Tangle writes:
I was thinking about it in a church today at a funeral. The priest was saying similar stuff. It really made no objective sense, but it had become so normalised that nobody noticed. People get so used to it over the years that they hardly listen to it - it's a rhythm; the ritual is the message, the language is just mood music.
But if you actually listen to the words, they carry no actual meaning.
This is EXACTLY what I have noticed over the years. It was part of what led me to leave the church. I suddenly realized that 99% of the time I wasn't even listening to what the pastor was saying, much less care what he was saying. When I did listen and actually try to make sense of it, I realized that it was just word salad. You can find tons of good examples by reading the lyrics of modern Christian praise songs. It's almost as if it's a Scrabble game where the tiles have things like "Grace of God" or "Kingdom of God" on them. Pastors draw 8 of them, put them in a random order, and then base their sermon on that word salad. It's like listening to someone who just strings a bunch of clichs together:
"Birds of a feather flock together, but it often goes over like a lead balloon. Instead, opposites attract while time heals all wounds."
That's what sermons sound like.
I grew up in a devout Christian family, but I harbor them no ill will. I think they have come to the realization that I am no longer a believer (took them 20 years), and they are actually being cool about it. Mom wanted me to go to church on Mom's Day, and I agreed in 1 second because it was a special day and she rarely asks. During the sermon I really had the urge to ask someone in my family if they can explain what was just said. I suspected that they wouldn't be able to. I suspect that no one would be able to. However, since they are being cool with my whole kitten-eating atheism, I didn't push it. Still has me curious if they could explain what was said, but I suspect it will always remain a curiosity.
Edited by Taq, : No reason given.
Edited by Taq, : No reason given.