The stupidest church in the whole world

usscouse · Dec 2, 2004

Crimen y Castigo said:

The new Jesus would have a Piper Cub . . .
Click to expand...

Think so? And who is he going to impress with that old pile of junk.

No he'll come to America first, we all know where the Real Christians are but he'll be aboard his Gulfstream 5. Then to hell with travelling by donkey, he'll have his armored, glass topped limo complete with wet bar for all the wine he can make. With security, packin' uzi's and Gallil's

peledre · Dec 2, 2004

Norsk Troll said:

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?
Click to expand...

If Jesus were alive, he'd be burned at the stake as a heretic. That, or shot at his compound in Walla Walla Washington by the FBI along with his cadre of followers.

peledre · Dec 2, 2004

Mel Brennan said:

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?
Click to expand...

That is pretty F'ed up.

Mel Brennan · Dec 2, 2004

peledre said:

That is pretty F'ed up.
Click to expand...

With this response:

...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...

one has to ask, if America had state-controlled television, how would the response be ANY different?