Yesterday I attended alone a "Study Group" at a certain Tucson place of worship that will remain unnamed, as I do not care to disrespect though association the entire institution. In this room of eight people I experienced a wonderful display of brash condescension, and surely unenlightened oral broadcast. The person leading the study group mumbled quickly and inarticulately through the very Holy Book which we had assembled to study, skipping entire phrases as they went, finally slowing to a natural pace at the end of each verse to give their own watered down, yet arrogant interpretation of the teaching through vulgar analogies best suited for someone with an eight year old's understanding of the world. Though not a Christian representative, this person exhibited the same hostile, vainglorious demeanor of a cliche-hellfire and brimstone televangelist, all while assuring us of their knowledge on the way to happiness. When a question was finally asked after the evening's section of the book was "read" to us, this person quickly spoke over the visitor before they could complete their question, seemingly to address their inquiry, but in no way making a relative statement. I went to learn what the beliefs of this group were, but instead I met someone who presumed to tell me what I should believe. It is people like that who make people like me not want to go to churches. (On a side note, I was a bit entertained to hear one of the other attendees state, and I paraphrase "Knowledge has to be handed to you, you can't just sit at home, and come up with answers in your head!" Well, maybe that person had never succeeded in it, but I've heard of this mystical, Herculean feat being accomplished by others. They call it thinking.)  A bit unfortunate, yet comical in retrospect, the experience was disappointing, uninformative, and generally unpleasant, but it was not a waste, for it gives me the opportunity to tell you dear readers that unequivocally: JANUTICA IS NOT THAT!!! 

Blessings,


C.W. Arvidson