and prayers have nothing to do with the outcome. From what you said I guess we agree on that, at least.
Jan Knaus
August 22, 2006 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
One explanation I've heard, Jan, is that one prays to change oneself, not to change God. Another explanation suggests that, if all prayers were immediately answered, one wouldn't need faith. So we as humans wouldn't have any choice in our beliefs. (Related to this, one of my friends claims that this is why we will never find scientific proof of God. She says that's the only way to protect our free will, our agency.) These probably aren't satisfying, but it does make those who pray look less stupid.
PSA: There is a Users' Help Forum.August 22, 2006 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I was responding to the prayer that started this, which was rather out-come related ie, requesting certain things. I've never heard of anyone praying to change god. I have to say, though, re this:
Another explanation suggests that, if all prayers were immediately answered, one wouldn't need faith.
So, the way that god gets to have people have faith in him is by maintaining his absentee landlord status. Seems to me that faith would grow exponentially if there were an occasional demonstration of its efficacy. After all, the bible is full of miracles that people claim to have witnessed. In fact, that is what is used to get faith off the ground for many of the tales told within. It worked pretty well too.
Repeat a story often enough and it becomes truth to lots of people. There are powerful leaders right now, using people's innate desire to have faith in something, who have mastered this art pretty well.
Jan Knaus
August 22, 2006 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simply because my cats may "ask" me for something does not mean I will always grant their wishes. "No" is also an answer to a prayer.
August 23, 2006 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right, but at least they have evidence that you are there. They don't have to believe you are there even if you did't feed them or give them anything they need. Look, at one time the god many people worshipped was named "Zeus." Now, pretty much everyone has figured out that the stories about him and his crew were made up.
In Egypt there was a god, Isis, who died and came back to life; thus began the myth of life after death and a way to keep people who were miserable on earth quietly waiting for a "reward" that they could only get after they died. Sound familiar?
The suicide bombers are promised 70 virgins after death, with no one that I've ever heard question where those 70 innocents came from. Doesn't matter; they believe it and go happily into smithereens for that belief. They pray 5 times a day. Even if you don't believe the way they do no one can argue that they aren't ardent believers.
If you believe in one god, by definition you don't believe in someone else's. Wanting/needing to believe is what faith is all about. If it gives you comfort, fine. Enjoy your cats. My dearest one, Buddha, just died.
Jan Knaus
August 23, 2006 6:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Osiris is the god who was brought back. Isis was the goddess who brought him back from the land of the dead.
Stirling Newberry http://www.bopnews.com
August 23, 2006 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
We're sorry, God is not available right now.
Please press 2 to speak with the Pope, 3 to speak with Pat Robertson, or 3 to speak to the first available charlatan.
August 23, 2006 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's easier for humans to blame their god and make him responsible for all of our cruelty to one another.
It's the same thing as claiming, when some horrible act has been committed, that some "monster" did it. If we diminish human capablities for evil acts, then we don't have to acknowledge that we ourselves are responsible, because to acknowledge responsibility means that we have to actually do something about it. People like to say that "it was God's will" or something was "God's punishment" or it was "God's way" or whatever fits the particular situation.
August 23, 2006 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Patriarchal religions often use fear as behavior inducing motivators. It's no coincidence to me that someone like Bush who claims "born again" status thinks that force and cruelty are mechanisms for change. They're conditioned through their own fear of punishment to think that everyone else is. It's also easier.
August 23, 2006 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Re: In Egypt there was a god, Isis, who died and came back to life
You mean Osiris (Isis was his wife) and he didn't actually die: Egyptian gods were inherently immortal, like most deities (Germannic gods being the exception). Osiris was dismembered, but each piece of him was still alive. His wife reassembled the pieces, except his penis which she couldn't find (uh, no jokes please!) and because he had lost his virility he was consigned to dwell in the Land of the Dead as its ruler.
Re: If you believe in one god, by definition you don't believe in someone else's.
"All gods are one god" (quoting novelist Marion Zimmer Bradley)
August 23, 2006 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there any religion that does not use fear? Angry and vengeful gods (and goddesses!) are a staple of mythical tales everywhere. And even more subtle concepts like karma in Hinduism and Buddhism basically tells us: Behave or there will be consequnces. Which is not necessarily a bad message as life itself does tend to be fraught with nasty consequences when mistakes are made.
August 23, 2006 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right, and it came back to me as I was motoring off to meet my mother in the emergency room 70 miles away. No, I didn't know she was sick when I was playing around here; I was 10 miles away from Richmond when I found out I had to meet her in the ER rather than at home. I was in a rush before I left, though, and I absent-mindedly named the wrong person for the myth.
Doesn't change my point, though, which is that the concept of life after death preceded the christ myth, and had a definite purpose of keeping the natives quiet.
Jan Knaus
August 23, 2006 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there any religion that does not use fear?
Nope, not that I know of; it is the source of their power.
...Buddhism basically tells us: Behave or there will be consequnces.
No it doesn't. Buddhism isn't a religion, actually. It is a way of being, and there is no dogma or diety. It is not exclusionary, and there is no "I'm right; you're wrong" about it. One of its main tenets is not to be so wrapped up in outcome. It is about evolving as a person, and really doesn't make value judgements about others. (I guess that proves it is not a religion, eh?)
Jan Knaus
August 23, 2006 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
"All gods are one god" (quoting novelist Marion Zimmer Bradley)
Too bad all the people in the world who hate and kill others in the name of religion don't agree with this one novelist. Maybe you could post that message on the internet....
Jan Knaus
August 23, 2006 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually have NEVER seen an example of this:
It's easier for humans to blame their god and make him responsible for all of our cruelty to one another.
Can you give me an example of contemporary humans blaming god, or calling him a "monster?" I hear plenty of people saying that OTHER people use their god to justify all kinds of disgusting things, but more often....
What I hear is, "God never gives you more than you can handle." Right. So your family being wiped out in a car accident, or your baby dying at 6 months is a TEST? And I guess that when some people commit suicide it kinda means they couldn't handle what god gave them.
OR....
....we ourselves are responsible, because to acknowledge responsibility means that we have to actually do something about it.
Then why, when someone has a wonderful family, or accomplishes a great feat, or works hard and achieves something that is difficult ---->
Rather than taking responsibility for it and saying, "Well, thank you, I worked hard for that!" There are those who simply say, "I am blessed." [Translation -- my hard work doesn't really count; it is up to god to give rewards.] Before everyone jumps on this and says that hard work is rewarded, I want to remind you that those who work hard and fail, then go back to the "god never gives you more than you can handle mantra."
Jan Knaus
August 23, 2006 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best to your Mom and you.
August 23, 2006 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You left out, "Please listen to the entire recording as our menu has recently changed."
and..
"Press 4 to make a direct donation and guarantee immortality without having to listen to anyone."
Jan Knaus
August 24, 2006 7:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, here's one example - Bush claiming that his god told him to make these drastic, tragic mistakes in the Middle East. Now either Bush's god is as dumb as he is, or we have someone prone to hearing voices and suffering delusions in the White House. (Personally, I think it's the latter, no one else could be that dumb.) Another example are religious goofs like Robertson and Falwell who think that the WTCs were destroyed as "God's punishment" for our societal "sins". In other words, humans aren't capable of inflicting horror and pain on each other without some god's direction and approval. The claim that their god sent aids as a plague to destroy the gay community is just another example of their willingness to blame their god. And if you notice, their god never sends plagues or disasters to teach humans to have empathy or compassion for each other, or teach people to help one another, no, it's always some example to others of cruelty and horror.
If you assert that only "monsters" commit horrifc crimes, then you don't have to treat human mental illness or even address those ills that might lead humans to do such things. If children are struggling in schools, then it must be "God's will" that the "poor are always with you" - it's so much easier to think that than to address hunger or shelter or proper medical care for the poor. We don't have to help each other, because there's always a holy book verse that makes it some god's problem, not ours. Even those holy book verses are twisted and corrupted to enable human meanness - how often have we heard "peace on earth, goodwill to men" when the verse actually reads "peace on earth to men of goodwill" which puts a whole different slant on the matter, doesn't it?
August 24, 2006 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hope she's alright, Jan.
August 24, 2006 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, she's okay - phlebitis + 85 years old + 60 years of cigarettes; in fact she is doing amazingly well. Thanks to both of you!
Jan Knaus
August 24, 2006 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I get what you mean, but in the examples you site, they are not "blaming god" because they basically agree with the actions (war in Iraq, punishing hurricanes, attacks on buildings, plagues sent to sinners, etc).
You and I might consider that if god did in fact cause those things to happen that he/she deserves a huge amount of blame. However, those who invoke the name of god to justify those things, do it with the idea that god deserves not BLAME, but the CREDIT for it.
And if you notice, their god never sends plagues or disasters to teach humans to have empathy or compassion for each other, or teach people to help one another, no, it's always some example to others of cruelty and horror.
How convenient for the Bush's, the Falwells, the Robertsons, et al. I would love to ask the rev Robertson, after he said that Sharon had that stroke because he returned Gaza to the Palestinians, "What horrible sin did Ronald Reagan commit to end up living his last 10 years with the mind of a 2 year-old?"
Jan Knaus
August 24, 2006 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, maybe "blame" is not the right word. Perhaps I should have said that they shift responsibility to their god. I doubt that the failure of the levees was "God's will" and would go so far as to say it was an engineering failure. (But that's just me)
I'm glad your mom's okay!
August 24, 2006 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've known Christians who argue that Christianity isn't a religion too, and to both claims I say: BS. Buddhism is as much a religion as Christianity and Islam. It makes certain metaphysical claims that cannot be scientifically validated, it prescribes a set of rituals for dealing with those metaphysical realities, and it councils a given set of ethics as a path to greater happiness (in the classical sense of that word). Yes, it is not theocentric, but who said religions have to have a single central personalized God? Pantheism (which is what Buddhism pretty much espouses) is also a form of theism.
To be sure a great deal of what passes for Buddhism in this country is a stripped down, liberal, New Age Buddhism bearing about the same relationship to traditional Asian Buddhism as Unitarianism does to orthodox Christianity. I'm not trying to knock that-- or Unitarianism either. But if all you knew of Christianity was from Unitarians your perception of the religion would be radically different don't you think? Meanwhile back in Asia yo uwill idn a Buddhist Religious Right playing much the same role in countries like Japan and Thailand (anti-choice on abortion, anti-gay rights etc.) that Christianity does in the US and Europe and Islam does in the Middle East.
August 24, 2006 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink