[Gocamino] USA Confraternity - OK to mention God?

[Charles O'Brien]

I leave in a few hours for the Camino Portugues. While I'm not certain I
still believe in God, neither am I sure he/she/it doesn't exist. Come to
that, I'm not all that sure why I'm going. What I am certain of, however, is
that spirituality and religion--at least as it is practiced by monotheism
today--are not the same thing.

On 10/2/07, Diane Maxon <maxon03 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> I think it is important to make a distinction between spiritual and
> religious.  Many people who have a mistrust of organized religion can still
> consider themselves spiritual.  I think it is very difficult to make the
> Camino without a connection to something greater than all of us.
>
> That, however, does not mean that you have to be religious or a member of
> any specific church.
>
> Steve and Cathy Soud <thesouds at comcast.net> wrote:
> I, too, have noted the anti-religious (or non-religious) postings on
> some of the pilgrim forums. About 6 months ago I had quite an
> exchange with some folks who wanted to call themselves pilgrims but
> denied any religious aspect to walking the Camino. I respectfully
> suggested that a pilgrim is, by definition, some on a religious/
> spiritual/sacred journey; otherwise it's just a hike. As you
> suggest, Richard, that doesn't mean they shouldn't go on the Camino,
> but it does mean that we misuse language by calling someone a pilgrim
> who has no sense of a sacred purpose to the walk.
>
> Best,
>
> Steve
>
>
> On Oct 1, 2007, at 1:03 PM, Richard Ferguson wrote:
>
> > For some reason, mentioning God seems to be offensive to some people,
> > in the USA and other places. I notice that especially on internet
> > forums, where it is not politically correct to refer to religion or
> > God. Certainly there have been several popular books published
> > recently attacking religion.
> >
> > This was pointed out to me very vividly when I attended the pilgrim's
> > gathering in Boulder. Reading the internet groups, it seemed that
> > religion was taboo, and hardly mentioned. But at the gathering,
> > nonsectarian praying was part of the agenda.
> >
> > No, I don't understand the absence of God and religion from the
> > Camino internet forums, especially since the Camino is to a religious
> > destination and has a religious history.
> >
> > I don't mean to imply that people who are not religious should not
> > participate in groups, or go on pilgrimage. I only beg a bit of
> > tolerance on the part of people who are not believers or not
> > religious. Please don't bite off the heads of anyone who mentions
> > God or religion, and try to refrain from attacks on the Catholic
> > Church.
> >
> > My two cents.
> >
> > Richard
> >
> >
> >
> >> Hi Jim,
> >> "American Pilgrims on the Camino" is an non-profit association
> >> formed in San Francisco, I believe, for the purposes of providing
> >> information about the Camino, and support to past and potential
> >> pilgrims.? But it is not a Santiago Confraternity.
> >> To become a Confraternity an association must apply for recognition
> >> by the Archconfraternity in Santiago; such recognition requires
> >> adherence to the rules established many years ago which
> >> include?counselar support by a priest and recognition by a Bishop?in
> >> the area where the Confraternity would be established. Once
> >> recognized, (the process may take years), a Confraternity becomes a
> >> member of the universal family of confraternities centered at the
> >> Archconfraternity in Santiago. Their activities, facilities,
> >> communication means and voice in the shaping of Camino actual
> >> maintenance and future plans are far too numerous to be cited
> >> here.... but, I think, they are wonderful.? I have never, ever,
> >> heard of a Confraternity that has not felt that the requirements of
> >> becoming one have not been worth it.
> >> The Catholic population in the United States is now larger than the
> >> entire population of Italy.? The Catholic members in the U.S.
> >> Congress form, by far, the largest identifiable group.? Five of the
> >> nine U.S. Supreme Court judges are Catholic.... yet, there seems to
> >> be some "political correctness" resistance to forming a
> >> Confraternity in the U.S. because of its Catholic connotation
> >> (whereas, in fact, they are pretty ecumenical and do not, in the
> >> least proselytize) even although the largest number of Santiago
> >> pilgrims from the American continent, by far, are from the USA.
> >> It sure beats me!
> >> I hope this answers your question somewhat.
> >> Hugs!
> >> Rosina
> >>
> >
> > --
> > http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
> > Sculptures in copper and other metals
> > _______________________________________________
> > Gocamino mailing list
> > Gocamino at oakapple.net
> > http://mailman.oakapple.net/mailman/listinfo/gocamino
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gocamino mailing list
> Gocamino at oakapple.net
> http://mailman.oakapple.net/mailman/listinfo/gocamino
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gocamino mailing list
> Gocamino at oakapple.net
> http://mailman.oakapple.net/mailman/listinfo/gocamino
>