Peter Rollins's Blog, page 23

The Error Speaks a Truth

http://peterrollins.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/PR.Ghost_.Oct2014.mp3

This is a talk I gave at SundayService over Halloween in LA. The talk explores the themes of the truth and desire by looking at the notion of Freudian slips in individual, artistic and communal settings. During the talk I look at the nature of fame, self-alienation, the super ego, the symptom and structural change.

The Ghosts Shall Set You Free

http://peterrollins.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Truth-Will-Set-You-Free.m4a

In this talk I gave in Mars Hill I explore the themes of desire, truth and repression. Here I delve into how personal, political and religious structures resist facing with their own innermost conflicts, but that this avoidance ends up causing all manner of problems.  Instead I outline the transformative power that rests in facing what we repress.

For Those With Ears to Hear (2009)

Building on themes from earlier my early interview with Rob Bell (see below), I introduce some ideas designed to help short-circuits many of the popular ideas concerning Christianity alive today in the actual existing church.

Let’s Pretend the World Is the Way That It Is

I’m currently exploring the possibility of releasing a paperback version of The Orthodox Heretic and was looking over some of my old parables. I’ve a particular connection with the one below, as it was the first I ever wrote. I remember that it came to me late one night after I’d seen a bumper sticker that read, “If Christianity were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

If you want to hear the rest of my parables as they were intended (i.e. with an Irish accent), click here, or you can buy the book here.

 

In a world where following Christ is decreed to be a subversive and illegal activity, you have been accused of being a believer, arrested, and dragged before a court.

You have been under clandestine surveillance for some time now, and so the prosecution has been able to build up quite a case against you. They begin the trial by offering the judge dozens of photographs that show you attending church meetings, speaking at religious events, and participating in various prayer and worship services. After this, they present a selection of items that have been confiscated from your home: religious books that you own, worship CDs, and other Christian artifacts. Then they step up the pace by displaying many of the poems, pieces of prose, and journal entries that you had lovingly written concerning your faith. Finally, in closing, the prosecution offers your Bible to the judge. This is a well-worn book with scribbles, notes, drawings, and underlings throughout, evidence, if it were needed, that you had read and re-read this sacred text many times.

Throughout the case you have been sitting silently in fear and trembling. You know deep in your heart that with the large body of evidence that has been amassed by the prosecution you face the possibility of a long imprisonment or even execution. At various times throughout the proceedings you have lost all confidence and have been on the verge of standing up and denying Christ. But while this thought has plagued your mind throughout the trial, you resist the temptation and remain focused.

Once the prosecution has finished presenting their case the judge proceeds to ask if you have anything to add, but you remain silent and resolute, terrified that if you open your mouth, even for a moment, you might deny the charges made against you. Like Christ, you remain silent before your accusers. In response you are led outside to wait as the judge ponders your case.

The hours pass slowly as you sit under guard in the foyer waiting to be summoned back. Eventually a young man in uniform appears and leads you into the courtroom so that you may hear the verdict and receive word of your punishment. Once you have been seated in the dock the judge, a harsh and unyielding man, enters the room, stands before you, looks deep into your eyes and begins to speak,

“Of the charges that have been brought forward I find the accused not guilty.”

“Not guilty?” your heart freezes. Then, in a split second, the fear and terror that had moments before threatened to strip your resolve are swallowed up by confusion and rage.

Despite the surroundings, you stand defiantly before the judge and demand that he give an account concerning why you are innocent of the charges in light of the evidence.

“What evidence?” he replies in shock.

“What about the poems and prose that I wrote?” you reply.

“They simply show that you think of yourself as a poet, nothing more.”

“But what about the services I spoke at, the times I wept in church and the long, sleepless nights of prayer?”

“Evidence that you are a good speaker and actor, nothing more.” replied the judge, “It is obvious that you deluded those around you, and perhaps at times you even deluded yourself, but this foolishness is not enough to convict you in a court of law.”

“But this is madness!” you shout. “It would seem that no evidence would convince you!”

“Not so,” replies the judge as if informing you of a great, long-forgotten secret.

“The court is indifferent toward your Bible reading and church attendance; it has no concern for worship with words and a pen. Continue to develop your theology, and use it to paint pictures of love. We have no interest in such armchair artists who spend their time creating images of a better world. We exist only for those who would lay down that brush, and their life, in a Christ-like endeavor to create a better world. So, until you live as Christ and his followers did, until you challenge this system and become a thorn in our side, until you die to yourself and offer your body to the flames, until then, my friend, you are no enemy of ours.”

Rob Bell Interviews Peter (2009)

In this seminar from the Poets, Prophets and Preachers conference in 2009 I chat with Rob Bell about a variety of subjects that weave through theoretical and practical issues concerned with theological reformation. This early interview helps to draw out where some of the early currents of my thought. Previously this video was only available to people who purchased the book “Insurrection.”

Lakeside Chautauqua, Lakeside, OH

In 2016 I’ll be spending a week at the historic Lakeside Chautauqua resort. For more than 140 years, Lakeside Chautauqua has welcomed families to the Lake Erie shore to take part in a summer Chautauqua experience dedicated to challenging the mind, body and spirit.

 

SundayService, Los Angles, CA

SundayService is a weekly gathering committed to exploring the full spectrum of life through celebratory music and talks aimed at stimulating thought, provoking action and generating community. You will not be exposed to dogma but you will be challenged by thoughtful reflections drawn from religion, spirituality, philosophy and the arts. And you will find yourself in the company of a group of people committed to effecting change in their own lives and the world around them.

The address is Village Church, 343 South Church Lane, 90049

As it’s coming up to Halloween I’ll be speaking on the subject of poltergeists and holy ghosts.

 

Collective, DeLand, FL

I’m good friends with Collective and am looking forward to spending a few days giving public lectures, working with smaller groups and speaking at their gathering. I’ll be posting up more information in the coming weeks.

Tricks of the Light, Belfast, NI

Tricksters are transgressive figures that tarry with the gods. They play hazardous games that shake up heaven for the sake of earth. They’re harbingers of disruption, mischievous figures who carry chaos into the heart of any system that oppresses and justifies the status quo.

In this festival of incendiary ideas Peter will not only be speaking, but will also hand pick a collection of subversive artists, musicians, poets, activists and thinkers to shine light on how we might become tricksters within our own religious, political and cultural contexts.

Alongside Peter, the world-renowned philosopher and theologian John Caputo will be one of the festival speakers. He has written dozens of books, including The Weakness of God (Winner of the 2007 AAR award for Constructive-Reflective Studies in Religion) and What Would Jesus Deconstruct (Winner of the ForeWord Magazine Best Philosophy Book of 2007), and lectures across the world. Caputo’s work has been one of the main influences behind Peter’s project. This will be a rare oppurtunity to spend a few days alonside Peter and John as they wrestle through some of the most important issues facing the world of religion today.

The festival is limited to 40 and the ticket price does not include food or accommodation (although we will give you some cheap options). Also, there will be pre-event drinks on the evening of the 13th to give everyone a chance to hang out and get to know each other.

We fully expect to sell out this year (the early bird tickets went in less than a day), so if you want to be part of this experience, book now by following this link.

You can read more about the festive here

You can see pictures from the previous events here and here

Tricks of the Light

Tricksters are transgressive figures that tarry with the gods. They play hazardous games that shake up heaven for the sake of earth. They’re harbingers of disruption, mischievous figures who carry chaos into the heart of any system that oppresses and justifies the status quo.

In this festival of incendiary ideas Peter will not only be speaking, but will also hand pick a collection of subversive artists, musicians, poets, activists and thinkers to shine light on how we might become tricksters within our own religious, political and cultural contexts.

Alongside Peter, the world-renowned philosopher and theologian John Caputo will be one of the festival speakers. He has written dozens of books, including The Weakness of God (Winner of the 2007 AAR award for Constructive-Reflective Studies in Religion) and What Would Jesus Deconstruct (Winner of the ForeWord Magazine Best Philosophy Book of 2007), and lectures across the world. Caputo’s work has been one of the main influences behind Peter’s project. This will be a rare oppurtunity to spend a few days alonside Peter and John as they wrestle through some of the most important issues facing the world of religion today.

The festival is limited to 40 and the ticket price does not include food or accommodation (although we will give you some cheap options). Also, there will be pre-event drinks on the evening of the 13th to give everyone a chance to hang out and get to know each other.

We fully expect to sell out this year (the early bird tickets went in less than a day), so if you want to be part of this experience, book now by following this link.

You can read more about the festive here

You can see pictures from the previous events here and here