Getting What We’ve Always Wanted
I can’t remember the last time I listened to an entire album. I used to love listening to entire CDs. And because I only had a few, I knew everything about the artists. I think partially, I could go deeper and learn more about them because I wasn’t exposed to as many. There weren’t ways to learn about other artists or songs even if I wanted to. And also, I’m not sure I even wanted to. Sometimes I would be too afraid to skip to my favorite songs because I was worried it would ruin my CDs. Outside of albums and Eps, the only other mediums of listening to music were through the radio or watching MTV after school. While they might have pulled songs from their original albums, to a certain extent I had no choice in what I was going to listen to. The digitization of music began to change that beginning with Napster and other illegal P2P file sharing networks. I could download all the albums and songs I wanted, when I wanted them. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the change that streaming services like Spotify would eventually bring. Now, I can literally choose to listen to anything I want any time I want it. And I admit, I don’t know much about the artists I listen to. I’m not sure I can even bring myself to listen to an entire album. I get to pick and choose what I want to listen to and Spotify lifts it out of the context of the album, artist, and time and simply plays it in my ears to fill my desire.
I think this represents particularly relevant phenomena that Vincent Miller highlights in his book, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture. He states that results of the commodification of religion (and really I think anything) results in abstraction and fragmentation. In regards to religion, it means that religious ideas, practices, and artifacts are “thrown into a cultural marketplace where they can be embraced enthusiastically but not put into practice”[1]
More broadly, Vincent Miller’s Consuming Religion is a book that explores the intersection of religion and popular culture. Miller argues that religion is not something that is separate from everyday life, but rather that it is embedded in the fabric of our everyday existence. His concluding thought seems to be that religion and popular culture are not two separate spheres, but rather that they are mutually reinforcing. He posits that religion can be used to promote consumer culture, and that consumer culture can be used to promote religion. What becomes clear is that the relationship between religion and popular culture is a complex one, and that it is important to understand this relationship in order to understand the world we live in. Miller says as much to begin his book. “This is not a book about religion against consumer culture; it is a book about the fate of religion in consumer culture”[2] Miller continues in his book to make it abundantly clear that consumer tendencies are inescapable because as we are bound to the economic, social, and cultural structures of the world we live in.[3]
In Chinese heritage churches, there seems to be an increasing tendency for younger, post 1st generation, Chinese-Americans to attend and serve at small Chinese churches and attend services at a larger church later and perhaps attend a small group gathering during the week tied to yet another church. There seems to be a fragmentation of different elements of one’s faith and spirituality that separates concepts like teaching, serving, and fellowship. I think much of this has been spurred by felt needs that are implicitly and explicitly pushed by evangelical leaders and institutions. The idea that there are a set of basic needs that must be met causes us to either search forever for a church or to as many of these young Chinese-Americans have done, pick and choose where and how we might fulfill each need. As I consider whether or not this is of concern, I also consider another question: does this behavior diminish their sense of community, or does it simply broaden the community they get to experience?
[1] Vincent J. Miller, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture (Continuum, 2005), 28.
[2] Ibid, 1
[3] Ibid, 115
About the Author
Caleb Lu
5 responses to “Getting What We’ve Always Wanted”
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Caleb,
The sense of community question at the end of your blog is a good one. I don’t know the answer. I think only time will tell the answer. It’s an interesting phenomenon, moving from church to church during the week I think.
Caleb,
You got me thinking about the CD’s I had in high school. I knew everything about the artists and each new release. Oh, the good ol’ days!
I love the question you asked at the end: does it broaden or diminish the sense of community? I think it is tied to the great quote from Miller you shared, ” thrown into a cultural marketplace where they can be embraced enthusiastically but not put into practice”.
Reflecting on your question, it seems that a person can be exposed to a broad religious experience but only embrace community if they put that aspect into practice, which is what actually creates engagement and change. I suppose it is left to the individual or the group to choose to engage in a deeper level. One could continue to attend and only consume what they perceive as needs indefinitely.
What a great question to consider. What do you perceive is the difference between one who puts the religious ideas into practice and one who only consumes?
Caleb, okay, I am aging myself here. I did not have my first cd until I graduated from high school! My favorite cassette tapes were the ones that came with the lyric inserts. Even with the ability to listen to just about anything, I still find myself going back to my favorite albums or playlists.
Your commentary on the post 1st generation Chinese-Americans reminds me of when I was in college. I attended church irregularly at first and when I finally found the church that met my needs I realized what I had been missing in the other churches. Community. The other churches I went to were great churches, but I never stepped outside the small group of college friends with whom I attended. It was not until I found a church where I did not have a group of college friends that I began to engage in the church community. I made new friends, got involved, served. I wonder what opportunities these younger men and women find for discipleship? Do they have greater opportunities because of the multiple places they go or are they spread too thin to truly engage?
Caleb,
I enjoyed reading your post. I must admit I am still holding on to some of my CDs. Truth be told I even have a few LPs stored in the basement.
The description of younger Chinese-Americans going to different churches to fulfill a need reminds me of an a la carte menu. I hear your concern.
I believe that we as christians are not suppose to conform to worldly ways but I believe that we should meet people where they are. If I need to be a part of something that does not challenge my christian character to save souls I will.