Adoro tagged me for a meme. She said that you cannot consider yourself a real blogger until this has happened. So I will give it a shot. (Where does the word meme come from? And for that matter, whence cometh the word blog? My spell checker does not like it.)
1. What do you hope to do with your blog?
It is hoped that Adam’s Ale is a place where people who are at least relatively
happy and grateful about being Catholic can come and find some insight and encouragement for living the life Christ calls us to in His Church (though from time to time some ranting goes on.)
2. Are you a spiritual person?
“Spirituality” is word that has been abused almost as horridly as the word “love.” Though you will find any number of dictionary entries and persons who have absconded with term that will say otherwise, the word was coined by the (Catholic) Church to denote life in the Spirit (that is, the Holy Sprit.) Being a spiritual person then means receiving the aid of the Consoler in following Christ and living in His Church so that we might share the Kingdom with Him forever. In the literal sense then there is no such thing as a “Buddhist Spirituality" or a "Spirituality of Golf" or what have you. It is equally a misnomer to say that “I am spiritual person but not religious” as to live a life in the Spirit is to be led closer to the heart of Christ and His Church. So in this sense I would say that yes, I am a spiritual person.
3. If you
were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
First and foremost a large trunk filled with very good books. Equally in importance would be a fully stocked mass kit (which would also provide me with bread and wine!) Then coffee. If you are feeling generous after that I would like a tooth brush, a change of clothes, some tools, a flare gun, and food. Good food. Really good food.
4. What is you favorite childhood memory?
This is my favorite only because it still makes me laugh every time I think of it. When I was still very little and our family was vacationing somewhere out west we stopped and visited a zoo. Did you know that when an anteater (I’m almost positive it was an anteater, but it wa
s a long time ago) relieves itself it does so in a projectile fashion? I do. I was standing at quite a distance as my sister read the warning plaque next to the cage. “Warning: When the animal lifts its hind leg . . .” Very kindly she called over to me. I turned and to this day can describe in detail what the very end of a stream of water looks like a moment before it hits you squarely in the face.
5. Are these your first (tagging) memes?
1. What do you hope to do with your blog?
It is hoped that Adam’s Ale is a place where people who are at least relatively
happy and grateful about being Catholic can come and find some insight and encouragement for living the life Christ calls us to in His Church (though from time to time some ranting goes on.)2. Are you a spiritual person?
“Spirituality” is word that has been abused almost as horridly as the word “love.” Though you will find any number of dictionary entries and persons who have absconded with term that will say otherwise, the word was coined by the (Catholic) Church to denote life in the Spirit (that is, the Holy Sprit.) Being a spiritual person then means receiving the aid of the Consoler in following Christ and living in His Church so that we might share the Kingdom with Him forever. In the literal sense then there is no such thing as a “Buddhist Spirituality" or a "Spirituality of Golf" or what have you. It is equally a misnomer to say that “I am spiritual person but not religious” as to live a life in the Spirit is to be led closer to the heart of Christ and His Church. So in this sense I would say that yes, I am a spiritual person.
3. If you
were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?First and foremost a large trunk filled with very good books. Equally in importance would be a fully stocked mass kit (which would also provide me with bread and wine!) Then coffee. If you are feeling generous after that I would like a tooth brush, a change of clothes, some tools, a flare gun, and food. Good food. Really good food.
4. What is you favorite childhood memory?
This is my favorite only because it still makes me laugh every time I think of it. When I was still very little and our family was vacationing somewhere out west we stopped and visited a zoo. Did you know that when an anteater (I’m almost positive it was an anteater, but it wa
s a long time ago) relieves itself it does so in a projectile fashion? I do. I was standing at quite a distance as my sister read the warning plaque next to the cage. “Warning: When the animal lifts its hind leg . . .” Very kindly she called over to me. I turned and to this day can describe in detail what the very end of a stream of water looks like a moment before it hits you squarely in the face.5. Are these your first (tagging) memes?
Yes, this one was the first though Rob got me what seemed like moments later. His was easier so his was answered first though I would like to change one answer from his under “Three Books Everyone Should Read." Add, “How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization” by Thomas E. Woods Jr., PhD. Everyone has been forced to read about the Church’s faults and in what ways she is lacking. Here is a look at what she did that was positive which far, far outweighs the negative. The book is easy to read and concise. I refuse to say which of the other books I would knock off the list.
12 comments:
Thank you for your definition of spirituality! :-)
You did not disappoint! And sorry about the unfortunate incident with the anteater.
What do you hope to do with your blog-
I not only find insight and encouragement but enjoy "conversing" with all the others who comment too. It keeps me actively thinking about my faith on a daily basis. I think before I was just taking it forgranted. Pretty pathetic on my part considering I teach in Catholic schools and am active in my church. So it's not like I'm not around others who would be adverse to talking about our faith! Guess I need to be more proactive in starting conversations!! Thanks for taking the time to write Adam's Ale.
I think your web-log [blog] goes above and beyond the requirements assigned you in Cannon 528 - 1 ... so, you at least excell there...and, I supsect, in many other areas.
This blog has been positively theraputic for me. I real life people regularly ask me "Why are you so happy all the time?" but when I put my thoughts is writing, I sound like a bitter old man. This blog is helping me strive to "sweeten" my zeal.
Well, I've wondered if "meme" is a form of ME-ME (if so, I've fallen and can't get up), but I'm a techno-dolt, so it's probably a play on some very savvy IT word.
I can't imagine there's anyone who doesn't like this 'blog! Yet there are some who didn't like Mother Teresa, so nothing negative surprises anymore.
MEME:
(Pronounced "meem") An idea, thought or piece of information that is passed from generation to generation through imitation and behavioral replication. Coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene," memes and memetics are the cultural counterpart to the biological study of genes and genetics. Using the evolution analogy, Dawkins observed that human cultures evolve via "contagious" communications in a manner similar to the gene pool of populations over time.
sparky,
you've enlightened many of us ... tell me that this is not from wikipedia, though - we want the real thing here at adams ale.
Oxford and Webster's dictionaries agreed on the definition. A couple of science journals said it came from Dawkins. Wiki just said it concisely...I'm guiltly as charged.
Web-log! Thanks Uncle Jim. And meme, which I was not even pronouncing correctly. Wow. Thanks Sparky. I was thinking it was more along the lines of what gypsy thought. Makes sense.
Thanks for your words guys.
I don't often comment in your blog, because I frequently disagree with things I find here, and do not wish to be a pain in the neck. I had been looking in, but I have to say, your definition/comments on spirituality will be the last I see of this place. That was truly offensive, and pretty disappointing.
Spirituality, as the word is used today, existed millennia before any church or Church. The Catholics were pretty late in coining their term, in point of fact, and they most certainly did NOT invent the concept.
Cindy,
I think you may confusing the belief in spirits and having a spirituality. Even in the Hebrew Scriptures, at the very begining in Genesis it talks about the Spirit. Belief in spirits has probably always existed in form or another and not soley by Jews or Christians. But the term spirituality does not yet exist. It was a belief in spirits, not a spirituality.
When talking about "being in the Spirit" or having "a spirit" enter you and effect your being was not, until the Christian era, termed as having a spirituality. It would have been more akin to being "possessed" and not necessarily in a negative way by them.
But the actual terms of having a "spirituality" and being spiritual exists when the idea of the Holy Spirit becomes more developed.
So beliefs in ghosts were not considered being a spiritual person, or belief in the "spirits of the woods" was not considered a spirituality. The terms did not yet exist.
Now, people DO use those terms today to mean other things, but they are borrowed terms. I'm not denying others using them, but a) this is a Catholic site, and b) I meant for the most original use of the term to be used.
I am sorry if you were offended, but I do not see why you should be.
oops!
Meant to throw this in. Not that English is the only language in the world, but spirituality does not even appear until 1303 (or 1377 if you want to use the New Oxford Dictionary.)
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