It was a delightful conversation, as always. Robin and Debra from The Incarcerated Christian podcast always amaze me with both their program and their enthusiasm. I’m still bit nonplussed that they find my work interesting. They invited me back for an October discussion around Nightmares with the Bible, located here. Although the book has not yet sold enough copies to have earned any royalties (i.e., it hasn’t covered the cost of its own publication yet), it has nevertheless led to four interviews and even had a Choice review. Granted, a good part of the lack of enthusiasm is its Elon Musk price point, at least that’s what I tell myself. I’m still hopeful that a paperback will be out next year.
I suspect people are interested in demons. Considering that movies keep on being made about them and doing well, I hope it’s only a matter of time. While I’m waiting, however, I’ve got some good listening over at The Incarcerated Christian. The podcast addresses a couple of issues: one is spirituality and the other is the effects of being raised in a religion that boxes or cages a person in. The proprietors are among the few who realize that there’s a spirituality to horror. I’m reading a book just now that considers thzt question. And I know of others, active ministers among them, who find spirituality in horror. I don’t know their backgrounds well enough to know their carceral status, but to me the connection makes sense.
I’ve written before that I’ve come to rely on experience as a source of knowing. Not entirely, of course, but it’s clear that those who don’t trust their experience end up incarcerated. My experience of organized religion suggests that it has many issues that require professional help. That’s one aspect of having been a seminary teacher, and administrator, that has fed into my experience. Having seen how that happens, and knowing the kinds of people who rise to the top—just look at politicians, particularly on the right-hand side—my experience suggests that ecclesiastical corruption is far more common than most people suspect. In order to accomplish big things humans have to organize. And in any organizational structure there will be climbers. In general you don’t get to be clergy (apart from those non-denominations that’ll hire anyone making certain claims) without seminary. And seminary isn’t what it seems. To me, watching horror makes far more sense than befriending the jailer. Take a moment to listen; it’s free.
