Previous Post – Otherwise Occupied

Last month I had the chance to answer five very… unique questions about my book by Tripp York, who describes himself “an incredibly lackluster author (he has published more books than he has sold), an anti-motivational speaker, and is the self-professed “Hank Moody” of Mennonites (the competition is brutal). He is classically over-educated which means he has been successfully trained to not be able to do anything of any real use.  He spends most of his time acting like he can act and teaching college students how to read“.

So I decided return the favour, asking Tripp about his hilarious and poignant new book “The Devil Wears Nada: Satan Exposed!”.  So, let’s get to the conversation:

Jamie Arpin-Ricci: So, Tripp, your book became something of a distraction for our community, even though I was the only one reading it.  Time and again I would find myself laughing out loud.  Do you think humor is under-utilized in Christian writing, thinking and living?  And how many times have you been physically threatened as a result of your wit?

Tripp York: Distractions are good, right?

Absolutely, I think humor is quite under-utilized. Though there is certainly much historical precedent in our tradition for it. I think it was Teresa of Avila who asked God to save us from somber, sullen saints. Hands down, that’s one of the best prayer requests I’ve ever heard! (And we’re still waiting—Jamie, maybe you should send a reminder.)

(JAR: Consider it sent, along with my request for fat-free, yet still tasty, bacon.  Here’s hoping.)

TY: Are you familiar with Geez Magazine?  They attempt to, as they suggest, “untangle the narrative of faith from the fundamentalists, pious self-helpers and religio-profiteers. And let’s do it with holy mischief rather than ideological firepower.” That’s a pretty rocking idea, and they better review my book since I hooked them up with a shout-out.

JAR: I may not have known who Propagandhi was, but Geez is one Winnipeg institution I am familiar with- and not just because my son practices Ethiopian dance next to their office every weekend.

TY: In terms of the second part of that question . . . first of all, I think the jury is still out on my “wit.” But you’re a smart guy, so I trust your judgment!

To answer your question: too many to count. And that probably says more about me than the people who have come after me. I mean, growing up in a ridiculously pious ecclesial community, my attempts at being a theological court jester were rarely appreciated. And when I started taking that tactic in published form or in terms of lectures, presentations, whatever, well . . . some folks do not handle that sort of strategy well. I’ve had a number of instances in which I had to make a beeline to the exit—a few of which were included in the book.

JAR: I find in some Christian circles, that people are happy to “worship” Jesus, but not to keen on actually doing what He asks us to do.  Yet many will organize their lives around the threat (or attack) of Satan.  How do you account for this?

TY: In terms of your first sentence, I would say they are not worshiping Jesus if they can somehow divorce such ‘worship’ from obeying him. John’s first epistle says that if you claim to know him yet do not obey him then you’re a liar. Which is why I told Matt Litton in a recent interview, that I just don’t claim to follow him. I know, I should claim it, so people will hold me accountable to it, but I’m terrified of hypocrisy so I have to be open to the fact that I am more of an admirer than a worshipper. Unfortunately, Christianity in North America seems to equate worship with singing mawkish, maudlin love songs written by the affluent principalities and powers located in Nashville, TN. It’s a disaster.

In terms of people organizing their lives around the threat of Satan, I don’t know. I met quite a few of those people (as you are well aware having read the book), I think that it is just much easier to construct a lifestyle around avoiding what you think are the machinations of some fallen angel rather than around something like The Sermon on the Mount. That stuff is hard work!

JAR: Whether a believer or a skeptic, Christians seem to be almost universally fascinated with demon possession.  Why is that, do you think?  And besides saying “Stop it or I’ll bury you alive in a box!”, what would have to say to such people?

TY: Did you just reference a sketch by Bob Newhart? That man is a freaking genius! Seriously, outside of Groucho Marx he was one of the best (and inside Groucho Marx it’s too dark to see . . .  ah, that was a little pun off of one of his old jokes . . . okay, I’ll stop now).

JAR: Ha!  Puns make life worth living- though my wife would adamantly disagree.

TY: George Herbert claimed that the devil divides the world between atheism and superstition. People are obsessed with the so-called ‘supernatural’ (how I would love to rescue such language—its probably not going to happen). Though, I guess I can’t be too hard on these folks. My obsession with Jedi’s and Sith Lord’s knows no limits, so . . .

JAR:  How could one not obsess over something so worthy as Jedi Masters?  At any rate, you wrote “The Devil Wears Nada: Satan Exposed!” on something of a dare.  What else do you most wish someone would dare you write about?

TY: Being a Mennonite stripper! There has got to be a market out there for that, right? (Do you think Zondervan or IVP would publish it? Me either.)

I was actually telling Brian McLaren the other day—half in jest I suspect—that nakedness is an eschatological practice that reveals to the world the way we were created, were meant to be, and will one day be again. So, why wait? (Much like your readers, he wasn’t too sure if I was kidding or not. I’m not even sure myself.)

JAR: Totally!  On earth, as in heaven, right?  You could bring marketing for “The Naked Anabaptist” to a whole new level!  Tell me, what didn’t make it into this book that you really wish was there now?  Anything you wish hadn’t made it?

TY: To be honest, I really included what I wanted to include. There were a number of experiences, stories, and interviews that would have fit as well, but I’m quite happy with it. There was, however, this one Catholic priest I was interviewing—talking about exorcisms and such—but, instead of talking about demonic possession, he only wanted to talk about the Eucharist. How awesome is that? Then, at the height of our conversation, he referred to participating in the Eucharist as a spiritual orgasm. I was all like, “Dammit . . . I knew I should have been a Catholic!”

In terms of stuff I wish I hadn’t included . . . that would probably be the entire last chapter! I’m only kind of joking. I love that chapter, but then I had to worry about my family reading it. I told my parents that they might want to avoid reading this book altogether—you know, sit this one out—which, of course, only inspired my mother to immediately barrel through it.

Yeah . . . that made for some really awkward conversations.

JAR: Here’s to awkward conversations between a nude Mennonite and his puzzled parents!  Thanks Tripp.

Check out Tripp’s books and his blog.  Well worth it, I promise!