So TDog (source of all things interesting currently) had posted a lengthly reflection on Christians and violence following a conversation that started something like Christian Youth Workers should switch the tv off after 4:30 and not watch any films over PG rating (I simplify).
Well I tried to offer my two pennies worth in the form of the comment but it repeatedly failed to process, so deciding it was probably too long I thought I'd retype it here (that's love for you).
Penny One. I'm reading Soul Graffiti and Mark Scandrette said something that I think accords with what TDog was exploring, he writes...
"The message of the kingdom of love comes to us in the context of our culture, and we grasp the message by awareness of it's meaning in our particular time and place. Jesus was a student of his time and related his message to the concerns and context of people in a particular place...I watched the film Boys Don't Cry to get a better understanding of my neighbour, now in a same sex relationship, who, much like the girl in the movie, spent her teenage years in a small town. Discussing the film together opened the door to intimacy and trust in our friendship. I like to watch movies or read books with people so that viewing becomes a springboard into conversation about meaning and values. If we don't like what we see in the arts and media, we are invited to transition from culture consumers to culture makers".
Penny Two. One of the worst cases I had to report on was of three teenagers who repeatedly stabbed another lad and pushed him off a cliff after taking drugs and watching the movie Scream. Now lots is going on here and the violence is only one small aspect. But in films, and particularly in the case of video games, I have long been worried about how some young people cannot seperate reality and fantasy and cannot critique their feelings or the actions a game induces them to carry out. And it worries me that such games are almost always without consequence, shoot people, steal cars, walk away etc.
But as people of faith I think we need to use these things, as Scandrette suggests, to ask questions of the young people we know. What are the choices they make, what is the value of life/possessions, what do we learn from what we see, if we're learning that we can act however we want how do we handle it when we're crossed, what are the consequences to our actions, what does this 'mean' for us, is there such a thing as too violent, where do we draw a line? And we need to ask ourselves the same questions too.
I do however, think it's ridiculous to say as people of faith we shouldn't watch violent movies, read violent books etc what do we do edit Jesus' life story?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Upload
Suffering from a virus, the perception of too much to do, wet weather and the feeling of becoming translucent, I wrote this...
Stop
Switch off
Log in, to a new space
Enter the password; permission
Hear the hard disk whirring, see the lights flicker
Open space.
What is the icon for this place?
A blank sheet, a question mark, a cross?
Be, here. Not do.
Allow order to arrange itself, while you are not watching.
Focus instead elsewhere,
To your heartbeat
From faint or racing …to rhythmical.
Feel the expansion
Of physicality, of possibility, of eternity.
Upload
Stop
Switch off
Log in, to a new space
Enter the password; permission
Hear the hard disk whirring, see the lights flicker
Open space.
What is the icon for this place?
A blank sheet, a question mark, a cross?
Be, here. Not do.
Allow order to arrange itself, while you are not watching.
Focus instead elsewhere,
To your heartbeat
From faint or racing …to rhythmical.
Feel the expansion
Of physicality, of possibility, of eternity.
Upload
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
In the interest of balance...
...another gem from Tom
POLITICALLY CORRECT LORD'S PRAYER
Our (mis)Concept of Patriarchal Authority, who, it can be said, inhabits the metaphysical sphere, privileged be your signifier.
May your social structure achieve dominance.
May the enactment of your desire be manifested throughout the physical-metaphysical dichotomy.
Empower us this day with the means of material production,
And refuse to enforce sanctions against our behavior which some see as subversions of a moral perspective, just as we refuse to marginalize the moral perspectives of others who have exerted their individuality.
Don't lead us into situation that some would (mis)understand as detrimental to the full expression of our humanness, but liberate us from the concept of "evil."
For yours is the hegemony, and the dominance, and perceived mystification within the entire continuum of the Western concept of linear time.
POLITICALLY CORRECT LORD'S PRAYER
Our (mis)Concept of Patriarchal Authority, who, it can be said, inhabits the metaphysical sphere, privileged be your signifier.
May your social structure achieve dominance.
May the enactment of your desire be manifested throughout the physical-metaphysical dichotomy.
Empower us this day with the means of material production,
And refuse to enforce sanctions against our behavior which some see as subversions of a moral perspective, just as we refuse to marginalize the moral perspectives of others who have exerted their individuality.
Don't lead us into situation that some would (mis)understand as detrimental to the full expression of our humanness, but liberate us from the concept of "evil."
For yours is the hegemony, and the dominance, and perceived mystification within the entire continuum of the Western concept of linear time.
Monday, October 08, 2007
The Lord's Prayer
TDog led a very thought provoking chapel time about The Lord's Prayer this morning - in fact a think there's a whole series on one of St Francis' writings about this prayer but that's for a spare moment!
One of the pieces that really stood out was questioning our remote auto- pilot repetition and our failure to consider really the radical nature of the prayer Jesus' taught us to say. Arch Bishop, Rowan Williams says this..
"Every single bit of the Lord's Prayer is radical because every single bit of it challenges our assumptions about who we are and who God is and what the world is like ... what it's praying for is the most revolutionary change you can imagine in the world we live in. A change to a situation where what God wants can happen, to a situation where all the hungry are fed, to a situation where forgiveness is the first imperative in all our relationships..."
Below is the version that somewhat pulled me up short about what I say Sunday by Sunday often by rote...
*I cannot say Our if my religion has no room for others and their needs
*I cannot say Father if I do not demonstrate this in my daily living.
*I cannot say who art in heaven if all my interests are in things and possessions.
*I cannot say hallowed be thy name if I am not holy.
*I cannot say thy kingdom come if I act like I am the centre of the universe.
*I cannot say thy will be done if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
*I cannot say on earth as it is in heaven unless I am willing to serve and help others.
*I cannot say give us this day our daily bread without providing for others.
*I cannot say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us if I continue to harbour a grudge against anyone.
*I cannot say lead us not into temptation if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
*I cannot say deliver us from evil if I am not prepared to back up my plea for God's help with constant prayer.
*I cannot say thine is the kingdom if I do not act as part of that kingdom-responsible, caring, and willing to serve.
*I cannot say thine is the glory if I am seeking my own glory first.
*I cannot say forever if I am too anxious about each day's worries and activities.
*I cannot say Amen unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my prayer."
One of the pieces that really stood out was questioning our remote auto- pilot repetition and our failure to consider really the radical nature of the prayer Jesus' taught us to say. Arch Bishop, Rowan Williams says this..
"Every single bit of the Lord's Prayer is radical because every single bit of it challenges our assumptions about who we are and who God is and what the world is like ... what it's praying for is the most revolutionary change you can imagine in the world we live in. A change to a situation where what God wants can happen, to a situation where all the hungry are fed, to a situation where forgiveness is the first imperative in all our relationships..."
Below is the version that somewhat pulled me up short about what I say Sunday by Sunday often by rote...
*I cannot say Our if my religion has no room for others and their needs
*I cannot say Father if I do not demonstrate this in my daily living.
*I cannot say who art in heaven if all my interests are in things and possessions.
*I cannot say hallowed be thy name if I am not holy.
*I cannot say thy kingdom come if I act like I am the centre of the universe.
*I cannot say thy will be done if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
*I cannot say on earth as it is in heaven unless I am willing to serve and help others.
*I cannot say give us this day our daily bread without providing for others.
*I cannot say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us if I continue to harbour a grudge against anyone.
*I cannot say lead us not into temptation if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
*I cannot say deliver us from evil if I am not prepared to back up my plea for God's help with constant prayer.
*I cannot say thine is the kingdom if I do not act as part of that kingdom-responsible, caring, and willing to serve.
*I cannot say thine is the glory if I am seeking my own glory first.
*I cannot say forever if I am too anxious about each day's worries and activities.
*I cannot say Amen unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my prayer."
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