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 Tom McMahon has proposed a new series of mini-commentaries this year, which we propose to run on Sundays. Drawing from the National Geographic book, "Essential Visual History of World Mythology", Tom describes these commentaries as "an experiment that the little boy from 15th Street who happened to become a Catholic priest will offer weekly during the coming months of the year 2012. The issue of religion is humanly complex found in verbal traditions and written texts. Hopefully this series will shed light on the historical human adventure into the realm of the Divine Mystery. All information herein is offered in condensed form, allowing the reader to go into further investigation." Series Navigation: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII The mythological aspect of life and belief...
MYTH is the common way humans communicate with one another. Tradition comes from the Latin tradere = to pass on. Humans passed on knowledge as they experienced a truth as they saw it. The word "god" will not be capitalized throughout this series. Various ethnic backgrounds are chosen at random without reference to priority of time or place. Selections are digested from National Geographic's VISUAL HISTORY OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY. At the end there will be one question to research. Please use the Catholica Forum if you have your own questions and comments. #1: The gods common to the Australian Aborigines, Polynesians, and people of Oceania. Time: Stone Age, pre-1500 b.c.e. to 2010 c.e. Religious stories/traditions vary from tribe to tribe, no written texts, except Easter Island Creation stories abound; creation gods are hierarchal, middle gods associated with natural phenomenon and ancestor spirits at lowest level. … "sacred", "untouchable", "forbidden" permeate religion, all determined by humans especially the priestly caste. "Mana" is powerful life energy possessed by clan, family, individual and is associated with aristocrats, boat builders, priests, navigators as well as childbirth and war. "Taboo" regulates how people interact with human events: death/corpses/loss. Ancestral aristocrats are "heroes" who offered laws and understanding of nature that protect the tribe and the concept of the divine living in humans. Dreamtime brought these earthy people close to ancestors, a semi-god status. Australia's Ayers Rock is a sacred.place. New Zealand's Maori are considered primitive savages by modern Westerners. These hunter-gatherers do not own land, taking care of it in the name of their ancestors. They sing on the journey of life, their paths called Songlines. and their songs live on in cliff drawings. No one personal teacher/leader is known.
 www.catholica.com.au/forum/index.php?mode=thread&id=94784#p94784 Series Navigation: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII Tom McMahon, in San Jose, Ca. 31Jan2012 IMAGE SOURCE:
What are your thoughts on this commentary? ©2012Tom McMahon |
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Tom McMahon, ordained in 1954 and now married, lives a very fulfilled life in San Jose and continues to contribute voraciously to several Catholic discussion lists in the States. He has been an enthusiastic supporter and encourager of the Catholica initiative from the very beginning.
Michael Morwood: "The Challenge in Resurrecting Jesus in Society Today" In this address given to WATAC (Women and the Australian Church) members on 26th March 2013, Michael Morwood outlines the challenges he sees the Church facing in the years ahead. This address was given in the theatrette of the NSW Parliament at a meeting to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. 33m 34s [Commentary on the Catholica where this address was published on 29Mar2013] | [WATCH THE VIDEO]
Reports 028: 29Mar2013
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