About Funky Dung
Who is Funky Dung?
29-year-old grad student in Intelligent Systems (A.I.) at the University of Pittsburgh. I consider myself to be politically moderate and independent and somewhere between a traditional and neo-traditional Catholic.
I was raised Lutheran, spent a number of years as an agnostic, and joined the Catholic Church at the 2000 Easter Vigil.
Why Funky Dung?
I haven't been asked this question nearly as many times as you or I might expect. Funky Dung is a reference to an obscure Pink Floyd song. On the album Atom Heart Mother, there is a track called Atom Heart Mother Suite. It's broken up into movements, like a symphony, and one of the movements is called Funky Dung. I picked that nickname a long time ago (while I was still in high school I think), shortly after getting an internet connection for the first time. To me it means "cool/neat/groovy/spiffy stuff/crap/shiznit", as in "That's some cool stuff, dude!"
Whence Ales Rarus?
I used to enjoy making people guess what this means, but I've decided to relent and make it known to all. Ales Rarus is a Latin play on words. "Avis rarus" means "a rare bird" and carries similar meaning to "an odd fellow". "Ales" is another Latin word for bird that carries connotations of omens, signs of the times, and/or augery. If you want to get technical, both "avis" and "ales" are feminine (requiring "rara", but they can be made masculine in poetry (which tends to breaks lots of rules). I decided I'd rather have a masculine name in Latin. ;) Yeah, I'm a nerd. So what? :-P
Wherefore blog?
It is my intention to "teach in order to lead others to faith" by being always "on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful" through the "use of the communications media". I also act knowing that I "have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors [my] opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and [I] have a right to make [my] opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward [my and their] pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons." (adapted from CCC 904-907)
Statement of Faith
I have been baptized and confirmed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I, therefore, renounce Satan; I renounce all his works; I renounce all his allurements.
I hold and profess all that is contained in the Apostles' Creed, the Niceno- Constantinopolitan Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
Having been buried with Christ unto death and raised up with him unto a new life, I promise to live no longer for myself or for that world which is the enemy of God but for him who died for me and rose again, serving God, my heavenly Father, faithfully and unto death in the holy Catholic Church.
I am obedient to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. That is, I promote and defend authentic Catholic Teaching and Faith in union with Christ and His Church and in union with the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of St. Peter.
Thanks be unto Thee, O my God, for all Thy infinite goodness, and, especially, for the love Thou hast shown unto me at my Confirmation. I Give Thee thanks that Thou didst then send down Thy Holy Spirit unto my soul with all His gifts and graces.
May He take full possession of me for ever.
May His divine unction cause my face to shine.
May His heavenly wisdom reign in my heart.
May His understanding enlighten my darkness.
May His counsel guide me.
May His knowledge instruct me.
May His piety make me fervent.
May His divine fear keep me from all evil.
Drive from my soul, O Lord, all that may defile it.
Give me grace to be Thy faithful soldier, that having fought the good fight of faith, I may be brought to the crown of everlasting life, through the merits of Thy dearly beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Behind the Curtain: an Interview With Funky Dung (Thursday, March 03, 2005)
I try to avoid most memes that make their way 'round the blogosphere (We really do need a better name, don't
we?), but some are worth participating in. Take for instance the "interview game" that's the talk o'
the 'sphere. I think it's a great way to get to know the people in neighborhood. Who are the people in your
neighborhood? In your neighborhod? In your neigh-bor-hoo-ood...*smack* Sorry, Sesame Street flashback.
Anyhow, I saw Jeff "Curt Jester"
Miller's answers and figured since he's a regular reader of mine he'd be a good interviewer. Without
further ado, here are my answers to his questions.
1. Being that your pseudonym Funky Dung was chosen from a Pink Floyd track on Atom Heart Mother, what is you
favorite Pink Floyd song and why?
Wow. That's a tuffy. It's hard to pick out a single favorite. Pink Floyd isn't really a band known for
singles. They mostly did album rock and my appreciation of them is mostly of a gestalt nature. If I had to
pick one, though, it'd be "Comfortably Numb". I get chills up my spine every time I hear it and if
it's been long enough since the last time, I get midty-eyed. I really don't know why. That's a rather
unsatisfying answer for an interview, so here are the lyrics to a Rush song. It's not their best piece of music,
but the lyrics describe me pretty well.
New World Man
He's a rebel and a runner
He's a signal turning green
He's a restless young romantic
Wants to run the big machine
He's got a problem with his poisons
But you know he'll find a cure
He's cleaning up his systems
To keep his nature pure
Learning to match the beat of the old world man
Learning to catch the heat of the third world man
He's got to make his own mistakes
And learn to mend the mess he makes
He's old enough to know what's right
But young enough not to choose it
He's noble enough to win the world
But weak enough to lose it ---
He's a new world man...
He's a radio receiver
Tuned to factories and farms
He's a writer and arranger
And a young boy bearing arms
He's got a problem with his power
With weapons on patrol
He's got to walk a fine line
And keep his self-control
Trying to save the day for the old world man
Trying to pave the way for the third world man
He's not concerned with yesterday
He knows constant change is here today
He's noble enough to know what's right
But weak enough not to choose it
He's wise enough to win the world
But fool enough to lose it ---
He's a new world man...
2. What do you consider your most important turning point from agnosticism to the Catholic Church.
At some point in '99, I started attending RCIA at the Pittsburgh Oratory. I mostly went to ask a lot of
obnoxious Protestant questions. Or at least that's what I told myself. I think deep down I wanted desperately
to have faith again. At that point I think I'd decided that if any variety of Christianity had the Truth, the
Catholic Church did. Protestantism's wholesale rejection of 1500 years of tradition didn't sit well with me,
even as a former Lutheran.
During class one week, Sister Bernadette Young (who runs the program) passed out thin booklet called "
Handbook for Today's Catholic". One paragraph
in that book spoke to me and I nearly cried as I read it.
"A person who is seeking deeper insight into reality may sometimes have doubts, even about God himself.
Such doubts do not necessarily indicate lack of faith. They may be just the opposite - a sign of growing faith.
Faith is alive and dynamic. It seeks, through grace, to penetrate into the very mystery of God. If a
particular doctrine of faith no longer 'makes sense' to a person, the person should go right on seeking. To
know what a doctrine says is one thing. To gain insight into its meaning through the gift of understanding is
something else. When in doubt, 'Seek and you will find.' The person who seeks y reading, discussing,
thinking, or praying eventually sees the light. The person who talks to God even when God is 'not there' is
alive with faith."
At the end of class I told Sr. Bernadette that I wanted to enter the Church at the next Easter vigil.
3. If you were a tree what kind of, oh sorry about that .. what is the PODest thing you have ever
done?
I set up
WikiIndex, a clearinghouse for reviews
of theological books, good, bad, and ugly. It has a long way to go, but it'll be cool when it's finished. :)
4. What is your favorite quote from Venerable John Henry Newman?
"Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt."
5. If you could ban one hymn from existence, what would it be?
That's a tough one. As a member of
the Society for a Moratorium on the Music of
Marty Haugen and David Haas, there are obviously a lot of songs that grate on my nerves. If I had to pick
one, though, I'd probably pick
"Sing
of the Lord's Goodness" by Ernie Sands.
“Can we really call it natural when the point and manner of death is affected so much by the technology that we have developed? That seems like a misnomenclature.”
She’s not on any fancy machinery. She’s feed and hydrated by IV because her esophagus is too constricted for her to swallow.
I read your post in which you “call me out”. Sorry it’s taken so long for me to respond. Despite your description of me as super-blogger-stud, blogging is a hobby that takes a back seat to higher priorities.
understood.
Anyhow, you asked why are we fighting so hard to save her when we expect she’ll go to Heaven when she dies. We’re protecting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
Can we really call it natural when the point and manner of death is affected so much by the technology that we have developed? That seems like a misnomenclature.
We are defending a woman who cannot defend herself. We are trying to keep a person from suffering a cruel, painful, and slow death.
How do you know that she doesn’t want to die? From what I’ve read, I would never want to end her life if I were her husband, but I am not in that position.
We stand in opposition to utilitarian measures of a life’s worth. To stand idly by while her life is ended for selfish reasons would be a grave injustice.
I am also not a utilitarian. I am a consequentialist, but I do not presume that there is anything “natural” about how the effects of actions are weighted. One can still glorify God even with much reduced functionality.
Even if her life is ended for selfish reasons, we know that this life is not the end and that there will likely be ultimate consequences for Michael’s actions.
Terri is poor in spirit and meek. We seek the justice (Matthew 5) of not killing a woman who is not in the permanent vegetative state her husband claims she is in. She is one of the least of Christ’s brethren (Matthew 25).
I can see the “I was hungry” parallel. I mean I do agree that it is wrong what Michael is trying to do. I think it is legal, though, and think there have to be limits to what we do to try and stop him.
I’ll give this some thought and if I have time I’ll expand on these thoughts.
that’d be great.
dlw
According to Fr. Rob Johansen, the reports of a stay being issued were wrong.
For me, my concern stems more from my consequentialist(not utilitarian) fear of Christian Churches losing their autonomy from the State, as they make a power grab to impose as law some of their communal standards of morality.
dlw
good points all.
God Bless!
dlw
I read your post in which you “call me out”. Sorry it’s taken so long for me to respond. Despite your description of me as super-blogger-stud, blogging is a hobby that takes a back seat to higher priorities.
Anyhow, you asked why are we fighting so hard to save her when we expect she’ll go to Heaven when she dies. We’re protecting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. We are defending a woman who cannot defend herself. We are trying to keep a person from suffering a cruel, painful, and slow death. We stand in opposition to utilitarian measures of a life’s worth. To stand idly by while her life is ended for selfish reasons would be a grave injustice.
Terri is poor in spirit and meek. We seek the justice (Matthew 5) of not killing a woman who is not in the permanent vegetative state her husband claims she is in. She is one of the least of Christ’s brethren (Matthew 25).
I’ll give this some thought and if I have time I’ll expand on these thoughts.
I think there are secular reasons for not giving Michael Schiavo the final say.
1) There is no living will. It’s his word against her parents’.
2) A husband is presumed to be acting in the best interests of his wife. Michael has demonstrated on numerous occasions callous disregard for her well-being.
3) Terri does not meet Florida’s legal definition of permanent vegetative state. Michael’s whole case is based on assumption that she does. He, of course, won’t allow medical professionals to reevaluate her case to prove this point. The courts should step in and order additional medical opinions.
If biblically we are all to be resurrected like Christ was, why devote so much time and energy to keep some of us biologically alive a little longer?
We need to ask how we are advancing the kingdom of God here in all of these questions and surely err on the side of life and not let it detract us from the many other pressing concerns that face us today.
dlw
Lord, have mercy.
Someone mentioned the Bible?
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matt 25:41-46 KJV
Another unfortunate corrosive byproduct of modernity: Hell just really isn’t scary anymore…
Thanks for the reminder about the reality of hell and the consequences of how relate to others, steve.
Now, how is keeping Terri alive on support going to save her soul for the rest of eternity? And how is our witness to others going to be affected when we get huffed up about this and neglect the many other serious issues that deserve far more of our attention?
Being a Christian doesn’t mean one has the right answer for what should be done in every conceivable ethical situation, and it isn’t worth elevating our fallible traditions to maintain as such…
dlw