Damn, brenda. I'm so sorry. Much strength and peace to you and Lucy.

Calvinism *is* sexist, right? Or am I mixing something up?

Calvinism *is* sexist, right? Or am I mixing something up?

A literal interpretation of the bible is sexist; it's not restricted to just Calvinism.

That article freaked me out, because -- with 2 differences -- it could be my ex-FAC: (1) mine was in Ohio; (2) they don't (didn't?) preach Calvinism. (Although they came very VERY close.) But they do the whole thing of "Look at how culturally relevant and hip we are with our tattoos and piercings and swearing and smoking and drinking and indie rock! Woo!!! Our pastor wears jeans and t-shirts when preaching! Woo!!! PRAISE HIM!!!"

Actually, my ex-FAC was a lot like the church that Bobby Hill joined (for one episode) in King of the Hill.

Don't get me wrong; there's nothing wrong with a church being culturally relevant. If people don't see how a faith from a nearly 2,000-year-old book can fit into their lives, that's problematic. (Although lots of non-hipsters *also* don't see how faith fits into their lives. So a tattooed, pierced, swearing pastor might freak *those* people out even more.)

What bothers me is not their attempts at being culturally relevant; my problem is how they *boast* about it and make a huge deal out of it, instead of just living however they live and doing their thing.

Calvanism had that whole "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" thing, right?

Teppy, do you watch "Bones"? There was an episode this season that featured a holy roller televangelist who disappeared and was rediscovered when the female preacher of a Chesapeake Bay village church was murdered and was revealed as the holy roller who got a sex change. It had some interesting things about what was true faith, the images of righteousness, etc. (Plus it was one of those eps whoch showed the essential differences between Booth and Bones, esp. re: religious faith.)

Teppy, do you watch "Bones"?

I don't, but that episode sounds interesting.

Fuck, I'm running late. Anyone know if Amtrak trains are running late in Chicago? Their website is useless for that.

That was a very good KOTH. "He says he was in his room reading his Bible...how do I punish him for that?"

Tep, everything I read about Mars Hill makes me think of your FAC.

This, by the way, includes the text of their sermons and Driscoll's responses to, oh, everything.

(My first reaction when I heard of them, before I knew their theology, was, naturally, to check them out on their website. And then I ran screaming.)

Connie, I spoiler-fonted out the explicit current season reference in your post.