The first ritual readings was a classic one about sacred vs. profane. I’ve heard a lot about the theory so it was interesting to actually get to read it. What really struck me was the line about how people fear mixing sacred with profane because they feel the profane will “infect” the sacred. That fear is a strong component of many peoples’ fear of using technology in religion I feel. That somehow by portraying Jesus on bytes or some of these other controversies that somehow the profanity of profane objects will leech over and foul the sacred.
At the same time though, the sacred/profane divide seems a little artificial as there are things which cross that divide quite regularly. Wine is a great example example, for pagans or Christians it could both be sacred libation or delicious dinner complement. So then couldn’t the same happen for technology?
The other reading showed the concept of communitas. All I could think as the author was describing communitas is how much it sounded like an internet forum or things of this kind. Then thinking about the idea that communitas is needed for social, fire alarm.
March 24, 2008 at 9:54 am
well done, brother
June 3, 2008 at 12:33 am
Lobbyer says : I absolutely agree with this !