Metamagical Themas

Some thoughts on religion and sacraments.

So you are getting married. That's cool, I'm happy to join in the celebration, this formalization of your love that you want to share with a bunch of people including me. Even if it is in the form of some religious celebration, which is not my cup of tea, but whatever. I'm happy for you too!

You are baptized, well, it's not like you have much to say about it, at least not when you are less than a year old. Still, it's kind of an official day to present a newborn to family and friends. A gathering to celebrate together the new little human joining us. I get it, I'm happy about it. I'd rather have a non-religious way to celebrate it, but while there isn't, that'd do it.

That's been my most recent church-related happenings. Now I receive an invitation for a first communion. Same thing? I don't think so.

I remember when I had to take the first communion. I had to attend those christian classes where some priest would “teach” things that now I don't remember, but I do remember some feelings. The feeling that they didn't make much sense, the feeling of uneasiness and discomfort.

I remember the stupid suit I had to wear. Like a little sailor. It felt ridiculous then, and time hasn't changed that feeling. “This whole thing doesn't feel as serious as it pretends, this feels... wrong”.

The thing is, when I took it I was quite a believer. I was pretty young too, and had grown in an environment with little exposure to dissident ideas. Religious family, religious school, little notion that there was anything else out there. Was it the right time to do it? Start eating Jesus' flesh and drink his blood (magically converted in front of me from some bread-like industrial oblea, but with no special effects). Yeah, I don't think so.

So I'll start getting invitations for such events. It's no presentation-to-society event like weddings or baptisms. The only sense in which it could be is, rather than presenting the kid or the shared love, presenting the faithfulness of the kid. But not even at an age where they are free to decide for themselves, so it's basically imposed on them. Plus the kids are very likely just caring about the ton of presents that they are going to get. At least, that's apparently the case for the majority – unsurprisingly, as that's how it's normally sold to them.

It's not the kid that's celebrated. It's that bad-taste kind of commitment instead. I find the whole thing quite disgusting and want no part of it.

In other words, no, thanks :)

There is a time to celebrate and remember the kids though: their birthday. A birthday? Happy to join, count me in!