Monday, September 21, 2009

Bazan at MHGS

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Had to be an amazing experience to have him perform in front of your work. Can't wait to hear more about how the night went.

bryan nixon said...

Peter said it well. I got chills seeing these pics. Congrats my friend! A fabulous exclamation point to end you MHGS career!

Lian said...

I'm just curious, I read an article about Bazan having turned agnostic, or atheist or something. Why does he continue to perform in Christian venues? It's an honest question. If he doesn't believe it, why does he do it?
erika

bryan nixon said...

Erika, is this the article you're referring to?

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-12-12/music/david-bazan-fewer-moving-parts-fewer-broken-pieces.php

Wikipedia (I know, not a very scholarly source) defines several types of Agnosticism including Agnostic Theism defined as:

(also called "spiritual agnosticism")
the view of those who do not claim to know of the existence of any deity, but still believe in such an existence. Søren Kierkegaard believed that knowledge of any deity is impossible, and because of that people who want to be theists must believe: "If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe."

I would say that Bazan seems to fit into this category, though, I cannot speak for him. The point being that this seems like a really honest stance. Are we so arrogant, even as Christians, to claim that we know absolutely? Are we not limited to our ability to interpret the world around us? Certainly our ability to interpret what we experience is imperfect and therefore having a willingness to not know seems to require more faith than claiming to know something perfectly.

On another note, is there a good reason that Bazan should not play at Christian venues?

peace, bryan

john chandler said...

You must have been giddy.

Saw a video of his acoustic house show on ustream. As good as that was in streaming video, I can't imagine how great it would have been live.

Lian said...

Never said he shouldn't play at Christian venues. We DO, as Christians, have a very finite understanding of God through Scripture. If you do not believe that Christ died for your sins, or are not sure if Christ was God, you are not a christian. Call me narrow.

I was simply curious that someone who used to be outspoken about their faith, then rejects it, would continue to travel in their old circles. Is it easy? Or strategic?

I can't remember the article but I think phil posted it.

brownbird said...

Were you freaking out? Like this is too weird for Bazan to be in front of your art?

elnellis said...

yeah, i was giddy, it was a wonderful evening from start to finish. i told him i wanted to illustrate a record of his some day, so he asked for my info. fingers crossed.