Not religious? Church still offers community
When I was hanging out at the Pride picnic, I encountered many folks who said they weren’t “religious.” I have always found this a rather curious statement, mostly because I’m not sure what it means and because I don’t think I’m particularly “religious” either.
It seems many people believe that churches are filled with gullible folks who believe in an old man up in the sky who rewards the good and punishes the bad. This, of course, is Santa Claus, not G-d, and hopefully most of us stopped believing in him a long time ago.
Instead, if you were brave enough to actually show up, you’d find that churches are filled with ordinary folks who believe or don’t believe a whole variety of things. But they do believe in justice and love. And often they don’t believe in capitalism or patriarchy or militarism (the dominant religions of our culture).
And maybe you need more community. Maybe you’d like some more friends to journey through life with. Maybe you’d like some more folks who are happy when you’re happy and sad when you’re sad and can handle it when you’re grumpy or distressed. And you might have to pretend to sing some unfamiliar songs and listen to more Bible verses than you’ve heard in a long time, but it might just be worth it.
So don’t be religious. But who doesn’t need a community of resistance and solidarity?
Wes Bergen
Morgantown
It was a sad day when Huggins resigned
It certainly was a sad day when Coach Bob Huggins resigned as head basketball coach for WVU. Fans, players and associates can all grieve at the circumstances that came together in a “perfect storm” that left him no choice but to resign. Staying on and putting WVU in a position of either tolerating that behavior or firing him would have been awkward and very unpleasant on a lot of levels for a lot of people.
Probably the saddest part for me is his “cry for help” that this incident sends to people.
Like many, many people, I wish him well. I would tell him not to worry about the program, his staff or the young men he was working with. All these parts will carry on in one fashion or another.
But the thing I worry about most is the person — Bob Huggins. Please, please get help. Counseling might help and so might the removed weight of carrying WVU’s basketball program.
I think I speak for a lot of people when I say, “Live long and prosper.”
Tom Talerico
Morgantown
Mountaineer Mall a great walking space
At the risk of tanking my reputation, I wanted to say thank you to all the staff and maintenance personnel at Mountaineer Mall (the old mall).
Every morning between 7-9 a.m., about a dozen or so individuals show up to walk the interior area of the mall. It is always clean, safe and a gem of a recreation space for those of us who take advantage of it.
As for the kind folks who care for it, Doug and his crew should be recognized for all they do to make the facility and grounds so welcoming and hospitable. Thank you for helping to make our day!
Dallas Branch Jr.
Morgantown
