Dostoyevsky and Solzhenitsyn proclaimed that beauty will save the world and this essay explores how Blake’s prophetic writings (especially “Jerusalem”) reveal how beauty transforms individuals and societies. Beauty need not be a commodity, a thing to be craved. Beauty can be about perceiving the divine in every thing, and such spiritual materialism can engender social justice. …
Category
Christianity
The most precious material in the universe…
Peter Rollins talking about Insurrection at Baylor University. I love when he tells the story about the Baptist Pastor who goes golfing. It’s true, ‘the most precious material in the universe is the desire of of the people we desire.’ Peter Rollins at Baylor University from Peter Rollins on Vimeo.
Chritianity IS Empire
I’ve have been following a series of blog posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) over at Jesus Manifesto (JM) that deal with the perceived unjust nature of Christianity. The blog series follows an interview (Part 1, Part 2) that JM did With Dakota scholar Waziyatawin. It is an intensely challenging two part interview in…
On Earth Day: Song in a Year of Catastrophe
Landscape 18 Acrylic Painting by Miki, Queen of Planet Goodaboom I began to be followed by a voice saying: “It can’t last. It can’t last. Harden yourself. Harden yourself. Be ready. Be ready.” “Go look under the leaves,” it said, “for what is living there is long dead in your tongue.” And it said, “Put…
Evolutionary Christianity
I’ve been listening to Michael Dowd’s podcast lately and I’m really liking his naturalistic view of reality. I haven’t read his book yet but I think his spiritual and scientific insights offer a meaningful way forward for Christianity. I totally agree with a couple things he writes in one of his recent blog posts: It…
“Long live Gravity!”
Below is an excerpt from the poem Some Further Words, by Mr. Wendell Berry, one of my favorite writers. Berry critiques the land he loves with a wise reverence, and although this poem was written decades ago it is timeless and carries special meaning today. The world is babbled to pieces after the divorce of…
Sadao Watanabe Japanese Folk Artist
I just recently discovered the work of Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996), a brilliant Japanese musician and artist. He was quite renowned for his biblical prints rendered in the mingei (folk art) tradition of Japan. I do revere folk art of all cultures because of its graphic simplicity and pellucid nature. You can view more of Watanabe’s…
What is your aesthetic?
I love reading Richard Beck’s blog. Today he posted an excerpt of a conversation he had with one of his students. The student, after reading some critiques of Christianity, was having some doubts about his faith. He asked Dr. Beck why he believed in Christianity. His answer was truly inspiring to me. Me (Dr. Beck):…
Liturgical Calendar
Awesome and helpful round style Liturgical Calendar via Experimental Theology.
Truth, Goodness and Beauty
To feel deeply that truth, goodness, and beauty belong together, that, in fact, in their fullest realization, they are together, is another way of saying that one believes in God. To experience what little we can do as persons as still important is a form of belief in God. To sense that we are known…