Firstly, another apology. It's quite a basic one, but please accept my apologies that there is nothing new in this post which has not been said better, but better people at a better time. But... in my defence, I just wanted to point you towards a great article in yesterday's Guardian (I now get to read the Guardian on a diary basis thanks to the OCD of my new/old flatmate Mark).
The piece in question was about Wikipedia, but spoke more widely to other web 2.0 and wiki projects.
The piece is written by Nicholson Baker, and because it is written by an author of fiction, has flair which most journalists struggle to achieve.
There was one small section of the piece which really struck me...
"...when people did help they were given a flattering name. They were "editors". It was like a giant community leaf-raking project in which everyone was called a groundsman. Some brought very fancy professional metal rakes, or even back-mounted leaf-blowing systems, and some were just kids thrashing away with the sides of their feet or stuffing handfuls in the pockets of their sweatshirts, but all the leaves they brought to the pile were appreciated.
And the pile grew and everyone jumped up and down in it, having a wonderful time. And it grew some more, and it became the biggest leaf pile anyone had ever seen, a world wonder."
I just thought this was a rather beautiful little parable of the Kingdom of God.
But... like Jesus, Nicholson goes on...
"And then self-promoted leaf-pile guards appeared, doubters and deprecators who would look askance at your proffered handful and shake their heads, saying that your leaves were too crumpled or too slimy or too common, throwing them to the side. And that was too bad. The people who guarded the leaf pile this way were called "deletionists".
But that came later. First it was just fun."
I know many would argue that my proposition is wrong and theologically flawed... but... in the first bit... isn't he talking about a priesthood of believers?
Posts
1 comment:
what a lovely illustration - what is described sounds like a lot of the community partnership projects that i have been involved with over the last while - some of which have gone on to become new baby churches where the priesthood of all believers is very evident in the way described in the article - i am not sure at which point they actually became a wee baby church (but maybe it is like salvation and only God knows that)- or maybe it was at the point when they all made a stand against the mind-benders and rule-enforcers of the orthodox who came to criticise their lack of 'churchness' - there is something about being 'deleted' in that way that galvanises groups to stand together and crystalise their identity - but that is a bit of an extreme and cynical view (friday, long week, poorly - that's my excuse) !!! xxj
Post a Comment