There's a rightwing, black Church in Raleigh called Upper Room Church of God in Christ. Earlier this year, they were involved in a homophobic controversy. Not quite Fred Phelps territory, but the next county over. But their latest stunt is really, really stupid. They took out an ad urging people doing their Christmas shopping to patronize only stores that included "Merry Christmas" or similar language in their ads. OK, let me get this straight. There's a movement afoot to make Jesus not the reason for the season. And the solution is... to organize some kind of boycott while indulging yourself in the orgy of gratuitous consumption that Christmas has become?!?!?! What a bunch of retards. If Jesus were here today, after creating peace in Jerusalem, his next stop would be to invade this church and wreak some holy havoc.
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world Where did you get this "homophobic" observation? They said nothing of the kind; that seems like your sordid comment! And on another point... you do this every day! You patronize Soccer stores and would probably patronize BigSoccer advertised soccer stores! So really, what this Church is doing is no different that what superdave does and what superdave is urged to do in the commerical sense! Come back and post when you have a point to make... this one "doesn't hunt!" IntheNet
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world He was alluding to a previous scandal. Superdave is upset about the hypocrisy implicit in a church trying to influence shopping while at the same time preaching about the holiday losing meaning. While I'm not as outraged as Dave, I sort of see his point. Come back when you learn to read.
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world Any bets on an over-under before some European poster puts up a link to Landover Baptist (or a similar site) without "getting it"??
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world If Landover Baptist was real (and it's pretty realistic, thanks), it still wouldn't be the stupidest church in the whole world. $cientology still has this award sewn up. Maybe if someone starts the First Church of Slamming Your ******** In a Car Door, the Hubbardites would have some competition.
Do you really think if Jesus were alive today, he'd be able to manage peace in Jerusalem? If I recall correctly, he wasn't able to accomplish a great deal during his first lifetime. In fact, I seem to recall him coming to an unfortunate end, because in general, people didn't think much of him at the time. Would a new Jesus in today's world be any more successful?
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world Every religious entity that I know urges patronage of member retail establishments... Muslims leaders do it, Jewish leaders do it, and Christian leaders do it! Do you seriously believe that there is something wrong with Christian's patronizing fellow Christians' shops and buying their goods from retail operations managed by Christians?
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world What about the golden plates which could only be read in a special box by a certain...oh nevermind...
There's an Upper Room church in Fayetteville. I always thought it was the only one. Operates out of a building the size of one of Shaq's shoeboxes.
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world Competition, yes. But from the little I know I suspect they'd still remain the champions. (Hilarious. Sorry, I couldn't give you any more reputation points.)
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world If the church made a general statement to this point, you would be right. But instead they made the point particularly about Christmas gift giving, which is unChristian in many ways and instead derives from the holiday of Saturnalia, one of the many pagan winter solstice holidays that the Church tried to take over with their rather unconvincing proclamation that Jesus was born on Dec. 25th.
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world Not necessarily, no. I am bothered that they're advocating boycotting so called "non-christian" businesses.
Re: The stupidest comment in the whole world When I was a teenager my best friend's father owned one of the franchises - er, I mean churches. Trust me, the more you know the more you'll agree with Loney. (only on this issue!)
OTOH, you also have one of the better churches in the world, dealing with the worst broadcasters in any democracy anywhere. The Rev. John Thomas, who serves as general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, is having a hard time figuring out why the same broadcasters that profited so handsomely from airing the vicious and divisive attack advertisements during the recent presidential election are now refusing to air an advertisement from his denomination that celebrates respect for one another and inclusiveness. "It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all the major networks , an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," said Thomas. "What's going on here?" The ad in question is part of an ambitious new national campaign by the UCC to appeal to Americans who feel alienated from religion and churches, and to equip the denomination's 6,000 congregations across the U.S. to welcome newcomers. In an effort to break through the commercial clutter that clogs the arteries of broadcast and cable television, the UCC ad features an arresting image: a pair of muscle-bound bouncers standing in front of a church and telling some people they can attend while turning others away. After people of color, a disabled man and a pair of men who might be gay are turned away, the image dissolves to a text statement that: "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we." Then, as images of diverse couples and families appear on screen, an announcer explains that, "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." It is a graceful commercial, which delivers an important message gently yet effectively -- something that cannot be said of most television advertising these days. But viewers of the CBS and NBC television networks won't see it because, in this age of heightened focus on so-called "moral values," quoting Jesus on the issue of inclusion is deemed to be "too controversial." What was controversial? Apparently, the networks don't like the ad's implication that the Nazarene's welcome to all people might actually include ALL people. Noting that the image of one woman putting her arm around another was included in the ad, CBS announced, "Because the commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the (CBS and UPN) networks." NBC was similarly concerned that the spot was "controversial." UCC leaders, pastors and congregation members are upset, and rightly so... What hypocrisy, what insolence what arrogance! Good luck with all that. I wonder, has anyone done a mental health assessment on the public discourse?