Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music and Entertainment
Shimmering Opacity in a Country Church

Shimmering Opacity in a Country Church

Last updated on: March 12, 2024 at 4:24 pm by Chase Padusniak

0 Comments

Shimmering Opacity in a Country Church 2024-03-12T16:24:19-04:00 Chase Padusniak

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Swedish church, much like those in Winter Light.
Source: Picryl
Public Domain

This one is likely to be short. I’ve just handed in my dissertation, and I think my brain will blow out like a whoopie cushion exposed to a pin prick if I try to go on for any length of time. I’m running on the neural equivalent of fumes. The term “late medieval mysticism” is banging around in my head, and there’s nothing I can do to silence the farting echo.

The only thought that brings me peace is Ingmar Bergman’s Winter Light (1963). This is strange, since Bergman’s film is about a pastor who has an existential crisis after his wife dies. Mostly, he stands around in stony silence, lamenting the day he was born, or he pushes away those few who love or care about him like the atheistic Märta (Ingrid Thulin), whose love for him is about the best sign of God’s reality a Lutheran pastor could hope for. What little optimism we do get only comes along by way of a disabled ex-railroad worker’s reflection on the loneliness and sadness of Jesus, abandoned by His friends, left to face a long, painful execution while crying out in feared desolation.

It’s not as bad as it sounds. I recall the film fondly because I, in fact, believe that the greatest hope emerges from just such moments of terror and sadness. If the unexamined life is not worth living, then the life free of crises is inhuman. And I am certainly human. The six years I’ve put into my dissertation have produced something of a crisis. I’ve changed much over that time; I’ve seen innumerable shifts in myself and in the world around me. When I began, TikTok was obscure. No one had then heard of COVID-19. And, of course, Donald Trump was still president (we’ll see if he occupies the office again). In those days, I was unmarried, living in New York, and pet-less. Now, well, I’ve got a wife, four pets, and a residence in the New Jersey suburbs. Times change.

Winter Light could easily be boring. It’s a quiet film with no extradiegetic music and only occasional outbursts of speech. What makes it captivating is Bergman’s obsession with the human face, his constant use of the close-up to show us the raw and overpowering emotions of his characters. Even if you dislike Tomas the pastor (Gunnar Björnstrand) or find his angsty whining a bit too much, you cannot help but be moved by the truth of his feelings. We have all been alone, felt alienated from everything and everyone, unable to help or be helped. One day things improve, perhaps suddenly, perhaps slowly. We trudge on, sometimes even happily, weights lifted off our shoulders. I doubt Tomas is ever sure of his god’s existence. But that’s hardly the point. He doesn’t end up where he began.

And that’s about what we can ask for, no? The existential crises, the bad times—all that—will come. But to endure (even to learn!) is a deeply human thing, a truth that, even if invisible in each moment, has vitality and salience when observed over the long haul. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired. But, then again, Tomas was tired too.

Religious Art

Previous Post

March 4, 2024

In Defense of Ishtar

Next Post

March 19, 2024 A Stately-Pleasure Dome Kubla Khan Did Decree? In LA?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Do The Right Thing was a terrible movie, with a terrible message, a man owns ..."

Frank Holzhauser

Do the Right Thing: What Can ..."

"NOT the experience of those who actually lived through those years. Let's not forget that.Too ..."

captcrisis

54: Let the Good Times Roll

"Your accurate assessment of where the Blockbuster and the studios have ended up reminded me ..."

Dave G.

Jaws: Ad Fontes

"Another Dementia experience: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkbxNibXiLx_ak8IuhZiutd2Fxe7_KAon&si=VhOYNUIBV3CTlyDf"

Ame

Dementia: Silent Nightmare

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Academia Culture Politics Reviews Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 December 2020 November 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the name for a standard silver coin in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mina Denarius Shekel Talent