Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A Catalog of Names

It's amazing how many names one can garner for oneself in parts of the Anglican blogosphere in a matter of hours. Here are a handful thrown indirectly and directly at me on just a single thread:


1. Humpty Dumpty
2. Revisionist
3. Gnostic
4. Heretic
5. Deconstructionist

I am sincerely glad I don't live in the sixteenth century. Otherwise, I might be on a cart right now headed for a rather unpleasant barbecue!

Or perhaps these days, such monikers should be worn as badges of honor.


5 comments:

Mary Clara said...

Congratulations! Well done!

Laura said...

That was some side show. Bet it seemed like a long day.

R said...

The thread was a quite a study.

But when the taunting really began in earnest, it was clearly time for me to head for the exit!

I note Titus One Nine is defined thus:

A free floating commentary on culture, politics, economics, and religion based on a passionate commitment to the truth and a desire graciously to refute that which is contrary to it…

Clearly the definition of "graciously" over there is far different than I expected!

But then, to be fair, I knew that going into the fray.

Thanks for stopping by. . .

Anonymous said...

Well...just when I hoped Kendall Harmon had settled down and become human...this. I don't go over there often, because most of the time it makes so little sense, but I do keep up with Caught by the Light, and the TEC blogiverse in general.

I was shocked, first by the title, then by Harmon's comments, then by the responses. It was something I think Fr Christian Troll would be pleased to call a hatchet job. Respondents revealed their biases as well as unwanted feelings of personal conviction, making it clear they heartily wish your post hadn't brought them on. Since they have been made uncomfortable, their solution seems to be to see how many spurious and petty retorts can be made. It's behavior I wouldn't tolerate out of my little grandson, and quite saddening to know it was made by those who are adults-in-body. The intolerance level was off the scale that day, making one wonder why they felt badly threatened.

I truly regret the lack of charity among respondents...which brings us back around again, doesn't it? Although their responses were unpleasant, they say far more about themselves than they do about you.
Cheryl

R said...

Thanks, Cheryl!

My study in chastity (and, hence, charity) this week is trying to take things at face value as much as I can. I reckon I hit a nerve -- however unintentionally -- so Kendall Harmon and Co. were determined to hit back. And that they did.

I am struck how anonymity does permit a certain level of cruelty sans accountability in many parts of the blogosphere. Therefore I am ever more commendatory of places like Episcopal Café that have been deliberate in holding a level of transparency that keeps the mud slinging from taking over.

All grist for the mill!

As a few friends reminded me on Facebook in recent days:

"I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean." -- G. K. Chesterton

Still washing off the mud. . .