Comments on: Tempations, shared paths and religious accountability

By: jandrewm

jandrewm — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:35 +0000

Music is deeply important to me (perhaps too important), and especially the experience of singing or playing with others: this creates a powerful sense of community that can have positive effects elsewhere.
Too, music can be a way of expressing truths and articulating lived experience through the body. I’m thinking for example of what Du Bois called the “sorrow songs” of African-Americans in the 19th century, who saw in music a powerful way to make sense of their tragedy of captivity.
So I’m committed to a vision of music as meaningful and spiritually grounded. That said, I also cherish the Quaker tradition of critique you’re exploring here, and see it as a necessary partner in that internal dialogue I will continue to have about the relationship between aesthetics and faith. I do think that these aesthetic questions are really important for a spiritual life, and I thank you for directing me to a text (Clarkson) that can further my exploration of the theme.
Thanks,
Andy

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:05:16 +0000

Martin
Only joking! I’m not even a Quaker (yet), only an attender. And the “I’m a Quaker, so I [do or don’t]” line probably contributes to the Quakers’ reputation for self-righteousness.
I too long for a community practising collective inquiry, instruction and accountability. And that did it without falling under the yoke of oppressive legalism, (think of the Brethren in Lake Wobegon placing each other under the ban over hot baths and women wearing slacks…)
Jeremiah

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:16:30 +0000

Thanks to both Raye and Jeremiah for interesting additions. I do want to reiterate that I personally don't feel led to give up music. Being the typical GenX Quaker male I play the guitar enough to bang out chords and I like singing out loud when the house is empty. I try to keep up with musical trends and actually talk a lot about music over on my Twitter feed. My interest in Clarkson's dissection of Quaker scruples around music was his explanation of its rationales. I do think we should be conscious of how we consume media, not just music but now TVs and computers, and how our participation active and passive strengthens or hinders our spiritual journey. For what it's worth, Jeremiah, I've stricken from my vocabulary the argument that starts "I'm a Quaker, so I [do or don't]." If I can't explain it without appeal to authority then I have a myth on my hands! Ah but I'm getting ahead of myself once more: plain dress will probably be next and will talk about lifestyle & authority more.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:16:31 +0000

Martin
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I’m looking forward to hearing more about Thomas Clarkson’s take on Quakers.
For a full-on early Quaker critique of music from a ‘reformed musician’ (as in ‘reformed alcoholic’), you could try Humphrey Smith’s ‘To the musicioners’ (http://home.att.net/~quakart/texts/hs-orig.htm). Amidst the rant (the blogosphere has nothing on the pamphleteers of the English Republic) it’s just about possible to make out the thread of an argument, or at least an association of ideas: Music and dancing are the products of a violent, urban, luxurious society and a sign of the stiff-necked pride of people who have forgotten their Lord and instead idolatrously worship God’s creatures. “When the Harp and the musike goe they must worship the Image in the world’s figure.” What would he make of MTV?
Smith only really considers music in its wild, uproarious, good-time aspect, and he finds it natural that the Israelites in exile should have hung up their harps in sorrow. It doesn’t seem to occur to him that music could also be sorrowful, calming, gentle, or an expression of human solidarity. Something as essential to human wellbeing as well, erm, ritual.
For these reasons I can’t go along with him, or the early Quakers generally, when it comes to music. Did they really not sing lullabies or dandling-songs or counting-rhymes to their children? I’m currently separated from my wife and daughter (thanks to UK immigration rules), and whilst having a coherent conversation over the phone with a two-year-old is very difficult, singing instantly re-establishes the bond between us.
Having said that, I think you’re right in suggesting that the Quaker critique of music still has something to teach us. For a start, much music-making seems to be bound up with idolising oppressive social hierarchies, as Smith clearly sensed. With classical music it’s the mystique of the aristocracy and the old high bourgeoisie. With popular music it’s the tyranny of cool, of the beautiful, sexy people over everyone else. And of having to conform to this or that consumer tribe so that I can give a street-credible answer to the questioners who ask, “What music do you like, then?” Next time I’ll be tempted to answer, “I’m a Quaker, so I don’t listen to worldly music.”
Jeremiah

By: Raye

Raye — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:02:27 +0000

Martin,
Every thought I have about this contains a paradox, and at least one point that can be argued against. I am going to send this anyway, because I would like to think that we are capable of being open to the Spirit and being taught how to live with paradox as we build our community.
The practices that hurt and hinder include, I think, the ways in which we watch ourselves and each other in matters of practice.
The regular honest response to queries can help. Tricky parts are wiping one´s mental slate clean from thoughts like, “I answered this LAST year. No one is going to listen to this. This takes so much time.” I find that listening to and responding to queries is very helpful. It is also helpful to really listen to the responses of other members of my meeting.
If a person has decided to participate, in the interest of strengthening the meeting and individuals of the meeting, queries can start some useful communication. It can get at some of the dirt that can get swept under the rug.
Another tricky part is getting Friends to see themselves as people who can help the community become healthier (this includes moral behavior). Many of us seem stuck in a Peter Pan (pardon the worldly literary reference) persona — we do not feel grown up enough to address behaviors that may be wounding individuals or the community. Ignoring harmful behaviors hinders our spiritual lives.
At times it seems we misinterpret the golden rule to mean, “leave me alone and I will leave thee alone.”
If I am going to get the speck out of someone´s eye, my own log must be removed. The admonition Jesus gave did not, I think, imply that I can never get the log removed from my own eye. I think it implies that that is job number one, not that it is impossible.
I think that log removal is a painful process. But after it has been done, it can leave a person very sensitive to the needs of people who could use some guidance, and therefore reduces the likelihood that instruction will be tainted with pride or power lust.
It helps if there is agreement that the spiritual health and maturity of the meeting (at any level — monthy, quarterly, yearly) is a BIG priority. If it matters to me, then I will be more receptive to correction or instruction or redirection, because that is helping me get somewhere I want to go. So another hindrance is failure to discuss and come to agreement on the importance of health and maturity of the society.
I find a number of practices helpful spiritually. One is making time to wander over to the neighbors´ and visit, especially if I can bring a gift, like garlic just out of the garden, or berries or flowers. Another is limiting exposure to pop culture. In my case, the choice of songs I learn and play on my evoharp (chorded zither) matters. I prefer gospel songs and hymns. But some other songs speak spiritual truth and I include them in my repertoire. I think very hard about venue. Most of my playing has been for worship services. Once I played at a wedding, once for a couple of hundred inner city high school students as part of Diversity Day (I´ll Fly Away and Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross).
Chopping wood and growing food are very helpful to me. Just the sense of how much labor goes into obtaining the basics has given me better perspective.
Time to send this on. Thanks for the posts on this. It matters to me (as thee may have guessed).