Comments on: a spider god http://voxtheology.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/a-spider-god/ creating theology in community Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:25:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: dianestranz http://voxtheology.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/a-spider-god/#comment-110 dianestranz Sat, 16 May 2009 14:23:34 +0000 http://voxtheology.wordpress.com/?p=186#comment-110 I have not seen this Bergman film, 'Winter Light' and am intrigued now to watch it, to see what story unfolds. I am curious, though, as to your purpose in posting the quote: did you want to share it simply because you find it thought-provoking? Surely you did not mean to imply that the 'spider god' is a representation of the One True God, the Abba of Jesus Christ . . . because it is not, at all, I assure you! By the end of the passage it becomes clear the speaker has never encountered the One True God (the Yahweh of the Israelites, the author and Creator of all reality) and has, instead, devoted himself to 'relationship' with a false spirit, a Pretender . . . such that when he finally secures his freedom, it is a freedom FROM illusion, dreams and lies. This is a wonderful and healthy first step AWAY from spiritual slavery, but it is certainly not the ultimate personal, individual freedom God intends. So, the real question is: will the speaker slip into a form of agnostic/atheistic despair as a result of the disillusionment caused him by his false god, or will he finally humble himself before God and permit Him to slowly and gradually reveal Himself (His nature, His being, His personality, His will)? To paraphrase the beautiful Friedrich Schlegel quote you cite elsewhere on this blog, will knowledge emerge out of this man's disturbance and doubt? I am curious as to whether the film's story answers that question. Peace. Diane Stranz I have not seen this Bergman film, ‘Winter Light’ and am intrigued now to watch it, to see what story unfolds. I am curious, though, as to your purpose in posting the quote: did you want to share it simply because you find it thought-provoking? Surely you did not mean to imply that the ’spider god’ is a representation of the One True God, the Abba of Jesus Christ . . . because it is not, at all, I assure you!

By the end of the passage it becomes clear the speaker has never encountered the One True God (the Yahweh of the Israelites, the author and Creator of all reality) and has, instead, devoted himself to ‘relationship’ with a false spirit, a Pretender . . . such that when he finally secures his freedom, it is a freedom FROM illusion, dreams and lies. This is a wonderful and healthy first step AWAY from spiritual slavery, but it is certainly not the ultimate personal, individual freedom God intends.

So, the real question is: will the speaker slip into a form of agnostic/atheistic despair as a result of the disillusionment caused him by his false god, or will he finally humble himself before God and permit Him to slowly and gradually reveal Himself (His nature, His being, His personality, His will)? To paraphrase the beautiful Friedrich Schlegel quote you cite elsewhere on this blog, will knowledge emerge out of this man’s disturbance and doubt? I am curious as to whether the film’s story answers that question.

Peace.

Diane Stranz

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