There is temporary stick-on graffiti in Canterbury Cathedral. You can read all about the people who dislike it or are embarrassed about it all over the internet, so you don't need my help there. Yet I did find something humorous bout it all.
David Monteith, the Dean of Canterbury, said: “There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style, which is disruptive. There is also an authenticity in what is said because it is unfiltered and not tidied up or sanitised. Above all, this graffiti makes me wonder why I am not always able to be as candid, not least in my prayers."
A quick glance tells you that the one thing this graffiti is is smoothed rather than raw, inauthentic, filtered, tidied, and sanitised. It looks nothing like any urban or underpass spraying. It is as if your graffiti was a backdrop for Veggie Tales, except Vischer and Nawrocki would have been more orthodox.
I once read that the only continuing doctrine of the Church of England is doubt, a three-legged school designed by MC Escher. I have yet to see convincing counterevidence for the denomination, though I still stand much indebted to NT Wright and the like. But this isn't even very good doubt. It's introductory doubt.
I also have to wonder at the last line, about candor and prayers. Surely one doesn't get to be Dean of Canterbury without having asked "Are You There?" or "What Happens When We Die?" Even Judy Blume, not noted as a great theologian or even a deep thinker, was able to manage that.
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