You Know You're Really Not Catholic Anymore When . . .

. . . you had absolutely no idea today was Easter until you saw it on someone else's blog!

Now God will never love me.








I never could understand that weird occult system that they use to figure out what date Easter is. Something about the cycles of the moon. (Which is actually kind of cool, except for the fact that I never have any freakin' idea when Easter is.)

Also, I have to admit that, even though I think the current pope (the real one, not the very cool one pictured above) is a hypocritical creep who speaks publicly against the Iraq war even though he was instrumental in getting Bush re-elected, I am nevertheless sort of pleased by the occurrence of the Easter mass at St. Peter's. It's clear to me that the reason Christianity is undergoing a boom in some parts of the world, among some people, is that the meager productions of the secular mind are absolutely inadequate. It is irrelevant whether or not one "believes" in the claims of religion; this symbolic/mythic way of imagining the world is absolutely necessary for the human psyche. The psyche needs these symbols to fully and properly experience life. The only "alternative" is the low-grade pop nihilism that suffuses most of the popular, secular culture.

(I use the term "secular" somewhat loosely, to describe the attitude that presumes "spiritual" consciousness is false or unavailable or of little interest. One may be unaffiliated with any formal religion without being secular. It's about consciousness, not creed. Some so-called "Christians" are secular. Some atheists are not.)

Anyway. Some people today are actively, joyfully engaging a symbol of spiritual rebirth. Others are . . . not. I wish I were in the former group, but it seems I'm in the latter.

At least I have poetry. Sort of.

Happy Easter!