Sunday 19 May 2013

Conundrums along the Continuum

I have three books underway at the moment, each representing a different point on the continuum that runs from fundamentalist Christian to uncompromising secularist.

The first is Rob Bell's What We Talk About When We Talk About God. Bell is a progressive Evangelical and highly articulate in the inane patter-style that characterises the semi-hip contemporary preacher. If you can overcome any aversion you have to this kind of glibness, he can be quite winsome. Bell is well along the continuum, but, alas, probably convinced he can have his cake and eat it too. It's a neat trick of you can get away with it, and after a few pages you kind of hope he can. Bell's God is warmer and fuzzier than the Old Sod in the Sky most of us grew up with, a Deity dragged out into the light of the twenty-first century, given a decent haircut by Bell and some smart casual clothes. It may be an improvement, but you get the feeling that, despite Bell's protestations, it's largely a cosmetic makeover. Nevertheless this is the kind of book you could recommend to one of those 'difficult to shake loose' Southern Baptist types. It'll get them thinking without triggering a total shock and horror reaction.

Way down the other end of the line is Joe Bennett's Double Happiness. It's not about religion as such, although Bennett takes some lusty swipes along the way. The subtitle sums it up: How Bullshit Works. By bullshit Bennett means a great many things from advertising strategies to royalty. Double Happiness has something to offend almost everybody, so you can alternate between deep groans and loud bursts of applause. This is what life looks like to many decent folk who have consigned religious faith to the trash can. I love the straight talking, no jargon, no nonsense approach (obviously this guy could never be a theologian!) Almost Joe, almost thou convincest me...

Somewhere between these two very readable volumes sits the third, Why Weren't We Told?: A Handbook on 'Progressive' Christianity, made up of a series of odd contributions from writers who have moved to the fringes of orthodox Christian faith. Here God has been comprehensively deconstructed and re-envisioned. I confess that this is the part of the continuum where I currently feel most at home, but it's really hard to deal with the oppressive earnestness that exudes from these progressive (liberal/radical) practitioners. Why is it that most of those who find themselves in this uncomfortable spot on the spectrum exhibit all the joyfulness of prune-fed Methodists? You don't get the impression that you could sit down and enjoy a beer with these folk - if they do imbibe it'll doubtless be a carefully selected still white wine. And neither do they seem the sort who could chortle into their glasses over an episode of Modern Family; in fact I doubt whether many of them watch anything other than an occasional BBC documentary. What you will find here is bad poetry and pointless (though mercifully short) rambles, along with a few (too few) worthwhile pieces. They say Christianity began with a few fishermen, but latter-day fishers would probably head back to sea early just to avoid stuff like this.

Christianity; it's a problem, a love/hate object that more often immobilises its bemused followers rather than motivating them, especially when you move away from the black and white literalism of the fundagelicals. If you reach for the glowing centre (whether real or a mirage) you must first shovel aside copious layers of the "bullgeschichte" Mr Bennett has identified.

It's a conundrum that I for one have no solution to, other than perhaps taking some comfort from the words of "the preacher" of Ecclesiastes, who had some deeper, rawer insights that even Rob Bell can muster.
I have come to realise that nothing is better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. (Eccl. 3:12)
Perhaps that's a bottom line we should all agree on.

29 comments:

  1. Many, this is really well written and a fantastic summary of the dilemma and types that perhaps only us who were once in or those who can't get out but probably should! ;-)

    I will forward it to a progressive preacher friend of mine.
    The last Eccl quote is precious ! It is the greatest criticism of all religion.

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  2. Wow. Really well done, Gavin. Thanks for this; the heads up and the commentary. Great writing, too.
    As someone who only recently exited the remnant darkness of the WCG world, I find my position on the continuum speeding quickly toward Bennett, yet am aware of my figurative spiritual feet on the internal "brakes" hoping to find a hook in that Why Weren't We Told group. I suspect that earnestness thing is a discreet manifestation of the constant (subconcsious ? )need to keep those brakes on and maintain some greater hope of a certain view of God than where you end up with Bennett. It takes a certain amount of energy to stay there and not keep sliding...so it requires "earnest" vigilance. Just my thought on it. And I think your summary scripture is the spot-on big picture for any of us, wherever we are on the continuum.

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  3. Christianity; it's a problem, a love/hate object that more often immobilises its bemused followers rather than motivating them, especially when you move away from the black and white literalism of the fundagelicals. If you reach for the glowing centre (whether real or a mirage) you must first shovel aside copious layers of bullshit

    Can't say it much better than that, except there is no glowing center to it other than camaraderie amongst the birds of a feather.

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  4. I think you underestimate Rob Bell. He asks some very pointed theological questions of the Christian community. And I believe he will lead the next wave of reformation, at least in North America. His "patter-style" approach is not inane but exactly the kind of kinetic language that communicates with younger generations. Your comment may brand you as a little reactionary.

    Christianity itself is motivating. There is, for instance, a tension between Calvinism and Trinitarianism. In this tension we may find motivation to understand further. We might even create a blog to examine issues of Christianity. There are those who will examine the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, and will say that natural science is hopelessly confused and should be abandoned except by pathetic biology nerds.

    -- Neotherm

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    1. Great idea, Neo, let's abandon natural science and just live on superstition. The dark ages were much better than the modern era, wouldn't you say?

      Wouldn't it be much better to have Kings and Earls rule over us, telling us where we must live and who we may or may not marry? And Bishops tell us what we must believe and what religious practices we must observe? All this as we eke out a subsistence living with no rights, barely enough to eat and diseases of unknown causes and cures attacking us and our families. While we pray to an invisible God who does nothing to help us?

      Yeah, that sounds so much better than the world the natural sciences have brought us. Let's abandon the natural sciences. Best idea ever.

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  5. >I have come to realise that nothing is better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. (Eccl. 3:12)<

    Yet I challenge anyone to name a happy person or one that does good.

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    1. Tom, do you really think there are no happy people on earth, and none that do good? I personally know many happy people, and I myself am quite happy.

      Also there are many who do good. Even most, I would say. I see them every day, and know many personally. People who are faithful to their spouses, try to raise their children property, don't lie, steal or cheat and generally try to live good lives. Also many of these same people volunteer at the soup kitchen, or the emergency squad, or work with kids in the boy scouts/girl scouts etc.

      In my experience, most people are basically good. Yes, we have our faults. But on balance, most people, even strangers, will help others in need and basically obey our physical laws and moral code. We are basically good.

      In my opinion, the heart of man is NOT evil. The book that makes that assertion, however, is very evil.

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    2. Tom, there are lots of people who are happy. I am one of them. And I know many more.

      There are also lots of people who are good. I know many, and I see others in the news media all the time.

      Your challenge implies that you believe that not a single person on this earth is happy, and not a single person on this earth is good. I find that very sad. I feel for you.

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  6. I find it fascinating that so many of you find yourselves in agreement with Solomon on this matter. Do you agree with him about other things?

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    1. Good question, Larry. In reading Proverbs and Ecclesiates (both presumably written by Solomon), I find I agree with him on some matters and I disagree with others. For a man who was reportedly "the wisest man who ever lived", Solomon did some incredibly dumb things. Toward the top of the list is over-taxing the people, to the point where the country split in half after his death. Another really dumb move was marrying 700 wives. What was he thinking?

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    2. well, he wrote Ecclesiates later in his life, presumably after he had gained considerable wisdom. He never denied that he had made many mistakes. He was one of those guys who had to screw up and learn the hard way on some things. But, he did learn. What was he thinking? I don't know, But, possibly he did this as an example for us, to show us what we shouldn't do? After all, it didn't work out that well for him...

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    3. Well, actually, it is pretty much an impossibility that Solomon could have written Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew is of a later provenance. You can check this out in any decent commentary.

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    4. Well, actually, most books of the Bible were not written by the persons to whom they're attributed. And they ALL were "improved" as needed over the years by countless unnamed copyists. So who knows who wrote what, really?

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    5. Gavin, I'm just wondering why most of my recent comments did not make it past the censor. What should I do differently in the future to get my comments posted?

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    6. Just me trying to keep up with email on too many devices. If anyone else is having the same trouble, let me know.

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  7. "Yet I challenge anyone to name a happy person or one that does good.".

    I'd like to nominate a person in my family.
    She's a nice gay Christian woman who's been sort of the "rock" in that she's most helpful, and a "doer of good" person, and a go-to person when people have problems. Plus, she and her partner are very happy people. We are blessed to have her and her spouse in our family.

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    1. She is gay and has a spouse, very nice happy person.

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  8. How lucky you are Norm! I know some other gay Christians who are the happiest and friendliest people you could ever meet. They have adopted children that healthy Christians don't want or have time for and love them deeply. They serve in their church and love God. They don't go around spitting about a pissed off god that is taking delight in killing and maiming sinners with tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. They don't go around snarling at those who are not sabbath keepers or who eat pork and shrimp. They care for the "Samaritan" by the side of the road instead of leaving the person there for God to take care of in their "millennium."

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  9. If I fully comment on NORM's and N02HWA's assertions, I know from experience that Gavin would not post my remarks. So I will just ask, if people think that homosexuals are happy, good people, why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

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    1. Honestly, Tom? You're going to try to prove a point with a mythological story? That story is mythology combined with stone-age ethics. It never happened. Even if it DID happen, it does not prove that homosexuals are not happy people. And finally, let's turn to logic. If God destroyed Sodom Gomorrah because the people in them were not good, why did God not destroy Hitler? Stalin? Pol Pot? Osama Bin Laden and the rest of Al Quaeda? Why doesn't he destroy San Francisco today, which reportedly has a large number of homosexuals?

      Which is more likely: (A) God destroyed two cities back in the year 2,500 BC because the people in them were evil, but does not destroy evil people today or (B) The only evidence we have that God destroys evil people is a story written by an anonymous author claiming that God destroyed two cities in the year 2,500 BC.

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    2. Because they were inhospitable, cutthroat savages who liked to humiliate, rob and kill strangers. It wasn't because they were homosexuals - they weren't homosexuals any more than lifers in prisons who rape short timers. They do it to humiliate and cause pain and let everybody know who is in charge. The same with black gang-bangers called the Crips and the Bloods here in America and it's not because they are homosexuals but because they are criminals.

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    3. Several years ago, I read some excerpts from the Talmud that presented Jewish priestly thought or Jewish common law related to homosexuality. Apparently, the abominations were somewhat relative in terms of seriousness. There was an established hierarchy.

      People look for labels, and simple explanations. This is sometimes done because they want to use these things as criteria for the present. It seems perfectly obvious that there were numerous societal problems prevalent in Sodom and Gomorrah, but the homosexuality is the single causative factor that most religious folk remember. No doubt there was also rampant idol worship, and they were probably sacrificing their children to their idols as well.

      The Bible condemns all sin. People usually look down on the people who sin differently than they do.

      BB

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    4. Yes, Corky and Bob, no doubt there were many other perversions in Sodom and Gomorrah, but the bible list fornication, and homosexuality, in particular, as the primary reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities(Jude 7).

      I am also well aware that the "gay" lobby has influenced both the American and British governments to pass legislation in support of "gay" marriages. So lots of people now think that homosexuality is a divine gift of love and happiness to the world! But it isn't!

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    5. I did a brief search to refresh myself as to the Talmudic perspective on this topic. Apparently Jewish thought is informed by two commands in Leviticus, and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Bereshit (Genesis). The references in Leviticus are seen as referring specifically to anal intercourse, while the story of Sodom and Gomorrah concerns itself with homosexual anal rape. According to the Talmud, anal homosexual rape was one of the activities which were required to be resisted unto death. The Bible does not appear to specifically treat oral sex or lesbianism.

      This is a disgusting topic, but unfortunately it appears to be more in the forefront as the gay lobby molds public opinion. I don't believe it's going to stay in the privacy of peoples' bedrooms in the future, either.

      BB

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    6. >The Bible does not appear to specifically treat oral sex or lesbianism.<

      Actually, it does condemn lesbians(Romans 1:26-27). As for oral sex, that would come under uncleanness(Eph.5:3).

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  10. We all know that Ecclesiastes was not written by Solomon because it is written in English. Just have a look in your Bible. Solomon did not speak English. Sorry for the sardonic comment but how does an edition in later Hebrew preclude an original in an earlier form of Hebrew?

    -- Neo

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    1. ...And God's choice for king of Israel was Saul. Knowing how that would turn out, why not just draw straws? Or, better yet, why not appoint a man who worshiped other gods (Solomon) to build the temple? If David was too bloody for the job, surely Solomon was worse, you know...what with him being an idol worshiper and a sex fiend.

      Who wrote Ecclesiastes? An anonymous agnostic priest who thought it best to live and let live, be happy, because everything people believe and accomplish is only because of human vanity. Everything, "all is vanity". I don't agree that there is nothing new under the sun...space travel, that's pretty new. Of course, we could say that exploration isn't new but one thing is for certain - Solomon will never see a man-made rover on the planet Mars.

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  11. Gavin...Gavin? Are you still with us?

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  12. Yup. Probably no further postings for a week or two. Too much work, too little time...

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