Dusty Transformation
Gleanings from Inside the Pressure Cooker
By Carl Teichrib
“Today we’re going to celebrate the planetary civilization: 2030. We’re going to pray together, we’re going to tell stories together of how it happened. We’re going to share how we ended His story, and we birthed Her story — our story, the planetary civilization.”
This Convergence report offers a glimpse into the world of transformational culture through the lens of Burning Man, arguably one of the most important events within the genre of transformational-evolutionary culture.
To help navigate this subject, and anticipate a more robust report in the near future, this page contains three sections:
Part 1 and 2 of a multipart video series between George Olson, Director of Geopolitical and Economic Research at Orbis Sentry, Audrey Vanderkley, Project Research Assistant at Orbis Sentry, and myself. In these two segments we explore how Burning Man ignites modern “spiritual imaginations” in the age of Re-enchantment, and how it contrasts the City of God.
Because our team is returning to Burning Man under the umbrella of the Camp of the Unknown God, based on Acts 17, I have added the text of our appeal letter, explaining the purpose of our camp. If you desire to support this endeavor, a link to our fundraising page will be included. Financial donations are tax-deductible via Orbis Sentry: https://orbis-sentry.org/donate-burningmanoutreach
For full-subscribers: An updated edition of my 2019 report, providing an outline of our time at that year’s Burn, officially themed as Metamorphoses. Plus! Downloadable documents and media files offer a taste beyond the text.
Orbis-Sentry Interviews:
Part 1 and 2 - Axis Mundi and The Earthly City.
Camp of the Unknown God Support Letter
In the heat and dust of northern Nevada, a week-long gathering of over 70,000 people takes place. Burning Man, renowned for its hedonism and pagan spirituality, draws to itself attendees from around the world, with ramifications spilling into our culture.
Since 2017, a small group of evangelical Christians have intentionally attended under the thought-provoking banner, Camp of the Unknown God. Pulled from Acts 17 wherein Paul visited Athens and leveraged the pagan culture-of-the-day to advance the Christian message, our camp likewise seeks opportunities to engage in this most unusual place. And yes, lives have been changed by the Gospel; even at Burning Man!
The background for this Christian mission offers some insight. It began in 2017 when an evangelists/apologist and Christian social researcher decided to see if a dedicated camp inside the Burn would be feasible; something small yet engaging. With the hype around Burning Man’s decadence, would it be possible to have good conversations about God, Jesus Christ, and the Christian message? Might a positive impact be made in people’s lives — a seed planted, a seed watered — and furthermore, could this experience be used as a springboard to encourage other Christians to engage more broadly? Yes, many times, yes!
This year, twelve people from three countries are planning to construct the Camp of the Unknown God, living as Ambassadors for Christ in a physically exhausting and spiritually hungry place. We’re excited to see how encounters will unfold, and how God’s Spirit moves people.
Would you be willing to pray for us? For wisdom and discernment? We need to recognize when to speak and when to remain quiet, when to advance the conversation and when to walk away. As Burning Man is exhausting on every level, we desire prayer for our team to remain healthy and energized, and to function well — to be servants to one another as we also serve our neighbors. Pray especially for those whom we will be interacting with; that God would open hearts and minds, soften and prepare, and that they would be receptive to the call of the Holy Spirit.
Would you be willing to partner financially? Attending is expensive with ticket prices and travel costs (our closest team members are a two-day drive from the event), along with supplies and necessary gear to maintain oneself in a harsh environment. The cost per person to attend is approximately $2,500. This year, unlike other fundraisers, the non-profit ministry Orbis-Sentry is acting as an umbrella organization, meaning that donations are receipted and tax deductible.
Orbis Sentry Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations and contributions are tax-deductible. All donors will receive a receipt.
https://orbis-sentry.org/donate-burningmanoutreach
A Little More Information
As mentioned, the reasons for going are multidimensional: Christian outreach, studying the movement’s impact, and researching global trends.
A) To have genuine conversations in a way that exhibits Christian truth and grace. Sometimes the discussions are long and continue over many days, and other times it’s as simple as gifting an item of crucifixion jewelry, telling the person to trust Jesus, and in that moment the person’s heart softens and the tears pour. We don’t know their stories — where they came from or why they are attending; but we do know they are our brothers-and-sisters in Adam, and we desire they become our brothers-and-sisters in Christ. Effective outreach is the prayer, the hope, and the heartbeat of the Camp of the Unknown God.
B) To research the movement itself. Numerous Christian apologetic and worldview ministries already exist, tackling a range of beliefs and trends, but very little has been done specific to the Burning Man phenomenon. Some of our team, however, have been on the cutting edge; doing on-site surveys, conducting interviews, and attending workshops on the movement’s growth (there are over 100 regional Burns around the world). This information is used in classroom settings, podcasts, and other venues to help Christians grasp the cultural and spiritual context, and begin formulating responses (hint: Acts 17:16-31 is an important model).
C) Research broader worldview issues. Although the event is renowned for its party atmosphere, there is a serious side that is little known or understood; that is, Burning Man is a place for global conversations, with workshops on a range of issues — from new economic models to United Nations’ programs to the in-roading of psychedelics to new social trends. For some in our camp, this level of research is crucial to understanding the issues of our day, which is then communicated back to the Christian community.
Link for fundraiser page: https://orbis-sentry.org/donate-burningmanoutreach
