The Potential for Spontaneous Combustion

I'm sure I've read somewhere that there comes a time during an anthropologist's ethnographic experience where they do things or become involved in certain events that at first thought appear to be against their nature in some way. This morning at 10 o'clock, I'll be going to church for the first time in a very long time. Yes, you read me correctly, to church. While there has been 'many-a-joke' concerning the potential for my body's spontaneous combustion following my arrival in and through the doors of the church, I hope that my presence there will be quite a bit less theatrical.

This week I was able to meet with one of the local ministers to discuss the church's role in neighbourhood events. Due to history, politics, finances, and local social state of affairs (essentially the dwindling of numbers and hard financial times), churches have had a harder time staying afloat in this globalised world of diverse loyalties and the churches in Rotterdam are no exception.

However, I visited this church a couple of weeks ago when they played host to a discussion between an author who used to live in the neighbourhood (who also happens to be a Moroccan and a Muslim writing about immigrant experiences) and a 'Christian representative' from close by. From the layout of the event, one can conclude that the purpose of the dialogue was to begin a discussion between faiths on areas where these faiths come together and potentially in areas where they do not. It indeed proved to be a lively discussion which despite not understanding the majority of what was said, I could understand the dance of quick voices that were at times a bit heated (and of course from the synopsis that I received a little later on). The author made a lovely presentation actually; he was graceful in his responses, and always listened to opinions. Overall, the activity was a success precisely because attendees were engaged and I was quite interested in the fact that a church had brought on this event and spurred on such a discussion.

Thus, I was happy to have the chance to meet with the minister this week to discuss like events and the churches role and involvement with the community (which happens to be quite a significant contribution). At the end of our discussion, I was asked if I'd like to come to this Sunday's service, to 'see them in action', to which I said, yes, thank you I think I will.

While attending this event might seem a bit out of the ordinary for me, to my knowledge, in every anthropologist's life, a little difference must fall. Mine just happens to fall at 10 am on a Sunday morning which reminds me...I should go. Who'd of thought hey, Aggie and Ella?