Crosses and Such

My friend Cro has a provocative post on the wearing of Christian crosses and the meaning of such jewelry.  I commented that I sometimes wear a little medallion of Green Tara, but inconspicuously.

However, I do have what some would consider to be religious art in my home.

I like Mexican folk/kitch religious art.  Here I have a little altar to the feminine, as I like to call it.  Not only to we have La Virgen de Guadalupe, but Mary, and White Tara, and other female symbols of fertility.

I also love my cross made out of bottle caps, below.  And tin art of all kinds gets me going.

And none of this, despite appearances, means I'm Christian.  But sometimes guests do wonder.

But I really liked Cro's question, which is, why do people conspicuously wear religious symbols like the cross?  What do you think?

I find it obscene that the Pope and other Catholic higher ups wear giant gold crosses.  Feed the poor, as Jesus instructed.  One of those cross necklaces would go a long way to alleviate suffering.

But that's me.

And some, like me at times, like to wear a talisman, something to remind them of their relationship with God, the Goddess, the Buddha, Jesus, etc. etc.  I see the star of David infrequently.  But maybe that's regional.  I see rainbow jewelry and clothes worn for gay pride.  Is it kind of the same thing?  We dress to express, and when someone recognizes, "Hey, there's another Jewish Buddhist Lesbian!" then we have connection.

There are lots of Jewish Buddhists Lesbians, you know.  I guess they are thrice blessed.

What You See is What You Get

I think this is due for a re-post.  Originally posted March 2006 on this blog.

If you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so  that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days.  It's that simple.  What you see is what you get.

Annie Dillard

The Five Precepts and Organized Religion

Thanks to Peter for a stimulating post. His link to "The Healing Power of the Precepts" is also most welcomed. While I admire and understand (to the best of my limited ability) the precepts, I am just a piss-poor (or glorious?) Buddhist wannabe. Never. Gonna. Get. There.

I'm glad that there are many practicing Buddhists, just as I am glad there are many practicing Christians, Jew, Muslims (name your organized religion). If they are trying to walk the true path of their beliefs, they are doing good work in the world. While I may not share their beliefs, I cannot deny the good that comes from them. That there are some in this world who twist their beliefs into monstrous and evil deeds (this is true of all faiths) does not diminish the faithful who practice love, understanding and compassion.

That's one reason I can't get worked-up about the plans to build a mosque near ground-zero in New York. My initial gut reaction was outrage, but then I did a bit of research and learned that the proposal has its merits. If we allow Islamic terrorists to distort our understanding of Islam, that is a great pity. Perhaps a mosque in this location will help heal the wounds, if people would just let it be. There is enough hate and discord in the world. Can we welcome an effort to promote understanding?