Thanks Paul. Lots to ponder. It seems that it is too easy to put the political cart before the spiritual horse. I listened to quite a few speeches. Because of the time constraints on each speaker I felt I was getting hors d'oeuvres, rather than the needed substantial meal. And in relationship to the arts and media? Zip. I think this is an important, if glossy, step. And given the venue it is clear that within that sphere no one understands the role of the arts. There won't be a real change without a serious consideration of the arts, which includes the architecture and the music. As someone who has dedicated himself to trying to find a way forward in the arts, I see little being addressed here. What Rookmaaker was saying in the 70s sadly still seems to be an elusive radical thought today. But I still have hope that something is developing. So based on your observations, C. Bax's videos, and all of the videos I watched I'd grade it 65/100 for political and social thought. 30/100 for Christian/teleological meaning. 5/100 for aesthetic/artistic considerations.
I respect your take on ARC, but I just think you're the target audience... in some senses they don't need to convince you - you're already doing it. In my view they're reaching out to the ones behind you who haven't started the journey yet.
I just posted my own ARC feedback on here, it's fair to say we had quite different experiences of the same event.
Paul, I must admit that I’m not up on the cultural phenomenon on stage here. I listened to the interview with Lyon, the pseudonymous big picture intellectual, and was amazed. It was like Nietzsche all over again—the rise of thumos, the need for vainglorious personality cults. It was essentially a rant against Christianity, or at least Jesus Christ. Whatever the faults of wokism, and there are many, it is at least closer to the Sermon on the Mount and the man in the cross than Trumpism, which Lyon seems to advocate as at least a foot in the door for his vision of “bottom up” renewal. This is the bottom up of a billionaire with his billionaire cronies. Am I completely misunderstanding this phenomenon? And then there is Peterson, who now seems nothing more than a highly paid pseudo intellectual talking head for the alt right. I don’t get it. So, Paul, where are you on this as a man of faith and follower of a Jesus Christ.
Thanks for this, Paul. Absent some kind of visionary Lion, like Constantine, who's willing to look up at the sky and see iridescent sky-phenomena and tell fierce stories about them and burst forth with a glorious new variation of solar monotheism, etc etc, we might just be pawing around in the sand of our memories until the bitter end. I was re-reading the Grand Inquisitor chapter of the Brothers Karamazov last night, and was struck again by its observation that "So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find some one to worship. But man seeks to worship what is established beyond dispute, so that all men would agree at once to worship it. For these pitiful creatures are concerned not only to find what one or the other can worship, but to find something that all would believe in and worship...This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time..." [cf. tower of Babylon] .
An amazing substack, Paul! As a long time conference goer of different stripes, I always found workshops and times where you talked to other gooers in a semi structured format most helpful. I think ARC should abandon the once a year speaker method and go out on tour establishing outposts for bringing community together.
They have advertised their desire to run local ARC gatherings already, there was a sign up page on the app during the conference to attend local or host a local meetup.
Thank you for your thoughts and perspective on ARC and everything. I was encouraged at your calling to task on Christian Imperialism as well. I didn't know about that with the decrying of Christian Nationalism drowning everything out in everything.
Stay grounded and humble Paul, that encourages me most. Your wisdom and perspective into people and connecting to individuals is refreshing and hopeful.
I'm not a great thinker or thought leader, but appreciate hearing / reading your take on stuff.
Keep on trucking and hope the Estuary tour goes really well! Cheers!
Thanks Paul. Lots to ponder. It seems that it is too easy to put the political cart before the spiritual horse. I listened to quite a few speeches. Because of the time constraints on each speaker I felt I was getting hors d'oeuvres, rather than the needed substantial meal. And in relationship to the arts and media? Zip. I think this is an important, if glossy, step. And given the venue it is clear that within that sphere no one understands the role of the arts. There won't be a real change without a serious consideration of the arts, which includes the architecture and the music. As someone who has dedicated himself to trying to find a way forward in the arts, I see little being addressed here. What Rookmaaker was saying in the 70s sadly still seems to be an elusive radical thought today. But I still have hope that something is developing. So based on your observations, C. Bax's videos, and all of the videos I watched I'd grade it 65/100 for political and social thought. 30/100 for Christian/teleological meaning. 5/100 for aesthetic/artistic considerations.
I respect your take on ARC, but I just think you're the target audience... in some senses they don't need to convince you - you're already doing it. In my view they're reaching out to the ones behind you who haven't started the journey yet.
I just posted my own ARC feedback on here, it's fair to say we had quite different experiences of the same event.
Paul, I must admit that I’m not up on the cultural phenomenon on stage here. I listened to the interview with Lyon, the pseudonymous big picture intellectual, and was amazed. It was like Nietzsche all over again—the rise of thumos, the need for vainglorious personality cults. It was essentially a rant against Christianity, or at least Jesus Christ. Whatever the faults of wokism, and there are many, it is at least closer to the Sermon on the Mount and the man in the cross than Trumpism, which Lyon seems to advocate as at least a foot in the door for his vision of “bottom up” renewal. This is the bottom up of a billionaire with his billionaire cronies. Am I completely misunderstanding this phenomenon? And then there is Peterson, who now seems nothing more than a highly paid pseudo intellectual talking head for the alt right. I don’t get it. So, Paul, where are you on this as a man of faith and follower of a Jesus Christ.
Thanks for this, Paul. Absent some kind of visionary Lion, like Constantine, who's willing to look up at the sky and see iridescent sky-phenomena and tell fierce stories about them and burst forth with a glorious new variation of solar monotheism, etc etc, we might just be pawing around in the sand of our memories until the bitter end. I was re-reading the Grand Inquisitor chapter of the Brothers Karamazov last night, and was struck again by its observation that "So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find some one to worship. But man seeks to worship what is established beyond dispute, so that all men would agree at once to worship it. For these pitiful creatures are concerned not only to find what one or the other can worship, but to find something that all would believe in and worship...This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time..." [cf. tower of Babylon] .
An amazing substack, Paul! As a long time conference goer of different stripes, I always found workshops and times where you talked to other gooers in a semi structured format most helpful. I think ARC should abandon the once a year speaker method and go out on tour establishing outposts for bringing community together.
They have advertised their desire to run local ARC gatherings already, there was a sign up page on the app during the conference to attend local or host a local meetup.
Great write-up. Thank you, Paul.
Thank you for your thoughts and perspective on ARC and everything. I was encouraged at your calling to task on Christian Imperialism as well. I didn't know about that with the decrying of Christian Nationalism drowning everything out in everything.
Stay grounded and humble Paul, that encourages me most. Your wisdom and perspective into people and connecting to individuals is refreshing and hopeful.
I'm not a great thinker or thought leader, but appreciate hearing / reading your take on stuff.
Keep on trucking and hope the Estuary tour goes really well! Cheers!