Monday 21 March 2011

Making Revolution Irresistible

In chapter 11, Shane talks about the spirit of revolution. He tells of how as a younger man, he was "dumbfounded and outraged by the apathy of the church", but in the protest movement found an aggressiveness and judgementalism reminiscent of that in the church.
I began to feel a self-righteousness mirroring that of conservative christianity. I handed out flyers to convert people to the movement and felt as coercive and detached as I did handing out Christian tracts at the mall.

I should point out, for clarification, that Shane is not saying we should avoid protesting. "While most activists could use a good dose of gentleness, I think most believers could use a good dose of holy anger." Instead he believes that the revolution can be done in a different way - and tells a striking story of a conversation on a plane that started with some homemade cookies.

He includes the church when saying "There are plenty of people who define themselves by what they are not, whose identity revolves around what they are against rather than what they are for.

He suggests the problem is that we have forgotten how to laugh - which is important in a world that is starving for joy. "Most people are aware that something is wrong. The real question is, What are the alternatives?"
I take great courage from the fact that many of us are taking steps toward a gentler revolution. ... Celebration is at the very core of our kingdom, and hopefully that celebration will make its way into the darkest corners of our world - the ghettos and refugee camps, and the palaces and prisons

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