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A Heretic for Peace

Heretic is one of my top ten favorite words. When I was in seminary, several of my professors called me a heretic to my face. In the 1990’s! I was asking questions outside the quite tiny box of their dogma and it enraged them, but that’s another story.

Heretic is a variation on a Greek word which means able to choose. Able to choose. A heretic is someone who knows that choosing is the principle activity required of a human being. A heretic doesn’t take the conventional wisdom as truth. A heretic knows she has a choice. A heretic looks at theory, dogma, concept, idea, everything and asks about it. A heretic is more often than not thought of as an eccentric.

SIGN ME UP!

I believe that in order to create peace on earth, we’re going to need some heretics, a lot of heretics, really. In the June issue of Ode, Anita Roddick said, “This world really does need more of these wonderful heretics.” There were pictures of Jesus, the Dalai Lama, Joan of Arc, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi, among others.

This newly-card-carrying heretic is accepting heretical suggestions for creating peace on earth. Go ahead, make a new choice.

posted by Susan Corso on 8/13/2007 12:42 pm | COMMENTS (5)
Comments (5)

A poem for a heretic :)

Caught in Make Believe

Life is easy the way we try; Believe it all and never ask why. I know it's hard to give this thought; It's make believe and you know you're caught. One man believes what another man knows; But Faith in Truth is true when it flows. We stand on faith when we have no ground; The fear to lose it is we might fall down. But what's its use? To fall we should, For if it's not true, then what is its good. So Faith is just another word you use; To protect your lies, that you fear you'll lose. And if you're not careful, and refuse to see; You'll lose yourself, and start a war with me.

Wm.

posted by Rahasya on 2/26/2008 11:48 pm

When the patriarchy starts throwing around words like "heretic", you know you're doing something right!

Goddess bless and keep you - may you inspire many, many others.

posted by MorgaineSwann on 12/31/2007 9:14 pm

Dear Earon, thanks for reminding me that I'm a/ not alone, and b/ of the Eisenhower quote. Be peace, Susan

posted by Susan Corso on 9/10/2007 10:46 am

Susan, keep on seeking truth and enjoy being alive! I've also taken unconventional paths - being a stay at home Dad in the 1980's - changing careers from law to massage therapist. And I've explored several wisdom traditions, none of which kick you out for not believing religious dogma.

As for peace, I believe it was Dwight David Eisenhower who said "I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it." And Einstein said that we can't solve problems by thinking in the same way that created them." Heretics all. You are in good company.

Peace,

Earon

posted by Earon on 8/19/2007 2:12 am

Agreed. Guess I've been a heretic all my life. The accepted, expected thing, for little girls, in the place I grew up was that they would graduate high school, get engaged to the boy who took them to the prom and then build a hope chest with the money they made working at the local fast food joint or 'five and dime' while they waited for him to graduate from college.

Instead, I went to college and I didn't even take 'proper' ladies classes like home economics, nurcing, counciling, or education. I majored in broad field earth science. Worse, I came out with a B.S. instead of the expected Mrs. to a doctor.

Then I made it even worse by going into the Army instead of settleing down to what ever my relatives thought was proper.

I'm probably not even being a proper old lady, as I refuse to get the little old lady helmet hair cut, or, horrors! go to church every time the door's open.

I just walk my own path and try to be as nice to other's as I can, and help when and where I can.

That's all I think anyone can do.

posted by sulkahlee on 8/15/2007 2:29 pm

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