Mary Magline wasn't a prostitue.That's just a rumor.
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Sorry for not understaning ealier. I am a Christan but i think it is dumb for them to try and cancel Spongbob. Really it's a children's show for Heaven's sake!
I've never watched SpongeBob, so I really can't comment there - although attacking a children's program doesn't seem to be particularly intelligent to me. However, I did just want to add my two cents to the ongoing debate, even though I doubt I can say anything that hasn't already been mentioned...again, and again, and again.
What exactly is a Christian ultra-conservative? I'm not trying to be stupid, but honestly, the term is extraordinarily vague. I mean, I consider myself to be a conservative Southern Baptist. That doesn't mean I agree with every single thing that the Southern Baptist Convention decides or states - though by many standards, simply being a Southern Baptist is enough to qualify me as very conservative.
I know what I believe, and I feel that I have every bit of a right to my beliefs as more liberal athiests or agnostics or Christians or Muslims do. It is okay for me to believe that abortion is a morally wrong action - but that doesn't mean I hate or attack women who have had abortions. It simply means I disagree with something they've done. And there's nothing wrong with that. It is not narrow-minded or bigoted...it is simply what I choose to believe.
I have always understood tolerance to mean that I do not force my views, opinions, and beliefs on those around me. In my day to day life, I rarely bring up my convictions, especially verbally. Unless I am asked, it is very out of character for me to state my convictions and beliefs in casual conversation. I have learned, over the years, to avoid bringing up my Christianity because invariably, I am attacked.
It's rather funny, when I think about it. The same behaviour I find appalling in my parents - their attacks on me for listening to Queen, when Freddie Mercury was gay - is the very behaviour I find myself subjected to on this message board - an impersonal attack on me because I am a conservative Christian. To be honest, I take no offence at what Mr. Jingles wrote...that I don't think was aimed at me, or any of the other Christians I know (kind of) and respect on here, such as Miss James. But the other attacks, by various others - Alex Solan, most notably - are inexcusable.
I am not about to apologize for being conservative, nor for being a Christian. I am proud of both facts, and I don't see any point in apologizing for what I am. But maybe it might help if I put in perspective what some conservative Christians are like:
My best friend is gay. My sixteen year old cousin is an unmarried mother, and a sophomore in high school - and she's one of the sweetest girls I know. I disagree with abortion, and am staunchly pro-life, but I've defended women who've had abortions from verbal attacks made by Christian fanatics (incidentally, I think they don't deserve to claim the Christian name, but that is their right, alas). My favourite children's books are the Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series, and I think J K Rowling is a literary genius. I adore Queen, Gothic novels, foreign languages, dance, and flirting. I go to church three times a week, and used to play in the youth orchestra. I read books on dating, because it's not particularly popular at my church, and despite the fact that my family thinks I should wait until I'm over twenty, serious about marriage, and want to 'court,' I think it's fun to have casual dates over the weekend. I disagree with premarital sex on moral grounds, but think it despicable to judge others. And I'm not out of the ordinary for being a conservative Christian teen...
I guess that, in essence, is what I'm trying to say. Yes, there are crazy, whacko Christian fanatics - just as there are crazy, whacko PETA fanatics, and crazy, whacko Muslim fanatics. I don't believe any group, religion, or faith should be judged by the fringe groups - on either extreme.
I know this response seems to be a case of serious over-reacting, and maybe it is. But in the months I've been here, I've s
What exactly is a Christian ultra-conservative? I'm not trying to be stupid, but honestly, the term is extraordinarily vague. I mean, I consider myself to be a conservative Southern Baptist. That doesn't mean I agree with every single thing that the Southern Baptist Convention decides or states - though by many standards, simply being a Southern Baptist is enough to qualify me as very conservative.
I know what I believe, and I feel that I have every bit of a right to my beliefs as more liberal athiests or agnostics or Christians or Muslims do. It is okay for me to believe that abortion is a morally wrong action - but that doesn't mean I hate or attack women who have had abortions. It simply means I disagree with something they've done. And there's nothing wrong with that. It is not narrow-minded or bigoted...it is simply what I choose to believe.
I have always understood tolerance to mean that I do not force my views, opinions, and beliefs on those around me. In my day to day life, I rarely bring up my convictions, especially verbally. Unless I am asked, it is very out of character for me to state my convictions and beliefs in casual conversation. I have learned, over the years, to avoid bringing up my Christianity because invariably, I am attacked.
It's rather funny, when I think about it. The same behaviour I find appalling in my parents - their attacks on me for listening to Queen, when Freddie Mercury was gay - is the very behaviour I find myself subjected to on this message board - an impersonal attack on me because I am a conservative Christian. To be honest, I take no offence at what Mr. Jingles wrote...that I don't think was aimed at me, or any of the other Christians I know (kind of) and respect on here, such as Miss James. But the other attacks, by various others - Alex Solan, most notably - are inexcusable.
I am not about to apologize for being conservative, nor for being a Christian. I am proud of both facts, and I don't see any point in apologizing for what I am. But maybe it might help if I put in perspective what some conservative Christians are like:
My best friend is gay. My sixteen year old cousin is an unmarried mother, and a sophomore in high school - and she's one of the sweetest girls I know. I disagree with abortion, and am staunchly pro-life, but I've defended women who've had abortions from verbal attacks made by Christian fanatics (incidentally, I think they don't deserve to claim the Christian name, but that is their right, alas). My favourite children's books are the Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series, and I think J K Rowling is a literary genius. I adore Queen, Gothic novels, foreign languages, dance, and flirting. I go to church three times a week, and used to play in the youth orchestra. I read books on dating, because it's not particularly popular at my church, and despite the fact that my family thinks I should wait until I'm over twenty, serious about marriage, and want to 'court,' I think it's fun to have casual dates over the weekend. I disagree with premarital sex on moral grounds, but think it despicable to judge others. And I'm not out of the ordinary for being a conservative Christian teen...
I guess that, in essence, is what I'm trying to say. Yes, there are crazy, whacko Christian fanatics - just as there are crazy, whacko PETA fanatics, and crazy, whacko Muslim fanatics. I don't believe any group, religion, or faith should be judged by the fringe groups - on either extreme.
I know this response seems to be a case of serious over-reacting, and maybe it is. But in the months I've been here, I've s
Judy,
Very good post.There is growing opposition to Christians.You responded with respect and love which is the core of Christianity.Your seem to have strong faith.Peace be with you.
Very good post.There is growing opposition to Christians.You responded with respect and love which is the core of Christianity.Your seem to have strong faith.Peace be with you.
Excellent post, Judy.
Excellent post, Judy.
I agree!
The only thing that annoys me about Christians (I'm one so there) is that the evil priest in Footloose wouldn't let those kids dance! WHY? WHY?!!?
Good movie in the end.
Good movie in the end.
Christ wants peace for everyone.His followers should want the same.I was responding to her post.I did not intend to mean to exclude other people . Peace to EVERYONE
I seriously think we should look for some form of sanity in Matthew 21:17. It makes sense and is relavent in this context.
Excellent post, Judy.
I agree!
That was probably the most intelligent post of 2005 so far.
I'm a liberal christian, and I respect those who lean more towards the conservative side without crossing the line by enforcing their views. Judy prooved her point in a very good way, and even though I don't particularly share all her views, she did it in such a great way that she makes you listen and think.
Yeah it does make you listen and think.
Ummm.. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is a Christen comservative?
Back to the original topic, a few decades back (about four) there were more questionable characters in the media (anyone ever heard of Robin from Batman and Robin?). So to all of a sudden get uppity about this connotation in harmless characters seems rather crazy to me.
Um...a Christian conservative is basically a Christian who views the Bible literally and in black and white, rather than a Christian who views the Bible in a more symbolic light.
And here's what I think about the whole thing:
A few years ago, I met a handsome, sweet, intelligent guy, and we became very close friends. After a while, I fell head-over-heels in love with him (I'd never been in love before). We were both very mature for a couple of 15-year-olds, and we even talked about getting married. But then, when I finally decided to tell him that I loved him, he told me that he was gay. Naturally, I was devastated. But I never stopped loving him. I believe that homosexuality is a sin and I don't approve of homosexual practice, but that's no reason for anyone to hate homosexuals. After all, everyone sins. Unfortunately, though, my friend began taking part in some extremely risky behavior. When I tried to help him, he pushed me away, and he eventually stopped talking to me. Things are better for us now - we're friends again. But we're not as close as we were by any means and things will never be the same. I've never regretted trying to discourage him from practicing homosexuality. He got himself into some dangerous situations, and I couldn't just stand back and watch him do that to himself. I did it because I loved him, and I still love him. But I don't think he's ever really loved me. I don't think he's ever really loved himself. It's a long and complicated story (homosexuality is a pretty complicated issue in itself). And it's a sad one, too. But, the fact of the matter is, you don't have to approve of someone's behavior to prove that you love them. You just have to love them.
But, it's true, there are some crazy people out there who judge other people. That's not right. My thing is that I don't believe that hell is a place where you go after you die. God is a loving God...he's too loving and merciful to send people to hell. So God doesn't send people to hell...people send themselves to hell. If people want to live in hell, then they'll live in it. And the sad thing is that most people don't even realize that they're doing it...they don't realize that they've made their lives a living hell. Sinning feels so wonderful, after all!
You wanna hear something ultra-conservative? Well, there's this lady at my church whom I absolutely CANNOT stand. She's a total fundamentalist - I swear, the woman has two kids but she still acts like the freaking Virgin Mary. She only lets her kids listen to contemporary Christian music - no other music of any kind (except maybe classical). So one day I was over at the church helping set up for some fundraiser or something, and I was bored so I went over to the house and got a Queen CD to play while we were setting up. And the lady totally FLEW off the handle at me and told me that they weren't listening to my devil music. My dad's the pastor, and he bought the CD for me for Christ's sake. That bitch!
- Tiff
And here's what I think about the whole thing:
A few years ago, I met a handsome, sweet, intelligent guy, and we became very close friends. After a while, I fell head-over-heels in love with him (I'd never been in love before). We were both very mature for a couple of 15-year-olds, and we even talked about getting married. But then, when I finally decided to tell him that I loved him, he told me that he was gay. Naturally, I was devastated. But I never stopped loving him. I believe that homosexuality is a sin and I don't approve of homosexual practice, but that's no reason for anyone to hate homosexuals. After all, everyone sins. Unfortunately, though, my friend began taking part in some extremely risky behavior. When I tried to help him, he pushed me away, and he eventually stopped talking to me. Things are better for us now - we're friends again. But we're not as close as we were by any means and things will never be the same. I've never regretted trying to discourage him from practicing homosexuality. He got himself into some dangerous situations, and I couldn't just stand back and watch him do that to himself. I did it because I loved him, and I still love him. But I don't think he's ever really loved me. I don't think he's ever really loved himself. It's a long and complicated story (homosexuality is a pretty complicated issue in itself). And it's a sad one, too. But, the fact of the matter is, you don't have to approve of someone's behavior to prove that you love them. You just have to love them.
But, it's true, there are some crazy people out there who judge other people. That's not right. My thing is that I don't believe that hell is a place where you go after you die. God is a loving God...he's too loving and merciful to send people to hell. So God doesn't send people to hell...people send themselves to hell. If people want to live in hell, then they'll live in it. And the sad thing is that most people don't even realize that they're doing it...they don't realize that they've made their lives a living hell. Sinning feels so wonderful, after all!
You wanna hear something ultra-conservative? Well, there's this lady at my church whom I absolutely CANNOT stand. She's a total fundamentalist - I swear, the woman has two kids but she still acts like the freaking Virgin Mary. She only lets her kids listen to contemporary Christian music - no other music of any kind (except maybe classical). So one day I was over at the church helping set up for some fundraiser or something, and I was bored so I went over to the house and got a Queen CD to play while we were setting up. And the lady totally FLEW off the handle at me and told me that they weren't listening to my devil music. My dad's the pastor, and he bought the CD for me for Christ's sake. That bitch!
- Tiff
Hey Superfrodo...fuck you you stupid bitch! **sorry but I am very insulted by this persons post** I have no respect for anyone who thinks I'm a sinner because I'm gay. This is why I have no respect for idiots like you...you don't want gays to be hated, but you think it's ok to categorize them as sinners?