To close this journey out, I'll be looking at how pyrotheology fits into this tradition of theological atheism. You’ll see a specifically pyrotheological view on God, as well as some practices - called Transformance Art - that grow out of the theory. 

I couldn’t help but include a very small reflection for the day after this difficult journey you’ve been on. I promise it’s worth listening to.

In this final seminar we review the journey so far and explore how pyrotheology fits. In particular I look at the practice of pyrotheology in contrast to conservative and liberal expressions of liturgy and explore what it means to be part of a 'community of the contradiction'. I also touch on a radical understanding of negative theology where God is not viewed as the other who is unknown, but the name we give to the unknown dimension of reality itself.


Allone is a short film set in pre-Christian Ireland, that is inspired by an ancient Buddhist parable. The story is one that I have told many times over the years. It captures so powerfully and succinctly much of what I explore in Pyrotheology.

Recently we set about getting this story made into a short film and this is the result.

reflection

I’d just like to comment briefly on the title of the short film. I wanted to find a word that captured three meanings simultaneously, and because no word existed, I had to make one up. The word ‘Allone’ is a portmanteau that blends the following,

• Alone

• All Alone

• All One

This reflects the journey of the film itself. The woman is struggling with a profound loss, and feels isolated. Over time she discovers that everyone has suffered loss. Finally she realizes that we are all unified in our aloneness. It is this movement that captures something of the Cure in pyrotheology. Where we find ourselves connected to the other by acknowledging how our own lack is reflected in the other and shared by the other.

supplemental material

I’ve included a short video where I tell the story and reflect briefly on it. In addition to this, I’ve provided a link to another short film we made called Making Love. Making Love and Allone are being combined with a third film called Jamaica, to create a trilogy of short films that explore our confrontation with the ‘Gaze’ (a concept that I talked about in the seminar that introduced this week). I’ve also included A Guide to Making Love (a commentary where I explore the themes of Making Love) and a link to a page that describes more about the wider project.

Katharine Sarah Moody is an academic who has engaged in deep and critical reflection on the work of Pyrotheology. In her excellent book Radical Theology and Emerging Christianity, she does this through an in-depth analysis of Radical Theology in relation to the Emerging Church Movement. In that book she not only offered insights into the theory of Pyrotheology, but observed, participated in, and reflected on, it's practice in ikon. As part of her critical reflection, she outlined two ikon services. What you are about to read was an event that took place at the Wake festival in Belfast, N.Ireland.

supplemental material

I’ve enclosed a second gathering that Moody wrote about in her book, as well as a link to the book itself.

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a world renowned poet, musician and public theologian who works in the area of conflict mediation and group dialogue. While known for being team leader of Corrymeela Community, for his work in advocacy across the world, as the founder of Tenx9 and for his regular appearances on Krista Tippett’s “On Being,” he was also one of the key contributors to ikon and key people in the development of pyrotheology. 

His latest book is In the Shelter, and he has an album of music and poetry called Hymns to Swear by.

I’ve included this song (from Hymns to Swear by), because it represents a powerful musical example of the dialectic process I spoke of on the first day. Pádraig has written a piece of music that goes into the heart of questioning, struggle and anger, but in a way that sublimates them in the expression of a wider, deeper and richer expression of faith.

Another interesting thing about the song is the way that all the words are derived diretly from the book of Jeremiah. It is a beautiful reflection on the struggle of faith and how that struggle lies at the very heart of faith.

supplemental material

I’ve included a link to where you can listen to, and download, the album Hymns to Swear By. I’ve also included a link to some of Pádraig’s books.

Pádraig Ó Tuama was an active participant in the ikon collective and wrote many poems, songs and benedictions for the Transformance Art events. The following is a beautiful benediction that plays on the closing words of Catholic liturgy, "Go in peace". This benediction captures something of the journey we've been on in Atheism for Lent, and offers a perfect way to mark the end. Or, more appropriately, a new beginning.

supplemental material

I’ve enclosed a link to an EP Jonny McEwan created during our Insurrection tour. The tour itself involved Jonny, Pádraig and myself going around the US with an event that mixed music, art and speaking to create an experience of Transformance Art. The EP includes material from the tour. I’ve also included a text of the benediction.