Our friends Dan Gillotte and Rosie Weaver, the founders of the godless, Austin-based church, the Church of Brunch, were featured on NPR’s “Weekend America” today. (Just follow that last link and scroll down all the way to the bottom for the story.) Their idea of separating fellowship from dogma is a powerful one, and my hope is that it takes root and thrives.
According to the story, other similar Sunday-morning, non-scripture-based initiatives are rising up around the country. That’s encouraging. I wonder, however, if it might be a century or so too late. (It’s hard to be optimistic after watching the trailer for the film “Jesus Camp.”) It just seems to me as though the fundamentalists are so entrenched, and growing so strong, that competing ideologies (especially ones that don’t contain within them the promise of 73 virgins, an eternity in Heaven, or anything else) don’t stand much of a chance… At any rate, I wish Dan, Rosie, and anyone else striving to bring people together and encourage personal connections in this increasingly isolated world of ours, the best of luck. In large part it’s the lack of such community on the left that drives people into the arms of the mega churches, and we have to offer a sustainable model to counter it. The people who are attempting to build that infrastructure are to be commended.
10 Comments
Are you volunteering your dining room next Sunday morning?
Sounds great. We’ll be there.
I think Mark is volunteering their dinning room for every Sunday! it’s a great act of generosity, and it’s enough to convert me to the Church of Brunch! Thanks Mark! See you Sunday.
I had Sunday Brunch AND Dinner at my house yesterday. I need to grow my flock (me, the fiance, a friend and the dog aren’t quite enough). I wonder if we could get official recognition as a church and not have to pay taxes or something… :)
i’ll bring fruit salad and my unitarian bible!
(hee hee, ‘unitarian bible’! :) )
Linette, I’m afraid, would leave me immediately if I were to announce that I planned to start a church. Sorry.
I may be able to drop in with a coffee cake once or twice a month, but that’s about all I can commit to at this time. I
You should all just move to Austin! Thanks Mark!
Even if we lose against the godful hordes, we have to try, right?
that jesus camp trailer is the scariest fucking thing i’ve seen in years. the only thing close to it was the nazi youth movement back in the 30’s and 40’s. brrrrr!
Um…is Jesus Camp really a movie? Or is it a spoof, like when someone reset the scenes from The Shining to make it look like a comedy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11B9L2awVA)? I’m pretty confused here.
According to http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com, it’ll be playing at the Maple Art in Bloomfield, MI on Oct. 6.
Road Trip!