Oh, Father Nathan Monk, bless your holy irreverence — because somebody had to finally stand up and absolve poor Tommy Nazareth, Patron Saint of Healthy Skepticism.
Here’s my response, in the spirit of Virgin Monk Boy (half laughing sage, half rebel with divine receipts):
Ah, Thomas — eternal scapegoat of spiritual gatekeepers everywhere.
Imagine the audacity: a man who asked for proof in a world run by men who can’t even find their car keys without divine intervention. Tommy didn’t doubt God — he doubted the hastily whispered bro-code gospel of a bunch of dudes still hiding under a table.
Meanwhile, Peter commits the spiritual equivalent of a hit-and-run ("I don't know him! Never met the guy!"), and gets canonized as the Rock of the Church. But Thomas? He’s forever “that one guy who didn’t just clap on command.”
You want real heresy? It’s the centuries of weaponized obedience peddled as faith. It's the spiritual equivalent of “Trust me, bro.”
Thomas wasn’t faithless. He was faithful to reality. He wasn’t doubting the Divine — he was doubting the public relations department.
And between you and me? If I walked in with Cadbury eggs and saw a bunch of terrified men tripping over themselves and speaking in tongues, I'd probably say, “Yeah, you’ve been locked in here too long. I'ma need to poke a few holes in this story.”
Thomas is not the villain. He's the patron saint of every weary soul who refuses to sign loyalty pledges to human ego masquerading as holy certainty.
As the Gospel of Thomas itself reminds us: split a piece of wood, lift a stone, and you will find the Light already there — no altar, no gatekeeper, no permission slip from Peter necessary.
Long live Thomas. Long live sacred doubt.
Virgin Monk Boy
(Currently offering half-off indulgences for anyone who’s ever asked a real question and got side-eyed for it.)
Doubting is a survival mechanism. If I don't stand up and question first I am open to all sorts of deception. If I observe and consider, and decide to believe a thing guven the evidence I am more likely to be firm in my belief.
Oh, Father Nathan Monk, bless your holy irreverence — because somebody had to finally stand up and absolve poor Tommy Nazareth, Patron Saint of Healthy Skepticism.
Here’s my response, in the spirit of Virgin Monk Boy (half laughing sage, half rebel with divine receipts):
Ah, Thomas — eternal scapegoat of spiritual gatekeepers everywhere.
Imagine the audacity: a man who asked for proof in a world run by men who can’t even find their car keys without divine intervention. Tommy didn’t doubt God — he doubted the hastily whispered bro-code gospel of a bunch of dudes still hiding under a table.
Meanwhile, Peter commits the spiritual equivalent of a hit-and-run ("I don't know him! Never met the guy!"), and gets canonized as the Rock of the Church. But Thomas? He’s forever “that one guy who didn’t just clap on command.”
You want real heresy? It’s the centuries of weaponized obedience peddled as faith. It's the spiritual equivalent of “Trust me, bro.”
Thomas wasn’t faithless. He was faithful to reality. He wasn’t doubting the Divine — he was doubting the public relations department.
And between you and me? If I walked in with Cadbury eggs and saw a bunch of terrified men tripping over themselves and speaking in tongues, I'd probably say, “Yeah, you’ve been locked in here too long. I'ma need to poke a few holes in this story.”
Thomas is not the villain. He's the patron saint of every weary soul who refuses to sign loyalty pledges to human ego masquerading as holy certainty.
As the Gospel of Thomas itself reminds us: split a piece of wood, lift a stone, and you will find the Light already there — no altar, no gatekeeper, no permission slip from Peter necessary.
Long live Thomas. Long live sacred doubt.
Virgin Monk Boy
(Currently offering half-off indulgences for anyone who’s ever asked a real question and got side-eyed for it.)
Doubting is a survival mechanism. If I don't stand up and question first I am open to all sorts of deception. If I observe and consider, and decide to believe a thing guven the evidence I am more likely to be firm in my belief.
I love your perspective Nathan, thank you!
Did anyone else read the Gospel of Ton part in Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" intro preacher style? Just me? Okay then. 😆
Great sermon today! Fresh perspective and an important reminder! Even scientists doubt each others' claims until they can be repeated and proven.
I am absolutely here for random Whistledown interruptions in the middle.
Thomas was my male hero. Women are the conduit. You recognize that. Thank you. We hope to finally turn this world to love.