A day or so ago, I was listening to NPR with my Dad and heard to a report on how after several more days of discussion, the measure to condone the ordination of gay and lesbian Lutheran ministers in (some) ELCA churches had passed by “a comfortable margin,” around sixty-five percent or so. While the decision would rest with the congregations of specific churches, the ELCA itself now decided it was comfortable with the idea of gay and lesbian ministry. Of course, not all Lutherans in the ELCA were happy with the decision, but appeared to be committed to staying with the church nonetheless.
I find this a hopeful sign, that such a large, mainstream, and traditional American religion has for the most part agreed that a large segment of the population is as deserving of equal treatment as any other group. It gives the impression among that not all Christians or religious people are intolerant, and in fact, a great many are progressive and sane members of society, and that religion can (and should) continue to have a place in the world. Well, those are my agnostic thoughts, at least.
Oh, and happy St. Bartholomew’s Day. I must admit, my project is partly about exploring the roots of various folklore and superstitious beliefs, and I’ve always loved looking up these little pieces of cultural knowledge, another facet of human thought common to all peoples and societies. In English lore, for instance, August 24th or St. Bartholomew’s Day has been known as a prophetic date forecasting the Autumn; “if the 24th of August be fair and clear then hope for a prosperous Autumn that year,” and if today’s perfect late summer day in Minnesota is to be judged, I’m looking forward to a very nice fall.
