Friendship and the Fourth
What to read: determining the text
My best friend came to town last week and we decided the best way to celebrate the Fourth was to have a discussion on the Declaration of Independence (we had originally thought about the Federalist papers but decided against it for philosophical reasons---it's anachronistic in the context of the Fourth of July and for practical reasons---it's difficult to find a size-able chunk to ask people to read on short notice). Armed with our photocopies, we headed to the St. Louis Riverfront.
Discussing the text: determining the questions
There, we had a lively and productive conversation which left me with the following questions:
1.) How does one determine the criterion/a for issuing a formal declaration of independence?
2.) Does the fact of a person/s' humanity demand the respect of a formal declaration of independence even if you have no hope for change? What role does speech play in conjunction with the actions we take?
3.) Are the names at the end of the document an essential part of the reading?
Meta-discussion: determining the reason for discussing the text
Later, with Cyndi Lauper (a person who has gracefully aged with integrity) and a fireworks display in the background, we wondered if anything brought people together like the discussion of books. Is there any better way to get to know a person than to discuss literature with them? It is incumbent on me to admit that she and I may be biased. I don't know if many people can mark their friendship from a particular discussion regarding books, but she and I can...and do. Our question on that day (11 years ago! how weird!) was whether one is a better reader for suspending all of one's own judgments and premises for the sake of the author's OR if one is a better reader for questioning an author's judgments and premises throughout the reading. I don't know if we have an answer for it still to this day, so insight is appreciated! What we do believe is that there is something powerful in discussing the written word OR, to include oral cultures, a shared story. Why is that? Is there anything comparable to it?
What's the church got to do with it?: application of the text
Regarding the Declaration of Independence: Wondering about the criteria cited for our forefathers' declaration made me start thinking about when and if it would be necessary to declare independence from a church. This would have to begin in defining the purpose of the church (TJ defines the purpose of government as securing safety and happiness) and then it is only when actions/decrees of said "church" not only go against the purpose but make it such that the purpose can not be accomplished. Martin Luther is a good one to look to for this kind of action except that he never intended to declare independence until he did. Another place to look is in the early church--at what point did they declare independence from Judaism or did they...and yet it is clear that "Christianity" is in no way understood as the Jewish sect it was at its inception. Worth considering: what if the purpose of the church is something about which independence cannot be declared?
Regarding relationships forged by literature: This also relates to the church who so frequently views herself as an answer bearing oracle. In fact, it seems that most people don't bond over discussions because some fount of wisdom exists. Rather, it seems to be because their questions are heard, accepted, and discussed. When a book or passage is the focal point, no one can have an unfair advantage because everyone's working from a common source. The only thing that can stop this process is when unreasoned opinions are allowed without exploration. I can have a feeling about a certain thing or concept, but until this is substantiated with reason, experience, or an admission of mysticism, I cannot expect anyone to be able to enter that discussion with me. Paul embodies this kind of action in his letters to the churches. What evidence exists in the AP movement that this is still the kind of discussion we crave and foster?
In closing: hope for the discussion of texts
This post seems sort of random, and I fear I may have made a wrong choice. I could have picked one thread and discussed it more in-depth. The reason I didn't is because I want to foster the thing about which I talk, but that may be impossible. In any case, I do ask you to please link and read the following before posting comments regarding the substance of this post: The Declaration of Independence
What I'm currently reading:
Locked Rooms by Laurie King (this is my Sherlock Holmes reading jag, Alison!)
Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes
Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman (my Barnes & Noble in-store reading choice)
posted by Marjorie at
7/08/2007 03:53:00 PM
2 Comments:
Marjorie:
1. It is so awesome that you and your friend do cool stuff like discussing The Declaration of Independence. I am being serious. I think that is wonderful.
2. Your post is not random or ill-chosen. Though it has more than one thread, they do form a coherent and interesting whole.
3. I so relate to your statement about how relationships form over discussion. The glue is not made of didactic receipt. It really comes from struggling together over the questions.
4. RE: Independence from church. Well, if it's the Church with a capital 'c,' it's impossible. The Christian experience is fundamentally communal. As much as we might like to, we can't do it alone. But of course, there may come a time where some feel they have to declare themselves independent of the institutionality of aspects of church with a lower case 'c' especially if the situation is such that it is impossible to accomplish its purposes.
5. Excelente that you are digging Cervantes! Shame on me that I've only read portions of it in Spanish. I need to break down and just read the whole thing. It was the first modern novel, you know. :-)
Chantell:
Thank you for your affirmation! It was kind of an off blogging day for me just because I had about a million things to do today. I couldn't get my brain focused in any area! My sense regarding the Church is concurrent with yours. Capital C is not deniable unless you also deny the body of Christ. Also, I'm jealous you get to read Cervantes in Spanish at all!! I once had a grand plan to read all of the western canon in the original languages, but...well...I don't think it's going to happen! Pray that I persevere and make it through in English. I read it once before, but it was hard for me to get into and there were several parts where it, admittedly, lost me! I was joking with a friend that all I remembered was a chain gang, Sancho got thrown up in the air in a blanket, and Part 2 is remarkably harder to read than Part 1!
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