MDMD(1): Questions

[Doug Millison]

8.16 `a parsonickal Disguise'
It's not uncommon for a priest, preacher, minister, monk, etc. to have
doubts about his or her own faith and religious practice, especially when
comparing him or herself to the ideals held up by the faith itself. Nor is
it uncommon for such a person to feel the distance or gap between the self
acting in the role of "priest" or "preacher" and the self that, in prayer
or meditation or ceremony, seems to be in contact with the higher power --
then to interpret that gap as "hypocrisy" or, to use Cherrycoke's word,
"Impersonation."  Cf. Elmer Gantry; Thomas Merton; and others.

8.34-9.7
The passage on hanging and resurrection is all in the subjunctive we've
noted before -- "Had I been...I should closely resemble the nomadic Parson
you behold today" .
Cherrycoke may be saying that the experiences he's been through up to this
point in his life can be compared to being hanged and resurrected "into an
entirely new Knowledge of the terms of being, in which Our Savior...though
not present, would not have figur'd as pre-eminently as with moth
sectarians" -- leaving room for enlightment of Eastern religions that
Cherrycoke refers to elsewhere.

Cordially,
Doug

At 1:38 PM 6/11/97, Steven Maas (CUTR) wrote:
>> MDMD(1): Questions
>
>> 8.16 `a parsonickal Disguise' implying that Wicks is not really a
>> clergyman? Note how he claims that he should have been hanged and
>> resurrected to justify his current `parsonickal' appearance. Perhaps
>> the suggestion is that the only person fit to give moral, spiritual
>> and/or religious guidance is Christ.
>
>(I know there was some discussion about this so please bear with me if I'm
>reploughing old furrows.)
>
>This passage seems somehow quite important, and I still don't get it.  The
>"parsonical disguise" I think I'm comfortable with--basically it seems he
>feels he hasn't lived up to his potential.  Now as for the hypothetical
>hanging. . . .  The Rev'd starts the story of the hanging as if he is
>delivering a valuable lesson--and yet he ends with "[if this had happened]
>I should closely resemble the nomadic Parson you behold today. .  ." as if
>such an occurence would hardly have changed him at all.  So I'm not sure
>what this hypothetical hanging has to do with anything.  Andrew's
>suggestion may be the answer but somehow it doesn't sound right to me.
>
>        Steve Maas

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