So I attended Mass with the Catholics

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It was interesting. Still, I think I prefer bowing my head respectfully in submission to God rather than all the pomp and circumstance.

Besides, all the sitting and kneeling and standing was really getting on my nerves. It _hurt_!

But at least the music was ,,, interesting. I'm more used to just singing without music.

And, once again, I was reminded of the Christian obsession with graven images. God lives in our _hearts_, people, not hanging from our necks or all over our walls!

But I do not begrudge them their faith. They worship Allah, even if they do not know Him by that name. I did not really enjoy the readings - too many religious differences, I don't want to get under the skins of my temporary house-mates.

Kurt is ... very devout. I would never defile my own flesh so, but I can sort of understand why he does it. The others were fairly typical - a little French girl, the big Russian (so much for the storied Russian atheism!), the green-haired temptress American, and the African.

Ororo confuses me. Her ancestry is clearly African; I can hear it on her tongue, but she seems so ... American. She flaunts her body openly, and she is completely lacking in respect. But that's what America does to you, so I should not complain too much.

After Church, I did something I should not of - I tried to fly.

And I was punished for my presumption. I got maybe a dozen feet off the ground before the stabilizer went, and I crashed back to earth. I do not think anyone saw me, but my entire right side is a little tender right now. So much so that I had to miss the basketball game.

Still no sign of Professor Xavier. I believe I overheard one of the children mention something about a Cerebro?

Ah well. I believe that the phrase is "In for a penny, in for a pound?"

There's a beer under the sink that is calling to me.

Haroun

Comments

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Ororo confuses me. Her ancestry is clearly African; I can hear it on her tongue, but she seems so ... American. She flaunts her body openly, and she is completely lacking in respect. But that's what America does to you, so I should not complain too much.

Kenyan, actually. Maasai, if you wish to be precise. On my mother's side.

My father's family is Black (we don't do the African-American thing), and we've lived in New York for generations, although we originally came from Georgia and South Carolina (and all over the place, before that). There's some Haitian on my paternal grandmother's side as well.

Respect for whom, Mister al'Rashid?

I think you're mistaking "flaunt" for "is comfortable with", however.


And I was punished for my presumption. I got maybe a dozen feet off the ground before the stabilizer went, and I crashed back to earth. I do not think anyone saw me, but my entire right side is a little tender right now. So much so that I had to miss the basketball game.

Go see the nurse. Or I will be forced to sic Emma on you.

Assalamu alaikum, Mr. al'Rashid.

Commentary

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I thought I recognized that accent! Thank you for the clarification.

As far as respect goes - I should explain. By respect, I mean that you seem to be - forward. You display your legs and chest and face brazenly to the world, with not a care about leading men into temptation.

It is very different where I come from - and where you come from as well.

It's very - American of you.

And I do not hurt nearly so much this morning as I did last night. I injured my pride more than anything else. But I will see Emma anyway, to aid her in assembling the cybernetics lab.

Salaam,
Haroun al'Rashid

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I'm glad you thought it was interesting. The constant movement is something you get used to, and symbolizes a change in what we're doing. Standing is respect, kneeling is deference, sitting is...well, sitting.

Many religious orders chant prayers and masses, rather than have musical accompaniment. I chant the Liturgy of the Hours for Morning and Night Prayer. If you're interested, I'll chant something for you.

God does live in our hearts, much more so than "heaven", in my opinion, but sometimes things like crosses can provide focal points for prayer to the real thing.

And I agree that at some level, we all worship the same God.

Ororo has her own spirituality, and I respect her confidence and self-assurance.

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You want to hear chanting? You should hear the Benedictine's near where I live. They still do the mass in latin and gregorian chant. They put out a CD, I think I've got a copy around here someplace if you'd like to hear it.

My old parish was much less with the standing and kneeling and such but then Californian Catholics, especially in the LA Archdiocese, are renown for our...casual approach to mass. If the changes bother you, don't do them. The Church, if I recall correctly, holds the position that those who are physically able should stand, sit, kneel as appropriate but that it should not be done if it would be overly strenuous.

I have heard Benedictines before

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In Spain.

Their form of prayer is very soothing to the ears. Exttemely pleasant.

And as far as the sitting and kneeling goes - I did not know that. I just did not wish to give offense in a house of God.

Salaam,
Haroun

Re: I have heard Benedictines before

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I love chant. I've never been to Spain though I've always wanted to.

I don't think that God is ever offended by a faithful heart. If you join us next Sunday for mass, do what is comfortable. It's hard to focus on the greater glory of god when you're distracted by pain.