OK OK, it's time to fess the chuff up.
I swore I'd never do this but since everything has completely sodding changed in the space of about 20 minutes I'm going to have to actually tell you. It's no good doing the same old stuff, I'm just going to have to let that go and admit the truth...
OK here goes.
This blog is crypto Kierkegaardian.
Yes actually in a former life I was actually an academic and I am a specialist in the Danish philosopher S. Kierkegaard 1813 -1855. Yes I know, I know, it's shocking I actually have some qualifications to my name, even given the terrible grammar and spelling on this blog!
Kierkegaard famously (famously that is, if your a researcher based in religious existentialism) berated the future for picking over the syllables of his works but not actually doing what he said. So I thought, instead of writing yet another book about him no one is ever going to read I would experiment with what he said...and a blog.
Kierkegaard believed that you had to deceive people into the truth. He believed you had to doubly reflect the truth, because you are communicating, not facts but capacity...you can live this life. How I interpret that, is that when you talk to someone you have to reflect not just God whom you are trying to communicate but the person you are communicating with as well. So he threw on a persona and wrote pseudonymously through it.
He claimed none of what he wrote was the truth. What I write is all mediated, through the pseudonymous way I write. But in true Kierkegaardian style reality has broken in.
So which of the truths would you like first?
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Ultimatum [A Final Word]
The upbuilding that lies in the thought that in relation to God we are always in the wrong.
Opening prayer
Blessed are you O Lord, for you know you know what we are. You know that when we think we have something, we have nothing, when we think we are something we are nothing, when we behave like twats, you laugh. A deep, deep laugh that is full to overflowing with love for your children. You know that sometimes we think we understand, and yet only you know and are the source of all knowledge. Keep us ever humble and ever reliant upon you, our strength and our redeemer
“Blessed is he who takes no offence at me.”
Offence is a weapon. In fact it is the most powerful weapon in the hands of religious people. It has been used to shut down freedom of speech. It has closed plays, been used to remove stamps from circulation, it even once meant that a charity was forced to return money freely given to it.
Most of us when dealing with people of another faith would be horrified to learn that we have offended someone. And yet I find myself troubled by this weapon. Mostly because it is a weapon and I'm not sure religious people should be using weapons.
It seems that particularly since those of other faiths began using offence, we as Christians feel the need to also employ it. Look we love our God just as much as they love theirs. Look we are just as offended. Even to the extent of one person telling me that it was a shame that the Archbishop of Canterbury didn't issue death threats, since that meant people would do stuff to us they wouldn't do to the Muslims. He's weak is he? Well personally I quite like that about Rowan, he'd go down in my estimation if he called down a beheading on someone.
At the bottom of it, offence is a power game, we feel that someone is not taking us seriously enough, not treating us in a manner which we deserve, so we use our offence to haul them back into line.
For the 19th century philosopher Kierkegaard offence was a key category. For him the very message of Christianity was deeply offensive. Because at it's heart was a God who was hung naked on a cross and died. Who's mission was, in human terms a failure, and yet he found a country in which this was preached to the bourgeoisie and despite the implicit call to lay that aside and take up their cross and follow Jesus, despite the fact that their God was poor and dejected and failed, they listened to this and were no offended. Life was too comfortable for them.
Take away offence and we take away Christianity, he argued.
If we think that we must be protected that our faith is too important, that we are too important, to attack, we have forgotten who it is that we follow. I have publicly defended the right to offend whenever I have been asked, I believe that a right not to be offended is a dangerous thing not just for freedom of speech, but also for faith. Offence is sometimes a prick stinging us into the knowledge of the truth. Exposing us to how we appear to other people and not the image we cultivate. We forget, he suffered. We must suffer if we are to claim to be like him.
“Oh I know” says Jesus “It's a shame that you weren't there when I was crucified, so you stand in front and give a talk about how important your opinions are while I was doing it and then people could respect you. Hopefully that will take their mind of what is happening behind you”
Apparently this blog offends people, there have been complaints. I'm sorry if this blog does not conform to what you feel a minister should sound like.
Maybe the problem is with you.
Blessed is she who takes no offence with religious satire, for she knows what is really important.
With these words...this blog....at least in it's current form...
...ends.
(it'll restart tomorrow...in a new way)
Opening prayer
Blessed are you O Lord, for you know you know what we are. You know that when we think we have something, we have nothing, when we think we are something we are nothing, when we behave like twats, you laugh. A deep, deep laugh that is full to overflowing with love for your children. You know that sometimes we think we understand, and yet only you know and are the source of all knowledge. Keep us ever humble and ever reliant upon you, our strength and our redeemer
“Blessed is he who takes no offence at me.”
Offence is a weapon. In fact it is the most powerful weapon in the hands of religious people. It has been used to shut down freedom of speech. It has closed plays, been used to remove stamps from circulation, it even once meant that a charity was forced to return money freely given to it.
Most of us when dealing with people of another faith would be horrified to learn that we have offended someone. And yet I find myself troubled by this weapon. Mostly because it is a weapon and I'm not sure religious people should be using weapons.
It seems that particularly since those of other faiths began using offence, we as Christians feel the need to also employ it. Look we love our God just as much as they love theirs. Look we are just as offended. Even to the extent of one person telling me that it was a shame that the Archbishop of Canterbury didn't issue death threats, since that meant people would do stuff to us they wouldn't do to the Muslims. He's weak is he? Well personally I quite like that about Rowan, he'd go down in my estimation if he called down a beheading on someone.
At the bottom of it, offence is a power game, we feel that someone is not taking us seriously enough, not treating us in a manner which we deserve, so we use our offence to haul them back into line.
For the 19th century philosopher Kierkegaard offence was a key category. For him the very message of Christianity was deeply offensive. Because at it's heart was a God who was hung naked on a cross and died. Who's mission was, in human terms a failure, and yet he found a country in which this was preached to the bourgeoisie and despite the implicit call to lay that aside and take up their cross and follow Jesus, despite the fact that their God was poor and dejected and failed, they listened to this and were no offended. Life was too comfortable for them.
Take away offence and we take away Christianity, he argued.
If we think that we must be protected that our faith is too important, that we are too important, to attack, we have forgotten who it is that we follow. I have publicly defended the right to offend whenever I have been asked, I believe that a right not to be offended is a dangerous thing not just for freedom of speech, but also for faith. Offence is sometimes a prick stinging us into the knowledge of the truth. Exposing us to how we appear to other people and not the image we cultivate. We forget, he suffered. We must suffer if we are to claim to be like him.
“Oh I know” says Jesus “It's a shame that you weren't there when I was crucified, so you stand in front and give a talk about how important your opinions are while I was doing it and then people could respect you. Hopefully that will take their mind of what is happening behind you”
Apparently this blog offends people, there have been complaints. I'm sorry if this blog does not conform to what you feel a minister should sound like.
Maybe the problem is with you.
Blessed is she who takes no offence with religious satire, for she knows what is really important.
With these words...this blog....at least in it's current form...
...ends.
(it'll restart tomorrow...in a new way)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Down the Valley and round the Gledhill
Hello Ruth,
Is it OK to call you Ruth? Or should I say Ms Gledhill? Perhaps it's ok to be on first names terms. I tell you what, you can call me Simon. I don't usually encourage that, but you seem like the sort of sensible person who uses people's names. Mind you I did hear a rumour that you are into Pokemon.
How is Martha? I have been meaning to track her down of late. I did e-mail her once and she sent back a reply that made me think that she was busy in a don't-want-to-see-the-chaplain kind of way, I wonder if I shouldn't be more persistent.
It is very strange to be writing a blog to a person rather than the aether. But I did write about you before and you posted a comment. I knew it was you because you linked to me off of your page. Then someone else called “Ruth Gledhill” commented again, and I did wonder if it was you, or just a student winding me up. “Surely she doesn't read this rubbish” I told myself.
After all, you seem very important. Do you know, I've noticed something, people who wear purple twitch slightly, almost imperceptibly whenever your name is mentioned. So ever so often...just occasionally mind, when I'm standing near someone wearing purple I like to drop it randomly into conversation. .
“What's it like at Southampton, Simon?”
“Oh it's big, 24,000 students, 5,000 staff, 6 campuses, Ruth Gledhill's sister, 8 Schools, numerous faculties.....is the Bishop cold?”
Is that naughty of me?
You see I've been feeling a bit isolated of late, and I think you might know why, I bet you've heard what's going on locally and they've embargoed you, but news must have reached you.
And I've been told to 'expect the press'. So I was just wondering if you were listening. If you were still out there and still reading. What should I expect? I don't even know who they mean by 'the press.' I'm fumbling around and trying to ask a question and maybe I should just come out and ask it....
Are you really a picatu fangirl?
Is it OK to call you Ruth? Or should I say Ms Gledhill? Perhaps it's ok to be on first names terms. I tell you what, you can call me Simon. I don't usually encourage that, but you seem like the sort of sensible person who uses people's names. Mind you I did hear a rumour that you are into Pokemon.
How is Martha? I have been meaning to track her down of late. I did e-mail her once and she sent back a reply that made me think that she was busy in a don't-want-to-see-the-chaplain kind of way, I wonder if I shouldn't be more persistent.
It is very strange to be writing a blog to a person rather than the aether. But I did write about you before and you posted a comment. I knew it was you because you linked to me off of your page. Then someone else called “Ruth Gledhill” commented again, and I did wonder if it was you, or just a student winding me up. “Surely she doesn't read this rubbish” I told myself.
After all, you seem very important. Do you know, I've noticed something, people who wear purple twitch slightly, almost imperceptibly whenever your name is mentioned. So ever so often...just occasionally mind, when I'm standing near someone wearing purple I like to drop it randomly into conversation. .
“What's it like at Southampton, Simon?”
“Oh it's big, 24,000 students, 5,000 staff, 6 campuses, Ruth Gledhill's sister, 8 Schools, numerous faculties.....is the Bishop cold?”
Is that naughty of me?
You see I've been feeling a bit isolated of late, and I think you might know why, I bet you've heard what's going on locally and they've embargoed you, but news must have reached you.
And I've been told to 'expect the press'. So I was just wondering if you were listening. If you were still out there and still reading. What should I expect? I don't even know who they mean by 'the press.' I'm fumbling around and trying to ask a question and maybe I should just come out and ask it....
Are you really a picatu fangirl?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hello
Hello to all. And especially to you my new readers.
Yes, I spotted you just turned up. And there are, let's be honest, quite a lot of you.
I know. My hits have trebled in the last week, in fact I have had more hits so far this week than I usually get in a couple of weeks.
And I think I know why you are here...somehow you've found out what is about to happen. Your probably wondering how I am.
Thanks. I appreciate your concern. It's all about to get interesting around here.
Not in a good way.
But shhhhhhhh.....nothing is going to happen this week.
Or next week. Let's pretend everything is OK.
Yes, I spotted you just turned up. And there are, let's be honest, quite a lot of you.
I know. My hits have trebled in the last week, in fact I have had more hits so far this week than I usually get in a couple of weeks.
And I think I know why you are here...somehow you've found out what is about to happen. Your probably wondering how I am.
Thanks. I appreciate your concern. It's all about to get interesting around here.
Not in a good way.
But shhhhhhhh.....nothing is going to happen this week.
Or next week. Let's pretend everything is OK.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Whoooosh
The worst storm in years continues. The south coast isparticularly affected. It seems we are going to have 70mph winds and a chance of trees falling.
I'm doing that thing that old people do. I'm reminiscing. Is there anyone out there reading this blog who can actually remember 1987?
I got the day off school and me and Stephen Davies spent the day jumping up and down as seeing how far the wind would carry us. And my dad took me out in the car to see all the damage. Down my road every house had a wall at the end of the garden and every single one of them was down.
Ahhhh. Happy days.
Now where was I? Oh yeah 2009.
I'm doing that thing that old people do. I'm reminiscing. Is there anyone out there reading this blog who can actually remember 1987?
I got the day off school and me and Stephen Davies spent the day jumping up and down as seeing how far the wind would carry us. And my dad took me out in the car to see all the damage. Down my road every house had a wall at the end of the garden and every single one of them was down.
Ahhhh. Happy days.
Now where was I? Oh yeah 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
