Re: Moviegoer and despair


Subject: Re: Moviegoer and despair
From: Jim Woods (TrlBlzrOne@AOL.COM)
Date: Wed Nov 17 1999 - 07:23:39 EST


Re: the thread on despair I offer some ruminations...

For an eye opener I commend reading Augustine's Confessions, particularly his
discussion of his conversion. Key to that were his contacts through his
mother with the Christian community...both in the form of prayer and in the
form of catechesis. In other words, the move from gnostic despair to faith
on Augustine's part involved not simply a personal change of view, but
movement toward a community and finally, participation in a community in
which despair is seen for what it is:angelism/aestheticism as a prop for
pride. Despair can be a waystation on the journey toward faith or it can
become the final 'blind spot' of pride.

A contrast with Augustine, and a fine presentation of the
angelism/aestheticism is Rouseau's Confessions. His writing epitomizes what
Kierkegarrd meant by 'despair not being aware that it is despair--e.g. the
'final blind' spot of pride. Rouseau, if he were alive would be on ALL the
talk shows...

Relative to the discussion of this thread here, there is a fine essay (a
commencement address, actually) by Marion Montgomery in the October Issue of
First Things which can be found
at:http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9910/opinion/montgomery.html The
essay's title is Angelism and the Provincial Self. This might interest some
on the board.

And, in closing, a Blessed and happy Thanksgiving to all!

jim



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