Is anyone else bothered by the anti-intellectual slant in the RCC these days? For instance, in the community on livejournal that everyone loves to hate, someone brought up the fact that the extraordinary rite was more theologically rich than the "novus ordo." (Funny how they can't bring themselves to use the term "ordinary rite.") What they really mean by this is, "I'm more refined than you felt banner-loving savages."

I guess what I'm bothered by is the anti-intellectual slant, unless it serves them. Then they bill themselves as intellectuals, when their reading is primarily of apologetics published before 1960 and Chesterton. They wouldn't dream of reading anyone who offends their delicate Catholic sensibilities. They decry the political bias of the university system, yet don't bother to see that they're just as biased as any professor. (Come to think of it, but my chair--who's one of those liberal professors from the 1970's--is a hell of a lot more tolerant of others than I am.)

Do I search out deliberately anti-Catholic stuff? No, but I've taken plenty of philosophy and critical theory courses. I've read plenty of books that would be banned by Opus Dei. I don't agree with everything I've read, and somewhere along the line people confuse appreciating an argument with agreeing with it.

I get the same thing with music all the time. For instance, I can't stand Enya. I think it's vapid trash. My opinions, however, shouldn't matter because I'm sure people will find some music they think is horrible that I absolutely love. Yet somehow people think that just because I'm getting an advanced degree in music that my opinions may matter more than someone else's. Sure, I may be able to articulate why I think Enya is garbage, but in the end I'm not out to convert anyone. I'm only trying to justify why I think the way I do and communicate what my experience is.

Likewise, I think people are disagreeing about aesthetics in liturgy. What our friend in that community is really saying is, "I don't get a high off of the ordinary rite." That's a perfectly valid statement to make, but where he goes over the line is saying that we all should have that experience, if we want to be as theologically sophisticated as he is.



Apologies to those who've seen this twice.

Yah, we'll take him.

So I'm still too wiped out to come up with something huge, and my brain isn't working well in the heat. But I found this take on Batman's religion. Interesting, if you're into obsessive analysis of fanwank. Their support is kind of weak, IMO, but it's something fun to read in air conditioning. And, hell, I'll always take cool Catholic characters. (Although considering the status of the Wayne family, I'd be more inclined to think they were Episcopalian.)

The Hoopy Frood and I saw "Dark Knight" last week and "Batman Begins" yesterday. I didn't expect to actually like "Dark Knight" at all, especially not after seeing it twice. (Once by myself when it came out and once with the Frood.) I'm really not a huge fan of superhero movies, namely because they always portray the superhero's love interest as this weeping princess to be rescued. (Why I hated the Spiderman movie with a passion.) I did like the fact that the token love interest (Rachael) was able to take care of herself in both movies.

So the Frood and I are ready to go a day early. What do we win? While there's nothing in my place, I sure wouldn't want to wish this on anyone. The uncertainty and phantom bug crawlies are worse than anything...

The Hoopy Frood and I have discovered that a better pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter marriage preparation program would entail locking the engaged couple in an apartment building with bedbugs. If they survive a week, they can get married. I'm thinking it would either be a good marriage prep program or new reality TV show. Or both. Pre-Cana is expensive as hell to the broke ass grad student types, and a little corporate sponsorship would go a long way.

That's one of the big reasons I've been so scarce lately. We're cleaning the everliving hell out of my place. *sigh* Neither of us have gotten bitten yet, but we're not taking any chances, either. Landlord knows and is on top of it. Past few weeks have been a nightmare, though.

Edit: They're taking care of bugs Monday. I will say something for my landlord/manager: they take care of catastrophes.

PSA

Catholics, this is a ciborium. It's used to reserve already-consecrated hosts left over from other Masses. Sometimes people will give out hosts directly from it.



Please do not try to drink from the ciborium. You won't like the result much.

Does anyone know anything about the TFP or these people? They look like your garden-variety right wing nutjob. I saw them mentioned in an article over on Vox Nova this morning. Before this morning, I can't say I knew anything about them. After digging a bit, I'm not sure I do. I think it's telling that the people who defended them never offered an apology for what happened to the woman in the article discussed on Vox Nova. Now, if someone of any group I belonged to (grad students, gamers, Benedictine oblates) hurt someone else, I think I'd apologize and make it known that the people who hurt another didn't speak for everyone.

Is anyone else creeped out by the proliferation of right wing groups like that out there? (TFP, Opus Dei, Legionaries of Christ.)