AmbivaBlog: Sick of Religion

Goodenough Gismo

This is the classic children's book, Goodenough Gismo, by Richmond I. Kelsey, published in 1948. Nearly unavailable in libraries and the collector's market, it is posted here with love as an "orphan work" so that it may be seen and appreciated -- and perhaps even republished, as it deserves to be. After you read this book, it won't surprise you to learn that Richmond Irwin Kelsey (1905-1987) was an accomplished artist, or that as Dick Kelsey, he was one of the great Disney art directors, breaking your heart with "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," and "Bambi."

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Sick of Religion

J sleeps deliriously, fighting the flu and holding on to my knee. I can't move, can't sleep, so I'm reading the Spring Religion Books issue of Publishers Weekly. Suddenly a huge wave of weariness sweeps over me: I'm sooo tired of religion. I've kind of made it my beat, I try to cover it conscientiously, but it's so top-heavy: so much machinery, so much paraphernalia, so much stentorian exhortation.

Couldn't we just . . . sweep it all away and start over? With something completely simple: One man, one woman, one flower. Or: the Tao that can be spoken is not the Tao. Period.

- amba

Posted by amba on February 18, 2005 at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Comments

OM!

Posted by: Richard Lawrence Cohen | February 18, 2005 at 12:29 PM

You know about Mahakasyapa, the Buddha's first "disciple", or patriarch? Buddha gave a "sermon," in which he simply held up a flower. M. broke into a huge grin, and the Buddha said, "This guy gets it."

Posted by: AmbivaBro | February 18, 2005 at 05:12 PM