My Patchwork Pants: March 2010

Music: Live

A short and sweet cover of Joanna Newsom's song "On a Good Day" from her new album Have One On Me

And since I really like Joanna Newsom, and she rarely does these kinds of appearances, and she just released a new album... here's Joanna on Fallon. So good.

Music: Recorded

In honor of Frightened Rabbit's new release, Winter of Mixed Drinks, here's a video of one of their new songs, "Nothing Like You."

Sam Amidon hasn't released anything new recently... at least I don't think so. I could check, I guess, but that's just so much work. I'll just say that he hasn't. So Sam Amidon hasn't released anything new recently, but I got to see him in concert last year... it was pretty amazing. So here's a song of his that I really like.

Comedy: Live

ChatRoulette is now a mine of comedy gold. Check out these two videos... the first is Merton, who apparently was mistaken for Ben Folds a lot. The second is the actual Ben Folds, giving Merton his due. Both favorite.

Comedy: Recorded

Jimmy Kimmel is producing some of the funniest stuff here recently... unexpected, but quite welcome. Here's a new classic: Handsome Men's Club.

And just in case you haven't been swept away by this ridiculousness already... here's "Lololololo" and the Kimmel aftermath.

Wisdom is Cross-Applicative

So obviously things aren't working in Christianity, as a system. The church dropout rate is skyrocketing and there are entire age groups that are not even being touched by the church, despite constant attempts from very intelligent and well-meaning people. The "church," as we know it, is a function that has gone the way of Baudrillard's map: the foundation has LONG since eroded, and the resulting "hyperreal" church, while definitely real in its own right, is separated from the functionality of the what the Church was in times past. There's been something broken for a long time, certainly for generations, probably for centuries, even for millenia, perhaps. There was a breakdown somewhere along the way... not to say that it hasn't "worked," per se, for specific groups in specific places, but, unfortunately, these are the exceptions.

This is not something new. I am not the first to see real need, and I am not going to be the last. Nor is this essay necessarily to browbeat church leaders into a sense of guilt for actions not taken. I only have a few simple things to add to the dialogue, if you'll have me.

The impetus for this essay comes from a few TED talks that have managed to say what I've been thinking in a far greater and creative way that I would be able to. The problems that we've been seeing in the church are not local to the church, which I know seems a bit odd. But as the church has surfed the tides of culture for ages, we have taken on the same problems:

-The "clear cutting" methods we've employed for years (canvasing, revival services, special promotion Sundays, etc) have run their course in the same way that clear cutting forests will eventually yield no more trees.

-The fast and cheap, cost-efficient, high-yield methods we've used for congregation management have turned out an anemic, sickly, obese Christianity in the same way that our similar food systems have done to the last few American generations.

Interestingly enough, the same exceptions from the aforementioned examples apply in the same ways to the Church. Not every type of tree that is clear cut is unable to make a recovery, but may grow back if given enough time or re-planted. Not every American is fat and anemic; those that are wise enough to grow their own food, or are rich enough to get the good stuff brought to them, are in fine shape. But those are the exceptions only. On the whole, mass purveyors of the product are falling prey to the mass market, despite it not being beneficial to the consumer. Lucre still has its place.

What I'm calling for is not something revolutionary or even something new. A holistic approach to religion has been championed by many far wiser than I. But... I may get into serious trouble here... this idea should work in the same sense as we use the term "repentance," in that it's a change of mind, not a specific list of things to do, that influences our actions thereafter (for those of you with steam issuing from your ears, please calm down... I don't mean this in the same exact sense as salvation, only in general concept).

What I'm offering that may be different from what has been previously said on the subject is more in the form of concrete, measurable results seen in a similar situation. I am not a "pie in the sky" kind of person... an idealist, perhaps, but not an impractical one.

There is a dialogue in full swing that may as well be quoted verbatim on the floors of our churches. The same problems that we see are being addressed... AND FIXED. There is a repentance, of sorts, that is currently sweeping the nation. You might even call it a revival. And, for once, it is almost completely congruent to our faith, even complimentary (if we'll let it).

Take a look at these videos, keeping a metaphorical mind:

All of that to say this: There is a vast change that has begun. I am in no wise advocating that Christianity hitch our little red wagon onto the Ecological bandwagon. What I am saying is that these new methods are fixing the age-long problems that have been short circuiting a working system. Perhaps a little interdisciplinarity will do us some good.

I'll go deeper in later posts... There is a wealth of metaphor in just these four videos that would fill volumes, but I think this is a good enough introduction. Just wanted to plant some seeds, as it were. Believe me, I have more.