'Deconstruction: This represents psycho-spiritual transmutation;
reprogramming negative behaviour patterns through alchemical processes;
turning the black dross into pure gold.' Found this here and thought it apropos to my post.
i have been thinking about deconstruction and faith within the emerging church conversation the past month or so, ruminating, pondering, and attempting to form some cohesive thoughts. Today i came across a wonderfully thought-provoking post titled "Allowing Ourselves to be Deconstructed" by Blake Huggins. i see deconstruction as a form of transmutation which can be defined as,
'the act of changing or the state of being changed into another form.'
Deconstruction can be defined as,
'analyzing (a text or linguistic or a conceptual system) by deconstruction, typically in order to expose its hidden internal assumptions and contradictions and subvert its apparent significance or unity.'
Many in the emerging church conversation say things like, "Ok, we have deconstructed. Now it is time to move on and reconstruct, stop talking, and move on to praxis." i'd actually like to say i disagree with this premise because we are always in need of deconstructing. i see deconstruction/reconstruction as a continual and simultaneous
process that in order to be holistic must include decontructing
myself and my belief systems. We must read things we disagree with and allow it to read us, get under our skin, and challenge us and our assumptions. Also, deconstructing belief systems, whether long-held traditions or ourselves, while at the same time putting things into actual praxis is the simultanaity i am advocating for in our lives. Is it messy and scary? Of course! Yet, it is necessary. It goes along with Pete Rollins' idea of
furthering along my own conversion. Huggins talks about this deconstruction of our own beliefs so eloquently. He says two things that stuck out to me:
'I’m wondering if sometimes, in our efforts to deconstruct
“something else,” we miss the opportunity to let ourselves be
deconstructed.'
AND
'That is not to say that I reject the deconstructing of historical figures or systems of thought. Not at all. I’m only suggesting that perhaps there is a tension between our deconstruction and our being deconstructed. The key is learning to live and embody that tension well.'
People must realize deconstruction is NOT a one time event to move on from but a continual, life-long process! What are your thoughts?
Comment Of The Week
Ok, here is the comment of the week that came to Queermergent that i deleted. At first it sounds like it is a nice comment but then it turns south. These kinds of comments are just plain sickening. i just do not understand how Christians like this think they are extending the love and grace of G-D to people. It is one thing to disagree but it is defintely another thing to write something perverse like this. i am not one to judge whether they are a Christian or not as that is up to G-D, but comments like this would definitely not make me want to know G-D if i were not already a Christ-follower. What are your thoughts?
Posted by Existential Punk on 19 March 2009 at 02:15 AM in Comment of the Week, LGBTQ, Musings, Thoughts, Rants, Queermergent, Religious Right | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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