• About
  • Blogs of Fellow Pilgrims

Wondering Pilgrim

~ the ramblings of a perambulent and often distracted sojourner

Wondering Pilgrim

Monthly Archives: July 2010

“Creation” – a human face for Charles Darwin

30 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by wonderingpilgrim in cinema, Spirituality, theology

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

atheism, creation, Darwin, evolution

The publication of Charles Darwin’s “The Origin of the Species” became a lightning rod for conflict between theists and non-theists alike that lasts to this day. Both are treated sympathetically in this exploratory dramatisation of Darwin’s home life and the struggle that surrounded his work. Against a background of the harshness of polarised positions, one side depicted by the cruelty and platitudes of a one dimensional vicar and family friend, and the other by an equally brittle and one dimensional depiction of Thomas Huxley, the tenderness and tragedy of human life plays out in Darwin’s family and marriage.

This brings a third voice to the strident debate between the so called “New Atheism” and the different expressions of  “Creationism” and “Intelligent Design”.  The debate doesn’t exist or continue in a vacuum that is divorced from the drama of human life – it is part of the warp and woof of human affairs.

The closing scene left me with a sense of  open-ended hopefulness – the possibility that strongly and passionately held non compatible positions can not only co-exist, but find meaning together – and that within the mystery of life opposite perspectives can find a meeting place in synthesis. The challenge then becomes its articulation.

-31.911079 115.772731

Hearing the Lord’s Prayer anew.

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by wonderingpilgrim in Spirituality

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

justice, prayer

Formal recitation of the Lord’s Prayer is under scrutiny as its place is considered in parliaments of this land. Secularists would abandon it, traditionalists want to retain it, and some of us think the boat is being missed altogether – for to really pray the prayer as Jesus intended would be too explosive for governments to entertain or contain.

This morning’s lectionary had us considering it again. To avoid over-familiarised conditioning, we considered a translation from Aramaic, the familiar language of Jesus.

We noted the intimate invitation to familial relationship with the Divine, creating a human-Divine unity of being out of which the action of God’s reign flowed, expressing itself in forgiveness and just action.

Consider this translation into English from Aramaic (one of several provided by http://www.thenazareneway.com/lords_prayer.htm )

The Prayer To Our Father
(in the original Aramaic)

Abwûn
“Oh
Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,

d’bwaschmâja
who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.

Nethkâdasch schmach
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.

Têtê malkuthach.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.

Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d’bwaschmâja af b’arha.
Let Your will come true – in the universe (all that vibrates)
just as on earth (that is material and dense).

Hawvlân lachma d’sûnkanân jaomâna.
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,

Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna
daf chnân schwoken l’chaijabên.

detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma)
like we let go the guilt of others.

Wela tachlân l’nesjuna
Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),

ela patzân min bischa.
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.

Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l’ahlâm almîn.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act,
the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.

Amên.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth.
(I confirm with my entire being)

The freshness of these words were at first somewhat dis-orienting to some of this morning’s worshippers, but I guarantee that the next time we come across the formal use of this prayer, we will hear the whisper of the radical transformation of self and universe that is at its centre.




-31.911079 115.772731

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 240 other followers

Follow Wondering Pilgrim on WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • Seventh Day Musings December 31, 2020
  • A Christmas reflection on a Senior Housing Crisis December 20, 2020
  • Rocky Road August 17, 2020
  • She came asking… August 10, 2020
  • Getting wet feet August 3, 2020
  • Economy of abundance July 28, 2020
  • Riddle me July 20, 2020
  • Let it Be July 13, 2020
  • Wasted Words? July 6, 2020
  • But John held up a mirror… June 30, 2020

Gallery

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Archives

  • December 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • July 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • May 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×