Apr 12
English Nationalism and Christianity: The Case of Jerusalem
“The Dean of Southwark does not believe that [the hymn] is to the glory of God and it is not therefore used in private memorial servicesâ€. Well, I once had a young work colleague who died in a tragic climbing accident, and Jerusalem was sung at his funeral service; and it was a highly moving and appropriate choice…
The CofE continues to circle the plug hole of relevance with its stupidity and cultural suicide. The Dean of Southwark should be held in the same contempt as the Arsebishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
2 Comments so far
I honestly suspect this blithering, dithering dolt Southpark fundamentally misunderstands the hymn. I really think he smells a Crusader anthem between the lines. He is wrong. Not that there is anything wrong with crusader anthems. God knows what Southpark would think if he read some of Luther’s hymns in the original German. Or other Lutheran hymns; typically three or four long hymns (and a couple shorties) are sung in each hour to hour-and-a-half Lutheran service, and some are militaristic to the point of Byzantine inside jokes even when translated into English (”A mighty fortress is our God …”/”This is the fee-e-e-EAST [snicker] of victory for our God …”). I have truly grown to love my denomination in recent years, and I feel sincere sadness for the Anglicans, led by dolts like this Southpark (”They killed the C of E, the bastards!”.
Well this is amusing, at least for those who knew me in my less than religious years. By telephone, a friend familiar with my occasional postings here asked that I quote at greater length from Schultz-Widmar’s Lutheran canticle “This is the Feast” (English version). Andrew controls content here, and I would not mind in the least if he edits it. Up to him. But I will post it.
“This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb, who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing, honor, glory, and might, be to God and the Lamb for ever. Amen.”
Now THAT is a frigging canticle.