CHAT: Religions (was: Visible planets)

Costentin Cornomorus scripsit:

> I have no such thought at all! Did not JRRT,
> known to be a good Catholic, not dream up "pagan
> religions"?
Not really.  The only really pagan religion is the worship of Morgoth
that took over in the waning days of Numenor, and we have few details
about it.  The so-called Gods are in fact angels, and the Ainulindale
is not really incompatible with Catholicism.

> Many Christians do find activities such as ours
> dangerous, pernicious and deadly. [I heard a
> tel"evangelist" the other day preach in no
> uncertain terms on our satanic activities.]
>
> In my opinion (and take it for what it's worth),
> if you are serious about your faith and keep
> separate your own faith from that/those of your
> concultures, this activity will hold no harm for
> you. If you think there may be something wrong,
> talk to your priest.
As JRRT says:

        The heart of man is not compound of lies,
        but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
        and still recalls him.  Though now long estranged,
        man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
        Dis-graced he may be, yet is not dethroned,
        and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned,
        his world-dominion by creative act:
        not his to worship the great Artefact,
        man, sub-creator, the refracted light
        through whom is splintered from a single White
        to many hues, and endlessly combined
        in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
        Though all the crannies of the world we filled
        with elves and goblins, though we dared to build
        gods and their houses out of dark and light,
        and sow the seeds of dragons, 'twas our right
        (used or misused).  The right has not decayed.
        We make still by the law in which we're made.

and also

        [W]e are not only made, but made in the image of a Maker.

--
John Cowan  jcowan@reutershealth.com  http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
O beautiful for patriot's dream that sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
America! America!  God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
        -- one of the verses not usually taught in U.S. schools

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