Remonstrans

Instinct Runs Mythic

03/26/08

05:29:07 am, by dissidens

, 354 words, 248 views

Categories: Old Main

Instinct Runs Mythic

Because it's time we untangle the narrative of faith from the fundamentalists, pious self-helpers and religio-profiteers. And let's do it with holy mischief rather than ideological firepower.

We'll explore the point at which word, action and image intersect, and then ignite. So let's blaspheme the gods of super-powerdom, instigate spiritual action campaigns and revamp that old Picture Bible.
We've set up camp in the outback of the spiritual commons. A bustling spot for the over-churched, out-churched, un-churched and maybe even the un-churchable. A location just beyond boring bitterness. A place for wannabe contemplatives, front-line world-changers and restless cranks. A place where the moon shines quiet, instinct runs mythic and belief rides a bike (or at least sits on the couch entertaining the possibility).

Another sad lot of posers and wannabes speak to us of things ephemeral.

If it is difficult for you to grasp the significance of the fundagelicals' error, you have an object lesson here. This will not help you identify the permanent things, but it may help you get some sense of what happens when they are lost. It will not help you love what is beautiful, but maybe you can begin to hate what is cheap and cheesy. It's not the right way to start, but perhaps it can be a start of some sort.

The art of our time, sacred art included, will necessarily be characterized by a certain poverty, grimness and roughness which correspond to the violent realities of a cruel age.

"The art of our time": a phrase that captures it all. This is an art that shares nothing with Death and the Maiden, the B Minor Mass or The Celestial Country.

This is the cheapest of propaganda, banal magazine illustration in service to some really high ideals like "Make Affluence History", "De-motorize Your Soul", and "Buy Nothing Christmas".

Now there's a message befitting restless cranks.

Here is a place where belief rides a bike, or if it doesn't, it relaxes on a couch thinking about belief riding a bike.

I wonder how many fundamentalists will take responsibility for this?

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1 Comment from: Unk [Visitor]

Would fundamentalists qualify as hook-line-sinker conservative Christians?

On the Submission Guidelines, describing the person the magazine is aimed for the top point is:

disgruntled children of hook-line-sinker conservative Christians

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 06:51

Reply to comment 4855 by Unk

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2 Comment from: dissidens [Member]

I suspect so.

I loved this (from the same page):

Experiments in truth. Front-line social change. Dumpster religion. Decoporatization of your soul. Teargas. Hardcore silence.

I think they should try hardcore silence first, and when they get that perfected they could sign up for some spelling lessons and some coaching on sentence structure.

Personally, I just feel sorry for the dumpsters.

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 11:30

Reply to comment 4856 by dissidens

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3 Comment from: exlibris [Visitor]

I think that you, in particular, would feel the shame because these folks identify themselves as Mennonites.

They obviously have a more contemporary idea of what radical reformation means. Instead of seeing it as a return to primitive instincts, they see it as a way of being anti-establishment.

The hippies are back!

There, that should bring the fundamentalists out of the closet with electric clippers in hand.

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 11:45

Reply to comment 4857 by exlibris

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4 Comment from: dissidens [Member]

Well, yes and no.

Not shame inasmuch as I already knew that the Mennonites had betrayed their heritage, even in Lancaster County where I did some growing up—literally and metaphorically.

But if not shame, then certainly chagrin. It is of a piece with the Evangelical church which stands for nothing and Fundamentalism which seems bent on desecrating everything within reach of its alligator arms. It seems to relish being a laughingstock.

Delnay is concerned about fundamentalism’s not being able to pass its values on to the younger generation. So whatever fundamentalism it is these know-nothings are rejecting, we can be assured there is a pipeline full of them.

That certainly does annoy me.

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 12:42

Reply to comment 4858 by dissidens

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5 Comment from: Observer [Visitor]

Maybe I'm missing the point here. What do fundamentalists and/or fundamentalism have to do with this magazine?

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 13:06

Reply to comment 4859 by Observer

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6 Comment from: dissidens [Member]

Observer:

I’m not sure what question you are asking. If you refer to my closing paragraph in the post, I am wondering if fundamentalists will own up to the tangled narrative mentioned in the first paragraph. If you are picking up on the exchange that follows, I’m not sure what answer you’re looking for.

At one level (the level at which both the fundamentalists and these restless cranks will look at it) nothing could be more different. I’m certain both groups think they are polar opposites.

At the most important level they are very much the same. They stand well outside any tradition that a) defines terms, or b) binds the conscience of others. In this respect, what is the real difference between Billy Sunday and Jim Wallis?

Political activism, holy mischief and “restless cranks” tend not to describe any form of the contemplative life we learned from church history. Words mean absolutely nothing to these people; they are little puffs of smug moralizing and self-congratulation.

Much like the term “Christ-honoring music”: it’s a meaningless term, an ad hoc phrase to connote approval when rational argument is lacking. Obviously I have no sympathy for the Morose Pranksters at Geez, but I’d be interested to see if fundagelicals can reverse-engineer this sort of resentment and understand the basis for their contempt.

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 17:15

Reply to comment 4860 by dissidens

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7 Comment from: Observer [Visitor]

I see the point you are making, and it makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

Permalink 03/26/08 @ 17:38

Reply to comment 4861 by Observer

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8 Comment from: chris [Visitor]

If I were a betting man, AND I'M NOT, I would wager that at least a few of these fellows learned some of their appreciation for the art of the day at a Fundamentalist summer camp. It's a perfect forum to promote a profound appreciation for banal things and to cultivate one's innate allergy for ephemeral things.

Permalink 03/27/08 @ 10:16

Reply to comment 4862 by chris

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Instinct Runs Mythic

03/26/08

Instinct Runs Mythic

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