Ok, so we are having this discussion at work about the meaning of life. Why? I don’t know, but one guy often brings up really silly topics so that we can take a break to think of something other than PMRs for 10 minutes. So, someone sends out this link to the old “Meaning of Life FAQ”. And, it got me thinking about the theology bit.

A few weeks ago, I was in a training class with another American. All of us in the class ate together in a group, and on Friday, he starts to order a burger, then starts cursing that he forgot it was Friday, and changes his order to fish and chips. This confused me for a minute, until he explained that it was Lent and he can’t eat meat on Fridays. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I sort of remember something about this, and I ask, “Is that a Catholic thing?” He immediately begins to explain that it isn’t a Catholic thing, or even a Christian thing, and has nothing to do with the resurrection at Easter. Instead, some Pope who had been related to the fishing trade proclaimed this rule to make more money for the fish shops. Or something like that. (I probably garbled it really badly.)

Another similar situation… I was in Physical Therapy for my shoulder last year, and one of the therapists was talking to a patient about church. She was talking about how they made sure to go to the early service so it was shorter, but how she hated getting up early in the morning on Sunday.

Anyway, what I don’t understand is that if it is a tenet of your religion, does it matter why? If you think that there is no reason to not eat meat on Friday during Lent, then should you be Catholic? If your god demanding you to physically be in a church on Sunday is bothersome, why bother? I mean, a person’s choice of religion should reflect their basic beliefs. If your religion doesn’t suit you, why follow it? If it is blasphemous to consider changing religions because your current theistic model doesn’t suit you, then wouldn’t it be equally blasphemous to whine about getting up early enough to go to the early service on Sunday because you’d prefer to stay in bed?

I dunno. Maybe it’s one of those things I will never understand.

Anyway, speaking of religions, Ray and I got the Torchwood DVDs and have been watching them this past week. I do believe that Russell T. Davies may very well worship at the alter of Whedon, but unlike so many others he 1) doesn’t forget that he is British, and 2) actually is capable of pulling the off the whole thing beautifully. It’s a great show, though I don’t know that it will ever get to the US because, while it is a sci-fi show based in the Dr Who reality, it is very adult and not family friendly. Ray thinks that if BSG could get shown on SciFi channel, Torchwood could, but then again, BSG didn’t do alien sex gas.

That is all for now.