What exactly is 'Burning Man' (hell, churches, Christian, pastor)

[BIMBAM]

Well, this photo thread basically sums up what Burning Man is all about: Pagan symbolism, strange costumes, and radical performance art, and dancing all night.

Burning Man 2012 - In Focus - The Atlantic

[rifleman]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

I'm no religious fanatic, but EVERYONE I know that raves over "Burning Man" is an idiot in my book. While it may not be a Satanic Woodstock, it's a New Millenium granola Woodstock, in a bleak God-forsaken location to boot.

Yalk about a biased outlook! Yes, it is a rather open and creative event, but it is what it is, a very creative and unfettered philosophical event. So what if it's out in the dry foreboding desert? So is Las Vegas (which is, in fact, near-by, and a whole lot more sinful, btw...) I'm only sad that a) I can't afford it, and b), it'd be a bit too hard on my aging bod or to try to keep up with all those youthful or at least less creaky celebrants.

http://blog.hostelbookers.com/wp-con...0920241599.jpg

and...

http://belindabentley.com/Public/wp-...PictureMan.jpg

and...

http://z.about.com/d/sanfrancisco/1/...ing_Man_10.jpg

and...

http://www.rendez-vous-wiki.com/img_...urning-man.jpg

Of course, in any free-spirit celebration, you'll get some of this...

http://z.about.com/d/sanfrancisco/1/...ing_Man_04.jpg

...but so what? Avert thine eyes if thou art offended by reality! (as in any episode of "The Real Wives of New Jersey")

rpg, you really ought to open up your mind and go watch some of the many MANY YouTube vids on it.

Imagine: coming down in your fellow man for simply having unfettered fun! (PS: I happen to know that there have not been any riots, goat sacrifices, or human virgins being offered up to Satan, etc.)

Why is it that smug-minded, holier-than-thou!!! Christians get so all tar-and-feather-ish when they see others that simply don't go in the exact-same mandatory proscribed direction as their buy-bull book or minister gloatingly requires of them?

Sadly, this reminds me of the Rush Limbaugh mentality (and for sure; let God save us all from his puritanical [but also personally drug-soaked...] version of this world...)

It all reminds me of this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...on%2C_1900.jpg

or perhaps this...

http://atheistdave.files.wordpress.c...-pat.jpg?w=584

(Imagine a world thought-controlled by the likes of this sanctimonious toadie! I think I'd rather kill myself!)

[nana053]

I guess part of what impresses me about this festival is that they build it and tear it down with a Leave no Trace ethic. It's rather amazing considering the size of the camp.

Burning Man: Environment: Leave No Trace

[robertpolyglot]

I would have no doubt that, for the majority of Americans, Burning Man would have a bad vibe.

[Curmudgeon]

A new-age, desperate excuse to gather in a foresaken area, act out, act badly and be foolish. Pathetic! No value added!

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by rifleman

Yalk about a biased outlook!

It's not near Las Vegas. It's in northern Nevada ... really, really far from LV.

I've worked with people who went to it. If they represent what Burning Man attendees are like, then "no effin way."

It's kind of like this: I don't need to swim in the ocean off Cape Cod these days to know a great white might want to snack on me.

[Trackwatch]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

I would have no doubt that, for the majority of Americans, Burning Man would have a bad vibe.

And why would that be ? Because of the Pagan stuff going on? You know a LOT of what is part of Christianity today was a Pagan practice in the past.

[Heathen Hammer]

I think it's pretty impressive for something this size. That overhead shot of the entire settled area, apparently very well laid out... the fact it's on a desert flat and they truck in water and facilities... pretty intense.

Doubtful I would ever try to attend, unless I had me a rented super RV. And some mischievous performance art concept

[AREQUIPA]

Originally Posted by BIMBAM

Well, this photo thread basically sums up what Burning Man is all about: Pagan symbolism, strange costumes, and radical performance art, and dancing all night.

Burning Man 2012 - In Focus - The Atlantic

It looks sorta a mix of the Edinborough festival, Glastonbury and the Tate modern, dumped in the desert.

An 'Event' or festival of 'events'. Even the burning of the wooden temple reminded me of a Thai Royal cremation that I once attended, done just for the atmosphere of the event.

[LargeKingCat]

Most of what I know about Burning man comes from what I have read in arts journals, and seen in arts documentaires. I have not been, I want to go, I am not sure how it has evolved away from the performance art ideal, but according to the posts here, it is significant.

To the OP, I once had a Christian Fundy evangelical pastor tell me it was Satanic to eat Chinese food. If he were still alive today, I'd send him videos of Sunday mornings at the Thai temple of mysef and my son eating Thai food (Thai being geographically close to China) and on the grounds of a Buddhist (non Christian) compound, just to reinforce the placement of the Ambrosia artemisiifolia that I left in his distal alimentary canal the last time we talked.
I have little to no respect for thesetypes of pastors, I am not hostile or aggresive to them, but I have no trouble telling them that they are full of impacted fecal material when neccesary. Which would have been my response had I been there, but clearly you are more tolerant of him than I would be.

Point remains if I want to go to Burning Man, I will go, but I will not go without a decent artistic statement to present to the cliquish attendees who apparentll have to get back to their mom's basements where they love before sundown.