Over at Fath-Theology, Ben has a "best of 2010" list. After reading it, I got the bug. So here are a few of my favorites for 2010!
Best TV Shows:
Mad Men- A show that demonstrates just how much advertising impacts our life, but that is not all. It has the amazing intrigue of the mysterious Don Draper! This is high quality television.
Lost- Whether or not you were satisfied by the finale, you were no doubt glued to the TV for this show. Mythology, folk-lore, theology, spirituality, philosophy, literature, and adventure all rolled up into one, how can you not be interested?
Dexter- It was kind of hard to follow the season with John Lithgow (the trinity killer), but a show where a serial killer is the protagonist is always interesting. What is truly good about Dexter is that the character is evolving and becoming "more human" as the show progresses.
Iconoclasts- This show is on the "Sundance" channel. It features two innovators (actors, directors, artists, magicians, musicians, writers, scientists, get the point?) who typically have a relationship to one another. They spend the show interviewing one another about their work. Some of the ones I liked were: Paul Newman/Robert Redford, David Blaine/Chuck Close, Maya Angelou/Dave Chappelle
Best Films:
I have not, admittedly, watched many films this year. My list is not a good reflection of all the films. But here are my favorites for what I have seen.
Shutter Island
The Fighter
*still looking forward to seeing many of the nominated films of 2010.
Overrated films:
Inception
Avatar (the narrative was too simplistic, the villain was a cartoon character, and the story has been told so many times before! If it were not for the 3D, it would not be such a big deal.)
Best Music:
The Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens
Genuine Negro Jig by The Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Suburbs by Arcade Fire (though not as good as their last one)
To see my top books for 2010 (that I read...they were not published in 2010) check out my post here.
Purpose of this blog
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The importance of eating, feasting, and food
What is the deal with food? We eat regularly (some of us too much), yet meals are often ritualistic or associated with the sacred. Well, over at the ABC Religion and Ethics Portal there is an interesting piece about eating called "Eating is Earthy, but Feasting Together is Divine" written by Justine Toh. This kind of reflection is certainly good for this time of year. What this piece does so well is that it articulates the way that eating grounds us to this world while simultaneously pointing us beyond it to the transcendent. Check it out: http://bit.ly/g0lBAH
Here are some other great resources for thinking about the importance of food, eating, and spirituality:
The Theology of Food: Eating and the Eucharist (Illuminations: Theory & Religion)
by Angel F. Mendez Montoya (reflects on the eucharist)The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age
by Norman Wirzba (reflects on eating and ecology)The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry
by Wendell Berry (reflects on agrarianism, loss of culture, and the loss of joy in eating)Simply put, eating is the thing that connects us to the earth and to one another. I think that it behooves us as theologians, philosophers, and spiritual leaders to give sustained reflection to the practice of eating. What do you think?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Is it better to be an adult, or to be a child?
-We must be like children to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:2-4).
-Solid spiritual food is for the mature (Hebrews 5:14).
Most interpreters realize that these types of scriptures have their own contexts (grammatical, historical, cultural, etc), and that it is not a case of either/or but of both/and. Frequently, it is commented on that there is a sense in which Christians need to be like children - innocent, trusting, hopeful, needy! Also there is a sense in which Christians need to be adult/grown up - mature, strong, seasoned, wise! That is why I love what J. R. R. Tolkien writes about childhood v. adulthood...(quoted below)
First a note of background:
My wife and I are reading through J. R. R. Tolkien essay "On Fairy Stories." The essay is interesting to say the least. If you were not aware that there is a certain "science" to fairy-tales, then think again!
Tolkien's aim is to illuminate what makes fairy stories, well, fairy stories. In the course of his argument, Tolkien concerns himself with the true audience of the fairy tale. Is the audience a child or an adult? Does an adult need the heart of a child to enter the place he calls "Faërie" (world of fairy tales)?
He goes on to write:
"If we use child in a good sense (it has also legitimately a bad one) we must not allow that to push us into the sentimentality of only using adult or grown-up in a bad sense (it has also legitimately a good one). The process of growing older is not necessarily allied to growing wickeder, though the two do often happen together. Children are meant to grow up, and not to become Peter Pans. Not to lose innocence and wonder, but to proceed on the appointed journey: that journey upon which it is certainly not better to travel hopefully than to arrive, though we must travel hopefully if we are to arrive. But it is one of the lessons of fairy-stories (if we can speak of the lessons of things that do not lecture) that on callow, lumpish and selfish youth peril, sorrow, and the shadow of death can bestow dignity, and even sometimes wisdom. ("On Fairy Stories" in The Tolkien Reader p. 66-67)"All ages and stages of life have worth, especially because they all point to a destination, a telos. The goal (or telos) of each stage is a life of virtue, goodness, and most of all Godliness. But growing up and growing towards that destination in no way means that one needs to lose their innocence (virtue) and wonder (faith, hope, love).
The most enchanting people I have ever met are mature adults (my mom is one of them) who have a child-like sense of wonder and joy! They look at the world and see more than most see...they see, in Tolkien's terminology, Faërie!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
William Cavanaugh: Eucharist as Antidote for War
I am continually impressed with the theological imagination of William Cavanaugh. He is insightful in his critique of modernity, modern consumerism, and our modern narration of history. He is also, just as insightful, in the way he appropriates classical Christian thought to encounter our modern situation! Check this piece out from ABC's Religion and Ethics Portal.
This has to be one of the best new sites out there.
Cavanaugh's titles are:
The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict
Theopolitical Imagination: Christian Practices of Space and Time
Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire
This has to be one of the best new sites out there.
Cavanaugh's titles are:
The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict
Theopolitical Imagination: Christian Practices of Space and Time
Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thanksgiving in a human-made world
This is a piece that wrote for our local newspaper called The Pantagraph. It came out on Saturday, November 20, 2010. It is about technology and thanksgiving. Note Bene: I am not a Luddite, this was written for a wide religious audience, and it could only be 400 words! Enjoy
“Thanksgiving in a Human Made World”
It is difficult to be thankful in 2010. Our world is increasingly human made: virtual, technological, and mechanical. It seems inauthentic to be thankful to anything when our answer to all human problems is more human making.
Do you have a problem? Are you lacking anything? It doesn’t take many clicks of the mouse to locate some human-made solution to any issue you could dream up. Tending to think all earthly problems are solvable by human effort, we soon forget just how dependant we are on God and our natural world. These technological solutions also have the adverse effect of isolating individuals from true human community.
In such a world, inundated by technological imagination, we struggle to practice true thanksgiving. To whom must we be thankful? In our virtual world of sterilized technology, a world where problems are solvable by human engineering, it seems in-authentic to look to the heavens and thank God for life. It even seems strange to look to the earth and thank God (or the earth) for the bounty that has been provided for us. After all, we are the ones who grew the food, engineering it so that it would withstand drought and pests.
But is our world of “human making” good? Often, our virtual world increases the void separating people from earth, from each other, and from God. It certainly makes it hard to be grateful for anything. But what do we do? How do we respond to our time of human arrogance and disenchantment?
Consider a humble beginning point: Thanksgiving! Society must practice this “countercultural” way of life. When we shift from the arrogance of our technological world to the simple and thankful recognition that we are still dependant on God and this planet for our survival, our lives will be more intentional; this practice encourages connection that cultivates critical relationships between people and the earth, each other, and God.
Thanksgiving is a lifestyle that will bring healing to the brokenness that is so pervasive in our society. Human engineering cannot build for us a new world or God. Any artificial attempt to create our God or our relationships would be counterfeit, impotent for any real relationship.
Let us be thankful; it will help us avoid the arrogance of the technological society and bring us closer to our earth, each other, and God!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Top 10 Books of the Year: My reading list
'Tis the season for top ten lists! 2010 has been a year of great reading for me. During this year, I finished my MA thesis and began PhD work (University of Nottingham), so there are many books to list and provide comment. It was difficult, but below is my top ten list. The books that made my list passed at least one of three criteria:
1.) Formation: shaping my opinions, perceptions, or faith.
2.) Repeatability: worthy of multiple readings.
3.) Inspiration: moving me toward deeper insight and creativity.
Top Ten:
1.) Theology and Social Theory by John Milbank- Honestly, reading this book was a challenge (stylistically). Milbank writes in such a way that requires previous knowledge of innumerable philosophers, theologians, theorists. Though it was challenging, it was particularly fruitful. Reading TST was a liberating affair. It helped me to see the world as sacred, because it helped to expose the true nature of secularity... as an alternative theology! All theologians and ministers should wrestle with this book.
2.) For the Life of the World by Alexander Schmemann- I started reading this book aloud with the worship leader at our church. Reading it has excited my theological/liturgical imagination. Schmemann demonstrates, through Eastern Orthodox liturgy, that the entire world is a sacrament. He eloquently argues (in a compatible fashion to Milbank) that there can be no separation of sacred and profane. For Schmemann, though, the secular is not a refusal of God but a refusal to worship God. Another interesting thing about Schmemann is that he was a student of Bulgakov. Still, when reading Schmemann, you can see that he did not adopt Bulgakov's sophiology in full. Rather than use the term sophia, he employes the idiom "for the life of the world." All Christians should read this book.
3.) Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh- I have led discussions on this book via two book clubs during this year, and it was a delight both times. Cavanaugh, in four chapters, challenges the way we do economics, production, and consumption. He neither criticizes the free market as such nor favors socialism as such. Rather, he is interested in asking "when is a market truly free?" To answer that, Cavanaugh appropriates Augustine's theology of freedom and applies it to economics. In this way, Cavanaugh identifies several modern economic issues (freedom, scarcity, globalism, etc) and then applies orthodox Christian ideas to those problems in order to develop truly Christian ways of consuming and producing. All Christians should read this book, though the chapter on globalism is fairly challenging to the theologically un-trained.
4.) The Divine Names by Pseudo Dionysius- Ah, the delight of faith and reason together! Dionysius' work was a revelation to me. The ancient Christians are far better than many modern ones: after reading the moderns, one wonders why they ask the questions the older thinkers have already answered so well.
5.) On Learned Ignorance by Nicholas of Cusa- Reading Cusa was a spiritual experience. As I read him, I followed the limits of reason to the place where faith must take over. I can hardly explain it to anyone, but as I read his work, I took it upon myself as a thought experiment, and it was like the room opened up above me to the wonders of the unknowable God!
6.) Nature, Technology, and the Sacred by Bronislaw Szerszynski- This book argues that our modern world is not so "disenchanted" as many have thought. Rather, it argues that sites of "enchantment," or the sacred, have simply changed over time. He follows this displacement from pre-modern thought to Judeo-Christian thought, to High Middle Ages/ Reformation thought, and finally to modern thought. Ultimately, Szerszynski argues that the site of the modern sacred is in technology. If this book's arguments stand the test of scrutiny (and I think they do), then it should cause Christian thinkers to want to rediscover classical and early medieval Christian perspectives on nature, the sacred, and transcendence. This is a sociologist's book, but the minister, student, and theologian would profit greatly from it.
7.) Confessions by St. Augustine- Obviously, this book is one of the greatest in western history! Augustine masterfully weaves theology and metaphysical speculation throughout his journey to faith. It was inspirational and insightful. Any person who wishes to be educated should read this book!
8.) The Western Illusions of Human Nature by Marshall Sahlins- This short "pamphlet" is brilliant. Sahlins demonstrates that western society is built upon the assumption that humans are at odds with one another both on an individual and corporate level (culture). Competition, division, and self-interest are the illusions upon which the western world is built. He counters by revealing the universal idea of "kinship" and devotion to one another, displayed in cultures around the world. Though he misunderstands Original Sin, his ideas are right on and they could be constructive for a new path forward. Again, anyone who wishes to be educated needs to read this work.
9.) Republic by Plato- Enough said. A political treatise, a treatise on the soul. I found it strange how many of Plato's ideas are in use or are considered in contemporary society. I see why his thought is so important for engagement! Must read for all!
10.) Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle- Again, no explanation required. Goodness and happiness - things we are ultimately concerned with in our contemporary world yet we do not consider them in light of virtue. I love reflecting on the connection between virtue and happiness...Aristotle gave me a lot to think about and look forward to...Alasdair MacIntyre anyone? I bid the world to read more ethical works!!!
Honorable Mentions:
Thomas Aquinas Compendium of Theology
Norman Wirzba The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age
Luke Bretherton's Christianity and Contemporary Politics
Wendell Berry's The Art of the Common Place
Ephraim Radner Hope Among the Fragments: The Broken Church and its Engagement with Scripture
St. Augustine Enchiridion: Faith, Hope, and Love
Erazim Kohak The Embers and the Stars: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Moral Sense of Nature
Books that I am still reading that show great promise for making a future list:
City of God (St. Augustine)
Bride of the Lamb (Bulgakov)
On Christian Theology (Rowan Williams)
On Fairy Stories (J. R. R. Tolkien)
1.) Formation: shaping my opinions, perceptions, or faith.
2.) Repeatability: worthy of multiple readings.
3.) Inspiration: moving me toward deeper insight and creativity.
Top Ten:
1.) Theology and Social Theory by John Milbank- Honestly, reading this book was a challenge (stylistically). Milbank writes in such a way that requires previous knowledge of innumerable philosophers, theologians, theorists. Though it was challenging, it was particularly fruitful. Reading TST was a liberating affair. It helped me to see the world as sacred, because it helped to expose the true nature of secularity... as an alternative theology! All theologians and ministers should wrestle with this book.
2.) For the Life of the World by Alexander Schmemann- I started reading this book aloud with the worship leader at our church. Reading it has excited my theological/liturgical imagination. Schmemann demonstrates, through Eastern Orthodox liturgy, that the entire world is a sacrament. He eloquently argues (in a compatible fashion to Milbank) that there can be no separation of sacred and profane. For Schmemann, though, the secular is not a refusal of God but a refusal to worship God. Another interesting thing about Schmemann is that he was a student of Bulgakov. Still, when reading Schmemann, you can see that he did not adopt Bulgakov's sophiology in full. Rather than use the term sophia, he employes the idiom "for the life of the world." All Christians should read this book.
3.) Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh- I have led discussions on this book via two book clubs during this year, and it was a delight both times. Cavanaugh, in four chapters, challenges the way we do economics, production, and consumption. He neither criticizes the free market as such nor favors socialism as such. Rather, he is interested in asking "when is a market truly free?" To answer that, Cavanaugh appropriates Augustine's theology of freedom and applies it to economics. In this way, Cavanaugh identifies several modern economic issues (freedom, scarcity, globalism, etc) and then applies orthodox Christian ideas to those problems in order to develop truly Christian ways of consuming and producing. All Christians should read this book, though the chapter on globalism is fairly challenging to the theologically un-trained.
4.) The Divine Names by Pseudo Dionysius- Ah, the delight of faith and reason together! Dionysius' work was a revelation to me. The ancient Christians are far better than many modern ones: after reading the moderns, one wonders why they ask the questions the older thinkers have already answered so well.
5.) On Learned Ignorance by Nicholas of Cusa- Reading Cusa was a spiritual experience. As I read him, I followed the limits of reason to the place where faith must take over. I can hardly explain it to anyone, but as I read his work, I took it upon myself as a thought experiment, and it was like the room opened up above me to the wonders of the unknowable God!
6.) Nature, Technology, and the Sacred by Bronislaw Szerszynski- This book argues that our modern world is not so "disenchanted" as many have thought. Rather, it argues that sites of "enchantment," or the sacred, have simply changed over time. He follows this displacement from pre-modern thought to Judeo-Christian thought, to High Middle Ages/ Reformation thought, and finally to modern thought. Ultimately, Szerszynski argues that the site of the modern sacred is in technology. If this book's arguments stand the test of scrutiny (and I think they do), then it should cause Christian thinkers to want to rediscover classical and early medieval Christian perspectives on nature, the sacred, and transcendence. This is a sociologist's book, but the minister, student, and theologian would profit greatly from it.
7.) Confessions by St. Augustine- Obviously, this book is one of the greatest in western history! Augustine masterfully weaves theology and metaphysical speculation throughout his journey to faith. It was inspirational and insightful. Any person who wishes to be educated should read this book!
8.) The Western Illusions of Human Nature by Marshall Sahlins- This short "pamphlet" is brilliant. Sahlins demonstrates that western society is built upon the assumption that humans are at odds with one another both on an individual and corporate level (culture). Competition, division, and self-interest are the illusions upon which the western world is built. He counters by revealing the universal idea of "kinship" and devotion to one another, displayed in cultures around the world. Though he misunderstands Original Sin, his ideas are right on and they could be constructive for a new path forward. Again, anyone who wishes to be educated needs to read this work.
9.) Republic by Plato- Enough said. A political treatise, a treatise on the soul. I found it strange how many of Plato's ideas are in use or are considered in contemporary society. I see why his thought is so important for engagement! Must read for all!
10.) Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle- Again, no explanation required. Goodness and happiness - things we are ultimately concerned with in our contemporary world yet we do not consider them in light of virtue. I love reflecting on the connection between virtue and happiness...Aristotle gave me a lot to think about and look forward to...Alasdair MacIntyre anyone? I bid the world to read more ethical works!!!
Honorable Mentions:
Thomas Aquinas Compendium of Theology
Norman Wirzba The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age
Luke Bretherton's Christianity and Contemporary Politics
Wendell Berry's The Art of the Common Place
Ephraim Radner Hope Among the Fragments: The Broken Church and its Engagement with Scripture
St. Augustine Enchiridion: Faith, Hope, and Love
Erazim Kohak The Embers and the Stars: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Moral Sense of Nature
Books that I am still reading that show great promise for making a future list:
City of God (St. Augustine)
Bride of the Lamb (Bulgakov)
On Christian Theology (Rowan Williams)
On Fairy Stories (J. R. R. Tolkien)
Friday, December 17, 2010
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen - Wasting Your Life, Part 1 of 3
I love listening to Fulton Sheen. For me, he is the best "televangelist" (if you can call him that) that has ever graced television. He is brilliant, witty, wise, and eloquent. As if all that were not enough for me to listen to everything he ever put out there, he is also a central Illinois boy. He grew up within an hour of where I did! I hope you enjoy part 1 of his 3 part message on "wasting your life." The point about the crucifixion and indifference is especially poignant.
The Sopranos and the Good Life
Over the last few weeks, my wife and I (at my begging) have been watching the HBO hit TV show The Sopranos. It is, in my opinion, one of the best shows ever made. So I am trying to show her why I like it so much. Each episode is like a "mini-movie:" it has a context and arc all its own while sitting within the intriguing character arc of the main character, Tony Soprano.
We just finished season two, and I think that the show still stands up to the test of time, since the proliferation of premium cable shows: Six Feet Under, The Wire, Dexter, etc. One of the most interesting episodes of season two is "D-Girl," originally aired: 2/27/2000. In it, Tony's son A.J. causes quite the stir with his family when he claims that he does not want to be confirmed in the church. When his parents ask why, A.J., responds by explaining, "God is Dead," and throughout the course of episode A.J. refers this notion, humorously, to the philosopher "nitch" (Nietzsch). This explanation, of course, displeases both Tony and his wife Carmella...but for two totally different reasons. For Carmella, a believer in God, A.J. is committing blasphemy (although, throughout the show, Carmella's faith is demonstrably instrumentalist -- meaning she is faithful when it serves her interests). Tony is upset because -- well, because Carmella is upset and because A.J. is going against tradition. His criticism is ironic, of course, because Tony has the same doubts as his son, which he shares with his therapist.
More interesting to me than Tony and Carmella's displeasure with A.J., however, are the answers they give him when he asks about meaning: "why are we born?" Instead of engaging their son's questions, Tony and Carmella shout angrily at him and finally blurt out that we are born because "of Adam and Eve." Then, they send A.J. to his room, and the panicked look on their faces seems to communicate that they have no clue how to answer their son's questions. The answer is always "this is what is expected of us and that is why we do it!"
This phenomenon plays out frequently in culture. People follow conventions but do not understand why they do. Shouldn't Christians understand why the Church cares about marriage or procreation? Shouldn't these questions be answered differently by Christians than non-Christians? Yet so often Christians and non-Christians have the same answer. These, to be sure, are important questions!
The Sopranos' universe is like most of our modern world, I suppose. We, like Tony, seem to live between to poles: one of assigned meaning, tradition, and goodness; the other of deconstruction, meaninglessness and absurdity. The Sopranos, however, generally tend toward the absurd. Tony is regularly declaring that "life" has no point, no meaning, or aim. His is a difficult world, to be sure, but it is not a world without images of the good life. When watched carefully, the sacred moments are few and far between, but they are there. The good life - or happiness - when one person hands Tony an envelope full of money: the viewer can see Tony's child-like grin grow when he feels a heavy envelope. His happiness is defined by his "will to power," dominance over others. Other moments of the good life are when Tony's family is gathered together around the backyard grill, or the family Christmas tree. These moments are few and far between, and the viewer also gets the sense that these moments of peaceful delight are rare moments that are not worth the trouble of the drama and mess of familial conflict (Tony's own mother tries to have him killed!).
I am afraid that the "good life" in the Sopranos is much too close to our own: happiness is fleeting, meaningful experiences are not understood but casually accepted or denied, relationships and faith are instrumental in nature, life is dramatically compartmentalized....
No wonder Tony is depressed and over-medicated. No wonder he is often give to fits of rage or escapism via alcohol, extra-marital sex and designer drugs. In many ways, The Sopranos is like the book of Ecclesiastes....having indulged in everything under the son, Tony still finds no meaning. Tony (not to mention all other characters) fights the void of absurdity by turning inward to himself, creating meaning where he can, and trying to fulfill some insatiable desire. But the viewer is never at rest, because Tony is never at rest; his turning inward in the face of absurdity can never be sustained.
Indeed, the genius of the Sopranos is that it parallels our modern world so well, albeit within a specific and colorful corner of our world. As modern people, we look for meaning and cannot find it. We, paradoxically, accept certain traditions and customs yet don't understand and even deny their meaning. We seek to fill a desire that cannot be filled...we consume and consume and consume. We often view our lives as mundane and miss out on its sacred nature.
Is the good life a rat race? Is it a bigger house, more territory, the power of expansion? The Sopranos continually show us the answer: NO. It is a shame, though, because the narrative never really gives us a place to find meaning (Tony's psychiatrist, Carmella's priest, A.J.'s principal are broken caricatures of themselves). I suppose the show gives a semi-positive image of therapy, but that too is bound up with absurdity. And certainly, the Church is questioned from beginning to end; it simply looks like a cultural beacon that is inundated with meaninglessness. Hey, even Tony's rants about being Italian and the persecution of his people are instrumental - he simply uses that to hide his real profession from his children.
This show is a good spiritual exercise for me. I could not recommend it to everyone, because there is pervasive drug use, sexuality, and crude language, and indeed some of the themes may cause some to despair. But for me, it is a constant reminder of the failures of the "good life" envisioned by modern America. You may think The Sopranos is just about gangsters, but their lifestle is just one expression of America's pursuit of happiness -- an illegitimate parallel to big business (as to whether it is always "legitimate," who knows). It even cautions the Church to really be the Church. The Church becomes the absurd institution depicted in the show when it sells out to the ways of the secular world. All in all, The Sopranos reminds me that the Good life must be sought in other ways than the over-consumption of sex, wealth, power, and even therapy.
We just finished season two, and I think that the show still stands up to the test of time, since the proliferation of premium cable shows: Six Feet Under, The Wire, Dexter, etc. One of the most interesting episodes of season two is "D-Girl," originally aired: 2/27/2000. In it, Tony's son A.J. causes quite the stir with his family when he claims that he does not want to be confirmed in the church. When his parents ask why, A.J., responds by explaining, "God is Dead," and throughout the course of episode A.J. refers this notion, humorously, to the philosopher "nitch" (Nietzsch). This explanation, of course, displeases both Tony and his wife Carmella...but for two totally different reasons. For Carmella, a believer in God, A.J. is committing blasphemy (although, throughout the show, Carmella's faith is demonstrably instrumentalist -- meaning she is faithful when it serves her interests). Tony is upset because -- well, because Carmella is upset and because A.J. is going against tradition. His criticism is ironic, of course, because Tony has the same doubts as his son, which he shares with his therapist.
More interesting to me than Tony and Carmella's displeasure with A.J., however, are the answers they give him when he asks about meaning: "why are we born?" Instead of engaging their son's questions, Tony and Carmella shout angrily at him and finally blurt out that we are born because "of Adam and Eve." Then, they send A.J. to his room, and the panicked look on their faces seems to communicate that they have no clue how to answer their son's questions. The answer is always "this is what is expected of us and that is why we do it!"
This phenomenon plays out frequently in culture. People follow conventions but do not understand why they do. Shouldn't Christians understand why the Church cares about marriage or procreation? Shouldn't these questions be answered differently by Christians than non-Christians? Yet so often Christians and non-Christians have the same answer. These, to be sure, are important questions!
The Sopranos' universe is like most of our modern world, I suppose. We, like Tony, seem to live between to poles: one of assigned meaning, tradition, and goodness; the other of deconstruction, meaninglessness and absurdity. The Sopranos, however, generally tend toward the absurd. Tony is regularly declaring that "life" has no point, no meaning, or aim. His is a difficult world, to be sure, but it is not a world without images of the good life. When watched carefully, the sacred moments are few and far between, but they are there. The good life - or happiness - when one person hands Tony an envelope full of money: the viewer can see Tony's child-like grin grow when he feels a heavy envelope. His happiness is defined by his "will to power," dominance over others. Other moments of the good life are when Tony's family is gathered together around the backyard grill, or the family Christmas tree. These moments are few and far between, and the viewer also gets the sense that these moments of peaceful delight are rare moments that are not worth the trouble of the drama and mess of familial conflict (Tony's own mother tries to have him killed!).
I am afraid that the "good life" in the Sopranos is much too close to our own: happiness is fleeting, meaningful experiences are not understood but casually accepted or denied, relationships and faith are instrumental in nature, life is dramatically compartmentalized....
No wonder Tony is depressed and over-medicated. No wonder he is often give to fits of rage or escapism via alcohol, extra-marital sex and designer drugs. In many ways, The Sopranos is like the book of Ecclesiastes....having indulged in everything under the son, Tony still finds no meaning. Tony (not to mention all other characters) fights the void of absurdity by turning inward to himself, creating meaning where he can, and trying to fulfill some insatiable desire. But the viewer is never at rest, because Tony is never at rest; his turning inward in the face of absurdity can never be sustained.
Indeed, the genius of the Sopranos is that it parallels our modern world so well, albeit within a specific and colorful corner of our world. As modern people, we look for meaning and cannot find it. We, paradoxically, accept certain traditions and customs yet don't understand and even deny their meaning. We seek to fill a desire that cannot be filled...we consume and consume and consume. We often view our lives as mundane and miss out on its sacred nature.
Is the good life a rat race? Is it a bigger house, more territory, the power of expansion? The Sopranos continually show us the answer: NO. It is a shame, though, because the narrative never really gives us a place to find meaning (Tony's psychiatrist, Carmella's priest, A.J.'s principal are broken caricatures of themselves). I suppose the show gives a semi-positive image of therapy, but that too is bound up with absurdity. And certainly, the Church is questioned from beginning to end; it simply looks like a cultural beacon that is inundated with meaninglessness. Hey, even Tony's rants about being Italian and the persecution of his people are instrumental - he simply uses that to hide his real profession from his children.
This show is a good spiritual exercise for me. I could not recommend it to everyone, because there is pervasive drug use, sexuality, and crude language, and indeed some of the themes may cause some to despair. But for me, it is a constant reminder of the failures of the "good life" envisioned by modern America. You may think The Sopranos is just about gangsters, but their lifestle is just one expression of America's pursuit of happiness -- an illegitimate parallel to big business (as to whether it is always "legitimate," who knows). It even cautions the Church to really be the Church. The Church becomes the absurd institution depicted in the show when it sells out to the ways of the secular world. All in all, The Sopranos reminds me that the Good life must be sought in other ways than the over-consumption of sex, wealth, power, and even therapy.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Martin Luther King's commitment to non-violence...a good article by Hauerwas
Friends,
Posted below is an article by Stanley Hauerwas here. It is all about King's commitment to non-violent living. It is worth a read
This http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2010/12/10/3090354.htm?topic1=&topic2=
This http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2010/12/10/3090354.htm?topic1=&topic2=
Inaugural Post: Pursuing the Good Life!
After years of claiming that I would never write a blog...here it is, I am now a blogger. My purpose in writing this blog is threefold: interaction, experimentation, and practice.
Interaction- first and foremost is the aim to connect with others. I am a minister and PhD student (in philosophical theology), so much of my life is consumed with big ideas, life issues, and reflection. So I find it helpful to interact with others, from various backgrounds, to learn from their questions and insights.
Experimentation- I am perennially moved toward the notion of a good life. I am also convinced that the notion of the "good life" is a complex and deep. So this blog will serve as an experimental center for my ideas, thoughts, and reflections on the matter.
Practice- Let's face it, when you are an academic (or a clergy member) writing is very important. This is where I will practice my writing.
This blog's theme is the good life, and to that end we will discuss: faith, philosophy, theology, ecology, food, economics, spirituality, film/literature....essentially anything that promotes a vision of or adds to a perception of what it means to live a good life!
Interaction- first and foremost is the aim to connect with others. I am a minister and PhD student (in philosophical theology), so much of my life is consumed with big ideas, life issues, and reflection. So I find it helpful to interact with others, from various backgrounds, to learn from their questions and insights.
Experimentation- I am perennially moved toward the notion of a good life. I am also convinced that the notion of the "good life" is a complex and deep. So this blog will serve as an experimental center for my ideas, thoughts, and reflections on the matter.
Practice- Let's face it, when you are an academic (or a clergy member) writing is very important. This is where I will practice my writing.
This blog's theme is the good life, and to that end we will discuss: faith, philosophy, theology, ecology, food, economics, spirituality, film/literature....essentially anything that promotes a vision of or adds to a perception of what it means to live a good life!
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