Taking up Reena’s Exploration Challenge #83
by Reena Saxena. The challenge is to write based on above image.. This is my fictional contribution. Thanks for the mind prompt Reena.
Peter Logan died alone at the age of eighty four. Their were no mourners at his death, no funeral, just placement in a cardboard box, followed by incineration in a furnace. His earthly body disposed of and forgotten. He was unmarried, an only child, no family, friends or acquaintances to pray for his soul. Perhaps prayer would have echoed in the cosmos and changed things.
Peter craved power, he craved control and he craved instant release for his sexual desires. He tried a few mundane jobs after university, but he felt ignored, unwanted, his potential not used. He became frustrated with his life and was seeking change. It was then that he met Father Bob.
Father Bob was always on the lookout for potential candidates to the priesthood. He met Peter while standing in a long line-up at the local coffee bar and they struck up a ten minute conversation. Father Bob was intrigued with the politeness and serious demeanour of his new acquaintance and they found a table to continue their discussion. He asked Peter for his views on God and if he would be interested in attending a two day retreat on discernment for the priesthood. Peter felt a little intrigued at the prospect and answered in the affirmative. They parted on good terms. Father Bob pleased with the results of his chance encounter and Peter apprehensive but excited at his future prospects.
A year later Peter entered the seminary and five years later was ordained a priest. He couldn’t believe his luck. The power and control he had always craved was now his. He had total control of his parish congregation. He was an eloquent speaker and they hung on his every word with their simplistic trusting faith in Father Peter and the institution he represented. It came as quite a shock to the parishioners when forty years later Father Peter was accused of multiple crimes of child abuse. One brave adult had come forward with his story and once this became public another sixty came forward with statements of how they were repeatedly subject to sexual abuse by Father Peter. Father Peter was eventually defrocked, spent time in prison and died alone.
Peter drifted as in a dream. He was aware of a disembodied voice.
” Hello Peter, I see your belief system was Roman Catholic. Your religion taught that after death you would enter heaven, hell or purgatory depending on how you lived your moral code. You weren’t very successful at this, were you. Your name sake, the apostle, asked to be crucified upside down as he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Well Peter, I have reserved a special corner in hell for you, where you will be suspended upside down to contemplate your sins for eternity”.
” Oh. Here’s the next one”.
” Let’s see. Your belief system was Muslim. You’re an ISIS suicide bomber, killed twelve included five children. I’ve reserved a special place for you, right next to Peter. Enjoy eternity”.
All religions have their predators.
So right that it has convinced me to believe religion is a predator unto itself. That is not to say God if there is one is in agreement with that, just that is where imperfect man has taken it.
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Thanks for your comment Violet. People should not blindly follow any institution/Guru/Spiritual Teacher but discern for themselves.
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You are so right that heinousness of their crimes is equal. It also makes me think that the failure of the oppressed to rise as a collective force is the biggest failure of humanity. Which gene or neural pathway or belief system is that allows criminals to prosper and flourish?
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Spot on Reena. We are responsible for ourselves and our own actions. But when we see events that dehumanize, maim and kill others, irrespective of religion or politics we should declaim this with one voice.
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This piece comes close to your story https://ideapod.com/10-reasons-religion-madness/
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Thanks Reena. Interesting website. The trouble is most of us only come to spirituality through the portal of religious practice.
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Yes. We have not been able to connect the spirit to day-to-day living.
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena and commented:
Judgement day …… by Len
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Thanks Reena.
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Len, you have written this so well. I think priests/holy men of any religion, by and large, do fit a profile that can put them at risk of abuses. The umbrella of the churches protecting them are just as, if not even more evil. I’m sure those higher-ups face the same “disembodied voice” when they get wherever that is. What is so sad is the Gods/Goddesses themselves are not bad, it’s the humans who codify it into religions that can hold power over people are.
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Thanks for commenting Jade Li. I agree the coverup is as bad as the crime. People should always come before the reputation of institutions.
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Len, how can an entity that claims to be “God in the flesh” admit it is wrong? The whole house of cards comes tumbling down.
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Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely, in homes, at school, in workplaces, religion, politics and the list goes on…
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Couldn’t agree more Marie. It’s a mindset.
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Wow! Len, you’re really good at this. Very effective twist as the ending—I was trying to figure out how you would move the piece from something we’ve heard often into a fresh take. You did that.
Annie
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Thanks Annie. It’s self evident to me. There are just very bad people who will take advantage of any cause to live out their desires for sex, revenge, hate etc.
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