From: "W & P KREFTING" <kreftingfamily-AT-msn.com>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Religious puppeteers
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 16:12:53 -0500


John and Mark have made some very important points about the centrality of puppetry to religious expression, and v.v.  Remember why they're called "marionettes".

I think what gets some people's "dander up" is the almost visceral feeling that any mention of religion is the same as "pushing" religion, or trying to convert others.  That reaction, however, ignores the pervasiveness of ultimacy (religious questioning and consciousness) and community (politics) in human life and experience.

Personally, unconsciously or consciously, my religious upbringing does inform my actions, ethically and morally.  But in a democratic setting, such as the society in which I live (well, I can dream anyway--but I digress into politics), that religious framework, though still informing me, nonetheless is held in check to a humility and self-critical engagement with others as they address the issues of import to them.

Kind of a fancy way of saying, my faith matters to me, but also is humble enough to recognize the surprising way the ultimate breaks through in our common life together.  Hey, my faith is full of paradox and irony, and so is the life I see around me, so I am forced to a humble position which listens to and works with various people of faith (in the broadest sense), learning from them, too.

So, what about puppets?  Some people use this Art as a method of religious expression, some as political expression, some as "pure" entertainment (although that, too, is informed by a variety of internal "ruminations").  All of them are interesting to me, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the execution/performance.  Can't say I am particularly entranced by strictly religious puppetry, but then overt political puppetry tends to send me on a "channel changing" frenzy.  I'm a bit of an iconoclast, poking anyone in the eye if it's called for.  Guess that's some part of a "prophetic" tradition.  Politically, I'm a Marxist--Groucho.  Religiously, I'm Lutheran--heir to the beer swilling prophet of Wittenberg.

Go figure.

Wayne

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