Meme of the same?

Memes are rather inspired idea – if they didn’t exist you’d have to make them up…

What’s a meme? Well, Richard Dawkins coined the phrase to refer ‘to a replicator of cultural information that one mind transmits (verbally or by demonstration) to another mind’ (so says Wikipedia – a concise definition indeed, considering tomes have been written on the subject).

I first came across them when studying political theory – there’s some fascinating stuff out there about ‘spontaneous’ revolution, the spread of any given ideology, and political control/ manipulation.

Some memes have an intensely practical function, like honing and passing on centuries of knowledge in order to not reinvent the wheel (literally). Others are the things that make us creatures of the herd, seeking safety in numbers, to look and sound similar and behave within the norms of a group.

Other examples of basic memes might be jingles, catchphrases, fashion, urban myths – anything adopted from visual or verbal demonstrations picked up and passed on from human to human. They can be linguistic, physical, cultural, practical, ideological…

Two of the best recent examples of memes are the use of the word “babes” in the Big Brother house (even if you’ve seen 10 mins you’ll know what I mean), and the overnight appearance (and disappearance) of En-ger-land flags on cars.

Inspired by my fairly basic knowledge of the meme, Dave’s “EC impostor” cartoon, and TSK’s photo of the same phenomenon, I’m wondering what are the memes in the emerging church? Mac ownership/ use surely has to be one. But what are the others – past or present or emerging?

Wikipedia EC definition

It took several things, including the discussions on Mark and Andrew's blogs about a possible network for the EC's in the UK, for me to even bother to look at the Wikipedia entry on the Emerging Church.

Glad that I mentioned it now - but the warning about getting embroiled in the editorial stuff is duly noted....

WARNING - recycling rant...

Sparked by Dave’s post about a greener Essex, I recently looked up the ranking of our 10 Greater Manchester authorities to see how we were all fairing… There’s a list of 393 councils ranked by total % for 2004-05. And boy, does it make some interesting reading… When ranked by total recycling %s, Stockport comes 40 out of 393, only 199 places above its nine fellow councils.

Stockport - position 40 out of 393
14.60% recycling
16.25% composting
30.85% total

Bury - position 239 out of 393
10.63% recycling
8.06% composting
15.26% total

Manchester - position 317 out of 393
14.78% recycling
0.48% composting
15.26% total

Wigan - position 321 out of 393
11.79% recycling
3.25% composting
15.04% total

Bolton - position 355 out of 393
10.31% recycling
2.78% composting
13.09% total

Salford - position 357 out of 393
12.13% recycling
0.71% composting
12.84% total

Tameside - position 359 out of 393
11.41% recycling
1.11% composting
12.52% total

Rochdale - position 371 out of 393
8.61% recycling
3.04% composting
11.65% total

Oldham - position 381 out of 393
7.88% recycling
2.89% composting
10.77% total

Trafford - position 384 out of 393
10.39% recycling
0.08% composting
10.47% total

And frankly reading that column made me start to get angry. If Stockport can do it why can’t Manchester and the others? Grrrrr…

Hang on a sec.

There are some little insights in there if you reorder the rankings by recycling ONLY - in which case Manchester comes highest with 14.78%, a full seven percentage points above the lowest area Oldham. And if you arrange it by composting ONLY then Stockport is still the king at more than 14%, but Salford, Manchester and Trafford, the three most urban authorities, are all under less than 1%. Less leafy gardens to prune and less lawns to mow per chance?

Come to think of it, although some of our recycling ends up in the Whitworth Street bins in the city, if we ever shift any amount of stuff in a vehicle to the recycling centre, or by foot to the supermarket, then they’re both in Salford. Is it possible that we’re tampering with the ratings simply by being networked across a tightly packed urban area where there are sometimes three authorities within a few miles of each other?

I suppose what really makes me cross is that we have no bin system at home – we’re told that it’s too complicated for the city centre flats. So how exactly have Bath been managing it fine for many years, in a cobbled Georgian city?? Mind you having seen Paul’s rant maybe it’s all for the best that we fend for ourselves…

Changing tunes, or just more of the same?

I was at the Changing Tunes conference not so long ago for work, and spent most of the afternoon plenary session listening to people make the following comments about music education:

1 - the majority of activities are still "come to us", venue-based opportunities to engage
2 - it is attractional to people like us, but we need to work on diversity and outreach through audience development
3 - we need to move out of silos with regard to the current cultural offer, and provide mixed-economy opportunities
4 - we can only provide models and principles, not blueprints
5 - we must insist on sharing learning, esp through storytelling
6 - we must out-think the orthodoxies
7 - sometimes it's difficult to tell the baby from the bathwater

You see, it got me thinking about the sort of conversations that happen so often on blogs and around the emerging church, so allow me to "translate":

1 - the majority of churches are still "come to us", venue-based opportunities to engage
2 - it is attractional to people like us, but we need to work on diversity and outreach through mission
3 - we need to move out of denominations with regard to the current spiritual offer
4 - we can only provide models and principles, not blueprints
5 - we must insist on sharing learning, esp through storytelling
6 - we must out-think the orthodoxies
7 - sometimes it's difficult to tell the baby from the bathwater

Spot the difference?

Shameless

Sanctus1 present

‘Shameless’

Date: Sunday 23 July
Venue: Sacred Trinity
Time: 8pm

Technorati Tags: sanctus

A tagline for post-modernity?

Trapped in the internet: more links nonsense

Here are some more God-themed links. You love it, you really do.

At Sanctus, we like to bash people with bibles until they repent. Er, okay, we don't, but I really think we ought to be more blunt. This Mac-themed tract ought to do the trick. Or how about setting up a Jesus Camp as seen in this video - do keep watching because it goes off on a spectacular tangent at 2 minutes 15 seconds.

There is nothing a gay likes better than a bit of religion. With news this week that the Paramount Comedy channel is to air their Scientology-baiting Trapped In The Closet episode, here's a six-minute reminder on YouTube why this cartoon series remains both goofy and intelligent all at the same time. Meanwhile, here's a spoof Christian video that may offend if you don't like jokes about sex.

Speaking of shows, prepare your telly for a couple of new programmes: Rageh Omaar returns to the BBC to do something serious about Jesus' miracles, while veteran rapper (and Adamski collaborator) Kurtis Blow will mix God and rhymes on Hip Hop America.

Finally, um, women's issues. Eve was a 'sheila' according to this new Australian Bible, while America's tallest Lady has got God.

Streuth.

Amusing, enjoyable, cute

'Tara Mullan is Jewish and an atheist; her husband, too, is an atheist. Most Sundays find them in the congregation listening to a traditional Church of England service in the local church with their two children, aged five and one. "Do I find it strange?" Tara wonders, sitting in the large, light living room of her London flat. "At first I found it amusing. Then I started to enjoy it. It's a nice family outing. It's rare that you have an hour to sit and be still, it's a time to reflect. Even if the words are gobbledygook to me, I like the music, I like the beautiful building, and the smell of the incense. My children enjoy it. They love going up for the blessing. The vicar touches their heads and says, 'God bless you' and they have started to say 'Amen', which I think is very cute."'

This is the introductory quote from an article in this morning's Guardian about parents "sneaking" their kids into church schools. I suppose that deserves a post in itself, but it was more her explanation and interpretation of what she does get out of going into that building for an hour on a Sunday morning that struck me (apart from getting her kids into a better school). Is this really what we as the church are modeling and showing to people?

On the one hand, it seems pretty good overall - an hour of reflection, time as a family, nice surroundings, some good tunes, a fairly sensory experience by the sounds of it.

On the other hand, if that's what she's getting from going there week after week, isn't she missing something? Isn't the church missing something? Is she not seeing or being shown any community or building of relationships? Any sense of purpose beyond the here and now? Any love or belonging or acceptance?... And I wonder what that vicar or any congregation member thinks reading that article over their breakfast?

Escape to Safety

Sanctus1 have brought the Escape to Safety exhibition to Manchester city centre this week. It's outside St Ann's church and is open between 10 am and 4pm Mon-Thurs - and it is superb! It's a exhibition based in the back of a HGV trailer and explores the journey of a refugee who is trying to get to the UK. It's a powerful exhibition and hopefully will counter some of the lies that certain elements of the media tell us about refugees and asylum seekers.

Technorati Tags: Justice, Manchester

Snap Crackle and Pop

Father Horvak: What's confusing you this week?
Frankie: Oh, it's the same old "one God-three God" thing.
Father Horvak: Frankie, most people figure out by kindergarten it's about faith.
Frankie: Is it sort of like Snap Crackle and Pop, all rolled into one big box?
Father Horvak: You're standing outside my church, comparing God to Rice Crispies?

(Quote from Million Dollar Baby)


PS - Am too cut up to write anything at all about Dr Who. Maybe once I’ve come to terms with the “apart for eternity” thing then I’ll have a go. Till then...

From church signs to fancy pants

Sunday? Day of rest? Pah. There be interweb surfing to be done!

As Saddam Hussein says in South Park, "relax, take a load off" and feast your eyes on these sites that have demanded my attention in recent weeks.

Let's start with advertising, one silly, one serious. Sanctus1 now has an unofficial slogan ("I'm not religious, just SANCTimonioUS"), so why not use that on the Church Sign Generator?(Thanks to James for that link.) On a more serious note, Amnesty International produced a really clever ad campagn using natural street environments.

Time to get really silly with a couple of jpegs. On this very blog, Moot's Michael Radcliffe has revealed me to be a stalker. He's absolutely right - I've been hiding in his toilet. Speaking of getting wet, God is getting irate at the Mount Sinai Swimming Pool.

And now the news. I'm not keen on keeping churches open if the congregation dies off or gets converted to Kaballah or something. However, respect must go to Willie Nelson for buying his childhood church. He had better make sure he has insurance, unlike these immaculately optimistic Christians.

I can't get away with a links post without including a music video, so here's George W Bush doing U2.

Finally, a couple of real internet treats. At first sight, We Feel Fine looks simple enough, but the more you click, the longer you want to stay. And my favourite game at the moment is Fancy Pants Adventure - enjoy.

A familiar face

Who is this handsome young fellow, taking "pride of place" at theUniversity of Chester?