Churches and communities that push the envelope fascinate me. The groups that challenge themselves to try new things and to ask new questions are always ones that I will follow. Simon and Garfunkel once wrote “God bless the church service that makes me nervous”. If they were talking about a specific group, they undoubtedly would be talking about Ikon.
Meeting in a bar in Northern Ireland, Ikon is a worship group that is self-described as “iconic, apocalyptic, heretical, emerging, failing”. Ikon was originally developed to explore the relationship between mysticism and postmodernism as well as to rethink the structures of religious communities in a contemporary environment. The gatherings span the liberal/conservative, theist/atheist, Protestant/Catholic divides, and are in essence a form of “theodrama,” employing live art, drama, poetry, prose, ritual, liturgy and music. I cannot speak for Ikon enough and find it an important development in the practice of Christianity. Although Ikon at times makes me nervous, it does not take away from the wonderful things that Ikon is exploring and opening up for discussion in the theological world.
Next week I hope to hear one of Ikon’s founders, Peter Rollins, speak.
You and my pappy would be good, good friends.
That little candlelit circle doesn’t look like too much fun, though…
Could you imagine getting written on shirtless in perm. marker in front of all those people? Religion can be scary sometimes.
Oh that happens all the time though. Just usually you are drunk and passed out and then they duct tape you to the couch afterwards.