An IASH Work-in-Progress seminar, delivered by Professor Ted Trost (Nominated Fellow 2022; University of Alabama)
Hymns of the Insurrection: A Liturgy for the Feast of Epiphany
Religious imagery, biblical quotations and hymn singing all figured prominently in the flow of events that took place in Washington, DC, on 6 January 2021. Some in the crowd sang the hymn "Amazing Grace." Others waved banners that bore the image of a lion under which was written "Proverbs 30:30"—a biblical reference that some in the crowd might have recognized as containing the words "The lion in you never retreats." Still others called upon God in song to "Crush the Enemy" for the sake of "His" people—presumably the protesters who had congregated to "Stop the Steal." In this presentation, I want to consider a few "moments of moment" or little epiphanies that suggest something about the American character, broadly speaking, during a time of pandemic and pandemonium: a liminal moment when, under normal circumstances, the peaceful transfer of power would take place. These epiphanies arose in the context of song-singing that occurred coincidentally on the Day of Epiphany—as praise, as provocation, as protest, or as profession of faith. In what sense do these video recordings stand as testimonies of religious conviction? What might these scenes, preserved by their perpetrators and published by the "Uncivil Religion" project (among others), suggest about orderly or disorderly political protest? How do the hymnodic and biblical literature engaged by the crowds advance their purposes in challenging power, or in manifesting empowerment, as they approach the cradle of democracy on the day of Epiphany? These are the kinds of questions I want to set in motion in conversation with all of you on 11 May.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81322391722
Passcode: Vr8f3ew2