Acclaimed mainstream singer Sufjan Stevens speaks some home-truths at US conference

MAINSTREAM acoustic singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens spoke about his Christian faith at the Calvin College's Festival Of Faith And Music in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the weekend of music and seminars, which was held at the end of April, Stevens is reported by CCM magazine as saying, "I perceive the term 'artist' as a pretentious nomenclature, self-conjured description indulged by high profile personalities who invest more time and energy in executing their role as an artist than in executing their art. Isn't this one of the insurmountable conundrums of our faith: to yield ourselves enthusiastically to a belief system that requires participation in a community, a church, a fellowship of believers, often rotten, nasty people, woefully misled.gossipy, condescending, weird, wild, culturally insane people - and I am one of them. But there you are, worshipping beside each other regardless of whether or not you like each other."