Hey guys, I am reading a book right now titled "The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical" by Shane Claiborne.The book has been great (I'm about 1/3 of the way through it) and the author has told some great stories about community and following Jesus. Through most of the book he's been serious, but funny. Suddenly I hit this paragraph. Check it out.
"A Cult-ure of Sorts
Any time we make a radical conversion, there is the danger that people will say we are being brainwashed or are joining a cult. The truth is everyonne in our culture has been deeply polluted by the noise and garbage of this world, and we all need to be washed clean. We need minds that are renewed and uncluttered so they are free to dream again. And let us not forget that the word cult comes from the same root from which we get our word culture. So while we are not waiting for a UFO landing, preparing for a mass suicide, or stockpiling weapons, we are forming an alternative culture. It is not simply a countercultural reacting to the dominant culture. (And getting marketed by it. It won't be long before you'll be able to buy gas masks for anti-war protests that are made by Lockheed Martin, or T-shirts that say "Make poverty history" made by kids in sweatshops.) We are forming a new culture. And in many ways, it is broader and more sustainable, much less "tribal" than nationalism and much less dangerous than the cult of civil religion that is infecting the church. And the imperial cult seems to be suspiciously closer to those infamous cults that stockpile weapons and await their suicidal fate while pretentiously fortifying themselves against any truth that would set them free from the illusions that are killing them - those cults who continue to offer blood sacrifices to the gods of Mammon and Violence on the altars of desert sand and jungle soil."
Wow, he just left humor, and jumped right on in to indignation.
I just read that paragraph and was blown away at how similar a cult like the one at Waco, TX is to the cult of the US. Anyway, I'll let you do with that whatever you want, but I thought it was an interesting shift in his writing for a second.
So far, I would recommend this book to anyone.
Later guys,
Matt
5 comments:
ive heard of this guy
Hey I saw that the forward is by jim wallis. how does this book compare to "God's Politics"? Is it that much different?
I liked his prediction about the sweatshop shirts...
I actually havcen't read God's Politics just yet (but it's pon my to-do list) but I would say Jim Wallis is more of the established political action methods of working through your local Congressman or Senator. Shane is more of the political activist that would stage a sit-in, you know, more of the "college-age political action" type. You know what I mean?
I'll let you know how similar it is to God's Politics when I read it. (Don't hold your breath. I have a lot of books on my to-do.)
Even if i DID hold my breath and you started reading the book right now, I'd still die. then you would have that pon your conscience. lucky for you, i'll take your advice...*breathes deeply/loud and obnoxiously*
God's politics is a long book and I didn't get all the way through it. After half to 2/3's of the way through, i felt like he'd kind of made his point. definitely worth a look though. I'll have to take a look at the one you recommended. i think they had it at the CIY conferences this summer.
Shane did a seminar at Urbana..I did not attend. That's all I've got to say about that...
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