The Pageless Book

This past Sunday, Genevra from “One Joy, One Sorrow” wrote about feeling the call to pursue ministry as a Unitarian Universalist. After taking a long look at difficulties that lie ahead for her if she follows the calling, she is “left wondering if it’s okay to pick up the phone, have a short conversation, and then pretend like you aren’t home.” Essentially, she is doubting whether or not her epiphany is actually a calling to ministry, or if it is just an unrealistic dream. Having had similar doubts myself, I felt the need to comment on her post.

I am, at times, in the same situation of doubting if I honestly belong pursuing ministry. Because I am yet to actually live up to my calling, I cannot say that I am any more experienced than Genevra. What I can say is that I know where she is coming from - I still feel terrified of this process, guilty that I do not contribute more, and ill prepared to act on this desire I have to be a UU minister. There is only one thing that keeps me from tucking tail and running the other direction - NEED.

I have a need to share what I understand. I have a need to help others find their own truth. I have a need to fight injustices with greatest weapons God endowed me with - my heart and mind. Those needs keep me coming back. When I ask myself if those needs can be met any other way, I find that they cannot be filled in any other way.

So, Genevra, I have a proposal for you. Ask yourself “What need is it that draws me to this work?” Then ask if that need can be filled in any other way. If it cannot, you must pursue ministry to find happiness in your life - that is your calling. If you find that the fear of pursuing this path outweighs your needs, then you need not feel any shame turning away and finding another means of satisfying those needs. Growing as a human being takes precedence over any judgement you might face in changing your mind.

How you pursue it right now and in the future is entirely up to you - a way will be made one way or another. Right now, I am not in school actively working towards a theology degree. I simply do not have the resources to sink into the college education that I need. Instead, I’m taking the time to learn what I need to know by other means. I’m pursuing management within the company I currently work for, knowing that management skills are an asset to a career in ministry. I’m writing this blog, constantly refining my own understanding of spirituality and religion. Finally, I’m participating in my congregation’s Lay Worship Associates Committee, so I can learn how to write services and sermons and deliver them.

You, too, can consider alternative means of reaching towards the goal of ministry. Ultimately, religion is about learning how to best live your life. Every lesson you learn every day of your life is ministry training - you need only see it as such.

I hope this response is helpful, regardless of which path you choose - and I hope that I am not being too presumptuous in posting my response. Let me know if you want to talk… we’ve all got to support each other, you know?

Namaste.

Top Photo by Mark Kobayashi-Hillary. Bottom Photo by Aussie Gall.

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Reverend Kit Ketcham from Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show. As one of the most beloved minster bloggers in the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere, it is an honor having her as my first interview on The Pageless Book. I am thankful that she agreed to the interview and hope that you visit her blog to read more of her mirth and wisdom. Namaste.

Above Photo by Philip Kromer. Photo Below of Reverend Kit Ketcham. Bread Photo by Miheco.
Volunteer Sign Photo by Tim Parkinson.

It’s hard to know when to respond to the seductiveness of the world and when to respond to its challenge. If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I rise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. - E.B. White

John Pageless: You first started your blog about a year and a half ago. I’ve went back and read your first post, but it only indicated in a vague manner your original purpose for blogging. Can you please clarify your original purpose for your blog and discuss how has that purpose changed over the last year and a half?

Rev. Ketcham: I originally started the blog because I wanted to comment on someone’s post and found that I needed to register if I wanted to really get into commenting. And I’ve always liked to write, so it was attractive from that perspective. I had no original purpose for the blog, but my old moniker from Citizens’ Band radio days was Ms. Kitty and I wanted to use that. I also have a secret desire to be a torch singer and figured if I had my own saloon, they’d have to let me be part of the show!

JP: As the daughter of a Baptist preacher, you had a strong religious upbringing. Yet at some point, you moved on to become a Unitarian Universalist, only to later take up ministry yourself. From what I understand of your blog, this was in part to the social revolution of the 1960’s. What initially lead you on this spiritual journey and how has it impacted your ministry?

Rev. K: I think I always secretly wanted to be a minister, but when I graduated from college in 1963, the only thing they were training women to do was become Christian Education directors, aka glorified Sunday School teachers in my opinion. But the careers I have had, starting right after college, were all in social service work - welfare caseworker, community center work, teaching/counseling - and all formed a foundation for me which made ministry a wonderful next step. For me, the social service work was more important than the religion I was attached to, until I felt a strong call to the ministry and then I moved into the position of leading others in social service work.

As a minister, I feel a strong pull to do interfaith work. I think UUs will get much more done in the world if we link arms with other religious communities. I would say that my sense of this impacts my ministry deeply. I want to be involved with people of other faiths; I want my congregation to be involved with people of other faiths. I don’t see how we can change the world without creating coalitions of progressive people.

JP: Unitarian Universalism is an evolving tradition; young, yet not without a solid historical foundation. You’ve witnessed and even wrote about this religion’s evolution. Where do you see Unitarian Universalism in the future and what part do you play now to help create that future?

Rev. K: I think of Unitarian Universalism as the catalytic agent in our society; think “yeast” in a loaf of bread. I’m not sure it matters whether we have zillions of members or not. I’m inclined to think that we have made a huge difference in society since our inception. I’m also a believer in getting the message out; we have a message of salvation that is different from traditional faith. I read blogs and hear stories of how things play out in other congregations and I can see that there is a wide variety of healthy activist congregations; I think the East coast, because of its population decline, may be struggling with a lessening of energy, while the West is the recipient of new energy because we are increasing in our population. I know some of my colleagues in the East feel frustrated by that lack of energy. I don’t sense the lack of energy here; I sense a constant upwelling of energy and growth.

I hope we don’t get bogged down in the numbers game, thinking that the only way we can make a difference is by increasing our numbers. We need to focus on our mission, which is to change society. If people are attracted to us by our actions in society, that’s much healthier growth than people who come through the doors because we have cute sermon titles.

JP: One of the positive aspects of Unitarian Universalism is that we are exposed to a large number of religions and philosophies. We are probably one of the most inclusive spiritual traditions in America today. This lends itself to an honest approach to spiritual exploration and self discovery. However, suppose this religion and the religion you were born into did not exist; which other religion or philosophy would you be most likely to take up and why?

Rev. K: I am pretty sure that if I had it to do over again, I would be a Quaker, because I am very attracted to their practice of non-violence. But circumstances led me to UUism and I am happy here. However, if I ever retire to a place where there is no UU congregation and there is a Quaker meeting, I know where I’ll go! I’m a Christian at heart; Jesus’s message is foundational for me. But I’m not likely to choose a Christian church these days. Too many integrity issues bog down the message of Jesus in traditions where they are still fighting about gender, sexual orientation, etc.

JP: I’ve been fairly public about my intention to become a Unitarian Universalist minister. Even though my journey has been waylaid by recent financial difficulties, I’m still resolute on making ministry a part of my life. As someone who has been raised by a preacher and became a minister herself, is there any advice you would impart to me?

Rev. K: Hmmm. The journey into ministry often takes a long time. I would just recommend that you not be discouraged and that you recognize that every day you spend NOT a minister is preparation for becoming a minister. Use everything that happens to you as preparation. It’s the figurative money in the bank of life. I can’t visualize what kind of minister I would be today if I hadn’t put in all those years in social service work, in being a parent and spouse, in learning to lead highly intelligent people in social groups, in living from paycheck to paycheck, in volunteering in various ways. Be involved as deeply as you can in your local congregation; start something new there; try your wings at something new.

Photo Above by Franco Folini. Photo Below by Aidan Jones.

Early last week, I was told a friend of mine was in the hospital with a serious lung infection. He had a felt a very sharp pain in his chest when he breathed and, believing that it might be serious, checked himself in to the hospital. Due to the infection, he has fluid and growths on his lungs, causing his breathing to become labored. In an attempt to drain off the fluids and slow the infection, he underwent a number of surgeries to have drainage tubes inserted into his lungs.

Since I’ve heard of his illness, I have of made it a point to try visiting every few days - first time this past Wednesday and again just Sunday. This was a man who was in my wedding party and was the one who made me realize that I wanted a relationship with the woman who became my wife. While we don’t see much of each other, I consider him an important part of my life.

I want you to understand the type of guy he is; the man’s had a hard life. It’s not my place to divulge the details of his past, but I will say he’s had the hardest life out of anybody I’ve ever known. For this reason, he’s very guarded and difficult for most people to gauge. This friend is brutally honest, unusually curt, and always sarcastic. For someone like myself who thrives on open communication and regular validation, it is easy to be intimidated by him whether he means to be intimidating or not. Yet, somehow, I managed to gain his trust and friendship.

On Sunday, I saw him at his most vulnerable. I saw tubing snaking out of him limply like vines, his head nodding due to the morphine drip, and heard the shallow rasp of his breathing. He couldn’t say much, or even move much of his own volition. Seeing him reduced from being hard as nails to practically helpless is heart breaking and painful.

As I left that day I realized something; being a minister could mean seeing people such as my friend at their absolute weakest on a regular basis. Not only that, but it would be my job to console family members, be fully present to help them with their grief, and yet not show my own weakness in front of them. I asked myself if I could be that person, and I wasn’t so sure. Then I asked myself if I wanted to be that person. I immediately answered that I did.

At this point in my life and with my current financial difficulties, I am at least eight or ten years away from becoming a minister - perhaps longer. I’ve often taken the easiest path in life and yet had never been truly satisfied. I guess I grew up a little bit last Sunday. I’m not sure if I would be a successful minister or not, but that isn’t the point; I want to make this world a better place. This is one way in which I can make a career out of making the world a better place. I can’t let go of that.

Am I afraid for my friend? Yes, I’m scared for his life. But this situation has also taught me a valuable lesson, and I would be a fool to ignore what I have learned. Regardless of what happens, I should hold on to that lesson, because it makes me a better person and because all suffering should have a meaning.

Above Photo by FreaksAnon. Photo below by Monkey123.

One of the major things that I strive to do with this website is offer a different point of view. Sometimes, that means pushing buttons and envelopes - a dangerous game of seeing how far down the rabbit hole you’re willing to follow me. Quite honestly, I’m surprised that I haven’t been admonished yet for going too far. Sure, readers have disagreed with me, but I don’t feel that any disagreements have resulted in a loss of respect. However, I also know that being controversial for the sake of controversy is an easy trap to fall into. Have I crossed that line this week?

My views are genuine, but that doesn’t mean a thing if I’m losing credibility with you, my audience. Sometimes I’m afraid that I am doing just that. I really care about the message I’m putting out there, and I don’t want my own words to get in the way of what needs to be said. Although I do this as a hobby, I also see it as a stepping stone that brings me closer to
my true goal of making this world a better place. Should I be myself, even if that means being viewed as an eccentric?

This is probably one of the more difficult aspects of trying to get people to think differently; you never know if they are actually thinking or if your words are just falling out of their ear, unheard. I wonder if other would-be ministers have ever felt this way. Of course this could all be part of the learning process - or perhaps an indication of the extent of my bovine manure collection. Either way, I shouldn’t beat myself up about it, should I?

It is all a part of the journey. Even if I wasn’t interested in becoming a minister, I would need to have these thoughts and these experiences. My development as a human being depends on making meaningful mistakes. Sometimes that means rubbing people the wrong way. I have this tendency to try to please everyone in my offline life; I need to get away from being so concerned about what other people think of me. Seth Pickens recently wrote about needing to be unmoved by criticism and praise as an important trait of ministry. I can’t agree with him more - I just need to apply that lesson more consistently.

I also need to hear back from you, my readers on a few things. I haven’t received enough responses to my short questionnaire. So far, only two people have taken the time to tell me a little about themselves. Don’t be shy - I really want to hear from you. If you don’t remember the questions I asked, they are:

• Which religion or spiritual path do you identify with?
• Which of my articles is your favorite and why?
• Which of my articles is your least favorite and why?
• What would you like to see more of or less of?
• Are you an RSS Subscriber?

Thank you for listening and Namaste.

Photo above by Britt Selvitelle.
Cross Tattoo Photo by Josh Parrish.
Tattooed Man Photo by Fabrice Koch.

I have this particular image of myself as a minister - clean shaved, short hair, confident in my own quiet way, and smiling. I’m wearing a short sleeved shirt with the ministerial collar all done up, a chalice embroidered on the left breast… and tattoos from the cuff of my short sleeved shirt to my elbow on both arms. Something about the juxtaposition of tattoos and ministerial-wear speaks volumes about the type of person I am.

To be honest, I do not yet have tattoos that covers the area between my elbow and shoulder (also referred to as a half-sleeve by tattoo artists); this is something I want to do in the future. So, how do I know I want this done to my body? Because I already have one tattoo…

My Tattoo

I know what I would be thinking if someone else had said that they wanted huge tattoos based upon one tattoo experience;“This guy thinks he’s tough as nails and probably only has a square inch worth of some poorly done tribal art. He’s just a foolish poser.” That doesn’t really apply to me, though. I have no delusions of being a macho manly-man; it’s just not in my personality. Further more, my first tattoo is 16 inches by 8 inches and is in the center of upper my back. It took two three-hour sessions to finish; I know the type and the intensity of pain involved.

It’s a tattoo of an abstract raven in flight, viewed from above. The raven, which is done in black and blue, has a red snake on its back biting it own tail. The snakes body forms an infinity symbol. I chose this tattoo because ravens are my totem animal - they symbolize me as a spiritual person. The snake symbolizes the fragment of the Divine within me.

Unprofessional Inclinations

Why would someone looking to get into a religious profession want tattoos? That’s a better question to ask. As usual, I have a surprising answer… Tattoos are spiritual. More ministers and preachers should have tattoos. They fuse into your flesh the story of your life in a way that serves as a constant reminder.

Not all tattoos are spiritual - but I would argue that tattoos without special meaning are the exception, not the rule. If you ask someone with a tattoo why they chose to have an image permanently etched into their flesh, most often they’ll tell you a story about an important event in their life or a belief that they hold dear. In my case, I wanted to memorialize my faith in something bigger than myself and my willingness to allow that to guide my life. For others, a tattoo may symbolize the emotional scars left from abusive relationships, an oath made to be the best parent possible, or the sorrow of the losing a spouse to disease.

This meaning - these life changing moments - are what spirituality and religion are about. If religion is about wisdom, tattoos are about remembering the our lessons. If religion is about growing as a person, tattoos are about declaring your individuality. Finally, if religion is about living our lives to the fullest, then we can say that tattoos are the stories that prove us religious.

Bad Ink

The last thing I want you to think is that I believe tattooing is for everybody. There are several religions that frown upon permanent alteration of the human body - I respect those traditions. Some people are more sensitive to pain than others and there are people who just don’t see the need. Most importantly, there are medical conditions that can make tattooing hazardous. This isn’t for everyone.

What I am questioning is the negative stigma we give tattooing in this society - particularly in regards to liberal religions. The judgment we place upon someone with multiple tattoos is that they are dangerous, lived a hard life, cannot be taken seriously, or some combination of the three. It is those types of judgments that are dangerous, that make life harder to live, and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Tattoos are nothing less than outward signs of an inner truth. If you want proof, all you have to do is spend a day at the tattoo parlor and ask the artists or patrons.

“Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals.”
- Agnes Repplier (1855 - 1950)

Psst. Hey pal. Yes, you! … Do you have a sense of humor? Are you sure? Not everyone has the chutzpah to laugh about religion. Even fewer are the brave men and women who make laughing about religion into a religion. I’m not just talking about a parody of a religion, but a religion that is a parody of a religion of a parody of a real religion. So would that be a real religion, you ask? Well, if you don’t know, then you are already apart of the joke.

As of right now, there are three religious parody religions in existence; Discordianism, The Church of The SubGenius, and Pastafarianism. Each of these three religions have several important similarities. First, it is important to note that all three religions hold a great debt to Al Gore, whom you all know created the series of tubes otherwise called the internets; Gore is cut a check every second Tuesday of the month for his contribution. Second is the fact that each of these religions get proportionately funnier as the jokes age, unlike stale 80’s comedies, which were probably never funny having all been written by Chevy Chase and Steve Martin - but I digress. Finally, there is the astonishing coincidence that all three religious parody religions existed at the time this article was written, which of course is the hallmark of any true religion. Any other religious parody religions are false, heretical, and probably not as funny as the before mentioned three.

Discordianism, the oldest of these three religions, originated in the early 1970’s and was first popularized by the late Robert Anton Wilson when he wrote about it in his Illuminatus trilogy. The Principia Discordia, the holy book of this religion, has been described as a postmodern treaties on Zen Buddhism, a revival of an ancient Greek Chaos mystery cult, and ‘the hell if I know, now leave me alone.’ It is written by the prophet Malaclypse the Younger in the 1950’s, after having been exposed to an exploding chimpanzee at a all-night bowling alley frozen in time/space. He and his fellow prophet, Omar Ravenhurst, founded this religion based upon the worship of Eris, the Goddess of Discord, which would later grow to become the hidden power behind every U.S. Presidency since Benjamin Harrison, fnord.

The Church of the SubGenius is considered to be an off-shoot of Discordianism and is centered around the worship of J.R. “Bob” Dobbs as well as the acquisition of slack. Currently headed up by it’s founder, Rev. Ivan Stang, the Church is seems to be lampoon of fundamentalist Christianity and Scientology drowned in copious amounts of 1950’s kitch. Don’t let the appearances fool you - The Church of the SubGenius is a genuine religion, complete with extensive tithing, alien space ships, and a mail order ministry ordination. Get your slack while it’s still hot.

The newest of these three religious parody religions is Pastafarianism, which emerged in 2005. Also known as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Pastafarians believe that the ultimate creator of the universe is a… Flying Spaghetti Monster. They also believe strongly that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are directly related to the falling number of pirates since the 1800’s. This is due to the fact that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is angered that pirates are going extinct and is exacting revenge on earth for the falling number of his chosen people.

Regardless of which of these three religions you adhere to, you can rest assured that your beliefs will not be scoffed or laughed at by those who can’t take a joke… Then again, they don’t laugh at much of anything, so these greyfaces deserve the slackless, stale-beer hell that’s reserved for them. RAmen.

“God enters by a private door into every individual.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803 - 1882.

As I gradually have come to share my new found desire to enter ministry, I’ve found myself in the situation of trying to explain Unitarian Universalism. Friends and family want to know what Unitarian Universalists believe. When asked, I respond with an authoritative voice and a look of pride, then… admit that I have no bloody idea of how to explain it.

How do I explain to my mother that we occasionally sing hymns originally written and sung by The Beatles? Should I even mention that a large number of my fellow worshipers are agnostic or atheist? Would telling my friends that we use quotes from The New Testament, Buddhism, and English literature help them understand my faith, or just confuse them further? In an attempt to set myself straight as to the meaning of our faith, I thought it would be an excellent idea to write an article explaining the origins and evolution of Unitarian Universalist theology.

Unitarian Universalism (a.k.a. UUism) is actually the union of two different Christian denominations - Unitarianism and Universalism. As a result, in order to truly understand UUism you have to trace the history and understand the theology of both original denominations. Of course this makes any attempts to explain UUism that much harder, which is probably why the majority of us choose not to even try. …But I will try.

What is Unitarianism?

Unitarianism, first popularized by Arius in the early 4th century, is the belief that the Christian God is one entity as opposed to three distinct persons. While the Council of Nicea condemned this view in 325 C.E., it became so popular that it was dominant over the belief in the Trinity for a period of twenty years. In the 16th century, Unitarianism emerged again as a result of theologian Faustus Paulus Socinus and Doctor Michael Servetus. This was, of course, believed to be heresy, and resulted in the conviction and burning of Michael Servetus in 1553 C.E.

In removing the Trinity from Christian doctrine, the Catholic Church’s claim to absolute spiritual authority would be weakened. The implication of Unitarianism is that Jesus Christ was not God’s son in a literal sense, but accepts him as a prophet anointed by God. If Jesus was not the literal son of God, than what other sayings of Jesus were figurative? Most Christians would argue that the definition of Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is the literal son of God. Without that affirmation, the God of Abraham would be subject to new prophecy.

What is Universalism?

As with Unitarianism, Universalism has deep roots in the early history of Christianity. The belief that salvation is universal (hence “Universalism”) is first encountered in a number of early theologians, such as Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 - 200 C.E.), his student Origen (c. 185-250 C.E.), and Gregory of Nyssa (c. 330-390 C.E.). This was, of course, eventually declared heretical in 534 C.E., but reemerged as a protestant religion in 18th century America.

If all people are assumed to be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this would include those individuals who choose not to convert to the Christian religion. With the Kingdom of Heaven open to all of God’s creation, there isn’t much incentive to join the church. Additionally, Universalism could (and does) open Christianity to possibility of accepting the practices of other religions as valid. As with Unitarianism, this weakens the authority of the Catholic Church.

Avoiding The Question

In 1961 C.E. the Unitarian and Universalism churches combined to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. In combination of these two liberal Christian doctrines, I have to ponder the implications on the rest of its theology. Where do these two philosophies lead us when combined? Can UUism still claim to be Christian? What is the future of UUism?

In trying to define UUism, I’ve painted myself into a corner with questions. Don’t worry, I have a plan on answering these questions and more in the second part of this article. For now, however, I’m more then delighted to leave the initial question unanswered and allow you, my reader, a chance to mull over the possibilities for yourself.

I am not feeling myself today. In fact, I have not been feeling much of anything for the last few weeks. Yes, ladies and gents, ‘tis the season for seasonal depression. Your humble narrator is not up to writing a whole post about some obscure philosophy or the blending of religious traditions today, so I’m not even going to try to be profound.

I will, however, expound upon a theory I have about the future of Ministry. Soon, I believe that Ministry will have less to do regarding religion, and more to do regarding mental health. Many of you will take a look at the more extreme religious leaders today and shiver at the thought of receiving mental health care from their likes - as well you should. However, if you take a look at the more mainstream Christian authors, or just browse the Christian section of you local book store, you’re likely to find titles look like and read like self-help books. They are self-help books - they just happen to be written by Christian Ministers.

There are many functions that a religious leaders fills, from conducting ceremonies to championing important causes. However, the reason why his or her flock keeps coming back has nothing to do with activism or maintaining traditions, but rather the soothing effect of the act of worship and the support that the Minister provides to each individual. I would like to regard church as being preventative mental health. I have no doubt that this is the function that clergy will serve in the future. Even as I write this, mental health professionals are looking into the effects of spirituality on their patients. These two professions are becoming more interrelated.

Is it any wonder? Just think about the basic messages that religions teach. Buddhism teaches that suffering can be transcended. Christianity teaches that God will forgive us, if we only ask. Neo-Paganism teaches that all things are divine. The positive messages of these religions and others fortify our emotional well being against mental illness, stress, and gives us hope that tomorrow will be better.

It makes me feel better knowing that this is the profession I’ve chose to go into. In fact, I may have just managed to beat my blues for today by writing this article. I guess God really does work in mysterious ways, which leaves me with only one thing left to say - Thank you.