One Flew Over the Church’s Nest

Last updated on: May 13, 2009 at 2:49 pm by David Hayward

One Flew Over the Church’s Nest 2009-05-13T14:49:17-04:00 David Hayward

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

one_flew_over_the_cuckoos_nest-153_2 I have visited insane people before. I have visited insane members of my church who have been admitted to the hospital’s psyche ward. I have been insane myself. I am familiar with it’s geography.

One time I visited a lady who believed that the reason the nurses were taking blood was because there was gold in her veins. She honestly believed that the medical staff was mining for gold every time they took her blood, and that they were getting rich off of her. She also told me that God told her this. Then God told her that. She was receiving divine guidance in spite of her imprisonment. I met her friends one day. They were all pretty much the same. They had visions, dreams, and frequent communications from God. They were emotionally or mentally ill. I understood that. Most of them didn’t. There was no way I would say, “You’re crazy! You’re out of your f***ing mind! Get a grip! Geez! Do you realize where you are?” Instead, like a good visitor, I would sit and listen to them, nodding my head in feigned agreement. I didn’t want to hurt them. I didn’t want to hinder their healing process. It wasn’t time to confront and challenge. It was time to just be with them and help them feel loved and affirmed. Besides, even if I did challenge them, they would only think I was crazy… another patient.

Sometimes I feel church is like that. Sorry. I do. Sometimes we are all talking like, “God told me this. God told me that. I saw this. I saw that. This is what’s really happening, etc., etc.” We come up with such incredible and even outlandish ideas and theories and predictions. Often I catch myself nodding my head in feigned agreement because I don’t want to hurt that person’s feelings. Granted, they do the same to me. Sometimes I think what people are saying is absolute nonsense, but I’ll never tell them that. Besides, I’ve come to learn that we will believe what we are going to believe unless something profoundly traumatic happens to us to challenge our preconceived notions. We are all walking around in an insane asylum believing our own delusions, thinking everybody but me is crazy, and waiting for the right person to come along to swallow my story and advocate for me. We are delusional. Like the best of religions insist: illusion is the air we breathe.

Sorry, it’s not a pretty nor upbeat picture. But that’s what I’m feeling these days about the business of religion, spirituality and the church. It’s insane. It’s like “One Flew Over the Church’s Nest“. The best we can do is keep out Nurse Cratchit!

twitter me
Check out my tees HERE. I’m growing my inventory all the time. And check out my art HERE.

Previous Post

May 13, 2009

cartoon: mind-mapping

Next Post

May 14, 2009 cartoon: morning devotions

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category art cartoons cartoons 2 freebie music one minute message podcast Sophia teaching technology thought

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian group practices foot washing as an ordinance?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Anabaptists Methodists Baptists Catholics