Posts Tagged ‘fundamentalists’

A Misogynist Preacher & The Chicken or the Egg

Here’s what the Bible says about women … according to this guy:

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Not many people–including Christians–would disagree that this preacher, Jack Schapp, is a sexist, woman-hating, ignorant schmuck. As expected (to me, anyway), he is a pastor in the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movement of which I am fairly familiar, having family members who attend such churches and having visited a few myself.

But beyond his personal viewpoints, I have a question for you, reader:

Does the religion make the person or does the person make the religion?

It’s a question of which came first: the chicken or the egg.

Do you think people choose their religions, denominations, and churches based on who they already are? It seems to me that those with misogynistic beliefs will favor a theology that undercuts the value of women. Likewise, a person who is kind and loving and sees the worth in other people will likely choose a theology that favors ultimate reconciliation and no hell or punishment for differences in belief, sexuality, and so forth.

I’m unconvinced that it is solely a religion or denomination’s fault that people kill each other, persecute other faiths, and teach abhorrent beliefs about the value of humanity. We can blame much of that on religion simply because it’s an organized, financed, public outlet for such opinions, but in the end, the fault lies with each one of us who is bigoted, hateful, or unloving, doesn’t it?

What do you think?

Ted Haggard “Over-Repented?”

ted haggard

Iz just kidding bout teh butt secks! lulz!

So Ted Haggard—former president of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of a right-wing megachurch in Colorado Springs, Colorado—had a long-standing affair with a gay prostitute and smoked crystal meth. This was back in 2006. He resigned from his leadership positions and publicly apologized for his “sinful behavior.”

Now, Haggard is working on building up a new church which is, yet again, in Colorado Springs, CO. “In a July 2010 interview he gave to CNN, Haggard claims that his feelings of sexual attraction to other men have miraculously disappeared. Haggard now portrays his encounter with the prostitute as a massage that went awry (wikipedia).” That was one long-term massage, Mr. Haggard!

After changing his story, now Haggard claims he “over-apologized”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK1JigaEwCQ

It seems to me that Haggard may be back-peddling to make his sin sound less awful than he previously admitted it really was.  Perhaps he’s trying to justify his right to preach morality and righteousness. Perhaps he’s downgrading from “horrible sin” to “street cred”. Check out this article on his return to the pulpit where he explains how his public sin has become a great thing for his church.

Oh, what a guy.

August 1, 2010  |  christianity, religion  |  2 Comments

Girl Convulses in the Holy Spirit During Graduation Prayer

A young woman prays the benediction at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She subsequently has a breakdown of tears and shaking. She prays for the forgiveness of her own sins plus the sins of her peers who have accepted humanism and worshipped the intellectual mind. She starts to lose it when she begs for mercy and not judgment from her loving god. She begs for the mercy of this god onto the lives of the unsaved in the audience.And then… she gets pulled back from the podium and collapses in tears.

This, readers, is what it’s like for a charismatic Christian to be “overcome by the spirit.” I’ve had moments like that in my past, and I know how it feels.

I’m almost too embarrassed to watch it for a second time. What can I say except:

  • This should not be taking place at a public university.
  • I can spot a fake a mile away.
  • They called for an ambulance at the end, but trust me, she’s fine… just hysterical.
  • I feel bad for the students and the event as they were surely overshadowed by the theatrics of this one religious girl who lost it while praying.

What do you think? Vote on prayer at graduation ceremonies in the sidebar —->

April 28, 2010  |  christianity, religion, videos  |  22 Comments