Feeling Pissy About Easter? Join the (Malcontent’s) Club.

April 12, 2009

8 comments

1 Phyllis Mathis { 12 Apr 2009 at 3:20 pm }

Rachelle,
Thank you. I AM feeling pissy about Easter. So nice to know there’s someone out on the back porch with me. I’m fascinated to hear some of your ideas.

2 Monica { 12 Apr 2009 at 7:36 pm }

I really enjoyed this post too. Thank you for writing it.

3 Lydia { 12 Apr 2009 at 7:52 pm }

You said: “Something about finding a way for this truth-bearing-myth, which was rooted deep in my soul, to continue to guide and inform my living.”

That’s kind of where I’m at too.

I’m trying to figure out what the cross means, and what the gospels mean. I can’t wait til I find to time to read books on Jewish interpretation of the Bible (e.g. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament by J. Julius Scott Jr.), just so I can have more clues to what it meant.

Your Easter sounds really nice: sitting in the grass and smoking cloves.

This Easter I’m just loving the feeling of Spring. seeing the plants from my seeds pop up through the soil on this holy weekend. seeing everything bloom. feeling my own fertility.

The miracle of Jesus resurrecting is a beautiful thought too. (whether I believe it with all my head or not).

4 Rebekah { 12 Apr 2009 at 11:45 pm }

Thank you for writing this!

I’m an Easter malcontent, too, however I’m having a difficult time putting it to words. Or was, anyway. I think you may have hit a nerve. ;) It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who’s feeling a bit pissy about Easter.

5 Sue { 13 Apr 2009 at 2:47 am }

I am so glad that cultural Christianity is dying its death, with its emphasis on the cross as substitution to placate an insane God. What a load of bullocks that is. But what starts appearing about the cross when you lay it down? I like Rumi the best on this one when he talks about that field that lays out beyond ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts about the cross. I have been wrestling with the whole concept for a long time. I do still believe that he died to achieve certain things that are related to my sins – to my guilt and the unfailing human belief that God is a big fat fucker, and maybe in some sort of cosmic blood of humanity cleansing or something. I think maybe there are tons of reasons why and all of the different emphases and focuses happen at different times of our lives. What a great relief to be able to do that in freedom that I am not defying an insane God. What a burden to be lifted off. Apologies for the language but I really hate that fucking concept. It is evil. It is 10 degrees and 158 galaxies away from the heart of God, surely?

Surely the history of Christianity over the past few centuries living under that sort of curse is evidence of what happens to a people who believe in that sort of concept? I understand why it’s there – you can pick up the bible with that mindset and see it everywhere and see nothing else. But beyond shame and fear, there are ways of moving three steps to the right and then suddenly seeing it differently and it amazes me how different everything is, and how many things fall into place.

Anyway, sorry for raving. Pet sort of thing of mine :) Happy Easter :)

6 Heather { 13 Apr 2009 at 3:44 am }

Thanks – I needed that post today. I skipped out of Good Friday service, and came home from Easter service in a foul mood ’cause it just wasn’t working for me this year. (It didn’t help that our temporary minister lacks authenticity, but that’s a whole other story.) I spent the rest of the day reading an amazing book called “The Authentic Leader” and realized that if I am authentic, I need to admit to myself that the shape of my faith has changed too drastically for me to fit in the old church boxes.

I need to unpack a whole other story – I’ll join you on that picnic blanket.

7 Monica { 14 Apr 2009 at 3:35 pm }

Sue, great comment!!

8 Jenni { 14 Apr 2009 at 11:46 pm }

such great joy to fall in with malcontents!

I’m back in church for the first time in years and I found myself all prickly this season. My best friend and I have been practicing ritual with a pagan group the last couple of years. I love Ostara. I hate Easter. A couple weeks ago I was ranting to my friend about a Lenten sermon that had me off the rails. She stopped me and asked, “Did you forget why you quit going to church in the first place?”

Yes. I did.
And she laughed.

But I am remembering now, down to my little toes. I remember hating this, rejecting it.

And yet, I want to be Christian. Because I believe that the Christ & the message of Christ is bigger, better, more, & other than what the religion has evidenced thus far.

I want to be remembered into the church. I dream of us all bringing more into and drawing more out of this family.

So thank you. It’s gotten pretty lonely for me sitting in the pew. Even in a quirky loving come-as-you-are congregation. And stumbling into you all here is a source of joy and strength for me.

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