HAPPY CHRISTMAS!...UNLESS YOU'RE A GOTH!

This morning I stumbled across a questionnaire I thought I’d share. It claims to “help you determine if your child is a ‘Goth’ and has strayed from the Lord.” I have no personal experience with this, but many of us will celebrate Christmas next week preoccupied in commercialism, neglecting to reflect on the meaningful gifts we’ve already received, like friendships and loved ones, or completely forgetting to confiscate Johnny’s Marilyn Manson records.

There is a church in Los Angeles off Franklin Avenue; for those of you unfamiliar with Franklin, it’s in Hollywood, notorious for such things as the Magic Castle, a private club known for its secret passageways and dedication to all things magic; the Highland Gardens Hotel, where Janis Joplin accidentally overdosed in room 105 in 1970; and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Mayan-inspired Sowden House, linked to Hollywood’s infamous Black Dahlia murder. In other words, Franklin has a bit of a history.   

As an aside, David J. Haskins’ theatrical production, “The Chanteuse & The Devil’s Muse,” is based on the unsolved Black Dahlia case; and I hope to be working with him, lending artworks for the play’s relaunch, in the future.

But getting back to the church, Hollywood United Methodist was designed by Thomas Barber in the 1920’s. Modeled after the English Gothic style, it looks remarkably like Westminster Abbey, except that it sports two huge red AIDS awareness ribbons on its side tower. The church is known for its nonjudgmental ideology. Though I was raised Catholic, I used to wander in occasionally to sit and sketch, meditate, or just be alone with my thoughts. 

5000 miles from LA, a friend recently shared a similar nonpietistic experience she had at St. Edward King & Martyr Church in Cambridge, an original Gothic structure with a rather interesting story. Claiming to be “the cradle of the English reformation,” it includes in its history two priests burned at the stake for their Protestant inclinations during the reign of Catholic Queen Mary. In 2006, St. Edward began holding a weekly “Goth” Eucharist organized by Anglican vicar, champion of the homeless, and self-proclaimed “Goth,” Marcus Ramshaw.

Ramshaw created the innovative service specifically for likeminded individuals in an attempt to entice the wayward back to the flock. It featured sermons on contemporary topics, the typical candles and incense, an emphasis on Johannine theology, and instead of hymns, incorporated music by Bauhaus, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, and (Depeche Mode...sorry Dave, I never considered you guys Goth!) Anyways, Ramshaw has since moved on, but the church still holds an alternative weekly service; and I have to admit, the idea and intention behind it, was charitable.

By the way, some of you may recall Ramshaw’s recent media attention this past summer when he denounced the Archbishop of Canterbury as a homophobic, hypocritical “w**ker” on his Facebook page – this in answer to the Archbishop’s stance on gay marriage. Agreeing to disagree, he has since renounced the offense. Apparently use of the word “w**ker” was inadvertent.

Folklore, myths, and legends aside, something I think we all can agree on is the true meaning of Christmas should be to practice forgiveness and tolerance towards people of all faiths and backgrounds.

So, in keeping with the holiday spirit of spreading Christ’s message of love and compassion, I urge you to seize those records... throw away that box of Count Chocula ...and seek immediate counseling to rid little Johnny of Satan’s temptation!