| Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale |
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| THE 14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 21 August, 2005 The Rev. Robert C. Granfeldt |
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I’ve been very much torn this past week, as I’ve thought about my sermon for this
morning, and about where to go from here. After lots of promises, and weeks of
preparation and lead-in, I finally got around, last week, to talking about prayer.
I do have more to say about that subject, and about other, related topics. But not now! I’
m going to wait a few weeks before I go back to it for reasons that would may make
sense later, but not now, so I’m not going to bother you with them. Just know that I don’t
think I’ve exhausted the topic of prayer, and I will get back to it.
But that left me with no sermon topic for this week!
So there I sat, yesterday – a typical Saturday evening, without a clue what I wanted to
talk to you about, this morning – and finding, by the way, no particular inspiration in this
morning’s lessons – not that there’s anything Wrong with them; they just didn’t grab my
attention – when suddenly something came on the television that did grab my attention
and that reminded me of something I have wanted to get to for a while, now; something
that is, in fact, quite timely for this week.
It’s not the TV show, itself. I really don’t have anything much to say about the Loch Ness
monster, or any of the other lake or sea monsters this show on the National Geographic
channel was about.
But I do have some things to say about what underlay the show! That is, about thinking
and believing; about reason and truth and honesty, intellectual and otherwise.
There is a phrase that comes to my mind often, these days, with one or two variations. It’
s heard in statements like, “I have a right to an opinion,” or sometimes, “you have a
right to your opinion.”
And when I hear something like that, I always have an urge to say, “yes, you have a right
to an opinion – if you’ve earned it!”
I try never to say it, of course. That would be foolish, because the statement is, for most
people, an article of faith, and it enumerates a belief so dearly held that it could almost
be enshrined in the Bill of Rights!
Perhaps I should just say, instead, “Yes, you have a right to an opinion – just as you
have an equal right to be wrong!” (And, of course, you know me well enough to guess
that I have!)
But earning the right to an opinion is really what it’s about.
The value of an opinion, you see, is worth just about as much as the effort that has gone
into developing it! Effort to learn about the subject at hand; effort to find out what the
“experts,” the pros, think; effort to understand the options, the nuances involved; effort
to integrate the opinion into the totality of the situation and issues; effort simply to apply
one’s intellect to the whole situation, in order to develop a reasonable, intelligent,
informed opinion. Having a right to an opinion does not apply to the first thought that
pops into one’s head!
People who “believe in” the Loch Ness Monster, or in the sea serpent that has been
reported in San Francisco Bay, or any of the myriad of water monsters spotted around
the world have simply not done their homework. And against all scientific reservations,
against all logic, and in spite of the debunking of virtually all photographic so-called
“evidence,” they choose to believe in their monster of choice – probably in part
because it’s a fun notion; and because it contradicts the so-called experts; and because
it’s just a little bit scary and exciting! None of which, nor all of which, is sufficient to form
the opinion. And, of course, the same can be said of those who believe in “Bigfoot,” or
“Sasquatch,” or the “Yeti!” Or, indeed, in Alligators in the New York sewers, or for that
matter, flying saucers.
Now you may be wondering what kind of sermon topic the Loch Ness Monster is
supposed to be. Of course, it’s not this sermon’s topic, at all, but an illustration. And the
principle – that one really needs to Earn the right to one’s opinion – is much broader
than any issues of monsters or aliens.
And there are much more important current instances where the principal needs to be
brought to bear.
One I have spoken to you about, not too long ago, is the issue of that best selling book,
The DaVinci Code, which builds a story around some fanciful hidden lore buried under
the Christian tradition – which large numbers of people have chosen to decide is
actually all true! These are people – every one of them! – who have no right to their
opinion, because it is obviously based solely on their decision to believe a work of
fiction is not fiction. And these are people – the vast majority, I suspect – who have
never really studied the Bible, and who have no meaningful knowledge of the history of
the Church, or, indeed, of Europe!
There are other issues being discussed these days that are much more important than
The DaVinci Code, though. Senator Bill Frist, for instance, has been involved in three of
them recently! A few months ago, you’ll recall, he jumped into the Terry Schiavo case,
pronouncing, as a doctor, he said, that she was definitely not in a persistent vegetative
state – this, after viewing a few seconds of Video Tape! A couple of weeks ago, he
somewhat redeemed himself by breaking ranks with most of his party, and with the
President of the United States, by joining Arlen Specter and a handful of other
Republicans in calling for government support for fetal stem cell research using fertility-
banked eggs! And then, just this past week, he slipped up, again, by calling for the so-
called “theory” (which is actually, by definition, a religious Doctrine!) called Intelligent
Design to be taught side-by-side with the thoroughly Scientific theory of evolution in the
nation’s public schools!
As for Senator Frist, I hope I can be forgiven for believing that the middle one of those
three decisions was made on proper, well-informed, intelligent grounds – while the
other two were simply party line matters!
The important thing, though, is that these are three, important, current issues, about
which most people have strong opinions: the middle one being an extension of a battle
that has been going on since Mr. Darwin published his theories a century-and-a-half
ago, and bear on the future efficacy of our public schools; the first one dealing with an
issue of life and death that more and more people are having to face. While both it and
the third one are really brand new and vital issues, because the science and technology
that are at issue have only existed for a handful of years!
And the vast majority of Americans – most of whom have very strong opinions, pro or
con – quite frankly, have little clear understanding of the considerations or, indeed, the
science involved, in any of them!
Yet they are important issues; Vital issues. They bear on the quality of life in our world;
they bear on our understandings of life, itself; they bear on our determination to live as
compassionate beings and a compassionate country; and they bear on the nature and
understandings of our faith!
These are issues that must concern All Christians – and especially those Christians who
belong to Churches that claim they don’t ask their members to check their brains at the
door! And they are issues that are so compellingly important that Christians are required
by their faith to educate themselves as well as they can; to exercise due diligence; and
carefully to form considered, informed opinions – and then to stand by them!
And there are plenty of other issues out there, just as compelling, and even more so,
calling Christians to inform their minds and their consciences in the same ways! Issues
of life and death; issues of war and peace; issues of love and hate!
I have been speaking for some months, now about what I said is the work that we are
called, as Christians, to do.
Coming to informed, Christian decisions is a major part of that call! But a part that
becomes more and more urgent as the world deals with issues that have never been
raised before. But our faith calls us, not only to Deal with them, but to lead the way!
In Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
morning, and about where to go from here. After lots of promises, and weeks of
preparation and lead-in, I finally got around, last week, to talking about prayer.
I do have more to say about that subject, and about other, related topics. But not now! I’
m going to wait a few weeks before I go back to it for reasons that would may make
sense later, but not now, so I’m not going to bother you with them. Just know that I don’t
think I’ve exhausted the topic of prayer, and I will get back to it.
But that left me with no sermon topic for this week!
So there I sat, yesterday – a typical Saturday evening, without a clue what I wanted to
talk to you about, this morning – and finding, by the way, no particular inspiration in this
morning’s lessons – not that there’s anything Wrong with them; they just didn’t grab my
attention – when suddenly something came on the television that did grab my attention
and that reminded me of something I have wanted to get to for a while, now; something
that is, in fact, quite timely for this week.
It’s not the TV show, itself. I really don’t have anything much to say about the Loch Ness
monster, or any of the other lake or sea monsters this show on the National Geographic
channel was about.
But I do have some things to say about what underlay the show! That is, about thinking
and believing; about reason and truth and honesty, intellectual and otherwise.
There is a phrase that comes to my mind often, these days, with one or two variations. It’
s heard in statements like, “I have a right to an opinion,” or sometimes, “you have a
right to your opinion.”
And when I hear something like that, I always have an urge to say, “yes, you have a right
to an opinion – if you’ve earned it!”
I try never to say it, of course. That would be foolish, because the statement is, for most
people, an article of faith, and it enumerates a belief so dearly held that it could almost
be enshrined in the Bill of Rights!
Perhaps I should just say, instead, “Yes, you have a right to an opinion – just as you
have an equal right to be wrong!” (And, of course, you know me well enough to guess
that I have!)
But earning the right to an opinion is really what it’s about.
The value of an opinion, you see, is worth just about as much as the effort that has gone
into developing it! Effort to learn about the subject at hand; effort to find out what the
“experts,” the pros, think; effort to understand the options, the nuances involved; effort
to integrate the opinion into the totality of the situation and issues; effort simply to apply
one’s intellect to the whole situation, in order to develop a reasonable, intelligent,
informed opinion. Having a right to an opinion does not apply to the first thought that
pops into one’s head!
People who “believe in” the Loch Ness Monster, or in the sea serpent that has been
reported in San Francisco Bay, or any of the myriad of water monsters spotted around
the world have simply not done their homework. And against all scientific reservations,
against all logic, and in spite of the debunking of virtually all photographic so-called
“evidence,” they choose to believe in their monster of choice – probably in part
because it’s a fun notion; and because it contradicts the so-called experts; and because
it’s just a little bit scary and exciting! None of which, nor all of which, is sufficient to form
the opinion. And, of course, the same can be said of those who believe in “Bigfoot,” or
“Sasquatch,” or the “Yeti!” Or, indeed, in Alligators in the New York sewers, or for that
matter, flying saucers.
Now you may be wondering what kind of sermon topic the Loch Ness Monster is
supposed to be. Of course, it’s not this sermon’s topic, at all, but an illustration. And the
principle – that one really needs to Earn the right to one’s opinion – is much broader
than any issues of monsters or aliens.
And there are much more important current instances where the principal needs to be
brought to bear.
One I have spoken to you about, not too long ago, is the issue of that best selling book,
The DaVinci Code, which builds a story around some fanciful hidden lore buried under
the Christian tradition – which large numbers of people have chosen to decide is
actually all true! These are people – every one of them! – who have no right to their
opinion, because it is obviously based solely on their decision to believe a work of
fiction is not fiction. And these are people – the vast majority, I suspect – who have
never really studied the Bible, and who have no meaningful knowledge of the history of
the Church, or, indeed, of Europe!
There are other issues being discussed these days that are much more important than
The DaVinci Code, though. Senator Bill Frist, for instance, has been involved in three of
them recently! A few months ago, you’ll recall, he jumped into the Terry Schiavo case,
pronouncing, as a doctor, he said, that she was definitely not in a persistent vegetative
state – this, after viewing a few seconds of Video Tape! A couple of weeks ago, he
somewhat redeemed himself by breaking ranks with most of his party, and with the
President of the United States, by joining Arlen Specter and a handful of other
Republicans in calling for government support for fetal stem cell research using fertility-
banked eggs! And then, just this past week, he slipped up, again, by calling for the so-
called “theory” (which is actually, by definition, a religious Doctrine!) called Intelligent
Design to be taught side-by-side with the thoroughly Scientific theory of evolution in the
nation’s public schools!
As for Senator Frist, I hope I can be forgiven for believing that the middle one of those
three decisions was made on proper, well-informed, intelligent grounds – while the
other two were simply party line matters!
The important thing, though, is that these are three, important, current issues, about
which most people have strong opinions: the middle one being an extension of a battle
that has been going on since Mr. Darwin published his theories a century-and-a-half
ago, and bear on the future efficacy of our public schools; the first one dealing with an
issue of life and death that more and more people are having to face. While both it and
the third one are really brand new and vital issues, because the science and technology
that are at issue have only existed for a handful of years!
And the vast majority of Americans – most of whom have very strong opinions, pro or
con – quite frankly, have little clear understanding of the considerations or, indeed, the
science involved, in any of them!
Yet they are important issues; Vital issues. They bear on the quality of life in our world;
they bear on our understandings of life, itself; they bear on our determination to live as
compassionate beings and a compassionate country; and they bear on the nature and
understandings of our faith!
These are issues that must concern All Christians – and especially those Christians who
belong to Churches that claim they don’t ask their members to check their brains at the
door! And they are issues that are so compellingly important that Christians are required
by their faith to educate themselves as well as they can; to exercise due diligence; and
carefully to form considered, informed opinions – and then to stand by them!
And there are plenty of other issues out there, just as compelling, and even more so,
calling Christians to inform their minds and their consciences in the same ways! Issues
of life and death; issues of war and peace; issues of love and hate!
I have been speaking for some months, now about what I said is the work that we are
called, as Christians, to do.
Coming to informed, Christian decisions is a major part of that call! But a part that
becomes more and more urgent as the world deals with issues that have never been
raised before. But our faith calls us, not only to Deal with them, but to lead the way!
In Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
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