Burning Man

[AwesomeSock]

What's your take on the Burning Man festival? It looks cool to me, but I'm on the fence about whether I want to experience it firsthand.

From what I've read, it looks like a fun and supportive environment for one's creative side to come out to play, but it also looks like the kind of thing that other Christians would judge me for doing. God knows that I don't plan on lusting after the occasional naked person, let alone worshiping the burning sculpture as if it was some kind of idol. I would be in it for the fun cultural experience. Either way, I suppose the silver lining of being single is that I still have the freedom to do this kind of thing.

 

[Spirit_Star]

I think it looks pretty cool I’ve only known about it for a couple years. I’d love to one day go and experience it. I don’t currently know anyone who would want to go too and I wouldn’t want to go by myself. I’d also go for the cultural experience. From what I have read it basically becomes a little village (art colony) in the middle of the desert for a week. I suppose some Christians might judge you but as long as you know or feel you have done nothing wrong. Probably best just to ignore it.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

It's basically one big rave, filled with drugs and hippies... that's the usual crowd from my understanding, I know some people who go there annually; and that's what they go there for anyway.

 

[MacFall]

It's more diverse than gets reported. I know a group of Christians who go there annually and they claim never to have seen a deviant sexual act or a pagan ritual. Mostly, there are areas for everything, all clearly marked, so you can experience what you want to experience and avoid what you want to avoid. I've never gone, and probably wouldn't go; it just doesn't seem like my kind of thing. But from what others who have gone have told me, it's not much different from some major arts and crafts festival in big cities. Except, not in a city at all - which is part of the appeal.

 

[dayhiker]

I'd like to go ... but its too far away for me to go. I don't hear of many people being hurt etc. So its food to see freedom and self-control in the same place.

 

[MacFall]

its good to see freedom and self-control in the same place.

To some of us, they are the same thing. You can't be free if you are ruled by abusive tendencies, either for self-abuse or the abuse of others.

 

[Im_A]

What's your take on the Burning Man festival? It looks cool to me, but I'm on the fence about whether I want to experience it firsthand.

From what I've read, it looks like a fun and supportive environment for one's creative side to come out to play, but it also looks like the kind of thing that other Christians would judge me for doing. God knows that I don't plan on lusting after the occasional naked person, let alone worshiping the burning sculpture as if it was some kind of idol. I would be in it for the fun cultural experience. Either way, I suppose the silver lining of being single is that I still have the freedom to do this kind of thing.

The best thing about "Burning Man", "WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE! IT WAS ALWAYS BURNING SINCE THE WORLD'S BEEN TURNING...WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE"

 

[Im_A]

Serious response:
The affect on the environment is a bit concerning.

The idea of it, I think is really cool. In comparison though to everyday, 365 day a year, carbon foot print we all allow and support...maybe a bit minut in comparison.

The Burning Man event is governed by 10 principles, which are radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.
http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/about_burningman/principles.html

My hands would be in my pocket at all times though. I could not imagine sitting in someone's 'excited moment'.

 

[GQ Chris]

If you're a serious and committed Christian, this is like asking if it would be okay to attend a coke snorting party so long as you're not going to be snorting cocaine there, you'll just be around having a good time with all the cokeheads, surely Jesus will understand right? WRONG!

 

[GQ Chris]

This event is basically a Pagan bonfire.

 

[MacFall]

The previous two posts are obviously from someone who has only read sensational, mainstream media reports of the event.

 

[GQ Chris]

No Mac, I am from the Ultra lib bay area and have firsthand knowledge of what goes on there from people that I know.

 

[MacFall]

I know plenty of people who go who aren't "ultra lib" pagans or hippies or whatever. Stop generalizing.

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

If you're a serious and committed Christian, this is like asking if it would be okay to attend a coke snorting party so long as you're not going to be snorting cocaine there, you'll just be around having a good time with all the cokeheads, surely Jesus will understand right? WRONG!

Eh, Jesus hung out with tax-collectors, sinners, adulterers, and all sorts of people that would have been the "coke-heads" of their day.

He obviously wasn't hanging out with them to flirt with temptation and sin, however, so if one's motivations for going to a place like Burning Man is to flirt with sin and temptation then one shouldn't go. Even still, a godly witness is needed in those places so if you can be a good witness and not succumb to temptation then have at it and make Jesus proud.

 

[MacFall]

Some people would rather see Nineveh burn then go among the Ninevites.

 

[GQ Chris]

I know plenty of people who go who aren't "ultra lib" pagans or hippies or whatever. Stop generalizing.

And stop claiming what I do and don't know about, thanks.

 

[GQ Chris]

Eh, Jesus hung out with tax-collectors, sinners, adulterers, and all sorts of people that would have been the "coke-heads" of their day.

He obviously wasn't hanging out with them to flirt with temptation and sin, however, so if one's motivations for going to a place like Burning Man is to flirt with sin and temptation then one shouldn't go. Even still, a godly witness is needed in those places so if you can be a good witness and not succumb to temptation then have at it and make Jesus proud.

You failed. The OP isn't going to this event specifically to evangelize.

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

You failed. The OP isn't going to this event specifically to evangelize.

Then how does my post fail? It clearly states that if the motivation is to flirt with temptation and sin then one shouldn't go.

To be honest, I think your previous post which states that Jesus wouldn't approve of hanging out with "coke-heads" is the one that truly fails. Jesus personally hung out with all sorts of sinful people... Do you disagree with me on this?

 

[GQ Chris]

Then how does my post fail? It clearly states that if the motivation is to flirt with temptation and sin then one shouldn't go.

Then you agree then, because that will pretty much be next to impossible when at the burning man.

 

[GQ Chris]

Nevermind