So my car? Yeah, the one needing a new starter? They are gonna have to drop the transmission to replace the flywheel as well. Seems the old starter was shoving the ring of teeth off the wheel itself.

So. $1200. I didn't have heart to ask if that was on top of the $500 for just replacing the starter. I get past $1k and I stop noticing the hundreds till it hits $2k.

OTOH, my parents are paying for the rental and mom just made me cry by handing me a huge check.

Mind you, I can easily afford this. They know it too. It's weird. I'm torn between feeling like I'm taking advantage (which...not, but I'm wired that way) and just...damn. It's not so much the money as the frustration and ohfuckness of it. I need to do this for someone someday.

I'll have only put in $3k to this car (mostly maintenance- belts,tires, minor upkeep,and of course that clutch) over 5 years. Which really isn't bad.

It's just ANNOYING.

"Why is 'Love in Action' so full of shit?"

As a survivor of a Freak-Ass Church, I can tell you their answer without even needing to go to the Web site: because the "loving" thing to do to someone who is suffering from the sin of homosexuality is to help them break free of that sin.

Which is bullshit of the stinkiest variety, but there you are. They justify it in their own minds and in their own churches by viewing it as a loving thing -- if someone you love is deep in the clutches of SIN, the loving thing to do is to help them out of it.

It makes me so angry -- violently so, really -- that I can hardly see straight.

And also? This particular program is violating the participants' civil rights in a big bad and ugly way, and I hope that all the attention that this poor boy has drawn to the program gets them slapped with a big fat lawsuit. It doesn't matter that he's a minor; parents still cannot sign away their childrens' civil liberties.

"Why is 'Love in Action' so full of shit?"

Here's the answer:

What We're About -> Doctrine

We believe the scripture is the final truth and authority concerning all matters of morality, as well as the hope and healing for morality in dilemma. We acknowledge the sinfulness of any sexual act outside of the scriptural context of Holy Matrimony between a man and a woman. We uphold Christ’s offer of redemption and freedom to all who come to Him.

They know they are absolutely right.

Actually, I'm sure they do lots of good stuff too. That camp sounds like the result of excessive rightousness.

I'm sure they do lots of good stuff too.

They require solitary confinement and the wearing of socks with sandals.

We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. It is perfect truth from cover to cover,

I wonder how many of their women go to camps outside the community for the days when they have their periods.

We believe the scripture is the final truth and authority concerning all matters of morality

If they believe that then I want to know when the fuck they're gonna stop wearing clothes made of blended fabrics.

They require solitary confinement and the wearing of socks with sandals.

Also, boys must wear shirts in bed.

WTF?

I'm sure they do lots of good stuff too.

They require solitary confinement and the wearing of socks with sandals.

Not just solitary confinement, but for the first 2 days of the program (and possibly longer, depending on the participant's attitude, I suppose), the participant is literally not allowed to speak. To anyone. Including family.

the participant is literally not allowed to speak. To anyone. Including family.

Yerp. And even after that is never allowed to discuss with anyone what goes on in their sessions, which to me = distinctly culty, all snark about the socks aside.