When the Homily is about Immunology

Spooky

I must admit, I adore a good ghost story - especially those purported to be true. There is something about the numinous that tends to naturally send chills down our spine...and I find it to be a curious thing given the extent to which we pride ourselves on being such "enlightened" people.

I know of a devout practicing atheist who was seemingly scarred for life by watching "The Exorcist" when it first came out. And to this day he still patently refuses to watch supernatual films - not only because he finds them silly, but also because in their silliness they somehow scare the hell out of him. Why would that be?

Secularists tend to interpret such fears as being sort of genetic "leftovers" from the time when our ancestors would perhaps have to always be on the lookout for that nocturnal predator waiting to snatch us away in the night. And/or there is the related fear of the unknown: like one might imagine the edge-of-panick fear a rabbit might have if it were in unfamiliar territory and ignorant of where the nearest safe-hole might be. But I sense that there is more to it than that.

Fear of death is at work here. Yes, now THAT is a great unknown, isn't it? We have never heard of a neighbor or friend being devoured by a ghost, but no less are we "freaked out" by the eerie story of a loved one's mysterious post-mortem visit (only to be discovered as such later). There is no "natural" danger in such things, why should they inspire the ancient fight or flight reaction in us?

I wonder, could it also be a misplaced fear of God? Is He not the Supreme unknown? The pinnacle of all things numinous? He has indeed paid us the most awe inspiring post-mortem visit and we are told that we shall meet Him in our own post-mortem state. And in His presence there is no safe-hole to escape into. Of course, with the primal fear of God there is a difference. For instead of fight or flight, we may choose a third, often unmentioned, response: surrender.

Perhaps in this small way we may rebaptize Halloween?