From frogblog comes this prayer/mantra from the New Zealand Common Book of Prayer:
God forgives you.Now, at first sight, it looks like a nice, simple prayer. But, I have to admit, upon some reflection, I felt some irritation with it.
Forgive others.
Forgive yourself.
Why the negativity?
When I read this, I'm troubled by the prayer/mantra's premise: forgiveness implies that we are intrinisically "in the wrong," that our essence requires pardon or being excused.
Yes, in this life we are separated from God but does that make us inherently worthless?
With apologies to frog, and no irreverence meant, here's my "beatnik" rendition of that prayer/mantra:
God is cool with youAnd here's my "passionate" version:
Be cool with others.
Be cool with yourself.
God passionately loves you.Why does conversation with God imply that we are bad? That we need forgiveness? I'm not being sarcastic -- I would really like to know.
Passionately love others.
Passionately love yourself.
3 comments:
Consider the source. I'll assume here (dangerously) that the NZ Common Book of Prayer is based in Protestantism. Not exactly a faith that embraces man as a whole and beautiful creation of God; Christianity in general hangs on tightly to that image of man as fallen from grace through the transgressions of Adam and Eve. We are to spend our entire lives working towards that original state of grace through supplication and atonement.
Personally, I'd take a more eastern/Buddhist bent on this prayer: God is one with you. Be one with others. Be one with yourself.
Works for me.
~Rayne Today
Consider the source. I'll assume here (dangerously) that the NZ Common Book of Prayer is based in Protestantism. Not exactly a faith that embraces man as a whole and beautiful creation of God; Christianity in general hangs on tightly to that image of man as fallen from grace through the transgressions of Adam and Eve. We are to spend our entire lives working towards that original state of grace through supplication and atonement.
Personally, I'd take a more eastern/Buddhist bent on this prayer: God is one with you. Be one with others. Be one with yourself.
Works for me.
~Rayne Today
I like it, Rayne. It DOES have a different feel, doesn't it?
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