Austin Seminary Book Club discussion
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Learning to Walk in the Dark
October 2014
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October Book of the Month: Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
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In scripture, darkness is often seen as a negative, a metaphor for an absence of God. In this book, BBT explores a different view of spirituality. What if we embrace the dark times in our lives as well as the brightly lit and see them as periods for growth and reflection?
I haven't started the book yet, but in mystical tradition the "night of sense" or the "dark night of the soul" is often seen as a gift of God that is given to those who need the maturity of functioning without a clear sense of the presence of God. It builds faith that God is present even when that sense of presence might not be.BTW, thanks for doing this, Jo. I have been wanting to read the book and this will get me going!
Mod
Great question, Jo.
-Adam Sweeney-
I like BBT's contrast between solar theology and lunar theology. There is a very important pastoral distinction between the idea that there must be light in order for God to be present and an affirmation that we all experience times of waxing and waning light and dark. Furthermore, her point that it is important to see the positives in darkness rather than setting up a false dichotomy that light is always good and dark is always bad is important theologically as well. I am reminded of Michael Lindval's sermon about the divine "nochotomy" which emphasized our tendency to set up unnecessary and false dichotomies. FYI, I am listening to the audio book which is read by BBT herself--a real treat!
Actually, I believe BBT uses the terms "solar spirituality" and "lunar spirituality." I wonder what difference use of the word "spirituality" instead of "theology" makes?
BBT has become the poster child for "spiritual but not religious" folks, and she does not affiliate with a particular church or even religion any longer. To me, this helps her reach a new audience, particularly those who have been disenfranchised with the church.
I finished reading BBT’s “Dark” book at the beach this week (that is one of the perks of being retired). I found myself much more attentive to daylight and darkness, watching sunrises and sunsets, as well as the fading of a sliver of moon as the sun illuminated the eastern sky. I was also more in tune with the fact that the presence or absence of sunlight determines our daylight and dark, while the moon controls the movement of the tides in the great ocean. I also remembered the words to a song shared by Richard Boyce (Dean of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte; UPS-Richmond is my other seminary) at a recent educational event for pastors and educators here in Charleston WV. It is a gospel song “On the Other Side of Through,” taking off from “through the valley of darkness” in the psalm. It is a more traditional approach to darkness and light. If you want to read the lyrics, here is a link: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/ja...Thanks for another good read.
Before October ends I want to say how much I liked "Learning to Walk in the Dark." I thought Taylor's writing was luminous (slight pun intended) and she inspired me to think of all the Bible stories that take place in the dark. Not unlike the desert, amazing things sometimes happen in the dark when we are open to God's voice. I like things decent and orderly (I am a Presbyterian after all!) but I am learning to lean into the chaos of the darkness and find God's order even there. Thanks for including this on the book list.
"From the New York Times bestselling author of An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark provides a way to find spirituality in those times when we don’t have all the answers.
Taylor has become increasingly uncomfortable with our tendency to associate all that is good with lightness and all that is evil and dangerous with darkness. Doesn’t God work in the nighttime as well? In Learning to Walk in the Dark, Taylor asks us to put aside our fears and anxieties and to explore all that God has to teach us “in the dark.” She argues that we need to move away from our “solar spirituality” and ease our way into appreciating “lunar spirituality” (since, like the moon, our experience of the light waxes and wanes). Through darkness we find courage, we understand the world in new ways, and we feel God’s presence around us, guiding us through things seen and unseen. Often, it is while we are in the dark that we grow the most.
With her characteristic charm and literary wisdom, Taylor is our guide through a spirituality of the nighttime, teaching us how to find our footing in times of uncertainty and giving us strength and hope to face all of life’s challenging moments."
Please welcome Jo Kretzler and let's get the discussion started!