Day: November 24, 2020

My failed career as an Astronaunt. (Part 2)

My more optimistic side hoped that Aliens would be more like characters in the original Star Trek series. You know the type. Aliens with large craniums dressed in togas would greet me through telepathic thought waves.





Photo by James Lee from Pexels

Around the same time, I became more interested in Unidentified Flying Objects. (UFO’s) I read every book that I could find on UFO’s. Most school libraries books had books on UFO’s, ghosts and creepy things `that go bump in the night.’ These books were `dog eared’, ruffled and worn out from the impact of eager school children constantly pouring over the pages. Several copies of these books went missing from my local library without any explanation. How these books disappeared from the watchful eyes of the stern faced, school librarians that patrolled the library is still an unsolved mystery.  

One book that remained on the library bookshelves was `Chariots of the Gods’, by author Erich Von Daniken. Von Daniken believed that aliens visited earth at various points in human history and contributed their advanced knowledge to the development of the human race. What motivated advanced extraterrestrial beings to take an interest in the humans? Did they think our ancient human ancestors were `slow’, ` thick between the ears’ and needed `a bit of a leg up’? How Erik Van Daniken came to write `Chariots of the Gods’ is a story in itself. Von Daniken embezzled money during a stint as a hotel manager to fund his `research trips’ to write and make a documentary of his book. He served one year of a three and a half year  prison sentence for embezzlement, fraud and forgery. He used the profits from his first book to repay his debts and support his new career as an author.

After reading `Chariots of the Gods’, I came to a startling conclusion. If Aliens could solve advanced mathematical calculations and help the Egyptians build the pyramids, they must be really, really smart! If they are really smart, then they probably had advanced telepathic powers and were looking to communicate with `more evolved’ human beings. I spent many evenings after school looking into the night sky trying to send telepathic messages to connect with alien beings.  I hoped that some aliens would teleport me into their flying saucer.

I had some slight anxiety about meeting alien creatures. I was part of a generation that was traumatised watching Sci Fi shows with cheap special effects on TV during the late sixties and seventies. Images of alien costumes made from paper mache layered over chicken wire or spray painted, green plastic bags with ping pong balls for eyes still terrorise me in my sleep. There were no trigger warnings. None of my teachers, parents or elders warned me (or my peers) of the dangers on getting on board flying saucers piloted by alien beings. This must be the ultimate in stranger danger! Seriously, I don’t know how I survived my childhood.

My more optimistic side hoped that Aliens would be more like characters in the original Star Trek series. You know the type. Aliens with large craniums dressed in togas would greet me through telepathic thought waves.

`We come in peace…finally…we’re glad to meet you…we were running out of hope that we might find intelligent life on this planet.’

Trying to decide who to make contact with on planet earth must stretched the mental capacities of our deathly pale, green tinted, toga clad friends with large heads. You would think that a highly intelligent species would like to meet with a winner of the Nobel Prize, a scientist or the leader of a major world power. Why would they choose to talk with a 10 year old boy? Only the imagination of an innocent child could believe they were the centre of the universe. Some adults never grow out of this belief.

Maybe I would be lucky. The Aliens would take me with them. It never occurred to me that I could be unlucky. Instead, I might be watching in fright as some strange, bug eyed alien leaned over me while I was strapped to a large table. The alien scientist prodding my body with electrodes while trying to decide which of my bodily organs it will remove to keep for further study. I didn’t expect this would include being dissected and having all my organs stored in a glass cannister. Meanwhile, on the bench, my brain is sitting in a glass container full of chemicals while kept alive by periodic jolts of electricity. Anyway, 44 years later, I am still waiting. Not a UFO in sight.

Games Religious People Play

Through the eyes of the Fool, I am going to explore games that religious people play.

Photo by Daniel Clay on Unsplash

As a young child, I had a growing interest in spirituality. My (adoptive) parents believed in the importance of being raised in the catholic faith. Religion (of any kind) is a thorny area. Loved by some and loathed by others as oppressive. As a teenager, I had a part time job at Woolworths. Every Saturday, I dressed in a white, short sleeve business shirt and black tie. I would get on my bike and travel to and from work. One afternoon, I was peddling back from work. A small boy pointed at me. He said to his friend: `there goes one of those religious fanatics.’

Religion provides a body of traditions, beliefs, and practices that people are socialized into as part of a religious community. At its best, religion inspires people to live for a bigger story rather than owning their interests. At its worst, religion can be tedious and unpleasant. Like milk that sours when exposed to the midday sun.  

I want to have a Fool’s look at religion…yes…the good, the bad and the ugly. As the old saying goes…people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones! Alright, I’ll `man up’ and take it on the chin. I have also ventured over to the `dark side’ of my own religious practices and lived to tell the tale. Through the eyes of the Fool, I am going to explore games that religious people play.

  1. ‘Do More and Try Harder.’ (DMATH) Karl Marx, the atheist philosopher, said religion was `the opiate of the masses.’ If so, then DMATH is an equal opportunity religious game. Whether rich or poor – anyone can play.  DMATH is the solution to every problem you are experiencing with your spiritual life (and life in general). If you are not getting the result you want, try to increase your efforts. If things are not as expected, work harder. `Do More and Try Harder.’ About 25 years ago, I participated in a bible study group. That’s when a woman named `Miriam’ admitted feeling depressed and anxious. Another woman in the group scolded her. She said, `The problem is that you’re not reading your bible enough!’ Miriam’s depression and anxiety decreased when she learned to be more vulnerable with other non-judgmental people in the parish. Another expression of Do More and Try Harder is:
  2. Put on a McHappy Face and Sing. (POMFAS) During a really difficult phase of my life, I had experienced a major depressive episode. I would leave church early to avoid listening to the praise and worship music. The light fluffy, sentimental lyrics and `la dee da’ tunes added to my pain. An elder in the church criticized me. He said, ‘You better get used to it. This is what you will be doing for eternity!’ Seriously, singing those sickly sweet, syrupy, sentimental love songs of the `Jesus is my boyfriend’ type forever sounds unbearable. It seems like a form of slow torture! A lot of contemporary worship music is like eating fairy floss on an empty stomach. After the first sugar hit, you are left feeling dissatisfied, hungry and with a queasy feeling in your stomach. Healthy religion encourages people to bring their whole selves (including sadness) to God.   

3. Global Citizen. Global Citizens play a larger game in response to climate change, poverty and injustice. They are motivated to travel and advocate for some of the most disadvantaged people in the world. The game becomes unhealthy when global citizens lecture the `peasants’ on the evils of consumerism, overseas travel and middle-class entitlement. Social media offers many chances for global citizens to `share their pain’. It helps to educate the ignorant, uneducated, and apathetic. Oh…and that trip to Bali…don’t even think about it peasant! Jesus had some confronting words for people who `play act’ while ignoring their own faults.

4. We’re a friendly church. Like most games, this usually has a positive start. A church congregation aims to welcome new people. They make a statement on their website that says, ” We’re a friendly church. As the congregation (or parish) grows, people form friendships and become comfortable with each other. New people who visit often find that existing church members are unfriendly, inhospitable, and more like a private club. Long-standing church members struggle to understand how newcomers experience them as unfriendly. `We’re a friendly church’…they think to themselves as they generalise from their own past experience…oh…and…um…It’s also on the church website.

An invitation to Play the Fool.

Photo: Scott Webb at Unsplash.

The Fool is an invitation to the aliveness, pleasure and play we experienced as children. Play is something we do for its own intrinsic reward and pleasure. Play is hard to define. However, pleasure, enjoyment, and fun motivate the wish to play. Children have a natural ability to play. They use play as a dress rehearsal for life. A towel becomes a superhero cape. It gives the child the belief they can leap off a building without getting hurt. A band-aid is the perfect remedy. They discover that even with a pretend superhero cape, jumping out of a tree results in a grazed knee. Children experiment, try on different personas, play `dress ups’ and have a good time.

I was leaving the office after a busy day at work. I watched a young child jumping in and out of the electronic sliding doors. His face was radiant with joy. He moved in and out of the sliding doors. He laughed out loud as if saying `I can get out before you try to close on me.’  Children can always find the `game’ or opportunities for play in any situation.

Play exists in the realm beyond right and wrong and `judgement’.

Ask a young child `can you sing?’ and most will respond enthusiastically with a `yes.’ The quality of innocence in young children leads them to believe that anything is possible. Childlike simplicity sees the good in everyone and is optimistic. They have a sense of wonder and delight in the world. Young children have not been socialised to critically evaluate themselves. Evaluation or judgments without grace stifles play and limits possibility. Play is possible in the absence of making harsh judgments of ourselves, our situation and other people.  

Play exists in the space in between right and wrong without making right or wrong, wrong. Imagine a scene at a local night club or dance venue. The DJ is playing music. You look around and become aware that no one else is on the dance floor. You feel the urge to get up and dance with you partner. The critical voices in your head whisper silently:

`Don’t do it…you can’t dance…what will other people think?

`You’ll look like a dork!’

You will make a fool of yourself!

Remember what happened the last time you took a risk?’

The voice of the Fool says `it’s ok to play.’ Play exists when you listen to your own wishes and ignore the critical voices urging you to stay seated. Letting go of self-criticism helps you enter the realm of play. Releasing the real or imagined criticisms of other people also grants this access.  

Play gives us permission to explore. 

Young children play naturally because they are (mostly) innocent of the problems of the world. If you are prone to cynicism, give yourself a rest and explore the `dark side.’ 

This is no serious feat in a world of 24/7 news and information. Take the opportunity to drink the tonic of innocence. This will help you to get into the frame of mind to play. We can `play’ for situations, ideas and other people. Sometimes we just need a kick start to get into the mood for playfulness and humour. Seriousness behaviour as a fixed habit can be unlearned. Playfulness and the ability to hold serious things lightly is possible.

Tips: what I have found helpful.

  1. Pay attention to your diet of media, reading and entertainment. Explore the `dark side’ – look for more innocent input. You Tube is a great source of comic videos on clowning and other types of more innocent humour.
  2. Grab a copy of the children’s book, `The Emperor’s New Clothes’, by Hans Christian Andersen. The story is a very humorous example of the power of innocence to accurately see reality without cynicism.