We have Peter the ‘Possum, the rambunctious Blue Jay tribe, the noisy and rascally Crows, the Pileated Woodpeckers and Downies and Hairy’s and Red-bellies. Of course, our sweet little Chickadees and Nuthatches are regular members. The river, when open, is alive with all manner of ducks, swans, and geese; along with otters and beavers and turtles of various persuasions. And the woods are haunted by deer and mink, squirrels and cottontails, and the occasional fox or even fisher. And certainly we are blessed with the presence of our green and growing and blossoming members, and the tall and stately Deacon Pines themselves. All of which is to really highlight only a few among our great diversity.

And then, of course… we have all of you. Each of you Members-In-Good-Standing, even if unable to regularly attend in-person services. Please let me say once more, if I haven’t recently, how much I appreciate your presence here! Your good company. Your thoughts and questions and warm wishes and mutual support and observations, here at the Church O’ The Pines, (also known on non-Sundays as our virtual FB Campfire.)

In this regard, you may have noticed over time that we have a wide variety of not only furred and feathered members, but you two-legged ones as well. (I think this is called ‘ecumenical.’ It’s a good word, I guess.) We have, I am sure, Presbyterians. Lutherans. Catholics. Baptists. Unitarians. Jews. Muslims. Agnostics. Atheists. Taoists. Buddhists. Etc. And many who identify with no particular faith-tradition or ‘ism’ whatsoever. True, I don’t really know, because I never ask. But all are here in our little green-limbed chapel, gathered together around our campfire… So let me say plainly, in case I haven’t just lately, exactly how I feel about that.

I think it’s great.

No, that’s not quite right. Let me rephrase. What I mean to say is… I think it’s GREAT!!!

We learn from one another. We share the sacred journey of life with one another. We have different perspectives and have walked different paths. We leave space for one another. We see and experience not only the struggles and joys of daily life in our woods and our communities and on our green planet, but also that greater shared LIFE that dwells within, in all its myriad iterations. And if that is not proper and healthy and uplifting and meaningful and maybe even ‘holy,’ then I don’t know what is.

So that is our little ‘church.’ But we never argue–or browbeat, or propound or try to persuade–about religion here. Toward what end? To gain or achieve what? That’s just not the way we do stuff here.

I mention this today only because that sort of religious identification/fixation has been manifested in a particularly dangerous way this past week. With the current undeclared, unprovoked, unprepared war with Iran, we have heard this week reports of troops being told by some of their commanding officers that this is a ‘holy war.’ That it is all ‘a part of God’s divine plan,’ right out of the Book of Revelation, referring to Armageddon and the imminent ‘return’ of Jesus. That *president Donald Trump has been ‘anointed’ by God to usher in the final battle and the ‘end times.’

Well. Such talk would not go over here at the C.O.T.P. Or anywhere that free, responsible, thinking people gather. Because it ends all thought. There is no argument, no discussion, no give and take, no growing or learning, with anyone who directly knows and speaks God’s will. Especially a commanding officer. Especially with a leader who has been ‘anointed.’ Nothing can be discussed on the merits. Evidence is unnecessary. Careful thought and planning are not required. No doubt or disagreement allowed. Opposite opinions are not to be entertained or tolerated. And it is all extraordinarily dangerous. For in this view, not only are the ‘end times’ upon us, (which someone is always saying they are) but we are required to help usher them in.

We are not (yet) a theocracy. We have had–for 250 years–a firm separation between church and state. For many good reasons, with this being perhaps the prime example. For I will tell you the difference between this sort of United States of America and the backward, oppressive, fundamentalist, theocratic regimes of Iran and the like with which we have often been in conflict. The difference is: Nothing. None at all. Just different ‘tribes’ warring with one another, over whose version and name of God is the right one, the only one, and whose is heresy. With each believing that God is obviously and unequivocally on ‘their side.’

We can’t have it. We just can’t. Of all the terrible effects of an authoritarian MAGA ‘Christian/nationalist’ America–and they are countless–this might be the worst and the most dangerous. If there are indeed ‘end times’ to come, we don’t need anyone hurrying them along.

So, would such a person be welcome or accommodated here at the Church O’ The Pines, around our little campfire? It’s a good question. After all, I said above that everyone is welcome here, despite differences. But the answer is, no. For the only unwelcome one is the one who says that no one ELSE is welcome. That only he or she ‘knows’ the truth. That they, and those like them, get to decide who is worthy and who is not. Who is ‘saved’ and who is not. Who knows God and who does not. What God’s will is or what it is not. What is the ‘right’ way to worship (or not to worship) or to think or to live, and what is not.

That is just not how things work here at the Church O’ The Pines. Or here on our beautiful blue planet, a glorious speck of dust in the cosmos. It’s not the way things work anywhere. And we can only hope and strive and work to see that in the future, for the next 250 years at least, such people are kept far, far from the levers of power and the halls of government. And from my campfire.

(This is my latest Substack post. If you are able, please consider supporting my work with a paid subscription at Notes From The Campfire@douglaswoodauthor. But any form of support is most welcome. Thanks for being here! https://substack.com/@douglaswoodauthor)