Few words in religion are as ironic as “pagan” and that’s saying a lot. Stung by Jewish accusations that they were Pagans (for having two gods) and intent on theologizing their differences from the Roman cult, the followers of Jesus eventually succeeded in folding him into their mother’s milk of Jewish monotheism. He was spooned into the mix by the formulaic categories of Greek philosophy and the heresy-slaying councils of Christendom.

The determinedly triune dogma of traditional Christianity was made more rigid by Protestantism’s turn in the kitchen. Demonstrating an even greater jealousy on their god’s behalf, Protestants evicted the saints, as well as broke altars and images. Even the Americans, who despised creeds in favor of “Bible words for Bible things,” could not cut this cream out of their diet, but have kept whipping it through the centuries. God’s singularity and radical unrelatedness to creation defined his sovereignty and his sovereignty was the measure of his power to save.

Continue »

Pope Benedict’s preference for the Latin Mass is a good way to enter the question of what makes for good worship. I like the Latin Mass. I love the combination of sound, sight and scent that is the medieval rite in a cathedral setting.

But, I am not a Catholic and I do not rely on the rite as an instrument of grace. Rather, I appreciate it as art: art that stirs, not saves my soul. The Eucharist is, however, the central rite of salvation for billions of worshipers. What is it that communicates to its participants the hope of salvation, even immediate divine presence, and what impedes it? My Tennessee neighbors drive considerable distance from the parish around the corner to attend a Vietnamese mass. They are not Vietnamese and as close as he has gotten to Asia in his 92 years was Guadalcanal. So, why not Latin?

Continue »