another wonder?

[J. Marie Hall]

can we make flannery a wonder for the moment, katy? :) she is my favorite. period....or maybe i should confine here and say favorite in short story. another favorite quote is something to the effect that christians who see by the light of their christian faith are bound to see the grotesque etc. and that redemption is meaningless in a world that doesn't know it's need for it. oh how i want to be like her when i grow up. the river is my pick of her stories.

i'll stop being off-topic now :)

-j. marie

[J. Marie Hall]

i just made this a new thread in addition to being off-topic. mea culpa. sorry [shock]

-j. marie

[oogabooga]

I am going to continue the off-topic craziness by replying :) I just now noticed it or I would have replied sooner.

What people don't realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is much harder to believe than not to believe. If you feel you can't believe, you must at least do this: keep an open mind. Keep it open toward faith, keep wanting it, keep asking for it, and leave the rest to God.

--Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being


I am no disbeliever in spiritual purpose and no vague believer. I see from the standpoint of Christian orthodoxy. This means that for me the meaning of life is centred in our redemption by Christ and what I see in the world I see in its relation to that.

--Flannery O'Connor

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.
--Flannery O'Connor


There is also a quote that I can't remember exactly right now that to badly paraphrase says the South is not Christ centered, but rather christ haunted

I LOVE Flannery O'Connor. II love her gothic style of realism. he stories show these sympathetic yet pridefilled people. People whose pride so often keeps them from any type of real fatih but encourages them to cling to religion. They look for earthly saviours, in themselves and those around them, and in most cases fall on their faces when the earthly saviour is (as is expected) unable to save anyone including themselves. My favorite is probably her short stories, good Country people is the story that made me love her. I have a sock monkey doll that a friend gave me not too long ago and he is named Flannery (He doesn't mind being named after a woman because he too appreciates her genius)
I think she means more to me, growing up as a catholic in the south, being so aware of the absurdity of some of our preconceptions of religion, even within my own church, spending years searching for what to put all of my faith in. I love the truth does not change.... quote, because it is so easy for us to cast off God or any other truths in our lives as it might disagree with out own wants or desires. I love that she makes you laugh and then question why you are laughing. She shocks you with the ordinary because she tilts in into the light, showing what you never saw before....

ok...after all of that Off topic randomness I am declaring it my very own Flannery O Connor day! You can celebrate it with me :)

katy

[Anna]

I'm a bit late as usual, but any party for Flannery O'Connor is one I have to get in on! The quotations are wonderful, Katy.

Was it Eudora Welty who said that the reason so many great writers came from the south was because so many southerners grew up hearing the King James Bible read out loud?

peace always

Donna

[Anna]

Sorry for any confusion--I accidentally signed that post with my middle name, which I use on a different board. Didn't notice until too late to edit.

just call me

Anna, a doofus

[Thilefan]

Interesting topic...

Just a couple of things I wanted to add...

1.) Religion and faith are not nearly the same.

A.) Religion is a practice handed down from age to age and generation to generation...it is simply an outward practice.

B.) Faith is a not just a belief...if it was, even the devil would be saved...for he knows the believes/KNOWS God exists, and yet he will face eternal destruction. Faith isn't handed down, it is not something that somebody can give to you, and it differs from person to person. Faith is simply this: Believing... AND THEN...acting on that belief. Works without faith are dead. Just as much as Faith without works are dead.

;) I enjoy this topic...hopefully, it will not end in conflict and argument.

Robin

[oogabooga]

Thilefan-
I completely agree with all that you aid about religion and faith. I know in the south and most likely also in other areas, religion is like an ethinicity. People claim a religion that they nothing about. My persona faith is completely outside of my church. I view my religion as a means to help me worship. but it has nothing to do with my faith :)

THe idea of works without faith being empty is something that has been on my mind alot lately...A few days ago ran across (a verse that I am too tired to quote correctly rright now) He wants your mercy not your sacrifice.
Anyway...I don't think I am making much sense.....too tired...s Iwill stop typing :)

Anna- you are invited to the party but in honor of Flannery's southern roots I think we should have some iced tea and fried chicken. Could you bring the coleslaw ;) ?
Also I love Eudora Welty too!

Nickel creek fans really do just have greattaste, period :)

Katy