ASHES TO ASHES–REFLECTIONS ON RITUAL

I’m sitting in a coffee shop with a smudged cross on my forehead. It is, as most Christians know, Ash Wednesday. My wife and I went to a service a couple of hours ago, at 7:30 in the morning. Why did I do this (delaying my coffee and newspaper)? Why did I participate in this ritual?
For an answer, I quote myself (with whatever apology that requires). Following is an excerpt from a book of mine—The Skeptical Believer: Telling Stories to Your Inner Atheist. It is specifically addressing the relationship between ...