Letter to Prestwood About Suspending Belief

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Dear Charles: Some religions have gotten themselves
in a real theological pickle, especially those who have
decided that if it's worth suspending rational thought,
it's worth believing. It amazes me that when they start

talking seriously about people and entities who have
power over our destiny whom we can neither see nor
engage in polite conversation, it doesn't occur to them
that the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are right

up there in these matters. Take Santa for an example.
We teach our children to believe in a man who never ages,
who owns the world's supply of everything and doles
bits of it out to us based on whether we've been naughty

or nice. Heaven, it would seem, is only a few steps away
from the North Pole, and for all we know, Santa's elves
and God's angels are made of exactly the same stuff. I'm
suggesting that you want to be wary if someone tells you

they know a few magic words that can change bread into
God or wine into his son's blood. But if they invite you
to share some bread and wine as a sign of being welcome
to the family table or urge you to eat the bread and drink

the fruit of the vine as a reminder of the custom the universe
has of nurturing us in every way - body, mind and spirit -
then I say "shout amen," hug the people around you and
walk up to get your fair share of a mystery yet to name you.