And speaking of marketing, a major U.S. east-coast city contains the largest functioning pipe organ in the world, but it’s not in a church. That magnificent organ, which is played every day, is in the grand central court of a legendary downtown department store.

The other day I had my theory on “spellbound” confirmed again: How many people would imagine that wandering into a department store just to buy socks could be a spellbinding experience?

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And, Timothy, I think you largely nailed it.

Some people, when they experience that ‘bigger than me’ feeling, that thrall that comes from Beethoven’s Ninth, they call it “divine music.” I believe that this feeling is the basis for religion, in general.

Take the feeling of “wow, that is so much bigger and grander than tiny puny me”, and you have the notion of divinity.

Mix in some “I wonder how this all came to be? Is there a bigger plan? Is there someone or something bringing this about?” and you have the seeds of faith.

Add a few thousand years of orthodoxy, tradition, power, and pomp, and you have religion.

And if you have never experienced Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (The Choral) in a grand concert hall, you don’t know what spellbound is.

After a number of years I retested my theory two nights ago, and I can say with absolute certainty that spellbound just doesn’t get any better than Beethoven’s Ninth performed by a world renowned orchestra plus a full chorus in a grand concert hall.

In case you’ve never heard it, here’s the 4th Movement (Ode to Joy):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0c53u6pdjs

Everyone was spellbound by the Power in the Word of God.

No, they were NOT. The were spellbound by the power of pageantry, architecture, music, art, historical context, and, of course, fascination with the British royal family.

The power of pageantry, architecture, music, and art have traditionally been major tools in the marketing of religion. Just imagine the impact of medieval cathedrals on the masses of impoverished illiterate peasants residing in the surrounding countryside.

I, myself, am enthralled (and spellbound) with the power of these classical trappings of religion, but that same power can be found elsewhere. And speaking of marketing, a major U.S. east-coast city contains the largest functioning pipe organ in the world, but it’s not in a church. That magnificent organ, which is played every day, is in the grand central court of a legendary downtown department store.

And if you have never experienced Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (The Choral) in a grand concert hall, you don’t know what spellbound is.

TRiG.

Uh, yeah, not me. Marshall, you should get together with Shofixti – you have a lot in common.

It will take ‘years’ to come up with any theological meaning of same sex blessings to base their rites on, which even to us with average intelligence , is evidence, that they are coming to it from the wrong side. TEC values Man’s wisdom, rather than Gods, which is insuperable.

Eventually gays will collect enough crumbs from the communion table to make a whole loaf!

Last week we got some toenails, this week some toes. Who knows, within 50 years we may be given access to the whole body of Christ.

The only thing that changes is any reference to “husband and wife” is changed to “husband and husband”, “wife and wife”, “spouses” or whatever the people getting married prefer and, depending on whether the ceremony is taking place in a state where same-sex marriage is permitted the ceremony will or will not include the legalities of the civil requirements like “by the power vested in me by the state of _________” and lines like “lawfully wedded spouse” may or may not be appropriate. Otherwise any variation is a result of preferences and are worked out between the couple and the pastor.