It CAN happen here.

[First of Two]

I hope that this isn't TOO controversial for this board. If it is.. sorry.

This is just @#$%ing revolting. And practically in my backyard. Something must be done.

http://news.excite.com/news/r/010328...ion-burning-dc

[Liquidator Queeg]

Controversial, no. Funny as hell... yes!

They even sang Amazing Grace. Clearly, they have no comprehension of the words to that song at all. Oh well. Religious nutbars... Whatcha gonna do with 'em?

I hope their marshmallows tasted good!

Steve

[qerlin]

Silly. But no more so that the Scientologists and crystal huggers of California.

[calguard66]

"""The Rev. George Bender says he never thought a little book burning would get so much publicity."""


To think that I've risked my life so this guy can burn books...

I think I'm gonna puke. Seriously.



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"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

[Rottwang]

Personally, as a practising Christian, I find these kinds of behavior to be embarrassing. Besides, I'm a big fan of Joe Walsh.

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
their dreams."
--Eleanor Roosevelt

[Kaiddin]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by calguard66:
"""The Rev. George Bender says he never thought a little book burning would get so much publicity."""
</font>

Yah, right....

[REG]

As a lapse Christian, I am embarrassed by this action led by Rev. George Bender (did they model him for the Futurama robot character?) as I am by the Taliban's in Afghanistan.

Sometimes I wonder if I am truly living in the American ideology of freedom. Perhaps I should be glad they did not use humans in the burning, although I would not be surprised if that church would put the Harry Potter author in a witch trial.

Would not be surprised at all.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[Hugh Casey]

In the April issue of Reader's Digest, a reader wrote an angry letter concerning an interview with J.K. Rowlings in a previous issue. She was angry because Rowlings had admitted in an interview on a website that she was an avowed member of the Church of Satan, and that she was using her Potter books to bring up to 35 million children into the arms of the Prince of Darkness, and how DARE the Reader's Digest print such a complimentary article about her!

In their response, the editor's noted that the website where Ms. Rowlings' "quote" appeared was "www.theonion.com", a satirical website that prints parody news articles. The interview they ran was not real, but a spoof.

Sadly, First of Two, you are right... it CAN happen here. And it does. Everyday. That is why we must always bear in mind the quote from T. Jefferson that LUG used to title it's Fedeation Sourcebook...

"The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance."

Hugh



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"Sell your soul to the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society... ASK ME HOW!"

[J.Ramirez]

First of Two, I have to agree with you -- that incident IS #@$!%&% revolting.... you would think such a thing went out after the days of Nazi Germany.

It floors me that with so many problems out there that people would be that incredibly naive to still blame books, records, and movies for the evil in the world.

It reminds me of an argument I once got in with a person of that kind of mindset; she claimed it was true that "if you sit a baby in front of violent movies, he will grow up to be violent and a killer."

My reply was, "Then since I enjoy reading Garfield comic strips, I'm going to have the urge to eat lasagna and kick dogs off of tables."

She didn't like that, for some strange reason.

All in all, just another sample of wrongs committed in the name of religion...when people are convinced that the Bible has told them to do something, no stopping them... especially if they've taken the Scripture out of context (which seems to be the basis of that action).

Okay, I'm done.





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"Now then, pendejo, let's see what kind of swordsman you've become." -- Juan Sanchez Villalobos Ramirez

[Protius]

Ok for those of us who haven't read Harry Potter yet, what's all the controversy about? Is it more of a reference to wizards and witches than say, Patricia C. Wrede's Dealing with Dragon's series, or does it take more of an anti-christian stance in its references?

[Dave]

This is a perfect example of the "low culture" being perpetuated within modern charismatic/pentacostal churches. But over the last decade thousands of people have left these denominations- and more continue to leave. I used to attend such churches, but I have since converted to Orthodoxy.

[First of Two]

This Bender guy kind of reminded me of John Lithgow's preacher character in "Footloose," or more like that little zealous guy who went overboard and whom even the preacher had to say was wrong.

Protius: Well, I've read the 1st Harry Potter book, and as far as I can tell, the only reason to single it out for burning is the fact that it's very popular.

It's my impression that people like the ones above believe that anything popular, enjoyable, or contrary to their dogma was created specifically by the Dark Fiend to torment them.

The problem is not that they're Pentacostals. The problem is that people like this are almost EVERYWHERE. Every Christian organization I've run into has had SOME people like this. They're loud, determined, and organized, which makes up for their being stupid, and makes them entirely dangerous. Which is one of the reasons I left organized religion of any kind.

I read that Reader's Digest article. I really wanted to contact that lady and ask her just HOW stupid she really was.

[Captain Blake]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Protius:
Ok for those of us who haven't read Harry Potter yet, what's all the controversy about? Is it more of a reference to wizards and witches than say, Patricia C. Wrede's Dealing with Dragon's series, or does it take more of an anti-christian stance in its references?</font>

It takes no anti-christian stances of any sort. It's about kids who happen to have powers and go on adventures. It just happens to be childrens literature, and popular at that. Therefore, it becomes a target for that "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" stuff. If nobody read the books, then the Religious Right wouldn't even care.

Of cource, these same sorts of people went after Pokemon too.

[qerlin]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by J.Ramirez:
First of Two, I have to agree with you -- that incident IS #@$!%&% revolting.... you would think such a thing went out after the days of Nazi Germany.

It floors me that with so many problems out there that people would be that incredibly naive to still blame books, records, and movies for the evil in the world.

It reminds me of an argument I once got in with a person of that kind of mindset; she claimed it was true that "if you sit a baby in front of violent movies, he will grow up to be violent and a killer."

My reply was, "Then since I enjoy reading Garfield comic strips, I'm going to have the urge to eat lasagna and kick dogs off of tables."

She didn't like that, for some strange reason.

All in all, just another sample of wrongs committed in the name of religion...when people are convinced that the Bible has told them to do something, no stopping them... especially if they've taken the Scripture out of context (which seems to be the basis of that action).

Okay, I'm done.

</font>

This is nothing new in this country or in many others. There are always fanatics, for just about every belief or political stipe. So long as they don't get near the seats of political power, you're okay. But when they do..? Well, we'll all wish we'd left teh Second Amendment well enough alone.

[qerlin]

"Of cource, these same sorts of people went after Pokemon too."

Yes, but CPT B...Pokemon is evil. that's why the Taliban and many other Islamic leaders have banned Pokemon in the Middle East.

I'm sure, however, that the Pokemon people will have a stern response soon.

Allah-chu, I choose you!