Based on what Times Watch has read, “Friends of God: A Road Trip With Alexandra Pelosi,” the documentary on Christian evangelicals airing on HBO tonight (Pelosi being the daughter of you-know-who) seems more respectful than the contemptuous anti-Christian commentary it's generated, including a paragraph Thursday from television critic Alessandra Stanley.
Stanley claims, in her own inimitable way:
"The Bible Belt is the Loire Valley of American extremism -- visitors glide across vast highways in the South and West to marvel at the revivalist megachurches and 'Honk for Jesus' road signs with the giddy awe of tourists exploring an alien civilization. And like Chenonceau or the vineyards of Sancerre, Christian evangelical churches rarely disappoint."
For more New York Times bias, visit TimesWatch.
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It's curious that belief in
January 25, 2007 - 14:14 ET by Troika37It's curious that belief in God is now equated with 'extremism.' Besides, I'm absolutely sure there is more to the West and South of America than megachurches. I wasn't aware that Atlanta and Houston were really just fronts for snake-handling-fire-walking-tongue-speaking "holy roller Jesus freaks." (h/t Pelosi the younger)
Belief in God is "extrem
January 25, 2007 - 14:42 ET by mattmBelief in God is "extremism" only to those on the extreme fringes of the Left.
These people are members of the cult of post-modernism, which is an intellectually elite group of know-it-alls to whom all prior philosophies are "out." The idea of a personal God and a moral code is completely alien to them.
This is why they can't bring themselves to even consider opposing arguments to their stated positions. It also provides them with a convenient excuse for their own narrow-mindedness and bigotry.
No God, no moral code... we
January 25, 2007 - 14:46 ET by Troika37No God, no moral code... well, that clears that up.
Things to do:
Figure out why Liberals are are such difficult people. Check
I'm beginning to wonder if ma
January 25, 2007 - 15:20 ET by RunningBeerI'm beginning to wonder if maybe something really did happen at Roswell, NM back in 1947. I mean, weren't Kerry, Pelosi, and all those other Dim nuts born 9-12 mo after that spacecraft landed??? I think it should be looked into.
What's postmodernism?
January 25, 2007 - 14:46 ET by Rupert CadellWhat's postmodernism?
My first exposure to the term
January 25, 2007 - 15:01 ET by mattmMy first exposure to the term was in college... I define it as the religion of the intelligensia... It's the prevaling mindset of the post-"christian" era...it's based on secularistic, humanistic and materialistic ideas and it renounces prior world-views, such as Judeo-Christianity etc. Since the "post-modernists" have progressed beyond the old fashioned ideas of the 18th and 19th centuries, they naturally see anyone who hold to those "old fashioned" ideas, as an extremist.
This is my personal viewpoint. There may be a more officially correct definition for it, but my description is what I meant by the word.
What's postmodernism?It comes
January 25, 2007 - 15:26 ET by Jack BauerWhat's postmodernism?
It comes just after ante-modernism.
You know, like ante-mortem, post-mortem. Isn't CSI great for trivia?
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
I am confused again
January 25, 2007 - 16:43 ET by misterbillI am confused again--I thought post mortem meant that WAPO has finally bought the farm! One can hope.
Areas
January 25, 2007 - 14:23 ET by cvgbuckeyeHere are the facts, whether you like them or not Ms. Stanley:
There are four regions of the world: The State of Christianity, The Bible Belt, Sodom & Gomorrah. The former two being one and the same and the latter two the same.
If this fits your description of extremism then so be it;;;; it is as you will say. We were created here to glorify God and at the same time, bring as many other people within the fold to do the same. It is called Evangelism my dear and if it offends you, be patient, you will have plenty of time to be seperated from it.
By the way, on some of your other road trips, are their any roadsigns, etc. to lure you to YOUR types of personal interests?
So "The State of Buddhis
January 25, 2007 - 14:37 ET by Agnostic frontSo "The State of Buddhism" (as you would so eloquently put it) is actually Sodom or is it Gomorrah? Which was the one with the pillars of salt? I don't think Buddhists like too much salt, you know, the whole middle-way thing. What about "The State of Hinduism?" That defintely has to be Gomorrah, I think, with their multi-deity approach.
Un
January 25, 2007 - 14:59 ET by cvgbuckeyeTo unbelievers, the scriptural teachings are foolishness. I just always wonder why they invest so much energy in scoffing at what they consider to be so foolish. A bad experience from the past, I think.
I also think it is so sad.
I am certain (as I am sure
January 25, 2007 - 15:14 ET by Agnostic frontI am certain (as I am sure you are are, as well) that a tiny, illiterate bronze-age nomadic tribe of desert herders who invented a history to justify their putting down roots absolutely channeled the Word of God. Why would you think that I don’t believe?
Un
January 25, 2007 - 15:48 ET by cvgbuckeyeEarly Bronze Age.
By the way, do a little more study and it may lead to a lot more. Give what little you read a chance and see where it goes. If you are looking for all kinds of scientific evidence for your belief, then your premise is wrong to begin with.
Although, archeologists findings since 1929 have verified a high percentage of Bibical history. So much that the tables have turned and they now confer with the Bible to lead them to further diggings versus finding and then verifying
If you could reason out all of the universe, which all of man has not been able to do for 6,000 years, then you would be the creator.
You aren't are you?
agonstic front
January 25, 2007 - 16:04 ET by vrwc13sounds like you accept:
don't accept:
So you accept their existance but not that what they wrote is from God.
So what you really do not accept is God, because by definition if their God exists and is God, he is fully capable of making sure what they know and write is true.
face piles of trials with smiles
AF - would you accept the pre
January 25, 2007 - 16:36 ET by PeskyDaneAF - would you accept the premise that when one rejects God, then one simply invents their own? I mean, if we are not answerable to a higher power, then what makes one's morality better than anothers?
BTW - if you are talking about the ancient Jews, then you would know that "illiterate" hardly describes them. In fact, their scholarship provided the beginings of Western Civilization.
Agnostic's problem is....
January 25, 2007 - 16:49 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasMost often agnostics and atheists are quite ignorant about ancient history in the context of biblical lands and peoples. Nevermind they are usually ignorant about the Bible itself. The problem is much like a lib, though politically they might not be one, they start out with an agenda and don't wish to engage in genuine discovery or debate but fashion beliefs in their mind based on limited information, myths or misrepresentations of events whether current or historical. And this is Agnostic. A child can learn that the Hebrews were anything but illiterate via the internet but does Agnostic demonstrate the kind of honesty and integrity of someone who researches before making a claim. Of course not because a simple search and reading of their history would reveal this. Agnostic can be agnostic until he or she is blue in the face, have at it but at least agnostic should have enough integrity to do the research of a 4th grader and get even elementary facts right first. But that might require admitting he or she is wrong and force some frank personal evaluations...I won't be holding my breath.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
GAT - thank you, that was ver
January 25, 2007 - 16:56 ET by PeskyDaneGAT - thank you, that was very insightful. There are times when I feel like the dumb kid visiting the chess club when I'm on here.
Pesky...you must be kidding...
January 25, 2007 - 17:02 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasPesky, surely you jest or grossly undervalue your regular contributions. I guess sometimes we can be least aware of not just our weaknesses but our strengths as well and please let me tell you that you are very often succint and successful with comments and observations where too often types like me excel in verbosity without appreciable results. It is nice to watch someone hit a bullseye without having to throw a lot of darts and that is you.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
GAT - to loosely paraprase Mo
January 25, 2007 - 17:28 ET by PeskyDaneGAT - to loosely paraprase Mozart, your post which I commented on had no more nor less words than were required. I was particulary struck by how you called these yahoos on their condescending ignorance when it comes to the Bible or history.
In particular, I have always been annoyed by public figures who haven't blown the dust off their Bibles in while and yet feel free to go ahead and misquote it.
Having said that, it looks li
January 25, 2007 - 17:33 ET by PeskyDaneHaving said that, it looks like he's logged out, so I doubt if I will be getting an answer to my original question from him anytime soon.
The main reason that Islam is
January 25, 2007 - 15:23 ET by dvdaughtryThe main reason that Islam is going to spread through this country is the phenomenon of pluralism/realitivism/post modernism. There are difference, but they have the same bottom line.
It is so eloquantly demonstrated by AF above. One religion is as good as another. My way is as good as your way, her way, or his way. We are both right. There is no wrong. It's what you feel. It's your truth.
The lack of standing up for anything means one will fall for anything.
It's time to get a clue. No one is making anyone do Christianity, but when Islam comes we won't have the choice.
Wake up! Islam and America don't mix.
Wouldn't it be more effective
January 25, 2007 - 15:10 ET by Roger the ShrubberWouldn't it be more effective to use an analogy that 95% of the population wouldn't have to look up to find out what it means? Oh, wait, I am a dumb redneck neo-con. Nevermind.
For the Times, they aint a-changin'
January 25, 2007 - 15:45 ET by acumenCome writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the Times, they aint a-changin'......
I'm trying to get some invest
January 25, 2007 - 15:51 ET by Jack BauerI'm trying to get some investors for a little documentary I'm hoping to shoot, entitled
Friends of the Godless: A Road Trip To Discover The Lost Tribe of Liberals, Marxists and Assorted Left-Overs from the Worst Generation. Ever.
One finds that...
The Upper East Side Belt is the Gulag of Liberal extremism -- normal citizens glide across vast highways in the East Village and West Coast to marvel at the Marxist revivalist mega Colleges, and 'Honk to Hate Christians' buttons, with the giddy awe of tourists exploring an alien nutjob civilization. And like Pabst Mansion or the breweries of Milwaukee, Socialist fundementalist cabals rarely disappoint.
Seriously, these pompouus humorless pricks need to be laughed at: long, hard and regularly.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Yes
January 25, 2007 - 16:03 ET by cvgbuckeyeA fine Post, Jack Bauer and I mean a Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine post! Here! Here!
Aw shucks guys... this ain't
January 25, 2007 - 16:18 ET by Jack BauerAw shucks guys... this ain't no Brokeback Mountain.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Jack I'll happy to send you
January 25, 2007 - 18:10 ET by TruthMongerJack I'll happy to send you my whole damn checkbook! Just give me 1% of the gross and I'll be a gazillionaire in no time...
Jack their would be a wall separating
January 25, 2007 - 16:13 ET by Carl KolchakClassic post Jack, except the East and West would be seperated by a wall, because left wingers like walls that seperate the East from the West.
"I ask you to let the government know immediately when you see serious problems or mistakes that stand in the way of our great community endeavor" Walter Ulbricht
Put 'em in their place, JB!
January 25, 2007 - 18:08 ET by rimskyPut 'em in their place, JB! Pompous humorless pricks! PHP's LMAO!!!
What a shame...
January 25, 2007 - 15:54 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasAnother super-lib with an agenda. Instead of finding reasonable voices of conservative evangelicals what does she do...looks for the more extreme and obviously imbalanced personalities amoung the Christian population...oh well. There are millions of evangelicals who exercise discretion and practice sound theology that are by-passed by these circus hunters like Pelosi who are nothing tabloid journalists with yet another mask to hide their true intent. One interesting thing though, it does expose the excesses among evangelicals that are not dealt with..within their own camps and any black eyes are probably deserved.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
Alessandra Stanley is the pea
January 25, 2007 - 15:57 ET by TEAlessandra Stanley is the pea-brained dingbat who actually called the tree hugging, earth worshipping socialist cultist Bill Maher a "libertarian". Having a functional brain ain't Stanley's strong suit.
Alessandra Stanley will have
January 25, 2007 - 16:48 ET by dscottAlessandra Stanley will have something to worry about when Christians start strapping bombs on themselves and walk into the DNC or NOW headquarters. Guess when that will happen? Never. So Ms. Stanley take your nuanced hate speech of religious intolerance and meet with the Mad hater of Iran, you and David Duke should have a good time.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
WHAT DID IT FOR ME (as a form
January 25, 2007 - 17:29 ET by tracheostomyWHAT DID IT FOR ME (as a former nihilistic postmodernist):
1. I admitted and then tabled all my presuppositions, hearsay evidence, and preconceived biases against Christianity.
2. I looked at the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus instead of what I saw at the time as "Jewish myths of creation, the flood, and the Exodus."
3. The evidence was logical, objectively valid, and reasonable enough to convict me of the choice to submit to a living Christ or reject Him based on will alone.
4. I chose the former and became "saved". I later came to understand it as the work of the Holy Spirit within me. The glory goes to Him alone.
5. I then understood that Jesus' authority validates the entire OT, including the creation and flood accounts. No need to prove anything because through the resurrection, everything is validated retroactively by Christ Himself. Therefore, 1st Cor 15:14-17 is the foundation on which the church stands or falls. Period.
As for the article itself, imagine Stanley's shock and surprise when she realizes that most of the churches she is referring to have abandoned traditional worship for the market-driven approach.
The megachurch is neither orthodox, nor fundamentalist in the traditional sense.
-PJ
Draft Condi for '08!
He once was lost but now he's
January 25, 2007 - 18:12 ET by TruthMongerHe once was lost but now he's found, was blind but now he sees : ) . . .
The point was how it happens.
January 25, 2007 - 18:32 ET by tracheostomyThe point was how it happens. Process, as opposed to method.
Alot of non-Christians think you have to "swallow the whale that swallowed Jonah" and lobotomize yourself in order to become a Christian.
To the contrary, all you really have to "swallow" is the miracle of the resurrection. . .and then everything else will fall into line accordingly. =)
-PJ
Draft Condi for '08!
Tracheostomy...I was glad to
January 25, 2007 - 18:21 ET by ww thumperTracheostomy...I was glad to read #4 on your post!~ PTL :-) ww v Being "Politcaly Correct" with ISLAM will distroy America......V �
I don't get liberals problem
January 25, 2007 - 18:13 ET by AtheistRepublicanI don't get liberals problem with fundamentalist christians. I have some fundamentalist friends and I wouldn't call them extremists, they dont try to convert me and are willing to even make exceptions to the atheists go to hell thing for me, I doubt there are many (there must be some) extremist christians when fundamentalists are willing to bend their beliefs. By their baseless insults they show themselves to hatefull intolerant people.
Liberals need to trash their enemies
January 26, 2007 - 00:21 ET by nkviking75AR, some liberals respond to opposition by seeking to destroy or discredit them. It's practically a reflex with them. If you can destroy your opponent, you don't have to win the debate with them.