Comments on: Poetry Sunday: Church Going http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:48:35 +0000 By: Eilidh http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-35504 Eilidh Mon, 12 May 2008 09:47:54 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-35504 ever since my dad dies i have had a fondness for churches and fell that they have a meaning and a purpose to everyone, ever since my dad dies i have had a fondness for churches and fell that they have a meaning and a purpose to everyone,

]]> By: Lynet http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-29632 Lynet Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:36:45 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-29632 I don't think Larkin expects fulfilment from churches; nor do I think he condemns them particularly in this poem. He accepts that there's nothing there, and if he steps in, open to experience nevertheless, well, so might I -- just as I might absently pick a flower or run my fingers across a shiny leaf as I walk. You say he might get more from it if he chose to believe some magnificent story about the meaning of the church. Perhaps he might, but I like his approach better -- respecting the human experience which was centred around the building even as he rejects the ideology behind it. I don't think Larkin expects fulfilment from churches; nor do I think he condemns them particularly in this poem. He accepts that there's nothing there, and if he steps in, open to experience nevertheless, well, so might I -- just as I might absently pick a flower or run my fingers across a shiny leaf as I walk.

You say he might get more from it if he chose to believe some magnificent story about the meaning of the church. Perhaps he might, but I like his approach better -- respecting the human experience which was centred around the building even as he rejects the ideology behind it.

]]> By: Warren http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-29617 Warren Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:56:10 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-29617 After reading this poem, I immediately thought about Aesop's story about the fox and the grapes: the fox wanted the grapes, but when he couldn't get them he convinced himself that they were probably sour anyway. Mr. Larkin's poem is a very personal narration by someone who habitually goes into churches searching for a feeling, but sadly never finds it. What does he lack that drives him to enter empty churches? One pictures a fellow looking for answers. Could it be that he's just an ordinary guy searching for the meaning of life and expecting to receive some sort of feeling that explains it all. That sort of fellow will search forever because he attempts to satisfy his human need to be fulfilled by looking for a feeling from a building without first accepting the faith that built it. He is the fox that would really like something, but when faced with the reality that he has failed to obtain it, condemns the very thing he pursued. After reading this poem, I immediately thought about Aesop's story about the fox and the grapes: the fox wanted the grapes, but when he couldn't get them he convinced himself that they were probably sour anyway. Mr. Larkin's poem is a very personal narration by someone who habitually goes into churches searching for a feeling, but sadly never finds it. What does he lack that drives him to enter empty churches? One pictures a fellow looking for answers. Could it be that he's just an ordinary guy searching for the meaning of life and expecting to receive some sort of feeling that explains it all. That sort of fellow will search forever because he attempts to satisfy his human need to be fulfilled by looking for a feeling from a building without first accepting the faith that built it. He is the fox that would really like something, but when faced with the reality that he has failed to obtain it, condemns the very thing he pursued.

]]> By: Lynet http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28648 Lynet Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:07:25 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28648 I'm startled by how strongly it echoes some of the feelings I have about churches -- the obscure respect for nothing much, the recognition of a space that might be "proper to grow wise in", that "held unspilt... marriage, and birth, and death". I'm startled by how strongly it echoes some of the feelings I have about churches -- the obscure respect for nothing much, the recognition of a space that might be "proper to grow wise in", that "held unspilt... marriage, and birth, and death".

]]> By: Dave http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28632 Dave Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:06:24 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28632 Sadly seemly more a tale of Britain recent past than of modern America or a Britain apparently eager to follow in our recent "religious revival." Sadly seemly more a tale of Britain recent past than of modern America or a Britain apparently eager to follow in our recent "religious revival."

]]> By: AttemptingReason http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28629 AttemptingReason Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:50:43 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi.html#comment-28629 I liked it. I liked it.

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