Burke Gerstenschlager
@bleaktheology
Finishing “Tears in Their Eyes: Joy Division as Theological Lamentation”. Former academic book editor. Religion & culture writer. Kierkegaardian. Antifascist. UT Austin Classics BA. YDS MDiv. Lutherpalian. Your post-punk counterweight to joy in Brooklyn.
If you’re in NYC this Sunday, I’m leading a 2hr session on thinking theologically. Ever thought about God? You’re qualified. This is about better questions for better answers in the Christian tradition. Ideal for people “deconstructing” their faith. Existential crises welcome. DM me for more deets.
I am now calling him “Dough” Wilson. Here I can stand. I can do no other.* Thanks, @rns.org! *That’s my Lutheran dig at that rancid Calvinist.
GO EGYPT! GO SEKHMET! (Image by @hamishsteele.bsky.social in his Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities, a book I always go to when I am feeling blue.)
Took a photo of 1/3 of my Kierkegaard shelf (I’ve restrained from buying more) for someone & thought I’d share. This sort of stuff that makes me happy & fortunate I’m already w/ someone who already loves me & appreciates my love for SK because this would probably be a red flag for most people.
It was a great display of America at Fraunces Tavern, today. Not gonna lie.
Went on the roof deck and saw the Goodyear Blimp’s BUTT overhead.
Nearing the end of writing my last chapter. #JoyDivision #mysteriumtremendum #lamentation
Sporting my dead angel shirt I picked up when we saw the Danish band Mew.
Rudolf Otto’s "Idea of the Holy" is a total goth explainer. I can’t find a JSTOR article on the two, but OMG. Chapter 5: “Analysis of Mysterium” is the most gothiest goth academic text I’ve ever read. SRSLY. LOOK: He’s LITERALLY talking about ghosts and Augustine. AuGHOSTine.
Serious question: Can the cover of Joy Division’s Closer serve/function as religious art, as an object of contemplation? Does it become possible if you know that it is dead Jesus in the tomb (Luke 23:55)?
Look at all these manly, manly, (spiritually) muscular white men.
I found a note I wrote about Rudolf Otto and I must admit that the way I wrote his name looks pretty cool. This has been a religion nerd skeet.