Chapter Eleven

“Mrs. Domingo explained how she wasn’t sure which religion was correct, but she felt that having a religion is a good thing because when she gets into trouble she always has someone she could lean on,” I said. “Plus, she also said that being around people who belonged to the same religion gave her a strong sense of community and…”

“Wait. Wait. Wait. That’s what this meeting is about?” asks Tomas. “You had us skip recess so you can talk to us about Mrs. Domingo’s sense of continuity?”

“It’s community, not continuity,” I say.

“I thought we were going to talk about our corporation?” asks Alberto.

“No, wait. This is important. See, I decided that I should try this religion thing out. But I don’t know which religion I should pick. Mrs. Domingo mentioned how there were hundreds of religions and I was thinking I could try a few experiments to see which one was right for me,” I tell Tomas and Alberto.

“You can’t do that!” says Tomas.

“Right! You can’t just choose a religion. Right, Tomas?” asks Alberto.

“Yeah! You can’t do that. Can you?” asks Tomas.

“I don’t know,” I shrug. “I’m new at this thing. I figured I could try one of your religions first, for a week or so and see what difference it made.”

Alberto and Tomas look at each other. Then they both burst out laughing.

“This isn’t funny,” I say, “I don’t want to be the only boy in class without a religion.”

“You can’t switch religions like they were clothes, Loki,” says Tomas.

“But I can’t just pick the first religion I find, either,” I say.

“Well, why not?” asks Alberto.

“Because that would be similar to eating your first ice cream cone and saying that it’s the best one without trying the other flavors,” I tell him.

“Well, you can try my religion,” Alberto says.

“Your religion? And what religion might that be, Alberto?” asks Tomas.

“Well, if you must know, Tomas, my family and I am Catholic,” says Alberto.

“Really? We’re Catholic too,” Tomas says.

“But your family is rich. How can you be Catholic?” asks Alberto.

“You don’t have to be poor to be Catholic,” says Tomas.

“Actually, you do. In Luke 6:20, the Bible says, blessed are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Also, In Matthew 19:24, the Bible says that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” Alberto says.

“How do you know all that?” I ask, “I thought you didn’t read the Bible?”

“I don’t, but my papa does. Papa told me it’s the reason why it’s okay for him to lose money playing cards,” says Alberto.

“But, I don’t want to be poor,” I say.

“Also, that’s not exactly how Catholicism works, Alberto. You don’t have to take everything literally, just the ones you like the most,” says Tomas.

Tomas turned to me and asks, “Do you remember that thing on the news about the mine in our land that collapsed?”

“Yeah. What about it?” I ask.

“I remember how one reporter asked my dad about the same camel quote and my dad said, listen honey-dear, Bible says, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Now, how are you supposed to feed all that people if you didn’t have money to spend?” says Tomas. 

“But the Bible says that it’s better to be poor. That’s why church people give up all their worldly possessions,” says Alberto.

“I don’t know who told you all that, Alberto, but my dad told me the Church wasn’t poor. In fact, dad tells me that the Church invests in corporations too,” says Tomas, “See, Loki. You don’t have to be poor to be Catholic.”

“Catholic for a week then,” I say. “I guess I have to do some research on Jesus then, any ideas?” I ask them both.

“How about we all watch that Jesus movie, The Passion of the Christ? My dad says that movie made over six hundred million dollars. It must be very good then, right? We have several copies at home, gifts from my dad’s business friends,” says Tomas.

“But my mama doesn’t let me watch that. She says, it’s not for children,” says Alberto.

“Don’t be silly, Alberto. It’s a movie about Jesus. How can it possibly not be for children?” asks Tomas.

“Have you seen it yet?” I ask.

“Nope. Not yet,” says Tomas.

“That’s because you’re not allowed, and you weren’t allowed because it’s not for children,” says Alberto.

“Guys, why don’t we just watch the movie? We can decide later whether or not it was for children,” I say.

“Fine with me,” says Tomas.

“Fine. But I’m looking away from the not for children parts,” says Alberto.

“It’s settled then. My mom and dad are in some province to play golf. We can all watch it on Sunday at our house and play video games after.”