I'm so *~*secular, you guys

[politicette]

This may be the post that makes you embarrassed to know me. :(

As it's become apparent to many of you already, I am such an unabashed theological geek. We're talking a straight-up nerd-glassed phlegmy-voiced pocket-protector-wearing motherfucker, here. * It's more commonly understood, however, that I am also a bra-burning baby-hating anti-American fetus-eating hairy-legged man-loathing commie pinko secular dyke fag.**

I'm sure you can all imagine wherein the disconnect often occurs.

Hence my mad, mad love of the free-form stylings of one Slactivist. He's fantastic, mostly because he focuses on actual Biblical teachings as opposed to ruminating endlessly on artificially-constructed, time-respected dogma. In fact, he often devotes space for the pure purpose of deconstructing that dogma, and boy. Do I love me some deconstructed dogma.

And his thinkings on eschatology? Amazing.

He's also very, very funny.

So, obviously I could say a lot about them, but this post was inspired by this beautiful, beautiful quote (in the context of his routine dissection of how much the Left Behind books suck) that I believe better explains the connection between salvation and storytelling, and why, in my mind, writing and creation of all kinds are such spiritual endeavors than anything I've ever clumsily articulated:

It's not about finding the special power that can defeat the archvillain's powers, but about a deeper, older kind of conflict. It's not about Bad Power vs. Good Power, but power vs. love. You recognize this story. This villain can't be defeated by silver bullets or wooden stakes or photon torpedos or a magic ring. We don't need a super hero, we need a lamb. The ring must be destroyed. Worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb that was slain.

That's the story. That's always the story, really.

He's so right and I'm going to stop myself before I go on a tangent about the nature and underlying significance of human creation, artistry, and expression. Because I, being a huge theological geek, could write pages.


It strikes me, also, that I just realized why Harry's resurrection at the end of Deathly Hallows was so unsatisfying to me LOL I AM A CRAZY PERSON.

*Also stopping myself from going off about the ways in which theological study and science are essentially the same endeavor because golly gee would that never end.

**A truth mileage may vary.

EDIT: LOL YOU GUYS SO THERE IS FIC! HAPPENING IN THE COMMENTS! IT'S FANTASTIC! IF YOU ARE HERE FOR THE SANDBOX CHALLENGE HAPPENING AT FN_FF, I SAY HELLO! BUT FIRST HAVE THIS DISCLAIMER:

---

DISCLAIMER: The fic is a lie and I am a liar for saying it, even though I'm not claiming it as truth so technically it's more like fiction, but still equally un-factual and untrue.

Also, it may be triggery due to some of the featured gay-bashing and parental abuse.

Comments

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

2) NO U, BITCH. U.

3) SHE IS LIKE THIS GIANT WELL OF LOVE AND WARMTH AND STRENGTH OMG

THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE BEST PART OF ALL OF THIS

STEPHEN IS SO TAKEN WITH THE IDEA THAT HE WONDERS IF HE SHOULDN'T BECOME MR. LEIBOWITZ SO THAT THEY CAN BE DR. AND MR. LEIBOWITZ I MEAN THAT IS KIND OF AMAZINGLY AWESOME BUT HE HAS ALREADY MADE SORT-OF A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN

(punditry? acting? idk this is like, "Stephen" right. but a "Stephen" that wants to be/really is deep down our Stephen as opposed to that one happy!Stephen like the real "Stephen" is. IDK DID YOU FOLLOW ALL THAT? so this Stephen is like part "Stephen" but mostly Stephen since he had Jon's GUIDING INFLUENCE from a much earlier time in his life and always had a source of love and warmth and therefore never went fubar, right? idk)

SO HE KEEPS IT

[themistoklis]

2) I SAID U, SCUMBAG

3) YES SHE IS

Yeah I was thinking about it the other day and this is like what "Stephen" would be if he had some kind of not-entirely-messed-up childhood and was allowed to ~follow his heart~ etc etc (ty ty Jon).

I figured that he would go into acting, especially if Jon stayed away from cameras. Mostly stage stuff? Or do you think he'd eventually gravitate towards television? Idk by the time Jon has his doctorate he could probably move wherever Stephen could find work.

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

So I have started to use that JoyDown Stephen as my reference for Who Stephen Should Be (WHICH IS FABULOUS BECAUSE THAT STEPHEN IS MORE FABULOUS THAN ANYTHING EVER) so I mean if JoyDown Stephen were following his heart then. IDEK, have you seen that clip? Ideas?

[themistoklis]

Yes I have lol. JoyDown Stephen makes me a little sad for "Stephen" though. It's just like "Stephen" thinks he can never be that happy because he has to be angry all the time to protect himself! *sigh* But at least in this verse Jon is there to redirect those thoughts.

So basically "Stephen" trying to be more like Stephen, and the JoyDown Stephen thrown in for some flavor. Not so desperate for attention, more secure in his, er, ego, less conflicted -- but with that ~fabulous~ JoyDown flare, y/y? (Real men wear pink, Jon. ~ Yes they do, Stephen.)

D: I thought I hit post comment on this about 20 minutes ago.

LOL MINDFUCK

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

OMG NOW WITH ADDED JOYDOWN FOR EXTRA FABULOUSITY THIS IS A GOOD THING

So, in this verse. We have JoyDown!Stephen, who is what Stephen is really like. But he's been somewhat obscured by the layers of "Stephen" that he's had to put on, because of Jon. Additionally, he has a Stephen voice in the back of his head, guiding his steps.

Practically, this has translated into the creation of a geekey, goofy, scrawny, fabulous, excessively patriotic and exuberantly opinionated little thing.

IDK WHY IS STEPHEN ALWAYS SO COMPLICATED TO CHARACTERIZE, JON IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS JUST JON. >:(((((((((

Re: LOL MINDFUCK

[themistoklis]

Lol since JoyDown Stephen likes bears does that mean Stephen can sneak into Jon's room while Jon is writing his mom that note and get Pancake Face out of Jon's bottom drawer? Then when Jon is trying not to cry their first night away Stephen brings him Pancake Face to make him feel all better?

Practically, this has translated into the creation of a geekey, goofy, scrawny, fabulous, excessively patriotic and exuberantly opinionated little thing.

YES THIS IS A FANTASTIC DESCRIPTION OF ... WHOEVER IT IS WE'VE CREATED HERE, EXACTLY.

JON IS EASIER BECAUSE IT'S MUCH HARDER TO IDENTIFY "JON" THAN IT IS TO IDENTIFY "STEPHEN." SO WE FEEL LIKE WE KNOW JON WHEREAS "STEPHEN" HAS ALL THIS UNEXPLORED DEPTH.

Re: LOL MINDFUCK

[erinptah]

Jon is so darn Zen and balanced that it's easy to figure him out. Whereas "Stephen" has all these darn layers of hiding and faking and truthiness, and even he isn't sure which of them are genuine.

Also, return of Pancake Face yes plz.

*re-vanishes*

Re: LOL MINDFUCK

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

PLUS THERE IS ALSO THE LIKE. "STEPHEN"/STEPHEN THING. YOU KNOW. A LOT OF WRITERS LIKE TO MIX AND MATCH TO ACHIEVE THE RIGHT FLAVOR.

Re: LOL MINDFUCK

[themistoklis]

even he isn't sure which of them are genuine. *winces* Ooh, Stephen.

If Jon would like to lend me some of his balance to get this eighth grade dance fic off the floor it would be appreciated mmhm. We can only hope to achieve his level of zen.

NOW I'M CONFLICTED

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

SEE IDK DOES STEPHEN COME TO LOVE BEARS OR. IDK THIS IS A BLATANT CONTRADICTION AND IT WOUNDS

BUT OH MY GOD THAT IS LIKE THE GREATEST THING EVER OH MY GOD AND THEN THEY BOTH LAUGH LIKE MAD THINGS AND JON ACTUALLY DOES BREAK DOWN A LITTLE SO MAYBE THAT BACKFIRED BUT THEY WERE TEARS OF COMPLEX JOY AND BITTER LOATHING OKAY


Oh okay maybe like. When he's a child he hates them because he associates them with his father (WASN'T HE LIKE IN THE MILITARY OR SOMETHING LIGHT THE PTAH SIGNAL) or someone else who is all kinds of crazysauce and not fun to be around, but then as he gets older and sort of... solidifies in who he is? he learns not to fear them or whateves.

BUT IDK. I like the bear!hate and the symbolic/foreshadowing act of Jon giving up his favorite friend for Stephen.

JUST LIKE STEPHEN

[themistoklis]

MAYBE HE JUST ACCEPTS THEM AND IS WILLING TO LET THEM SIT ON THE EDGES ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY HE IS LETTING JON PUT PANCAKE FACE ON THE SHELF IN THEIR BEDROOM, HE STAYS IN THE LIVING ROOM GET IT GOT IT GOOD AND COULD HE NOT FACE THE CHAIR WHERE STEPHEN SITS PLEASE.

NO NO JON LAUGHING AND STEPHEN LAUGHING LETS JON HAVE ENOUGH EMOTIONAL LEEWAY TO FEEL SAFE BREAKING DOWN AND CRYING A BIT AND STEPHEN JUST HOLDS HIM WHILE HE HOLDS PANCAKE FACE AND JON SAYS HE FEELS STUPID FOR CRYING BUT STEPHEN IS LIKE NO, YOU SHOULD MISS YOUR HOME.

Omg I just read the second half of the comment. (LOL THE PTAH SIGNAL, SRSLY) Idk maybe this is just a case of him wanting to give something back to Jon and willing to make a concession in his case though he does not put up with it from anyone else, no sir. There's a reason bears aren't the national animal people.

Re: JUST LIKE STEPHEN

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

YES LET'S GO WITH THIS AND ALL THEIR FRIENDS ARE LIKE "WHY IS THERE A BEAR" AND STEPHEN IS LIKE "BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS BORN WITHOUT A HEALTHY SENSE OF FEAR."

(YEARS LATER ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN HAVE STUFFED DUCKS AND EAGLES AND HORSES AND WHALES AND JON IS LIKE "THIS WAS MY FAVORITE BEAR CAN IT NOT BE PASSED ON TO MY FIRST CHILD TO LOVE" AND STEPHEN IS LIKE "THOSE CREATURES ARE NOT COMING NEAR MY DAUGHTER OKAY.")

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND THEN THEY FALL ASLEEP ON TOP OF THE MOTEL COVERS ALL CLOTHED AND WHATNOT AND THEN WHEN STEPHEN WAKES UP PANCAKE FACE IS TOUCHING HIM AND IT IS PROBABLY THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF HIS LIFE BLAH BLAH BLAH COMFORT SEX

This is also good YOU ARE SO AMAZING, HOW ARE YOU SO AMAZING. <3

[themistoklis]

STEPHEN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW JON COULD BE SO ACCEPTING OF A BEAR BUT HE COUNTS IT AS ONE OF JON'S MANY ECCENTRICITES

(DOES STEPHEN MAKE ANY OF THE STUFFED ANIMALS HIMSELF. BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ADORABLE. JON TELLS HIS KIDS THEY CAN'T PLAY WITH PANCAKE FACE BECAUSE THE BEAR IS SO OLD IT MIGHT FALL APART.)

LOLOL STEPHEN FALLS OFF THE BED BECAUSE IT STARTLES HIM AND JON IS LIKE "..." AND STEPHEN IS LIKE "LET ME DISTRACT YOU WITH HOW MANLY AND SEXY I CAN BE AND PUT THAT THING AWAY I DON'T WANT IT WATCHING ME"

IDK I'M JUST INSPIRED I THINK YOU'VE PULLED OUT SOME PRETTY AWESOME THINGS YOURSELF HERE <3

PANCAKE FACE IS WATCHING YOU COPULATE

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

STEPHEN IS LIKE "I LOVE YOU DESPITE YOUR MANY FLAWS, OF WHICH THERE ARE NUMEROUS. IT IS A GOOD THING YOU ARE NOT REPRODUCING BECAUSE YOUR DEFECTIVE GENES WOULD PROBABLY LEAVE YOUR POOR OFFSPRING WITH NO SENSE OF SELF-PRESERVATION."

OF COURSE HE DOES OMG AND THEIR NAMES ARE LIKE EMBROIDERED ON THE FEET


<33333333333333333333333

Re: PANCAKE FACE IS WATCHING YOU COPULATE

[themistoklis]

OF COURSE HE DOES OMG AND THEIR NAMES ARE LIKE EMBROIDERED ON THE FEET

<3333333333333333333333333333

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

<333333333333333333333333333333333333 to you too

[erinptah]

"LET ME DISTRACT YOU WITH HOW MANLY AND SEXY I CAN BE AND PUT THAT THING AWAY I DON'T WANT IT WATCHING ME"

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[themistoklis]

<333333

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥♥♥♥

[themistoklis]

♥♦♥♦♥♦♥♦♥


idk i wanted to mix it up

WHAT ARE THOSE OMG

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

��������

...THEY ARE CANDLES

[themistoklis]

ONLY YOU KNOW, DIAMONDS.

& diams ; = ♦
& spades ; = ♠
& clubs ; = ♣

;_; I don't know how to make the flashy sparkles.

Re: ...THEY ARE CANDLES

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HEARTS BTW. ;______________;

http://misc.inexistent.org/sparkle/

LOVE ME

Re: NOW I'M CONFLICTED

[erinptah]

(WASN'T HE LIKE IN THE MILITARY OR SOMETHING LIGHT THE PTAH SIGNAL)

YOU PEOPLE AND YOUR COLBERT-BASED EMERGENCIES I HAVE ESSAYS TO WRITE

Also, this sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe real!Mr. Colbert was a military doctor at one point? But I don't think character!Mr. Colbert has been referred to as being in the military. Also, I don't get a "military culture vibe" from his childhood in general, but I do not claim highly developed militaryculturedar, so.

I tend to use a variation on the story r!Stephen tells, about how he saw some scary documentary about bears, and asked his father what would happen if he ran into one in the woods near his home. Which does a good job of grounding the fear at an early age, though I don't think he's talked about it in-character.

Yeah, I'm not being much help on this one.

PTAH AWAY.

Re: NOW I&#39;M CONFLICTED

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

MAN FUCK YOUR ESSAYS THIS IS IMPORTANT

YOU HAVE GREAT POWER AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS