My grandmother was fond of saying "God doesn't pay off in money." I've come to think of this as Lutheran Karma: superstitious, vindictive, and unintentionally funny.
I love the karma bank concept. Capitalist karma, where you can do whatever you want to whoever you want and then make up for it by spending 10% on something "good!"
I have no doubt you have a huge amount in your karma bank. I love the idea of earning karma points for things one doesn't do. Brilliant!
I cried over 6th grade math too. And during every other grade beyond 4th in which the teacher favored the boys who ran to the blackboard with questions and occupied most of her time. That gender matter had lifelong consequences.
Yes to all of the Chai! Currently my favorite tea and my weekend go-to.
Though my foundation is Biology and not Physics (quantum or otherwise), I consider myself to have one foot in science and the other in religion, and wonder if the reunion of the two is yet on the horizon.
Unlike some paths, the idea of living multiple lifetimes fascinates me. Saving my thoughts for later, possibly a future post...
This was marvelous, Marjie! I'm for sure a fan of instant karma.....hmmmm...wonder if that makes me an evil person. Oh, well, I'm thinking I also have a trust fund!!!!! :)
I know I know, I’m very late commenting. I usually get your Substack first thing in the morning and, of course, it’s irresistible to lie in bed and read it but then the dogs mysteriously know I’m awake and demand attention, food, letting out etc etc. So I continue sniggering and get up to pay them attention and tell myself I’ll come back n’ comment. But sometimes, worse luck, I have to go n’ supervise horrid unruly teenagers who delight in giving me a hard time and I don’t get back to it. Thank goodness the skool year has finished now! (I didn’t even tell any kids to eff off either) my maturity and wisdom is really holding its own these days.
Anyway… where was I? Oh yeah, I ALWAYS want to comment- usually at length- (but you might not appreciate an entire essay in response) but life sometimes gets in the way.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoy your explanation of religion. Completely coincides with my slightly subversive thoughts on the matter, which I cannot express as I sit through Devotion or Worship (anpparently there’s a difference) and model how to sit respectfully to the kids.
Have long wondered why we’re “all” going along with these rules heard 2nd hand from a bunch of men who didn’t let women do anything much…I thought it was just me!!!
And also about karma… yeah, I think now that I’ve got the full picture and it’s to do with your next life that I’m not sure I really want anything to do with it. Maybe if I just stop believing in it… do you think one gets a say in what type of next life one gets?!?!
Or should I adopt your very comforting idea of adding to my karma bank because of all the things I actually refrain from doing!!
I don't even know what to say: this essay (?) is so completely perfect that I know I'm going to read it several more times to savor all the different parts. "The things I didn't do".....that could count really good for myself, and they should count. And you were lucky because my father only would get really mad at me when I couldn't do math..... And this one continues a thought that started on Sunday when I read about how two micro things (electrons or something like that) have been proven to affect each other no matter how far apart, and how this could lead to other things like time travel or ...who knows. Thank you for this one, it really got to me this morning.
Loved this one!!!! Had me laughing throughout. I like the idea of earning credits for what we have not done! The tea sounds amazing. Sadly, I have developed an allergy to ginger and cinnamon (I love both). Unless I want itchy, red, collagen infused looking lips I have to avoid as much as possible!
I know, right?! Used to love all the festive desserts and hot beverages with winter spice. Plus, Moscow Mules! I sometimes can sneak a little cinnamon with only mild repercussions.
My grandmother was fond of saying "God doesn't pay off in money." I've come to think of this as Lutheran Karma: superstitious, vindictive, and unintentionally funny.
I love the karma bank concept. Capitalist karma, where you can do whatever you want to whoever you want and then make up for it by spending 10% on something "good!"
"Lutheran Karma: superstitious, vindictive, and unintentionally funny" is itself the funniest thing I've read in a long time
I have no doubt you have a huge amount in your karma bank. I love the idea of earning karma points for things one doesn't do. Brilliant!
I cried over 6th grade math too. And during every other grade beyond 4th in which the teacher favored the boys who ran to the blackboard with questions and occupied most of her time. That gender matter had lifelong consequences.
Fucking math...
Yes to all of the Chai! Currently my favorite tea and my weekend go-to.
Though my foundation is Biology and not Physics (quantum or otherwise), I consider myself to have one foot in science and the other in religion, and wonder if the reunion of the two is yet on the horizon.
Unlike some paths, the idea of living multiple lifetimes fascinates me. Saving my thoughts for later, possibly a future post...
I look forward to that post!
This was marvelous, Marjie! I'm for sure a fan of instant karma.....hmmmm...wonder if that makes me an evil person. Oh, well, I'm thinking I also have a trust fund!!!!! :)
You absolutely do!
Always spicy chai season, hot or cold! Yum!
True!
I know I know, I’m very late commenting. I usually get your Substack first thing in the morning and, of course, it’s irresistible to lie in bed and read it but then the dogs mysteriously know I’m awake and demand attention, food, letting out etc etc. So I continue sniggering and get up to pay them attention and tell myself I’ll come back n’ comment. But sometimes, worse luck, I have to go n’ supervise horrid unruly teenagers who delight in giving me a hard time and I don’t get back to it. Thank goodness the skool year has finished now! (I didn’t even tell any kids to eff off either) my maturity and wisdom is really holding its own these days.
Anyway… where was I? Oh yeah, I ALWAYS want to comment- usually at length- (but you might not appreciate an entire essay in response) but life sometimes gets in the way.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoy your explanation of religion. Completely coincides with my slightly subversive thoughts on the matter, which I cannot express as I sit through Devotion or Worship (anpparently there’s a difference) and model how to sit respectfully to the kids.
Have long wondered why we’re “all” going along with these rules heard 2nd hand from a bunch of men who didn’t let women do anything much…I thought it was just me!!!
And also about karma… yeah, I think now that I’ve got the full picture and it’s to do with your next life that I’m not sure I really want anything to do with it. Maybe if I just stop believing in it… do you think one gets a say in what type of next life one gets?!?!
Or should I adopt your very comforting idea of adding to my karma bank because of all the things I actually refrain from doing!!
Okey dokey… that’s all for now!
I wish you’d ALWAYS write essays. And yes. I think the karma bank based on what we could have done makes the most sense.
So, should you have named Alice, "Karma"? :-)
Well when you put it THAY way..,
I don't even know what to say: this essay (?) is so completely perfect that I know I'm going to read it several more times to savor all the different parts. "The things I didn't do".....that could count really good for myself, and they should count. And you were lucky because my father only would get really mad at me when I couldn't do math..... And this one continues a thought that started on Sunday when I read about how two micro things (electrons or something like that) have been proven to affect each other no matter how far apart, and how this could lead to other things like time travel or ...who knows. Thank you for this one, it really got to me this morning.
Can’t prove otherwise!
Loved this one!!!! Had me laughing throughout. I like the idea of earning credits for what we have not done! The tea sounds amazing. Sadly, I have developed an allergy to ginger and cinnamon (I love both). Unless I want itchy, red, collagen infused looking lips I have to avoid as much as possible!
OMG what a miserable allergy to have! I'm sorry.
I know, right?! Used to love all the festive desserts and hot beverages with winter spice. Plus, Moscow Mules! I sometimes can sneak a little cinnamon with only mild repercussions.
Ughhhhh.
Thanks! "Chai" MEANS "tea," so it's totally real tea!