What’s more adorable than a child imitating a ritual you’ve taught them? A child bossing around his or her friends so that they feel a social pressure to copy along.
What is it with the phrase “smoking hot wife” right now in protestant Christianity? Is this a fad I’ve missed out on since I’m:
- Single?
- Atheist?
There are too many Christianese clichés to count, but this particular one catches me off-guard because it makes me picture two people rumpling the foreskin after church.
We get it folks; you want to show off how badass-naughty Christians can be. Obviously secular culture is just dirty and sinful in its sexuality and doesn’t have the firey burning love machine you have in your bed. Your smokin’ hot brides are giving you the best Jesus-blessing sex of your lives, right? Way to tease the singles though. Are you about to go home and get it on? Thanks for telling us about it. Jesus loves watching you make whoopie next to that cross on your wall.
Want to read a fabulous list of current Christian cliches even the believers hate? Check this out (and don’t miss the comments!). Here are some of my favorites:
love on, as in, “Let’s just love on these precious kids.”
Uhm… hi there.
just. This is a mild but pervasive example that peppers many prayers and is intended, I suppose, to express humility.
Christ-follower. A problematic trend in recent years is calling oneself this rather than a Christian. I understand the embarrassment the label Christian can cause when it aligns one with others who are not as smart, savvy, or theologically and politically progressive as oneself. (Yes, that was sarcasm, another language altogether).
Let us pray. “Dear Father God, we just come before you as Christ-followers. Just bless us today and just shower us with your cleansing rain and just forge us holy fire today, God. Oh Father God we just ask that your holy spirit just fills us up with your smokin’ hot love.”
Yeah, that probably happened at church yesterday.
Here’s one of the best prayers ever that uses a few of my favourite crazy Christianese phrases:
Thank you for giving me a stomach ache of joy, NASCAR. Oh, and Jesus. And this guy’s smokin’ hot wife. And Talladega Nights. Buggity boogity boogity, AMEN!
On the rare days when I check my email (read: I’m a lazy bum), I often find questions or objections that deserve posts of their own. I do not claim to be wise nor exhaustive in my ideas, but I hope my thoughts on these topics will be helpful to those who ask.
Saying grace before carving the turkey in the home of Earle Landis, Neffsville, November 1942. (Photo from Penn State Live)
On Saying Grace
I read your blog post “Do You Participate When You Don’t Believe?” and I was wondering… I was brought up in a heavily Christian family and we always say Grace on holidays- especially Christmas and Thanksgiving. How can I avoid this politely and without offending anyone?
–Nicole (Colie the Magical Closet Atheist)
See my answer after the break.
Read the Rest! Post a comment (17)Remember Mitch Kahle, the leader of Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church who was assaulted after protesting unconstitutional Christian prayers the Hawaii state Senate?
Not only was he found not guilty of disorderly conduct, but the Hawaii Senate has now unanimously voted to end all daily prayers.
I consider this a great victory for the Constitution and an example for the other 49 states who have failed to do the same. Way to start the ball rolling, Hawaii! I hope other legislatures will see the wisdom in guarding the necessary separation between Church and State and follow suit.
Olin Thang on 
Cortez Frisch on 
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