Monday, June 15, 2009

Divine Direction Disrobes Depraved Delights

Surely one of the most original and fantastic masterpieces ever painted is Hieronymus Bosch's preternatural and phantasmagoric triptych "The Garden of Delights" or "The Garden of Earthly Delights". Yet the title is undeniably sardonic, ironic, saturnine, since if these are earthly delights one would shrink from his depiction of earthly horrors. One of the panels is even thought to be a depiction of hell. One writer says the painting's purpose is " . . . to depict man's life on earth as an unending repitition of the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, whereby we are all doomed to be the prisoners of our appetites." (H.W. Janson, History of Art, 1969, p. 299) Another writer says: "Bosch seems to show erotic temptation and sensual gratification as a universal disaster . . . ." (Helen Gardner, Art Through the Ages, 5th edition, p. 525) Does not Bosch's surreal vision reveal the truth about the material delights mankind seems to indulge and revel in?

Many years ago a friend, Lewis Meyer, an erstwhile bibulous bibliophile, wrote a book titled Off the Sauce about his struggles with that all-too-prevalent demonic attraction. To employ an admittedly dodecaphonic segue, the title of his book seems to have relevance even to those many of us who are not in our cups. Would not we all benefit greatly from getting off the insidious sauce called sensual and sensuous attractions and delights? Does not the tippling of these potent distillations of mortal mind engender those fearful pink elephants of sin, disease, and death?

Obviously none of us wants to experience the crushing tread of pink pachyderms, but how fervently do we really want to get off the sauce? Fear and doubt usually have major supporting roles in this drama--fear of the supposed reality of the terrifying hallucinations of false belief and perhaps the shame of doubting that our heavenly Father-Mother God will, scout's honor, make good on His promises. Have you ever had the thought flitter across your mind that if you could just get another little earnest of His healing omnipotence and omnipresence up-front you'd really knuckle down and do better work? Do we not want to snatch a reassuring glimpse of the lagniappe on its way to us right now to allay our nagging doubts and fears, when what's necessary is to turn from the belief of fleshly existence and accept the divine gift of Truth that has been available all along?

The material, human experience is not all Brussels sprouts, tripe, bills, and taxes. Ah yes, how many of us retain a perhaps guilty fondness, a sweet tooth, for many of the enticing offerings on materiality's resplendent desert tray? The devil would like us to sin in haste and repent at lethargic and sated leisure. In the cynical Weill/Brecht opera Die Dreigroschenoper, The Threepenny Opera, Macheath sings "Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral." Or "First comes the grub, then come the morals." That's a cynic's song with its cynic's exploitation of human proclivities. Mortal mind has us believe the grub is haute cuisine, and many of us can't seem to resist or get enough. The promised morals unfortunately go unheard and unheeded during the usual post-prandial snooze. The time has come, came long ago in fact, for us to uncover and awaken from the illusions of mortal mind, and Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy have lovingly shown us the Way to getting off the sauce and permanently on the path to complete salvation. "Without this process of weaning, 'Canst thou by searching find out God?'" (S&H 322: 30-31)

22 comments:

New York City fan said...

Well, blogger, this entry settles it for me: you are an English professor with a little art/music critic thrown in for good measure. My goodness, this one is something else. Just imagine this being in the periodicals! But then it's too well written and fresh for that.
Thanks much.

Dorothy said...

A very impressive blog post you've done here, I must say. You are going to send me to research on Google--again!

Sunny California said...

Terrific website. Such an original way of talking about CS issues. And the title. Look at that alliteration.
Keep up the superior work!

H. B. said...

This is really good. Deserves a second or third read. A lot in it to absorb. Thanks for making your readers think!

Anonymous said...

Just love your title, and in fact, the entire essay. Very well done! What a gift you do have, blogger.

Florida Practitioner said...

How can we thank God enough for Christ and Christian Science! The holy Word of God, understood and relied upon, can truly deliver anyone from any carnal mind addiction.
Thanks for writing on behalf of our wonderful religion.

CS, Canada said...

Such a pleasure visiting a well-written blog. As someone else has said, would that the CS mags had such articles. Very fresh, creative.
Thanks much,

From Boston said...

You are certainly raising the scholastic standard among your readers! And giving us German, too.
Really like your blog...

An Ohio fan said...

Bless you, blogger, for using your considerable ability to write on behalf of our beloved divine Science.
Love your blog!

Anon...for the time being said...

I can tell you, this reader is getting educated! I've decided to always have a dictionary handy when I tune in to Broken Net. Words I've never encountered. You are a well-read blogger, for sure.
Thanks Professor!

Hartford, CT said...

Absolutely first-rate website, one I always enjoy viewing. There can't be anyone else in cyberspace doing what you are doing for Christian Science.
Keep it up!

Best to you on the mainland said...

A serious blog post from a serious student of our Leader's inspired writings. Enjoy seeing what you've been pondering.
Well done.

Anonymous said...

Your post reminded me of Mrs. Eddy saying that her followers at that time were enough to bring in the millennium if they were sufficiently conscecrated.

Instead of the millennium we have cities where huge pornographic advertisements of people engaged in "threesomes" are there for any child to gaze on. This is getting very much like the dark ages of the Bosch.

Something went wrong along the way, let's hope we get it right some day.

With appreciation said...

I don't usually comment on your blog posts, but this one was outstandingly done. Thanks for raising the thinking level of your readers. But then, we may be a select group!

Anonymous said...

Hi there,
Just want to add my thanks for a very well presented website. No fancy photos or frills, just content worth reading and thinking about!

I thank you, said...

As one commenter said, things are morally polluted. And how. But it all makes me so grateful to have the teachings of our dear Master, Christ Jesus, and what our Leader has given. While this material existence with its mental and moral trash, its abysmally low standards, seems so real, we know in Christian Science it's but a waking dream. And we have what it takes to wake up spiritually, don't we?

Portland CS said...

Really like this blog. And the previous commenter said something I myself have worked with, to-wit this from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy: "...I ask, Is there any more reality in the waking dream of mortal existence than in the sleeping dream? There cannot be, since whatever appears to be a mortal man is a mortal dream."
And later, she points out that (in my paraphrase) spiritual existence is the fact of things.

Dan (CA) said...

As someone who has long taught the older classes in sunday school, and labored to get them to dig into our textbook more, I do appreciate your blog posts. You are a blessing!

Anonymous said...

What I want to say to you, blogger, is this:
You rock!

J.T. (St. Louis) said...

Dear Blogger,
Just love the way you express yourself. So fresh, creative!
God bless,

London (UK) said...

I say, thank God for the Internet. The way you write, you would not be being featured in the periodicals! Cyberspace is a perfect showcase for your wonderful talent.
Keep up the fine work...

H. W. said...

Boy, can you write! What a breath of fresh air when it comes to CS articles. Can't wait for your next inspiration.
Thanks,