Seeing Religion
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By
Sinead G
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The most primitive sense
Smell the Flowers by Kirsten Star Smell, to me, is the most primitive sense. When most mammals are born, they immediately can recognize their mother’s smell and form an attachment to that smell. Mammals like puppies are almost entirely limited to only the sense of smell until they develop more of their other senses. The sense of smell also becomes the most primitive when considering humans and the phenomenon of perfume. For years, humans hunted certain animals for the purpose of obtaining the musk produced in the anal gland. This musk in small doses can act as an aphrodisiac when put into a perfume even though it has incredibly primitive origins. Though most of Western culture has an aversion to smells considered gross or undesirable, the wealthiest of women are still willing to pay heavy prices to spray a smell once obtained from the anal glands of other animals. The sense of smell is not something that humans can control and adjust but rather it is only changed by evolution over
I couple of years ago, I went to an LGBTQ+ rally in front of the Catholic Diocese headquarters in Providence. Part of the rally's ritual was to have a row of people holding up all the different flags of the different subgroups of the Queer community. You would have loved it! Yes, the flags were flying outside the cathedral, but not because those inside were flying them. Still, It was quite a vision! I love how you make the powerful connection between the strategy/practice of heightening visibility and the the sacred connections brought about by vision itself. Vision, darsan, is a sacrament of communion.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much meaning and importance that symbols can hold for individuals. I feel like the idea of those of certain religions holding, touching and becoming emotional over statues or images of deities or idols is sometimes made fun of or deemed as dramatic or irrational, but symbols such as LGBTQ+, or political/social flags and symbols or "safe-zone" stickers can mean a lot to certain individuals too as well as many other meaningful symbols and idols.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important idea and I agree entirely. Also, I saw your art outside and it was so beautiful and profound!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly. Seeing a rainbow flag flying out in front of a cathedral would mean the world to queer Catholics who may not feel seen by the Church. One 'little' thing like that (and i say 'little' because it's not really something little) makes a huge difference.
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