Thanks David for this message and I am looking forward to you developing this theme. I always see religious enclaves as a sort of time bubble! The stronger the walls the more locked into a static moment in time they become. Everyone in that community wears similar clothing, the same hats, hair styles then its ideas, culture and language!
Yeah this is a really interesting characteristic of enclaves of various kinds. It also holds for cultural tribes of different kinds that put down roots in a certain worn identity and remain there as time passes. Its a double edged thing for me. Part of me warms to it as a kind of resistance, in a world that is always kind of throwing a violent shock-and-awe scattergun of trends/news/culture at a very thin present: it feels like a way of performing a different kind of time, on one's own terms.
I know what you mean, weirdly I went back to a church I had left years ago and the stuck in time feel was noticeable. It was like a time bubble. I felt transported back to a way of being, but I couldn’t see things in the same way anymore. It wasn’t so much the clothes I noticed, but the mindsets, the speech they used, the assumptions about what aspects of the gospels to highlight and which ones to ignore. The practises and approach to life and the gospels was a one way street. It felt like a group I wanted to be a part of, to be ‘in’ and safe, but I couldn’t ‘enter’ into because my thinking and experiences had changed. So, although they appeared kind, nice, and loving, I felt judged because I couldn’t talk like them. My theology is very different and there was no room for that. Also, because they had stayed ‘in’ the group, to me it felt like they were naive about what is ‘out there’. But, in reality The ‘walls’ were actually quite thin as the naivety is actually an illusion, a false protection I think. But, I envied them that they could be a part of the time bubble!
Thanks I am also reading Richard Becks on orthodoxy and orthopraxy which combined with your offering gives a lot to think about ,also the term The Way look forward to the coming adventures in this series
I am excited for this series, David. I have an image that I return to often, which emerged from my study and interest in intentional communities as an anthropology major. A group of humans standing in a circle facing inward, holding hands. That's an intentional community, for better or worse. Attentional community --- each releases hands, turns around, rejoins hands. That which is boundaried and fiercely protected--call it trust or love or affection--is asked to be in service to the mess out there, from which the gaze is no longer averted.
Barry Lopez's book of interlinked stories, Resistance, is all about this kind of exit...
This is new to me Jack, thank you for the connection.
Thanks David for this message and I am looking forward to you developing this theme. I always see religious enclaves as a sort of time bubble! The stronger the walls the more locked into a static moment in time they become. Everyone in that community wears similar clothing, the same hats, hair styles then its ideas, culture and language!
Time slows down!
Yeah this is a really interesting characteristic of enclaves of various kinds. It also holds for cultural tribes of different kinds that put down roots in a certain worn identity and remain there as time passes. Its a double edged thing for me. Part of me warms to it as a kind of resistance, in a world that is always kind of throwing a violent shock-and-awe scattergun of trends/news/culture at a very thin present: it feels like a way of performing a different kind of time, on one's own terms.
I know what you mean, weirdly I went back to a church I had left years ago and the stuck in time feel was noticeable. It was like a time bubble. I felt transported back to a way of being, but I couldn’t see things in the same way anymore. It wasn’t so much the clothes I noticed, but the mindsets, the speech they used, the assumptions about what aspects of the gospels to highlight and which ones to ignore. The practises and approach to life and the gospels was a one way street. It felt like a group I wanted to be a part of, to be ‘in’ and safe, but I couldn’t ‘enter’ into because my thinking and experiences had changed. So, although they appeared kind, nice, and loving, I felt judged because I couldn’t talk like them. My theology is very different and there was no room for that. Also, because they had stayed ‘in’ the group, to me it felt like they were naive about what is ‘out there’. But, in reality The ‘walls’ were actually quite thin as the naivety is actually an illusion, a false protection I think. But, I envied them that they could be a part of the time bubble!
Looking forward to discovering where you go with this, David!
“salvation is described by metaphors of entrance. “I am the gate,” says John's Messiah.”
I think of ‘the gateless gate” of zen. I hope you will explore that too
I know nothing at all about the gateless gate. I will explore. Thank you for pointing me there.
Thanks I am also reading Richard Becks on orthodoxy and orthopraxy which combined with your offering gives a lot to think about ,also the term The Way look forward to the coming adventures in this series
I've not read that by Richard Beck. He's such a beautiful man, I love him very much.
I am excited for this series, David. I have an image that I return to often, which emerged from my study and interest in intentional communities as an anthropology major. A group of humans standing in a circle facing inward, holding hands. That's an intentional community, for better or worse. Attentional community --- each releases hands, turns around, rejoins hands. That which is boundaried and fiercely protected--call it trust or love or affection--is asked to be in service to the mess out there, from which the gaze is no longer averted.
This is very beautiful, Adam. I am driving myself a little mad trying to draw maps of what I'm describing, and this image helps break something open.