We will try to figure some of these things out in the pages of this site.

First.  What is culture? Let us look at the dictionary definition.

The GAGE Canadian Dictionary under "CULT" says "n. 1 a system of religious worship. 
2 great admiration for a person, thing, idea, etc. 3 a group showing such admiration; worshippers".

Under "CULTURE" it says: "1. fineness of feelings, thoughts, tastes, manners, etc. 2. the arts, beliefs, habits, institutions, and other human endeavors considered together as being characteristic of a particular community, people, or nation. 3 the development of the mind or body by education, training, etc." And if you are really interested in "Yogurt" see #6 under "Culture". 

T.S. Eliot claimed that a culture could not exist except in relation to a deity. Nietzsche told us that God was dead. So does that mean that culture is also dying, or is already dead? 
 

Thomas Carlyle "The great law of culture is, Let each become all that he was created capable of being; expand, if possible, to his full growth; resisting all impediments, casting off all foreign, especially all noxious adhesions, and show himself at length in his own shape and stature, be they what they may." But here we are getting a bit beyond the question; "what is culture?"

For the purpose of these pages let us first of all simplify our understanding of "Culture" to make it more comprehensible, and to prevent us from going too far afield, we will attempt from time to time to align our thoughts with T.S. Eliot's claim. We will attempt to explore the history of culture, worship and music from a Judeo-Christian perspective.

To conclude this introduction to thoughts about yogurt and beyond, let us oversimplify things by stating that "Cult" seems simply to be what is important to us and that "Culture" is simply the way we do things that are important to us, be they cars, boats, food, church, sports, the arts, whatever.

Christianity and Culture

Hymns

“So intensely felt, so deeply impassioned that it seems embroidered with tears and colored with flames and blood.” About the recording the reviewers said: “Nearly four hours of almost terrifying participation in one of the greatest music dramas ever written ... Here is one of the most extraordinary recordings we have ever had ... This unforgettable performance is quite possibly the most outstanding any of us have encountered during the last 20 years ... No one should deny himself the experience of living closely with this splendid set of records. The staggeringly great music is all there - every note of it.” It was regular $27.50. It was being offered for $18.95. No obligation. Pay only if you keep it. How could I resist? 
When the recording of Bach*s St. Matthew Passion arrived some weeks later, listened to it and thought “What strange music. What strange voices”. None of them familiar. But I listened carefully and objectively. It was such a great work, and the musicians subordinated themselves to the music with such devotion, that it did not draw attention to itself. Rather, it was as if I was at an open window, watching the proceedings at Calvary some 2,000 years ago. 
Martin Luther once said he would rather be led by a competent Turk than by an incompetent Christian. I have since concluded that it might just be more edifying to listen to an honest sinner who subordinates himself to the message than a pseudo sanctified saint who thinks he is the message. For years now my wife Joyce has had the instructions that in the event of a fire, and she can save only one set of records, save that old recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Slowly I realized there had been Christianity before it was discovered in North America. My then “contemporary” collection of gospel songs seemed rather pale and shallow in comparison, as did a lot of the songs 1 sang in church. 
On April 15, 1729, a little known musician in Leipzig by the name of Johann Sebastian Bach with local singers and instrumentalists first performed this Work in the church where Bach was the “music director”. During his 30 years in that position, Bach would write enough church music to perform approximately a half hour of music each Sunday for five years without repeating any works. Of course music was “contemporary” in those days and each music director wrote his own. So for about a hundred years his music was forgotten until a 17-year-old Felix Mendelssohn became obsessed with Bach's St. Matthew Passion. He was subsequently given a copy of the score by his family, and despite all technical and vocal difficulties, the work was performed by Felix and friends by the time he was 20. He is said to have remarked on one occasion: “Isn't it ironic that a Jewish boy should resurrect Christianity's greatest work of art?” 
Well Old Bach never realized how great he was, but humbly worked away at his post for 30 years signing many of his compositions with “S.D.G.” (Soli Deo Gloria, or to God alone be the glory).

Thanks to Mendelssohn he was not only rescued from obscurity, but is considered today by many to be the greatest musician in history. A number of years ago Bach was featured on the cover of the December 27th, 1968 issue of “Time” magazine and hailed as “The Fifth Evangelist”. 
This year, as every year during “Passion Week”, Bach's Music will be performed in churches and concert halls the world over. 
 

When we lived in beautiful downtown Battleford in the early fifties, a little girl used to sit and play with our girls. In fact she almost lived at our place, so that when we moved to the edge of the hill in the early sixties, this girl 
moved in with us, so we ended up practically raising her.

Although she and her family have visited us many times we had never been to see them on their farm at Didsbury. I realized that this visit would coincide with the Good Friday Service, so I told her I would be available to sing, should that be deemed appropriate. I suggested that I would be able to sing "Were you there?" because I sing that song without accompaniment. Within hours I received a return call saying that would be just perfect because the entire service would center on that theme. 

The pastor of the little country Mennonite Church spoke with me shortly after we got to our friends place. He told me that two young men would be carrying a cross to the front and hammering nails into it while I was singing. I thought "O Gross". But a voice inside of me said: "Now Fieguth, you just 
subordinate yourself to whatever else has been planned". I was to sing just after the opening hymn. I suggested that I sing the first verse, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord". Then the two young men brought the cross to the front of the church and each hammered a nail into it. Then I sang 
the second verse; "Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?" and then finished with "Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?"

Then the passion story was read, just a portion at a time. Before each portion a violin solo played just the first line of "Were you there?" and at the end of each portion there was a commentary by one of each of the various characters including Judas, as the passion proceedings unfold, giving his 
perspective of the story always ending with; "Yes! I was there!" The story was interspersed with choir selections and congregational singing. Just like the St. Matthew Passion.  Near the end of the service communion was served. 
We had each been given a nail upon entering the sanctuary. During the communion service we each participated by exchanging our nail for the communion elements. We were glad we were there. 
When we arrived in Vernon and booked into our motel, I turned on the TV and with remote control in hand surfed the channels as men apparently are supposed to do. All at once there seemed to be a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, not only sung, but accompanied with some basic actions by the characters. I stood there transfixed with the remote still in my hand. I was suddenly brought back to reality when Joyce said: "Will you put that thing down?" 

I said: "Don't worry! Nothing can get me to change channels for at least three hours." 

So our annual practice of listening to this great work took place after all. It ended up being one of the most meaningful Good Fridays we have experienced.

      The story is told that during the beginnings of the revolution
and the communist takeover in Russia, a large crowd had been
gathered in a hall and the leaders were attempting to remove
the last vestiges of religious belief remaining in the heart of the
Russians. When the new leaders felt that they had covered
every argument needed to accomplish this, they asked if
anyone had any questions or contrary opinions. The audience
was silent, obviously no belief remained. At least so it
appeared. 

Then an old Orthodox Priest with tattered robes slowly
shuffled toward the podium. He intoned three words, "Christ
is risen". Like a thunderclap, the audience burst out with it's
response, "Is risen indeed!" So much for the successful
brainwashing by the atheistic authorities. Every year, for
centuries, this tradition has been enacted in thousands of
Orthodox churches throughout the world. The crucifixion and
resurection of Jesus Christ are of course the basis of the
Christian Faith, and are celebrated in different ways by all
Christians the world over. 

The moment of Christ's death there was an earthquake, and the great curtain in front of the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. Three days later, there was another violent earthquake.  St Matthew records it thus in the 28th chapter of his Gospel: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. "There was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him."' Now I have told you.' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Suddenly Jeus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to
him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to
them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'

The Jewish historian of this time, Flavius Josephus recorded the following in his writings: "Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ (Messiah); and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day." 

from Flavius Josephus A.D. 37-100 - The Complete Works.

The Cross and the Resurrection therefore are central to the Christian Faith. The Nicene Creed, subscribed to since the
Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., includes the following " (I believe) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; and the
third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end."

As "Cult" is what we worship, the culture, or how we worship
or celebrate what is important to us, develops around this
common centre. Christianity has for 2,000 years produced
works of art, such as paintings, music, literature, all of which
stems from one common belief. The Nicene Creed, which is the
belief of Christianity in a nutshell, has itself been the basis for
countless musical settings, usually in the framework of the
complete mass, or liturgical form observed by the church for
hundreds of years. But I doubt if any single expression says its
better than the old Orthodox :
"Christ is risen!"               "Is risen indeed."

"This is the dogma we find so dull---this terrifying drama of which God is the victim and hero."

"If this is dull, then what in heaven's name, is worthy to be called exciting?"

Dorothy Sayers

 During my years in the Psychiatric Research Department we had numerous animals which were used for a variety of experiments. This included, rats, squirrels and cats among others. There were three cats however which somehow ended up being a part of an experiment not intended for them.

The dairy barns at the Saskatchewan Hospital housed not only the official residents, the cows, but a variety of cats which were always well fed. When the barns were to be shut down, there was the problem of the cats. A patient who had been working in the barn, asked a patient who had been helping to look after the lab animals including the cats, whether it were possible to accommodate three of the animals from the barn for the winter in the luxurious feline apartments located in the research department. Fine! They were well fed and warm for the winter. So in spring? We'll get back to that later.

I have long admired Vaclav Havel, not only for his thinking but his commitment and determination. After spending five years in prison for speaking out against what he felt was wrong, he ended up being elected at leader of Czechoslovakia. Nelson Mandela spent twenty seven years in prison for similar reasons. The day he was released he went and made a speech, eventually got elected, and became the Prime Minister of South Africa.

I could not help but think of the cats, Vaclav Havel, and Nelson Mandela in the same context along with a vague recollection of the Chamber of Horrors down in the basement of the Royal London Wax Museum in Victoria. So I faxed the museum as follows: "Greetings from beautiful scenic Battleford. I would like some information...regarding the story of a man who had been in prison for many years. When he was released, he asked to go back to prison because he felt uncomfortable in the great wide free world."...Thank you kindly. etc."

In a little over an hour I received the following reply; "Greetings from Canada's Best Blooming City. Thank you very much for your fax this afternoon. I just came from the Chamber of Horrors with all the information I could gather for you.

Now back to the cats. When they were taken outside in spring, one disappeared, one went right up a tree, and the third cowered against a wire mesh fence all day long. All of them obviously terrified of the freedom of the outdoors. So? What is the point I am trying to make? I am not sure, except that I have long been intrigued by the difference between The Compte De Lorge and the cats on one hand and the likes of Vaclav Havel and Nelson Mandela.

After writing the above, I was told about a young man somewhat deficient in his mental capacities. The house in which he and his family were living caught on fire. He helped the others get out and probably some belongings. Then said something to the effect; "I have to stay here". He went back to his room and burned with the building. A horrible story, which I gathered when I heard it, was true. The young man with his limited powers of comprehension apparently could not conceive of a world without his room as its center.

Isadora Duncan (1878-1927) said in 1924; "Most human beings today waste some twenty-five to thirty years of their lives before they break through the actual and conventional lies which surround them." Where there is a vision and a purpose, the mind obviously does not have to die, regardless of the circumstances. Of course we know from ancient writings that "Where there is NO vision the people perish." Could it be that the worst prisons are those prisons of the mind which we either build ourselves or permit others to build for us, or around us, preventing us from reaching our full potential?

MF