A few random thoughts:
1. French Baroque music can only be done in funky tunings and at a creepy low pitch. I have consequently resigned all need to be a purist about it. Truth be told I like Charpentier because it seems a lot like Purcell.
Although I'm pretentious by nature (pronounced pre-TEN-si-us), I haven't the time to keep up with the latest fashion in Paris regarding Baroque Performance practice and Gallic Latin pronunciation from 1698. That's more like accounting than music making.
2. Democrats have won the approval of the American people. They have an immense opportunity to make some positive changes to things. However, I expect that they will squander this opportunity leading to a Republican majority in the next election.
I'm really only saying this because I have this precept that if I say something outloud or in print, it will undoubtedly be proven incorrect. I'm bucking for this!
3. A friend and his congregation recent got ejected from the increasingly totalitarian Missouri Baptist Convention. You can read more about the situation
here. I'm amazed at the desire of the SBC and specifically the Missouri Baptist to purge itself of all dissenting voices.
There was a time, not that long ago when Baptist politics acknoledged the regulatory role of having dissenting voices. Sometimes these voices are the only ones that keep a regime from becoming fascist and obtaining too much power.
I have not doubt that Southern Baptist politics will eventually change for the better, just as de-Stalinization eventually occurred.
- Communal and totalistic in their organisation (no room for dissent)
- Aggressive in proselytizing (we've certainly seen the effects of this)
- Systematic program of indoctrination (Sunday School, Promise Keepers, and Christian Radio come to mind)
- New membership of cults by middle class (The SBC has continued to garner membership from mainstream society, this is what really scares me)
Perhaps Ted Haggard might find work in the SBC??
