Clipped from a posting by wicked_wish
It would seem that irReverent Falwell has ordered his minion on a (dare I use the term) Crusade against those that would not merely speak ill of Xmas, but even those who would chose not to speak of it at all.
- Falwell has put the power of his 24,000-member congregation behind the “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign,” an effort led by the conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel. The group promises to file suit against anyone who spreads what it sees as misinformation about how Christmas can be celebrated in schools and public spaces.
The 8,000 members of the Christian Educators Association International will be the campaign’s “eyes and ears” in the nation’s public schools. They’ll be reporting to 750 Liberty Counsel lawyers who are ready to pounce if, for example, a teacher is muzzled from leading the third-graders in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
What blows my mind about this is that he’s commissioned lawyers to take legal action against these people. Now, to put it quite simply, you do not take legal action against someone unless you believe that they have caused you damage/injury and you want to extract those damages from the person.
Now, let’s think about this. While I admit… I am not Christian. I do actually like many of the teachings of Jesus. The one that stands out over most is, “Love thy brother.” See in this world of Gay Bashing, Marriage Protection, Cross Burning… it makes no sense that these behaviors stem from teachings that include, “The Prodigal Son”
Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s my unholy, uneducated, damned perceptions that don’t afford me the bless-ed eyes to see this man’s holy work. But for everything I’ve come to understand about Jesus and his teachings…I can only see Mr. Falwell as one of the strongest examples of doing everything Jesus taught not to do.
In this season of giving and remembrance… In any season… All we really can ask is that people try to be the best people they can be and let each be their own person.
Happy Holidays.
(Sorry, have to go, it’s a lawyer wanting to talk to me about my misrepresentation of Xmas)
Falwell
Falwell makes the baby jesus cry.
Re: Falwell
copiously.
Sure it makes sense. The Prodigal Son is a load of bullshit, without compassion or sense.
You know, I almost wish Jesus would come back just so he could give all these riduculous fundies a good what-for. Seriously, if he does come back, methinks he’s going to be pissed.
I have never understood how someone can feel oppressed just because every single person on earth doesn’t follow the same religion as they. It is honestly mind boggling.
Because they’re obligated to witness to six billion people who don’t follow their religion. That’s oppressive.
So I’m also oppressed because lots of people aren’t pagan, as I am?
I don’t know you, so I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not. But if you’re feeling oppressed because lots of people don’t agree with you; you probably need a therapist.
It’s just a lot of noise, what basis does he have for legal action?
Perhaps against the schools for interfering with a teacher’s freedom of speech? Though there are things a teacher is not allowed to say while officially in that role. AND I was personally very offended in 6th grade when they made every one sing “Oh Happy Day” in (public) school.
But on private property – like in a store – and especially in the store’s advertising – there is no basis whatsoever. The courts just wouldn’t go for that. He can’t force anyone to use the word in their ads. That would be his infringing on the store owner’s freedom.
“Oh, Happy Day???” That title sounds like something out of a laxative commercial. Or Barney the Dinosaur. I’d be offended, too.
It continues, “when Jesus washed, He washed my sins away.” Especially obnoxious if you’re not Christian, and even certain types of Christians wouldn’t like it. I like it (heh, I just like gospel music), even though I’m not Christian anymore, but I certainly wouldn’t want to be forced to sing it. In fact, I wouldn’t want to be forced to do *anything*. (cf Liber OZ)
Hey, are you a Thelemite, too? I am!
Cool! How long’ve you been into Thelema? I just joined the Order last July. It’s been a long and curious road from being a (semi-)rabid Fundy many years ago to where I am now. I guess I’m making up for lost time. 😉 Not that I really consider it lost (although some of my Fundy friends would consider that I’m lost now), since everything that I have done/thought/believed has led me to where I am now. Among other things, I think I have more compassion, having been on both sides of the fence. (Have you ever noticed the oddity of that expression, “among other things”? If it’s “among,” it’s one of the things, but if it’s “other,” it’s not. Curiouser.)
BTW, I love your icon. It doesn’t animate here, but it did in your emailed comment.
The song if you’re not familiar with it goes “oh happy day, oh happy day, oh happy day, when jesus washed, he washed my sins away.”
How much more overtly christian could it be? A public school in the 70’s singing this in assemblies would seem to me to be in violation of the law. This was Berkeley California not the bible belt. I think they were seeing it as black culture perhaps?
Gee, I keep thinking about the Bible verse where Jesus says to “do everything they (the preachers) tell you, but do not imitate them.”
Jesus
I’ve heard some people argue (convincingly) that the founder of Christianity was Paul aka Saul of Taursus, not Jesus.
Our CS department is receiving a ton of emails from concerned Christians who are pissed at Amazon for not explicitly mentioning Xmas. What a joke!