going to the ‘feelies’
Talking about the general trend towards consumer based religion in Europe, the brilliant British sociologist of religion, Grace Davie notes that it is the experiential or “feel-good” factor that seems to be significant–whether this be expressed in charismatic worship, in the tranquility of cathedral evensong, or in a special cathedral occasion (a candlelit carol service or a major civic event). “The point is that we feel something; we experience the sacred, the set apart. The purely cerebral is less appealing. Durkheim was entirely correct in this respect: it is the taking part that matters for late modern populations and the feelings that are so engendered (The Elementary Forms of Religious Life). If we feel nothing, we are much less likely either to take part in the first place or to continue thereafter.
What do you think are the implications 9positive or negative) for Christianity, discipleship, and religion as a whole?
See this excellent article on trends in Europe by Grace Davie, “Is Europe Exceptional?” The Hedgehog Review (Spring & Summer 06), 29
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The implications are that we must internalize the fact that incarnational community will both appeal to and utilize all the senses and faculties. Just as we have been called to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength, these include all the senses.
This is very much what I was talking about a while back, as well as over at my blog, when I said that right perception was a better definition for orthopathy. We perceive with all that we are. And when we systematically exclude any of who God has created us to be, our perceptions will be impaired.
This focus on right perception (which is basically looking to tune all our perceptions to be in line with God’s perception) also helps keep things in balance. Then it is not too cerebral or too emotional or too logial or too experiential… or too anything!
Great series of posts, Alan!
I’d argue this emphasises the need for spiritual directors, to accompany believers as they learn to see the gentle movements of God in their lives in contexts outside the big worship experiences.
That works on both a small group and individual level and balances the experiential needs out.
However we define “orthopassy” I think it is fairly safe to say that “right emotion” has overtaken “right thinking” as the yardstick of the masses.
For myself I prefer to seek after “right orientation” by which I mean a deep realignment of my thinking, feeling, behaviour, imagination, will, spirit … everything, in conformaty with Christ.