Naked Spirituality and The Lord's Supper
My half term reading is Brian McLaren's book 'Naked Spirituality'. I'm struck by his comments on nakedness, which he suggests as a metaphor for spirituality, compared to clothing which we might see as religion. And he says that one is not better or worse than the other- but that clothing "serves, protects, enhances or expresses the naked life within." A surprisingly, and refreshingly, positive look at religion, avoiding the dualism that is a too-frequent feature of emerging theologians/writers. How might it work out in practice? I am thinking particularly about Holy Communion at the moment, and how to reconcile a liturgical upbringing, including an almost legalistic view of the sacraments, with our current, liturgy-free church who nonetheless celebrate the Lord's Supper together occasionally. How does this religious act protect, enhance or express a naked spiritual reality? Do we need this clothing,or does it get in the way? Does dressing up for this on...