Can I have this dance? Man, Woman, and God: The Ultimate Slow Dance

             

            When first looking at this image, one is drawn to the bolded phrase at the top, which reads, “Leaving Room For the Holy Spirit when you dance.” Below this phrase, we see a couple, a man and a woman, who seem to be slow dancing. I say this because her arms are on his shoulders while his are on her waist. Though they are seen dancing together, there is a space in the shape of a circle that sits between them and creates a distance. The circle is connected to another circle, which reads, “Insert Holy Spirit here.” To the left of these two figures, we see music symbols meant to represent the music these people are dancing to, Christian Rock. To the right of the two, another phrase that says, “When in doubt, stay at least one Bible length away.” The image that we see here of these two people almost feels like an infographic that works to teach those on how to properly dance while leaving room for the Holy Spirit. 

After looking at this image, I am reminded of ideas that Marianne Weber talks about in Authority and Autonomy in Marriage. In this piece, she analyzes the history of marriage in different cultures and religions as an institution. This image reminded me of ideas that she discussed in the section regarding Puritanism. She mentions how Puritanism took a “detour” as it brought forth to the world and the institution of marriage the rejection and suppression of simple pleasures and sensuality, the ascetic ideals of monasticism. The God of the Puritans permitted sensuality solely for “the procreation of children for the greater glory of God” (Bermingham 2003: 88). Puritan breeding was seen as an act that deepened the spiritual relationship between man and woman, reorienting the importance of the relationship to be on God. Marianne Weber mentions the Quaker's instruction to “Obey God more than human beings” (Bermingham 2003: 89). This injunction allows for God to be the acting third party in all relationships. As a result of this, an opening is created. Here, women are to be viewed as equal to their male counterparts. This is because rather than marriage being focused on the subordination of women, it is focused on the importance of God’s words, knowledge, and presence. 

This image has a clear connection to the ideas mentioned in Authority and Autonomy in Marriage. The space left between the two people is representative of the ascetics of monasticism. I say this because, with the space between them, the two figures are unable to dance closely. By rejecting and suppressing their life pleasures and sensuality when dancing, they are reserving it for the sensuality that comes with the procreation of children, a permitted act by God. Furthermore, following the injunction to, when in doubt, leave room for the Holy Spirit, is them obeying God more than human beings. They are leaving an opening for God to act as a third party, a guide, in their relationship for their actions they take. In this case, the man and woman are complying with the instructions to make space for the presence of God. Additionally, this allows the man and woman to exist as equals in their relationship because they have the same common desire to appease God.

Weber, Marianne, and Craig R. Bermingham. “Authority and Autonomy in Marriage: Translation with introduction and commentary.” Sociological Theory, vol. 21, no. 2, June 2003, pp. 85–102.

Coastlands Vineyard Church. n.d. "Leave Room for the Holy Spirit." Retrieved April 18, 2025 (https://images.app.goo.gl/a3VFeoqJaw7Kf2Ms9).