In Protestant traditions that are so opposed to “meaningless rituals that people think will save them, like confession” (yes I have heard this exact line many many times from ALL ages) I think ritualism needs to be looked at again first and then I do (and I know this can be scary for some) believe that some sort of ethnic tradition that actually fits people would be a next step. Like Celtic Christianity. There is no wonder why it would be commercialized. There’s a real want. I’ve spent a lot of time now in Orthodox circles and it’s tough to ever feel home at a church that asks you not only to be apart of a very foreign church tradition but also adopt a totally foreign ethnic culture a king with it... tough times....
I'm of the opinion (having been an anthropology student) that praxis is related to culture. I think at the end of the day, your culture forms your understanding of the Godhead. It's why I have no patience for rich white progressives who embrace Buddhism, or what is sold to them as Buddhism. Having no grounding in the culture that created Buddhism, and having no deep muscle memory of the praxis...well...who am I to judge.
This is why, in spite of intellectually agreeing with Rowan Atkinson's portrayal of Hell (the Jews were right), I am a practicing Christian. It is how my culture explains the divine. I even stuck it out in the Catholic church because I was born and baptized in that faith, and I think that means something. I only left when I was politely invited to sod off after the priest learned I was married to an unbaptized, previously divorced, atheist. So I swam the Channel and have been comforted and welcomed by the Episcopal church. I still miss being part of the Catholic church. When the Pope says "don't be mean to poor people," people kind of listen. When the Archbishop of Canterbury says "don't be mean to poor people," it is a tree falling in a forest where there is nobody to hear it.
Thanks for this Richard, I enjoyed hunting magic eels (and reviewed it here - https://www.lectioletter.com/p/the-lectio-letter-issue-61-all-the) , after reading Jamie smith, Andrew root and Charles Taylor it has been refreshing to find an accessible and constructive account of re-enchantment. Have you come across Paul kingsnorths recent post which mentions “green martyrdom”, I think you’ll appreciate it.
In Protestant traditions that are so opposed to “meaningless rituals that people think will save them, like confession” (yes I have heard this exact line many many times from ALL ages) I think ritualism needs to be looked at again first and then I do (and I know this can be scary for some) believe that some sort of ethnic tradition that actually fits people would be a next step. Like Celtic Christianity. There is no wonder why it would be commercialized. There’s a real want. I’ve spent a lot of time now in Orthodox circles and it’s tough to ever feel home at a church that asks you not only to be apart of a very foreign church tradition but also adopt a totally foreign ethnic culture a king with it... tough times....
I'm of the opinion (having been an anthropology student) that praxis is related to culture. I think at the end of the day, your culture forms your understanding of the Godhead. It's why I have no patience for rich white progressives who embrace Buddhism, or what is sold to them as Buddhism. Having no grounding in the culture that created Buddhism, and having no deep muscle memory of the praxis...well...who am I to judge.
This is why, in spite of intellectually agreeing with Rowan Atkinson's portrayal of Hell (the Jews were right), I am a practicing Christian. It is how my culture explains the divine. I even stuck it out in the Catholic church because I was born and baptized in that faith, and I think that means something. I only left when I was politely invited to sod off after the priest learned I was married to an unbaptized, previously divorced, atheist. So I swam the Channel and have been comforted and welcomed by the Episcopal church. I still miss being part of the Catholic church. When the Pope says "don't be mean to poor people," people kind of listen. When the Archbishop of Canterbury says "don't be mean to poor people," it is a tree falling in a forest where there is nobody to hear it.
Thanks for this Richard, I enjoyed hunting magic eels (and reviewed it here - https://www.lectioletter.com/p/the-lectio-letter-issue-61-all-the) , after reading Jamie smith, Andrew root and Charles Taylor it has been refreshing to find an accessible and constructive account of re-enchantment. Have you come across Paul kingsnorths recent post which mentions “green martyrdom”, I think you’ll appreciate it.
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/03/a-wild-christianity
Thank you! In tomorrow’s post I share an excerpt from Kingsnorths’ essay. His essay is very good.
You do know that there is a certain blogger late of a niche conservative online site that is basically ripping off your book, right?