Comments on: Atonement . . . Never an Absolution http://www.theottery.com/2008/04/atonement-never-an-absolution/ "If an otter can't have fun doing something, it just simply won't do it." Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:45:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: The Otter http://www.theottery.com/2008/04/atonement-never-an-absolution/#comment-3393 The Otter Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:04:20 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2008/04/atonement-never-an-absolution/#comment-3393 I've never really interpreted the song that way, I guess because I see it as asking for an inner peace to face difficult external circumstances. I haven't seen the song misused in a Gnostic-y or escapist context, but it doesn't surprise me that people would do that. In Atonement, if we're to view the song as part of Briony's re-creation of the event, then it makes sense that it would be somewhat dualist--she has some issues. Hey, if you're commenting on the hymn, that means you read the whole post, even though you haven't seen the movie! Shame! (I didn't really expect you and Mama Chipmunk to see it anyway, so no harm done. I just like to scold you for reading ahead.) I’ve never really interpreted the song that way, I guess because I see it as asking for an inner peace to face difficult external circumstances. I haven’t seen the song misused in a Gnostic-y or escapist context, but it doesn’t surprise me that people would do that. In Atonement, if we’re to view the song as part of Briony’s re-creation of the event, then it makes sense that it would be somewhat dualist–she has some issues.

Hey, if you’re commenting on the hymn, that means you read the whole post, even though you haven’t seen the movie! Shame! (I didn’t really expect you and Mama Chipmunk to see it anyway, so no harm done. I just like to scold you for reading ahead.)

]]> By: Pop Otter http://www.theottery.com/2008/04/atonement-never-an-absolution/#comment-3390 Pop Otter Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:40:03 +0000 http://www.theottery.com/2008/04/atonement-never-an-absolution/#comment-3390 The three available tunes for the hymn can be tried out at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/d/e/dearlord.htm. The more familar tune in America is Rest, which I have always found easy, but dreadful. Repton seems the hardest of the three to fit with the words, but I can certainly see why those with a developed aesthetic sense would prefer it. Any tune for these words is a hard sell for me. I am not sure that Whittier has understood his scripture reference to 1 Kings 19. The still, small voice that speaks after the earthquake, wind, and fire, sends Elijah back into the thick of things, not into an ethereal calm. The poem/hymn is often used in an escapist (perhaps dualistic or Gnostic) way that seems counter to biblical faith and mission. In my view, the Bible points us toward an affirmation and restoration of embodied life. That's why we have resurrection and a new heaven and new earth, not merely a spirit slipping away from the confines of bodily and earthly existence. The three available tunes for the hymn can be tried out at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/d/e/dearlord.htm. The more familar tune in America is Rest, which I have always found easy, but dreadful. Repton seems the hardest of the three to fit with the words, but I can certainly see why those with a developed aesthetic sense would prefer it. Any tune for these words is a hard sell for me. I am not sure that Whittier has understood his scripture reference to 1 Kings 19. The still, small voice that speaks after the earthquake, wind, and fire, sends Elijah back into the thick of things, not into an ethereal calm. The poem/hymn is often used in an escapist (perhaps dualistic or Gnostic) way that seems counter to biblical faith and mission. In my view, the Bible points us toward an affirmation and restoration of embodied life. That’s why we have resurrection and a new heaven and new earth, not merely a spirit slipping away from the confines of bodily and earthly existence.

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