MORGAN'S MOMENT...
“Where’d the cross come from?”
It hadn’t been there before
           on the beach at Punta Colorada
           in Baja California del Sur, Mexico.
Planted as if by mission padres
           who plodded through this land
           hundreds of years ago.
“It was placed by the padres
           during their annual retreat
           in the winter time.”
“It blesses the beach and water,”
           he explained reverently
           as we looked at the crossed boards.
Lots of crosses bless places here
           especially along the highways
           where people have been killed.
One taxi driver crossed himself
           at every cross and shrine and chapel
           one hand holding the wheel.
“Superstition,” I thought…
           as of course is most religion…
           hoping for mystic power.
The Mexican salesmen at the wall
           peddle their silver crosses
           to hang on suntanned necks.
Some men buy a cross for their women
           while the rest stand at the bar
           and wonder at the cross on the beach.
Where did that cross come from?
— Art Morgan 
BOOK CORNER
I always re-read John Steinbeck’s “Sea of Cortez,” whenever we go to Punta Colorada on the shores of the Gulf of California. It always moves, informs and disturbs me. There is more science than I can absorb and more philosophy than I have time to ponder. It’s a book as relevant in the year of 9-11 as it was 50 years ago when he wrote it. It’s not a long book. Just right for a couple of chapters before dozing off for may daily siesta nap. Always worth a read.
I also read the last 600 or more pages of Edward Rutherford’s “London.” I had read the first 626 pages a couple of years ago. Next time I’m going to be careful about picking a book about a city with such a long history. The place of religion in the establishment and development of the city is interesting, at least to me.
MOMENT MINISTRIES
May 1, 2002
home address:  25921 SW Airport Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at  a-morgan@peak.org
MAY MOMENT DATE
The last scheduled Thursday Night “Moment” for this season is Thursday, May 16. Since we missed our annual “Cinco de Mayo” date, why not make the 16th a “Mexican Night?” The festive potluck will start with a gathering time at 6 with food at 6:30. 
HOLY TERROR !
One of our more recent books was “In the Name of Osama bin Laden: Global Terrorism and the Bin Laden Brotherhood,” by Roland JacQuard the French writer and expert on world terrorism.
Reading it is kind of like going to the dentist: not something you want to do, but probably good for you.
For one thing, we Americans are generally naïve about how widespread the terrorism business is. It is pretty much. everywhere. America is no longer an exception.
And we are naïve about the degree of anger that exists out there toward us, and not just by Arabs and Muslims. Many do not see us as the “good and compassionate people” the President speaks about.
If you pay taxes, al-Qaeda has you in its target:
“The doctors of the faith have issued a ruling against any American who pays taxes to his government. He has become our target because he is providing assistance to the American war machine against the Muslim Nation.” (p. 88)
We are naïve about the horrible schemes for mass extermination of people by non-conventional means such as biological and chemical weapons. These are cheap and fairly easy to use and plenty have already been produced.
We are naïve to think that the terrorist threat Is in one place and can be bombed out of existence. The network is worldwide.
We are naïve to believe that this is merely a religious or political phenomenon that will soon pass. The author states that:
“The rise of religion as a force for good or evil
is a fact of the next millennium.” (p. xii)
What is the likelihood that the billion Muslims, many now increasingly well-educated, can be made to share Osama’s version of Islam?
“Only time will tell whether bin Laden and his al-Qaeda will go down in history as a fanatic cult.. .or only as a leader of one phase in an ongoing battle for the minds and souls of Muslims?” (p. 163)

(back page)

 
ARE YOU AN EPISCOPALIAN ?
        Among the last things I hope for while at leisure in Baja is a theological discussion. In fact, it’s one of the last things I would expect among of group of guys from Wyoming who were here to fish for Marlin.
        Somehow word was out that I was “retired clergy.” It’s a small place and perhaps someone had ratted on me. I was just making small talk while walking by where these fellows were looking out over the bay and consuming a second pitcher of Margarita’s. It was not yet lunchtime. One of the men asked, “Are you an Episcopalian?”
        Interesting question to be asking a stranger. But Margarita’s encourage familiarity. 
        “No, I don’t happen to be Episcopalian, but I have respect for some of their scholars.”
        On further inquiry I found that the questioner was a practicing Episcopalian. You realize, of course, that there are practicing and non-practicing varieties in all religions. I have usually known Episcopalians of the non-practicing kind.
        They invited me to sit down and pushed a Margarita in my direction.
        I tried to say something “Episcopalian.” Like, “Some of my best friends are Episcopalian.” I did better than that. I said, “Some of my favorite scholars are Episcopalian.”
        Their interest, whetted as I said by those Margarita’s, encouraged me on. “Are you familiar with John Robinson’s ‘Honest to God,’ and Bishop Spong’s ’Why Christianity Must Change or Die,’ and Marcus Borg’s books like, ’Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,’ and ‘The God We Never Knew,’ and ‘Reading the Bible Again for the First Time?’”
        Eyes sort of blurred over. The Margarita’s I guessed.
        “The names sound familiar, but we don’t hear much about them in our church.”
        I supposed not. Most clergy don’t have time to discuss such books. Besides, in most parishes, people don’t want to be upset by such thinking. I expected that to be the end of the conversation. But the participating Episcopalian wanted me to say more.
        “You don’t want to hear what these writers are saying,” I said.
        He pushed me until I took a deep breath and simply described the long known scholarly conclusions about the origin of biblical story and the turning of myth into history, most notably for Christians, the creation of the Christian story rooted in ancient myth. “We tend to debate whether it is ‘true,’ when the real question is ‘what does it mean?’” I even reported the current debate among Reformed, Conservative and Orthodox Jews about whether the Abraham story and the stories of Moses are historical.
        The Episcopalian sat up and offered me more Margarita that I refused. He said, “That’s what I’ve always really thought…that a lot of this stuff is story with more to it than whether it happened.”
        “Wow,” I thought, wondering how many other Episcopalians were as thoughtful.
        I told him that he would appreciate the companionship of his fellow Episcopalians like Robinson, Spong and Borg. I doubt that he’ll remember after the Margarita’s wear off.
        He went on to tell me that he was an Episcopalian for the liturgy. “I like the ceremony and the Communion. I hate the music. Episcopalians can’t sing,” he said. No matter, he still attended.
        “So,” I asked, “what made you think I might be an Episcopalian?”
        “Well, frankly, we saw you with a drink in your hand and decided you must be an Episcopalian. Our clergy are not straight-laced and enjoy a drink once in a while. We can have a drink and not feel like hypocrites.”
        I wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or not. Most clergy I know these days at least drink some wine. These guys should know that there are other differences between denominations and Episcopalians. And they should know that informed biblical scholarship is more a matter of study and thought than of denominational connection. 
        I forgot to mention to them that my blue sheet list has a number of Episcopalians, some former clergy of my own denomination, and even some retired Episcopal bishops. I believe them to have distinguished and distinguishing characteristics beyond appreciation of spirits! I am honored to be mistaken for one of them. 
— Art Morgan, Baja California Del Sur, Mexico, 2002