So, I'm watching the Good Eats episode on Eggs Benedict, and it mentions the development of Brunch. The term "Brunch" was introduced in August of 1896 by one Guy Beringer, who calls for the creation of a new meal (brunch) - and why?
"Instead of England’s early Sunday dinner, a post-church ordeal of heavy meats and savory pies, why not a new meal, served around noon, that starts with tea or coffee . . . By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers."
(as a note: no, Beringer isn't using "post-church" in the modern "hip missionologist" sense - but he is describing a culture where Church is no longer the focus)
Even 114 years ago - already moving to a "post-church" culture. . . Sunday is for sleeping in.
And then, in the US, this kicks in after World War Two in great detail - a food historian notes: "We like to sleep in Sundays, read the newspapers and loll in bed. After the World War II generation went away from church altogether, Sunday became a day to enjoy doing nothing and brunch just grew like topsy."
What does all this mean? I don't think any of us are unfamiliar with the concept of Brunch - many of us even have enjoyed a nice brunch after the early service. However, this common American occurrence was developed really in the spirit of blowing of Church.
Ah, the arrogance and assumption Christians have made -- and only now do we realize the world doesn't think like we do. The said thing is, if we had just believed when the Scriptures told us the world was our enemy, we wouldn't have forgotten this.
(oh, and if you want to read the article where I got the quotes - try here)
2 comments:
I'm not up on my English Church history, so as to know when attendance really started tanking, but it seems to me that the Beringer quote could use "post-church" in the temporal sense -- after the church service -- rather than a post-church society. (Although I have no doubt that when the latter became a reality brunch became more popular.) Skipping the preparation of a breakfast before heading to church allows for more sleeping in than preparing a breakfast after church. Sounds like the guy just likes breakfast food, but doesn't want to get up early for it. Being a fan of breakfast food myself, I don't begrudge him that (as long it's actually after a church service).
True - he isn't using "Post-Church" in the modern, hip style - but socially and culturally the expectation that Sunday morning is for Church is already sort of passe.
Post a Comment