The Cult of the 1980s

I'm all in favour of these inter-faith meetings. But this was one of the oddest.

The Cult of the 1980s is a small group, dedicated to the belief that we can find salvation by releasing ourselves from the mundaneness of the everyday. We can do this by adopting New Romantic clothing and make-up, imagining we are thereby freed from death and decay.

The members of the Cult of the the 1980s believe in a great celestial intelligence, the truth behind all music, the primordial song who is known as the "Sky Recital". It's a lovely idea, that behind all the ways and woes of this universe is an eternal song, don't you think?

Their written scriptures are short, as their holy works are all records by Spandau Ballet, Visage and a bit of early Kylie. But they tell of the eternal love and protection of the "Sky Recital."

They tell how the Prince Charming of the Cult of the 80s fought his way past a shimmering pink sea - along an Echo Beach where he met a bull dozer and a deep-voiced clown. He fought off a Flock of Seagulls, and found his way to Africa. To his companion, Toto, he expressed his exhaustion - "we're like sugar mice in the rain, but nothing's gonna stop us now." Eventually he stopped. He knew he was in the right place when he saw the whole of the moon. The people of that place told him, "we built this city on rock and roll."

And he cried out to the "Sky Recital", saying - "I am China in your hand. If there are secrets that only Toto and I can hear, then our lips are sealed. If there is anything of which you say, "it's a sin", then I will give it up. But light in me an Eternal Flame, and tell me that we can live for the day when Heaven is a Place on Earth. In short - hold me now, and tell me you're True"

The worship group

And the "Sky Recital" responded in faithfulness and assurance.

"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you."