Here I am, on the way to Heathrow. Not for any exotic journey, but for a board (and bored) meeting. We met in 'Johannesburg' but that was as exciting as it got. Any way, on the journey thither, I put the CD on. The Stone Roses. But why play it all, when we all know (don't we?) that all builds up to the final track, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life', with its huge instrumental indulgence at the end. (As a friend put it, if the air guitar did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it for this track.)
But this song raises questions for me. It's bloomin' obvious that there are, uhum, religious resonances here. The singer finds life, energy, hope and dignity... by quoting the Bible, John's gospel, Jesus. 'I am the resurrection and the life.' But I do not want to domesticate the song. It is a little hard to find the fulness of compassion and reconciliation in 'You're a no-one nowhere washed up baby who'd look better dead'. So do we just conclude that trendy '90s Mancunians were good at picking up the odd leftover from Christianity, from Christendon's culture, and leave it at that?
I cannot leave it at that. The song peaks when it transfigures its distancing from and disdain for the other and moves on to Resurrection and Life (rising about an octave in the process - try singing along). 'I am the resurrection and I am the life/I couldn't ever bring myself to hate you as I'd like'. Echoes here, for me of Nietzsche's idea that the 'superhuman' is the one utterly, utterly free of resentment. And as for that distancing, and disdain, well, you know that is biblical too. Think of the psalms. The psalmist is famously so confident of their relationship with God that they know they can get it all off their chest, from the demand that God kills off their enemies to their self-hatred and sense of abandonment.
I know the Stone Roses are passe. But in other ways too I am convinced that our society is not so much 'post-Christian' as residually Christian. And... it's important to sing along, a little too loudly, to the songs which have moved us, and move us still.
I agree - residually inspired by the Jesus of justice, compassion and service, not beyond them. In that sense Christ's work has been done. And I love the idea of singing your Song a little too loudly - it speaks of a whole heart and stomach for life.
ReplyDeleteFor many years I have not been entirely comfortable with the phrase “post Christian”.
ReplyDeleteFor me it does not cover the concept, I do like the phrase “residually Christian society”. This sits better with me but, still does not encompass the whole idea.
Christ is not dead and without representation in our society. Representation and popularity is apparently less than in previous years which residual does cover better.
In a dark cave a candle enlightens all, but exposed to light of the sun it’s light seems insignificant although it is there. In a noisy society the loudest voice seems to overcome the quietest, but truth with stands even if it is not recognised or heard. As long as one person is for Christ this is a Christian society.
Sing out your song and sing it LOUD
I take your point, Mr Don! Yes, ultimately all society and all societies are 'in Christ', through whom all things were made and without whom was not anything made which was made. And, yes, there are still those of us who recognise it. Even if it is 'merely' 3 million people who regularly go to Church, that's 3 million.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is also the case that our society now has much that is hostile to Christian faith, and much, much ignorance. Rowan Williams said some time ago that religion is a subject it is trendy to be ignorant about, and that has only increased. I'd say there is also a third thing. It's much more acceptable to portray God and Christ as dubious and unattractive characters. Over and above criticism of the Church (which has always been fair enough), this has been a change in my lifetime. There's been a loss of reverence or respect for what others revere.
It's in this context - with all this complexity and ambiguity - that I speak of our society as 'residually Christian'.
You're right about the rightness of singing out LOUD too.