I was chatting to some people at school today and one of them told me a story about booking a children's party at a church (Anglican). Apparently all was fine until she mentioned that there would be a magician at the party. At this point the booking secretary paused and said that she would have to check this with the church council. In the end, it was decided that the party could take place on the condition that it wasn't on a Sunday - no magic allowed on a Sunday!This raises all sorts of questions about magic, illussions and what we think goes on in Church. When is is "Magic!" (wow) ? - when is it magic? (spooky) - and when is it just an illussion? - or piece of helpful drama?
Had a good day today - the first Friday for a while without kids or work. We went to Wolverton Mill for lunch and had a relaxing afternoon - until it was time to pick them up from school... OFSTED have just reported on CtS - sounds like there is work to do...
2 comments:
Hmm.. distincly strange. If this "magic" is in fact not a stage act but Satanic manipulation, surely it would be a Bad Thing any day of the week. If it's deep magic from before the dawn of time, that's in Narnia and thus OK. If, on a spooky third hand Mr Banana or whoever is just having a bit of fun foxing the kiddies with prestidigitation, surely his act is OK whenever. What strange dualisms, fears and fantasies lurk, even in some Christian breasts...
A few years ago, I gave a talk (avoiding the word "sermon") on Sunday morning, explaining the Trinity using the old magic trick of interlocking solid metal rings. Somehow, I don't think that was spooky, just a trick - and everyone there knew it was a trick that did not involve calling on demons on the spirit of the dead...
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