October 13, 2004
Is it possible to be so countercultural that we become relevant to the society around us? In other words does one have to be so much like the surrounding culture to be relevant or could a group be relevant because they are so different from the surrounding culture? i.e. Amish.
Whereas the Amish (simple folk) are not relevant technologically do they have relevance in other, more important areas? Such as making a rushed world slow down or providing a critique of the rampant consumerism in our society?
How does the church become totally relevant and totally countercultural? Is this possible?
I hate to sound like a broken record, but trying to live w/out debt is countercultural. Try to find very many people that think that way. There's not many.
Posted by: marshall at October 13, 2004 07:24 PMYes - being rid of debt is a crucial countercultural way to combat our society- as long as it alongside a simplistic way of living. Debt-free with all the stuff as everybody else doesn't mean you are countercultural - may mean your just rich?
Posted by: methodius at October 14, 2004 04:21 PMAlso what if you get debt-free and rich by exploiting everyone else's debt?
Something I think about often. A true capitalistic economy runs from debt ...
Posted by: methodius at October 14, 2004 04:23 PMvery true, good comments. How do you know which aspects of your surrounding environment you really need to be "countering". Is it "relative" or are there some definate things we need to be resisting? For example, a church that won't have musical instruments because they are of the culture and are not scriputural, but they have a telephone in the office and have tv and vcr. hmm..
Posted by: marshall at October 16, 2004 07:51 PMalso another example, how about an amish community that rejects technology, but has an answering machine in the barn for people who are wanting to buy their products.
Posted by: marshall at October 16, 2004 08:03 PMHey, let's come up with some things that describe your terms. What are some things that would look "culturally relevant". What are some things that would truly be "countercultural"?
Posted by: marshall at October 16, 2004 08:06 PM