The Church as Culture

[JohnL]

I certainly don't mind if churches do not have sweeping bans on TV and radio. I care more about where a church is headed. I know of a couple churches that are not Anabaptist, and have similar standards to ADC and BMA. But the rank and file are headed in opposite directions. In one group, the majority of the rank and file are trying to move in the direction of more biblically principled living. In the other group the majority of the rank and file are transitioning towards less principled living, like that of many rank and file Evangelicals.
If I was to address anything, it would be that. Not whether they make sweeping bans on things.

These regulations on banned activities. Is it because they feel the need to support and protect the membership from the worldly and ugly side of society?

[Jazman]

...But I do somewhat mourn the fact that everyone in my life has an extremely shallow view of most human creative expression. Even books are judged and valued on a very surface-level understanding.

I find this interesting. Do you think Anabaptism in general has a creative/arts problem?

I know you're asking P+T, but as a creative, intuitive oriented I would answer an all caps YES to your question. I would also include nearly all of american low church evangelicalism as well as having a 'problem' in general with the creative/arts... But I also understand the value of guarding ourselves/discerning influences, etc... Like everything it's very complicated, but I'm with P+T in also being uncomfortable with the blanket/simplistic? or surface-level or fear-reaction tendency in dealing with it.

[barnhart]

...But I do somewhat mourn the fact that everyone in my life has an extremely shallow view of most human creative expression. Even books are judged and valued on a very surface-level understanding.

I find this interesting. Do you think Anabaptism in general has a creative/arts problem?

I know you're asking P+T, but as a creative, intuitive oriented I would answer an all caps YES to your question. I would also include nearly all of american low church evangelicalism as well as having a 'problem' in general with the creative/arts... But I also understand the value of guarding ourselves/discerning influences, etc... Like everything it's very complicated, but I'm with P+T in also being uncomfortable with the blanket/simplistic? or surface-level or fear-reaction tendency in dealing with it.

What do you offer as alternative?

[Ernie]

I certainly don't mind if churches do not have sweeping bans on TV and radio. I care more about where a church is headed. I know of a couple churches that are not Anabaptist, and have similar standards to ADC and BMA. But the rank and file are headed in opposite directions. In one group, the majority of the rank and file are trying to move in the direction of more biblically principled living. In the other group the majority of the rank and file are transitioning towards less principled living, like that of many rank and file Evangelicals.
If I was to address anything, it would be that. Not whether they make sweeping bans on things.

These regulations on banned activities. Is it because they feel the need to support and protect the membership from the worldly and ugly side of society?

Yes, for the same reason we protect our children and youth from certain things.

A five year old, cannot handle what a ten year old can handle. A 10 yr old a 15 yr. old. etc.
Most families have some rules for young children that they do not have for older children.
But families sometimes make rules that apply to everyone in the home, even if the rule is designed for the younger children.
And then there are some things that are off limits to everyone in the home because it is viewed as something that will not be healthy for the family as a whole.

So it is in Plain Anabaptist churches.
There are rules for teens that are different from adults. (e.g. chaperones for teens and dating couples)
There are rules for everybody that are for the benefit of the weak. (e.g. not allowing smartphones or unfiltered internet so that the weak have less exposure to temptations towards lasciviousness, consumerism, wasting time on the internet, etc.)
And then there are rules in some communities because of how allowing things like this will impact long-term community dynamics and community values. (e.g. "no vehicles" or "no streaming media")

[PeterG]

:

Yes. Generic American Christianity even more so.

Which is extremely frustrating given the extraordinary artistic heritage that Christianity possesses.

What is the missing belief or philosophy.

Good question. I suspect it has something to do with the effort required to access and build on our artistic heritage. People take the path of least resistance (and I don't necessarily blame them as individuals for it).

[joshuabgood]

:

Yes. Generic American Christianity even more so.

Which is extremely frustrating given the extraordinary artistic heritage that Christianity possesses.

What is the missing belief or philosophy.

The primacy of the protestant work ethic.

[Ernie]

:

Which is extremely frustrating given the extraordinary artistic heritage that Christianity possesses.

What is the missing belief or philosophy.

The primacy of the protestant work ethic.

So Catholics and Orthodox are willing to forgo additional income, in order to savor art?

[Praxis+Theodicy]

...But I do somewhat mourn the fact that everyone in my life has an extremely shallow view of most human creative expression. Even books are judged and valued on a very surface-level understanding.

I find this interesting. Do you think Anabaptism in general has a creative/arts problem?

I don't think so; at least, not Anabaptism at its core. Maybe some of the things Anabaptism has gathered into its nest is more to blame for that problem, if/where it exists. Like fundamentalism.

[Ernie]

...But I do somewhat mourn the fact that everyone in my life has an extremely shallow view of most human creative expression. Even books are judged and valued on a very surface-level understanding.

I find this interesting. Do you think Anabaptism in general has a creative/arts problem?

I don't think so; at least, not Anabaptism at its core. Maybe some of the things Anabaptism has gathered into its nest is more to blame for that problem, if/where it exists. Like fundamentalism.

In what ways did early Anabaptists embrace creative expression and the arts?

[ohio jones]

In what ways did early Anabaptists embrace creative expression and the arts?

Hutterite faience is one example from the 16th century. Not just for their own use, it was produced for sale and was very popular among the Moravian nobility. Here are some examples on display at the Täufermuseum Niedersulz.