[Ariadna: If I did not know who the author of “What the Church Could Learn from Harley-Davidson” is I couldn’t decide if he was a 20-year-old firebrand (given his undiminished optimism in human perfectibility) or an octogenarian sage (given his unsparing eye, unerringly spotting the shameful foibles of Western Christianity).
By contrast, he describes Christianity and Islam in the “Holy Land” and environs thus:
“Out there the Christian faith, and true Islam, still mean something. The besieged churches in Jerusalem are strong and resolute against an all-enveloping evil, while here in the leafy comfort zone of greed and affluence they are… well, who would miss them?
Stu Littlewood’s essay is a beautifully rendered exhortation to return Christianity to its fundamentals:
“Cut the frills, leave out the unnecessary. Keep it simple, honest and uncompromising…”
He exemplifies what needs to be done by explaining the “truth” (my word) inherent in the simplicity of design of a … Harley Davidson bike — thoughts occasioned by his recent experience among Christian Biker clubs. I enclose a fragment below but the essay is well worth reading in its entirety here.]
What the Church Could Learn from Harley-Davidson
by Stuart Littlewood
Cut the frills, leave out the unnecessary. Keep it simple, honest and uncompromising…
There are always exceptions, but in general the Church seems to have lost the plot.
Countless times I‘ve walked into a church and asked if they had links to the Holy Land, only to receive a blank look. They care not one jot that the land where Christianity was born – the wellspring of their faith – is being systematically ransacked and stolen or that Christian and Muslim communities living there are brutally oppressed. The Established Church, I have concluded, is (with a few notable exceptions) more interested in contemplating its own navel. Its 26 bishops for the most part sit silent in the House of Lords while our sleazy politicians push their socially-damaging policies at home and warmongering ambitions abroad without any moral constraint.
They must take some of the blame for the present humanitarian crisis not only in the Middle East but in the foodbanks on our own streets.
Fortunately, Christianity isn’t totally kaput. I recently came across a Christian charity called Embrace the Middle East (aka EmbraceME), which works hard to tackle poverty and injustice through partnership with other Christian organisations in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Those who benefit are often Muslim families, and I like the sound of it especially now that God/Allah has seemingly abandoned not just the Holy Land but the entire region and left it teetering on the edge of the abyss. And consigned millions of innocent humans to a life of unimaginably suffering.
Out there the Christian faith, and true Islam, still mean something. The besieged churches in Jerusalem are strong and resolute against an all-enveloping evil, while here in the leafy comfort zone of greed and affluence they are… well, who would miss them?
…
Give us a new bare-bones, stripped-back, “Dark Custom” Christianity
…
How interesting to see that the Harley trend today is also towards toned-down, blacked-out minimalism. They call it “Dark Custom…. bare-boned and stripped back to the core”.
Why? Because it spells power and no-nonsense. It’s for those, says Harley, who have no need for frills and no interest in convention, no respect for the status quo and no place for the unnecessary. Remind you of anyone?
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Interesting. (Recheck your usage of “environ.”)
Thanks, NLG. Make that “environs,” plural.
Ah yes interesting (as NLG) Philosophically religious almost poetry and maybe a “spiritual ” spur to some and yes there are plenty of organisations that try to help those in Palestine that are being racially cleansed I am in contact with several. But while believing in a “Higher Being ” I prefer the more harder approach to the “Jewish situation ” ,why ? because your average Jew will “walk all over ” the goodness/niceness implied just like an Abrams Tank which has in reality driven all over many Palestinians -men.women and children . They have admitted it by their actions – they dont care nor give a -amm for its all down to Jewish Profit ,its the Christians in this World that give of themselves and their money to charities etc the Jews just laugh and say= never give a sucker an even brake ” a “lovely ” Jewish inspired social comment . Where do the Jews spend their money ,well on the Media for one it comes as no surprise that 96 % of the World Media -films/newspapers /internet etc is owned by SIX Jewish companies even the ones with kosher christian names . So bow down to our Real “god ” the Jew because he knows he controls most of us in reality in mind/body and yes even soul (think christian fundamentalists ) the back-bone of Israel and all things Jewish . Hallelujah ! sing thankful hymns to our real owners for allowing us to exist (so far ) .
Christianity is the Sermon on the Mount,Beatitudes, and New Covenant.
All of this breaks from Judaism .Drop the Old Testament construct,and it takes off.