{"id":572,"date":"2009-03-12T11:57:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-12T11:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/2009\/03\/secret-rites\/"},"modified":"2009-03-12T11:57:00","modified_gmt":"2009-03-12T11:57:00","slug":"secret-rites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/2009\/03\/secret-rites.html","title":{"rendered":"Secret Rites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>Here\u2019s an interesting topic<\/a>. The HBO series Big Love<\/em> is going to feature a Mormon \u201cendowment ceremony\u201d in this week\u2019s episode. This is a sacred ritual that takes place inside the Temple, and only Mormons<\/a> in good standing are allowed inside a Temple. Naturally, some Mormons are upset about their sacred, secret rituals being broadcast nationwide.<\/p>\n

Questions of Mormonism aside, how do you feel about this?<\/p>\n

My opinion is that the days of the Holy of Holies and the Eleusinian Mysteries are long gone \u2013 virtually every occult ritual or ceremony known to humankind can be viewed on TV or read on the internet. Mormon practices<\/a> are no different from anyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n

On one hand, there\u2019s something to be said for keeping the sacred sacred. Western culture has lost sight of the fact that some things of Ultimate Importance can\u2019t be explained second-hand \u2013 they have to be experienced to be understood.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, there\u2019s a lot to be said for transparency in religion, especially in light of the abuses that have occurred from the beginnings of organized religion through today.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, if the endowment ceremony has any real value, making it public cannot harm it. If it does not, keeping it secret only preserves an illusion. So I\u2019m not too concerned with those who are offended by showing this, especially if it\u2019s portrayed accurately.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean we shouldn\u2019t keep secrets. Most Wiccan and other Pagan initiations are kept secret, and some material is oath-bound. I\u2019m not going to reveal the content of my college fraternity initiation (which was quite good, actually) simply because I swore an oath to keep it secret. But if someone else chooses to reveal it, I\u2019m not filing any lawsuits.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never watched Big Love<\/em>. I may watch it this week\u2026 or I may have better things to do\u2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s an interesting topic. The HBO series Big Love is going to feature a Mormon \u201cendowment ceremony\u201d in this week\u2019s episode. This is a sacred ritual that takes place inside the Temple, and only Mormons in good standing are allowed inside a Temple. Naturally, some Mormons are upset about their sacred, secret rituals being broadcast […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1129,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSecret Rites<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here\u2019s an interesting topic. The HBO series Big Love is going to feature a Mormon \u201cendowment ceremony\u201d in this week\u2019s episode. 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