26 May, 2006

A "culture of transcendence" . . .

“Virtually all cultural institutions, from literature professors at Ivy League schools to producers of soap operas to the loudest heavy metal bands, are all equally bereft of points of perspective for their activities.  In such a time the church could be a community displaying, in its corporate life and the lives of its members, a culture of transcendence.  This would not mean escaping from the world.  It would require refusing to conform to its ways, not only when they are evil, but when they are not beneficial or constructive.” (Kenneth A. Meyers, All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes, p. xvi)

3 comments:

  1. You'd have to define beneficial and constructive.

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  2. Well, I suppose I'd describe both beneficial and constructive as that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (as per Phillipians 4:8), not only in content, but the medium itself.

    This doesn't mean, of course, that no art can display things that untrue, dishonorable, unjust, etc, but that they should not portray them in a good light.

    Beneficial and constructive also entails thinking past the, "Wow, this is popular . . . we need to jump on the bandwagon!" to the, "This may be be popular, but why is it popular? And is it really the best way to portray the true, the good, and the beautiful?"

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