When the culture wars were lost: Maria sings I have confidence

it was the early 60's.  A time of social upheaval and revolution.  Eyes were turned toward the new movements in music, literature and politics which were sweeping the Western world.  But the cultural phenomenon which toppled Christendom once and for all came in a Trojan horse built in Austria.  It was the release of the nefarious "Sound of Music", with its anti Christian slogans, which signaled the final assault on public morality.

Perhaps this is nowhere better seen than in the song "I Have Confidence".  Just a cursory glance at the lyrics shows how far the decay had set:

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again.

We see in the first two lines quoted that the latent paganism which had inhabited the pre-Christian world is again on the rise.  Appeals to the powers of "sun" and "rain" are obvious incitements to nature worship.  Having confidence that "spring will come again" is an obvious reference to the fertility cult and the power of the "gods" to bring the cycle of nature to fruition again.  No doubt this is intended to lead eventually to sacrifice, as it had in early Canaanite religions.

Besides which you see I have confidence in me.

Here of course Maria exalts herself as "goddess" - she is the sole source of her "confidence".  There is no appeal to any form of deity beyond of the self.  Like the apotheosis of Roman power in the persona and cultus of the Emperor, Maria has been elevated like a Caesar, into the realm of divinity.

I have confidence in confidence alone

Finally there is a descent into the nihilistic solipsism of sefl-referential existence.  Not content to persuade the masses into nature worship, Maria encloses the principal of "confidence" back upon itself.  This final act of defiance of both external dependence and responsibility toward anything which which might be considered an "other", is a sheer negation of the outward movement toward community which is the mark both of humanity as zoeon logon politikon (the animal that speaks and lives in the polis - the city), and the self-reflective life of the deus in sui as Trinity.

I going to write to someone, and let them know the truth.

Comments

[Ian McKenzie]

You seem to have some spare time on your hands. ;)

[Peter]

Snigger

[Scott Gilbreath]

Very good, Joe. Maybe you could get that published in some Episcopal Church newsletter.

I was a jaded teenager when "Sound of Music" was released. Me and my fellow defiant adolescents disdained the film because it was perceived as too sunny and inspirational---a cinematic goody-two-shoes. We cool hippies were into rebellion, pessimism, and existential angst.

I didn't even see the movie for about 30 years. The first time I watched it was on video at home with my wife and young daughter. I loved it.

[Leslie]

I really liked the Sound of Music. Couldn't I just blame everything on the Beatles so I can still watch my movie at Christmas? :)

[Tim]

Blame everything on the Beatles!!!!!!! (chokes on his coffee...)

[Leslie]

=^D

[Troy]

If only the same techniques were applied to the BAS - the results would surely be truly - amusing.