06.22.06
postmodern cat
“There was once a teacher of great faith and insight. Several disciples gathered round him to learn from his wisdom. It so happened that each time the small community met in prayer, the cat would come in and distract them. The teacher ordered the cat tied whenever the community prayed. Eventually the great one died, but the cat continued to be tied up at worship time. When the cat died, another cat was bought to make sure that the teacher’s wishes were still faithfully observed. Centuries passed, and learned treatises were written by scholarly disciples on the liturgical significance of tying up a cat while worship is performed…..”
Mike Riddell, “Parables from the God-Zone”
simmerings of a saxon » Whose Box? said,
June 22, 2006 at 9:53 pm
[...] Tail of a Cat [...]
NextReformation » Borderland Churches V said,
December 16, 2009 at 10:01 am
[...] I was particularly glad to see this discussion arise here, because frankly until we understand that many of the issues we face are cultural issues, we are forever going to spin our wheels. Changing a culture is much more difficult than simply changing a few behaviors. And we need to understand how culture is maintained in order to effect change. If our goal is discipleship and formation toward an alternative kingdom, then we are now at the heart of the issue. After giving an example of an action that did not take the congregational culture seriously, Gary notes: “The unique themes and unwritten rules are known as constructs.” And I suspect that we are getting very close to Charles Taylors “social imaginary.” Gary also refers to these constructs as assumptions and a congregational mythology (94). This story about cats and monks by Mike Riddell illustrates the idea. [...]