Posted by:
Human
(
)
Date: February 08, 2012 02:36PM
Believe in Art; or, put another way, believe in our ability to create objects that embody meaning. Art can be anything from a well-formed Idea to a well-constucted Cathedral, and much more besides.
When we are first leaving Mormonism many of us suffer from a lack of context. Here's something to help with that, Kenneth Clarke's 'Civilisation':
http://www.amazon.com/Civilisation-Civilization-Sir-Kenneth-Clark/dp/0563085444(The BBC created a very accomplished series of 1hr videos, of which the book derives; many of which are scattered throughout youtube, but is also readily available for purchase.)
Kenneth Clarke gives us an easy, almost off-handed survey of Western Civilisation and a personal example of what it means to be civilised. The sweep of his view forever dwarfs the Mormon World View in which we were brought up. Placing our religious upbringing and the accompanying world-view into the larger context of Western Civilisation frees us up to pursue other meanings that may find us.
Believe in Humankind's readiness to create, which means your own as well, and be open to the experience this World offers, and Meaning will find you rather than the other way around.
Cheers, and good luck.
Human