The War on Error Continues

In October, I posted "The War on Error" with a link to an article on Wittenburg Door describing a video game about fundies at BJU who are out to kill all the infidels on campus. We debated whether it was real news or satire and ended up leaning toward satire (though Josh still contends it was real). Something that awful could not be true. Right?

Wrong.

The video game has just been released, but this time not under the BJU brand, but that of the ever popular series, Left Behind. That's right, a new video game entitled, Eternal Forces, is on sale now...just in time for Christmas!

The devleopers of the game descibe the storyline as beginning "just after the Rapture has occurred – when all adult Christians, all infants, and many children were instantly swept home to Heaven and off the Earth by God. The remaining population – those who were left behind – are then poised to make a decision at some point. They cannot remain neutral. Their choice is to either join the AntiChrist – which is an imposturous one world government seeking peace for all of mankind, or they may join the Tribulation Force – which seeks to expose the truth and defend themselves against the forces of the AntiChrist."

Features in this game include your ability to:

• Lead the Tribulation Force against Nicolae Carpathia - the AntiChrist.


• Conduct physical & spiritual warfare : using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world.

• Recover ancient scriptures and witness spectacular Angelic and Demonic activity as a direct consequence of your choices.


• Command your forces through intense battles across a breathtaking, authentic depiction of New York City.


• Control more than 30 units types - from Prayer Warrior and Hellraiser to Spies, Special Forces and Battle Tanks!

The makers of the game assert that this is not a truly violent game because there is "no intestines, no blood spatter, no severed limbs, no vulgar language, no sexual conduct, no morally reprehensible conduct," but just a brief look at the Peacekeepers character unit, leads me to believe otherwise.

In the name of keeping the "peace" characters like the "Special Forces" are equipped with powers of "swearing and explosive bullets." Now, if explosions and bullets are not violent, I don't know what is.

It is also quite interesting to note the gender disctinctions between characters. For instance, the nurses are all women and the doctors, all men. Surprise. Surprise. The gender distinctions follow heteronormative patterns with the women all slim, fit, large breasts and attractive, wielding powers like praying and healing. This is in comparison to the men who are the church leaders, soldiers, and saints brandishing powers of silent attack, war cry, supersight, explosions, construction, camouflage, heist, coercion and rumble.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the game is the tone it sets making almost direct parallels between the anti-Christ and modern day terrorism. The anti-Christ has devleoped a network of terror cells that you, the player, have to neutralize through game play. One of the peacekeeper characters is known for his work in exposing terror cells for the US government. Hmmm....not a far leap to imagine Muslims as the devil and Christians as the heroes, huh? Even more interesting, the anti-Christ is manifested as a "one world government seeking peace for all mankind" UN, anyone?

While several progressive Christian groups have been vociferous about their protest to the game, the makers defend themselves, arguing that the game is not anti-Christian. In response to the question whether or not their game runs contrary to Jesus’ message on “love your enemy,” they write:

"Absolutely not. Christians are quite clearly taught to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies. It is equally true that no one should forfeit their lives to an aggressor who is bent on inflicting death. Forgiveness does not require absolute defenselessness. Apparent contradictions on behalf of Christians are often the result of them placing greater importance on the message, than in caring for others."

Just war theory, anyone?

If you are as appalled as I am, sign the petition to have the game removed from stores at CrossWalk America.

A Very Betty Christmas

Last week we visited our friend, Betty, for Thanksgiving. Betty is renowned for her design and decorative talents, showcased in her home which changes themes with the seasons.

Walking into her house was like entering an enchanted fall forest; pumpkins of all shapes and sizes were tucked into every corner of the house, fall leaves in plates, ceramics, soaps and garlands were abound, and the oranges, golds, browns and reds all blended with each other to create the very essence of fall itself. It was gorgeous!


Watching Josh's eyes widen with admiration, I asked, "So, you like Betty's house?"

"Of course!!"

"Would you like our house to look like this?"

"Uh, yeah."

"So, would you like me to try to do this?"

"No."

Josh immediately thought of both the cost and anxiety such a project would necessarily entail and thought he would spare me. But the seed was planted.



I could do this. Right? Or at least try. Suddenly the image of a cozy, festive home became emblazed in my mind. I could start little by little, room by room. After all, our apartment is not much bigger than a studio loft. How hard could it be?

My expectations were low. Start with things I already own...white reindeer dishes, blue accents and milk jars. The kitchen (with our huge blue wall) would be a winter wonderland of sorts and the bathroom would be red and green (since I secretly always wanted the bathroom in red anyway!).

Heading off to Christmas Tree Shop and TJ Maxx, I found relatively inexpensive accents, including a cheapo book of penguin postcards from the Sierra Club. How much more wintery can you get than penguins?

I had already asked Josh to find the dishes while I was out so I was all set to begin the transformation. Yet, much to my chagrin, when I arrived home Josh informed me that the dishes were not in their approriate box, but rather buried in one of the many "stored dishes" boxes packed away in the basement (see July entries for the pic of the massive storage area). Thinking I would give up, he said, "Sorry, babe." But I was not to be deterred. After an hour of searching through box after box in the basement, I emerged somewhat triumphant with all the dishes, except the mugs. God only knows where they are...



Plate stands in hand and atop my new handy dandy fold up step ladder (a must for all home makeovers), I was ready to begin.

The pictures here are the fruits of my labors. Remember, little by little, bit by bit.

The whole process has actually been quite refreshing. The frivolity of it all is a relief from the work I normally do. It also has helped ease my anti-Christmas attitude. In general, I hate the "Christmas season" because it has nothing to do with Christmas at all (see MB's comment on the peace wreath for my exact sentiments on the subject). Decorating by theme, however, allows me to enjoy the season for what it really is...a winter festival. With no expectations of deep religious meaning, I can enjoy a time of celebration.

Of course, I still have reservations about the "stuff" this entails and acquiring more possessions and I am not certain that like Betty I will change to a Valentine's Day theme by January, but for the moment I am enjoying it. I'm no Betty, but it feels nice to have a home in which I like to sit.

It's a Hard Knock Life

It is a hard knock life when you have a filthy kitchen floor!

This morning I spent hours on my hands and knees scrubbing our very tiny, yet nastified kitchen floor.

I had always suspected that both mopping and swiftering did nothing more than swish dirty water all over the floor.
So, today I decided to see the difference in hand washing, something my mother always swore by. I filled a bucket with hot sudsy kitchen cleaner and water, got out my handy dandy bristle brush and went to work. It truly was a scene out of Annie, with me on my knees scubbing back and forth, back and forth.

The amount of dirt that came off was incredible! I knew it was filthy but this was astonishing!

Now, here is the problem. Even hand scrubbing, you are still left with dirty water all over your floor. How do you get it up? I resorted to cleaning section by section with paper towels...and it seemed to work. The paper towel absorbed the watery filth, making my floors clean for the first time in their lives. Yet, while this method works it seems both time consuming and wasteful of our natural resources...a roll of paper towels.

Any suggestions on getting results like the hand and towel method without the endless waste of paper??

Satanic Peace

Who knew peace could be so divisive?

Apparently this peace wreath has caused quite a stir in a local Colorado subdivision. Labeled as "anti-Iraq" and "Satanic," the peace wreath was officially banned from the subdivision and the homeowner fined $25 a day for displaying it.

I suppose in an ideologically divided nation, some could interpret this as a sign of protest, yet it puzzles me to see the symbol as Satanic, particularly in the Advent season leading up to Christmas.

In the next four weeks churches across the nation will read scripture after scripture about peace..."the lion shall lie down with the lamb," "we shall beat our swords into plowshares," and "study war no more." For Christ's sake (and I mean that literally), what about "peace on earth goodwill toward all?"

If the Advent/Christmas season isn't about peace, what is it?

Twee Vaders

This song comes from a mainstream Dutch television program for children. Entitled "Two Fathers," it is a tale of one boy and his two fathers. As the song says, some find it unusual, but to others it just is.

You can watch it here: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=MVgh2unKd5E

How refreshing it is to see same-sex led families in the media as normal!

Armor of God

MB sent me to Ship of Fools in search of a very funny message of "adivce" about ecclesial "butt wiggling."

While there I also stumbled upon this neat and nifty Christmas gift for all those special kids in your life.

The Armor of God pajamas!!

The website explains,

"The whole Armor of God Pajama set will help your children to depend on God to protect them from their fears, doubts, and uncertainties at night so their sleep can be restful and peaceful."

Because nothing is better to calm children's fear than to play war before heading off to dreams of combat, violence and evil!

Phew!

Draft Fourteen of the prospectus finished and sent off for editing to my advisors!!

Giving Gifts

Although a 12 inch talking Jesus may be inappropriate for gift giving, here are a few of my favorite places to find greeting cards and gifts for the season.

Syracuse Cultural Workers: Tools for Change
This is my absolute favorite catalog from which to shop. They have sections focused on issues as diverse as children, women, Latin American justice, human rights, environmentalism, GLBT studeis, violence against women, peace, and agricultural sustainability.

The holiday card to the rights reads, "Let us embrace and protect Earth’s wonderous gifts. Happy Holidays! Abracemos y protejamos los regalos maravillosos de la Tierra. ¡Felices fiestas!" Only $10.95 for a box of 12.

The children's books are also quite wonderful. Titles include: Tango Makes Three, The Goat Lady, Holding Up the Sky: Peace Tales for Children, Living Simply With Children, What Can I Do Today, GirlSource and Crossing Bok Chitto.

Nicaraguan Cultural Alliance

Fair Trade, Shade Grown Nica Coffee - YUMMY at only $8 a bag

The Nicaraguan Cultural Alliance (NCA) and the Quixote Center proudly present fine art materials from Nicaragua. The proceeds support the Nicaraguan artists and artisans who created these original works.


Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages stocks products from world wide artisans bought and sold at a just and fair price. You can find gifts from India to Peru here. You can shop in a store or online.

The ornaments to the left are from Peru. Handcrafted by a local artist they cost just $14.


Global Girlfriend

Global Girlfriend is a unique fair trade boutique selling specialty hand-made gifts and goods made by women's non-profit programs, women's cooperatives worldwide and products that benefit women's human rights.

These earrings are handmade in Nepal at an educational and vocational training institute which provides impoverished women with vocational training in knitting, carpet weaving, and jewelry making, enabling them to make a living wage and care for themselves and their families. Only $24.00.

What Is the Church?

"The Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic."

"The Church is where the Word of God is faithfully preached and the sacraments duly administered."

"I am the Church. You are the Church. We are the Church together."

What is the Church? The quotes above are traditional and popular expressions of the nature of the Church. But are they adequate to describe the complexity and ambiguity of our communities of faith?

This week I have been working diligently on my prospectus, exploring the nature of the Church through its practices. That is asking the question, does what we do reflect what we believe? Can we discover the answer to the question, "What is the Church?" by looking at our practices and polity as communities of faith?

I think the answer is yes. After all, we have all understood the implicit messages in our own congregations communicated through the daily practices of the Church.

What have you learned about the Church from the practices in your own communities of faith? Those of childhood and adulthood? What did the things your congregation do tell you about what Church is and ought to be? What did they fail to teach you?

Jesus Rejected!

This talking Jesus doll, made by one2believe, was rejected as a donation to a California Toys for Tots drive.

Apparently, the overt religious nature of the toy made it unsuitable as a gift for children.

Mike Grein, the vice-president of Marine Toys for Tots said, "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."

Now, I am all for stopping Christian imperialism wherever it rears its ugly head, but it strikes me as ironic that Jesus was considered inappropriate as a CHRISTMAS gift.

I know. I know. I realize that other religious traditions have holidays during the winter solstice as well, and I support Toys for Tots in giving beyond the Christian "chosen." But, for me, it is just one more reminder of the detachment of our holidays from their religious meanings. Gifts for everyone is, in a way, a cover-up for the rampant commercialization of the holiday and our over-zealous celebration of materialism.

Of course, Jesus is inappropriate for Christmas! It's not about him anyway!

GodMen: The Battle Begins

For those of you who thought the problem with the Church was its patriarchal, hierarchal exclusivity, you are wrong. In fact, the problem is not that men dominate Christianity, but that women and children do. That is, according to the new movement, GodMen, an organization begun to fight the "nice Christian man" syndrome that is oppressing and keeping men from fully participating in the life of the Church.

According to their marketing manager, Mike Smith, "the goal of GodMen is not to create one more 'nice' and 'safe' Christian man, a passive male whose only response to adversity is to fold his hands in prayer. Rather, the purpose of the movement is to equip an army of men who embody the spirit of the faithful and rugged Jesus."

In fact, the movement is a battle cry for men everywhere. This is a "dangerous" group. On their blog, Brad Stine describes the four basic premises to GodMen events:

1) Men need a battle.
2) Men need weapons/tools to fight with
3) Men need to be taught how to use the weapons
4) The most neglected element..Men need to be told " Ok guys, lets go fight."

What is this battle against you ask? The sin of being "nice" and all that it entails, including feminization, passivity and "The Enemy." Theirs is a return to Biblical masculinity, none of this "Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild," this is a movement filled with authentic masculine energy.

Paul Coughline writes, "The Bible describes and encourages a kind of rugged masculinity that is not the same kind of masculinity that is promoted in most church services and religious organizations. So when we tell Christian men that they are "fully authorized," it's our way of telling them that though the church doesn't necessarily want them to become more assertive, bold, and confrontational in order to become redemptive forces for good in a world at war with truth and goodness, the God of the Bible does."

All this happens through events where "real men" gather and sing songs, including this praise hit, ""Be a man, grow a pair." No joke!

Check out their website and be sure not to miss their promo video.

Awwwwwww....

With only 4 days left until my prospectus and my speech for the Dempster Banquet at AAR are due, I am all over web surfing.

This photo came from a site Josh showed me, called "Cute Overload." I have to admit that in general, I am not a cutesy person, but these photos are enough to soothe my anxious soul and help me re-focus on all the work I have to accomplish by Thursday night at midnight!!

Trust me, it's cute!

Growing Together

Josh and I have not yet been able to eat these carrots that came as part of our last CSA share for the year.

The beauty of their intertwined lives makes it hard for us to tear them apart for a mere salad.

Just one more miracle of the Earth that teaches us what it means to be alive!

Hooray for Marriage!!

Marriage equality has been preserved in Massachusetts! This Thursday, the state legislature narrowly avoided a vote to place marriage equality on the state ballot in 2008. Civil marriage is a civil right that comes with over 1500 benefits, rights and privileges. To ban it, does not ban same-sex families, they have existed for years and will continue to exist. The difference civil marriage makes is whether or not these families will be protected by the law.

After working for over 4 years here in MA to secure marriage rights for all people, you might imagine that I feel ecstatic, excited and elated, but I must confess, mostly I feel relieved. It is finally over.

We have put in thousands of hours of time and millions of dollars of support to secure the right to love. It seems silly, quite frankly, the herculean efforts that have had to be mustered simply to allow people to marry whom they wish to marry. After all these years, I still struggle to understand why two people marrying is such a threat. How deos same-sex marriage destroy heterosexual marriage? How are children harmed by loving parents? How is our social fabric threatened by the creation of stable, commited families? I just don't get it.

Yesterday, while waiting in line at the State House an opponent of same-sex marriage valiently tried to explain the reasons why to me. Seeing my collar, he felt obliged to engage me as part of saving my soul. Polite, respectful and calm, he told me it was simply a matter of God's "Absolute Value" (which he depicted for me as a vertical line coming down from heaven). My problem, he was good enough to point out, was that in ministering to gay folk, I was mistakenly "giving myself away to others" (which he depicted as a horizontal line moving away from the vertical line descending from heaven) and that was contrary to God's will and "Absolute Value." Funny, I thought that's what Jesus did?

As we continued the conversation, it became clear that he had a magical access, to this purported "Absolute Value" that I did not have. He was not moved or swayed by the Wesleyan quadrilateral and seemed to shutter at the thought of ongoing revelation. He was quite clear that God gave us specific gender roles to which we are obligated to conform, whether we like it or not. If only I would stop helping others, I could know God's Absolute Value and be saved.

It never ceases to amaze people our own human hubris in imagining that we somehow know the mind of God as absolute, direct and unchanging.

I Can't Believe It!!!???!!!??

I can't believe it!

Daniel won!!!!! The Sandinistas have come back!!

I can't believe it!

This week, leading up to the Nicaraguan elections, I have been trying to hold at bay my hope that the Daniel Ortega, former revolutionary and president of Nicaragua would win the elections 16 years after being ousted by the US government. (During the elections, the US government promised to end the Contra war if they defeated Ortega in the polls. What kind of choice is that? War? Or a new president? You choose.)

Could it possibly happen? No, not with the continued intervention and threats of the US.

But it did!!!

Daniel's victory marks the end of fear and intimidation by the US and the turn from capitalist politics that only benefit the rich, to the return of the revolucion and the politics of the people. Under Daniel's last presidency he vaccinated the entire country, taught the populace how to read , set up health centers throughout the country, distributed the land to the poor who had been slaves of large plantation owners for decades, bought private utility companies so that they the people could afford clean water, electricity and gas, and offered a wide array of social services for the poor. During the 1980's the international community flocked to Nica to see this new type of government in action. Despite having to fight a US sponsored war (the Contra War...remember the Iran Contra Scandal), the government succeeded in being a government for the poor.

Overly idealistic? Of course, I am. But who couldn't be given the history of the Nicaraguan people and the dream they realized, if only for a decade, of a government that actually benefited the poor.

Can it be?

As I watch the web page psuedo-celebration, I cannot hold back the tears.

In celebration of the day, take a moment to listen to the love song of the revolucion, Nicaragua, Nicaraguita, a folk song by Carlos Mejia Godoy. The lyrics are below.

Ay Nicaragua, Nicaraguita
La flor mas linda de mi querer
Abonada con la bendita, Nicaraguita,
Sangre de Diriangen.

Ay Nicaragua sos mas dulcita
Que la mielita de Tamagas
Pero ahora que ya sos libre, Nicaraguita,
Yo te quiero mucho mas
Pero ahora que ya sos libre, Nicaraguita,
Yo te quiero mucho mas

Oh Nicaragua Nicaraguita
most beautiful flower of my love
fertilized with the blessed blood of Diriangen

Oh Nicaragua you are even sweeter
Than the honey from Tamagas
But now that you are free
Nicaraguita
I love you much more
But now that you are free
Nicaraguita
I love you much more

Viva la revolucion!!

How Very Sad

Yesterday much of the reaction I heard about Ted Haggard, the evangelical leader who was caught in a sex scandal was laughter. It seemed both ironic and comical that a man who spent so much of his time preaching hate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks would be, himself, caught up in a torid gay sex scandal.

Yet, I have to admit, that my reaction is just pure saddness. How very sad that we live in a society (and Church) that evokes so much shame and fear around sexuality, that people are cowered into living a lie. Haggard not only hid his sexuality but turned his own internalized homophobia on the queer community, working out his own issues with such vitriolic rhetoric towards those who were honest with themselves and the world about their sexuality.

I fear that this type of public outing will do no one any good. I imagine that Haggard will repent of his "sexual sin," tell his faithful followers he backslid, attend a "homo-no-mo" program, and encourage parents to send their youth to these reparative therapy camps as soon as possible. I can only imagine the message his children will get through all of this. If any were ever to come out, they surely would not now.

No one wins.

Trick? or Treat?

Halloween used to be a harmless day when kids would go out dressed as pirates, princesses and superheroes to collect candy from friends and neighbors. Sadly, many American children no longer get to participate in this lighthearted holiday. Their conscientious parents stand as examples of the truth a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Their parents have been told that the dark and evil religion of the ancient Celts threatens to corrupt their children’s souls. Rather than a quaint folkway that has outlived its historical roots, it is a sinister scheme devised by the devil in order to seduce children into the dark web of the occult and the demonic. You can almost hear Satan’s laughter at the brilliance of his diabolical plan --a diabolical plan that has all the subtlety of a conspiracy of Skeletor or Cobra Commander.

According to this plan, there are Druids or Wiccans about just waiting to seduce your child into a world of Celtic chants and an appreciation of nature. Druids, far from being extinct or having their religion transformed into the stuff of banal, New Age self-help books, have in secret been executing their dark master’s plan to seduce the youth of America. If your son or daughter uses a term like “solstice” or “equinox” it may already be too late.

Christianity’s complete and utter defeat of paganism throughout Europe during the course of the Middle Ages was only an illusion. The derisive term the Christians used for the rubes in the countryside-- “pagan” --was secretly a badge of pride to these unbelievers and devil worshippers. They hid while the sword of Christendom threatened to send them into the hereafter, waiting until the vigilance of God’s followers relaxed and they could find a cultural crevice in which to insinuate themselves. This crevice has been wedged open by snack size candy bars and cheap plastic costumes, and their dreadful scourge manifests itself every time a child licks their candy-stickied fingers.

Apparently the joy and happiness I felt as child, costumed and sugared-up, and that I have witnessed in others was completely naïve. It was a superficial deception in a demonic gambit for my soul. Even though it felt good, made me happy and holds a warm place in my memory I was deceived. These feelings should have been tempered by obscure biblical commands condemning witchcraft, although I hesitate to speculate whether my Bunny Rabbit or Batman costume was more demonic.

I do not believe this. The perversion of Halloween is not by dark spiritual forces, but by fundamentalist fear mongers obsessed with their own puritanical consciences to the point of demonizing a harmless cultural anachronism. But they are partially right; there is a witchcraft to Halloween. The day has a power to weave spells of laughter in the faces of children and joy in their hearts, but I guess unfettered joy is too frightening for some people. - posted by jga