A Nice Comment

Well, I didn't expect it, but someone actually noticed my most recent post and took the time to comment. Thank you very much for the encouraging words. I really only started the blog to vent some frustration - I didn't think anyone would actually visit!

The thing is, I'm all for individuals expressing their point of view, even someone like Alexander. What irritates me is the fact that the religious right in the US is so... smug about cramming their opinions down everyones throats. Smug is the the only word I can think of that most accurately describes their whole demeanor. Kinda like the way your president looks when he answers questions from the press.

I think I finally snapped when I heard the most recent attempts at banning Harry Potter books in the States. I watched a biography on JK Rowling (the author) and she was just dumbstruck at how vicious some of these Christians were being about her book. I personally find it funny that a group who are supposed to try to be pure of heart spend all of their time making up disgusting and evil lies about her intentions on writing the books. She has clearly stated the books are fairy tales. I guess those with no imagination must have to make up for their lack of it by insinuating Harry Potter leads kids to Satanism.

Cornswalled, if you are reading:

You state in one of your laughable posts that these books lead children to Satanism and witchcraft. I would ask you to show documented proof that this is the case. NOT RUMOURS ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HEARD FROM AN OLD LADY IN CHURCH ABOUT HER SECOND COUSIN TWICE REMOVED'S EX HUSBAND'S SISTER'S DAUGHTER! Concrete, solid proof that there is an epidemic of children joining Anton Lavey's Satanic Church or Wiccan faiths AS A DIRECT RESULT of a Harry Potter novel.

I guess, though, if your Bible can turn someone like you into a complete jackass, then I suppose a Harry Potter book could turn someone into a "witch". But I'd like to give an 8 year old more credit than a crank like you.

I would also like to point out that your faith in your religion must be pretty weak that you feel threatened by a children's fairy tale.

Just a side note - I bought the new book - FABULOUS! And Alexander, only ONE of your spoilers was correct. Have you read the books by the way? I am a Christian and I have read the Satanic Bible. I did that so I would KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT when I debated people. Perhaps you try reading a fiction novel other than Left Behind.

Sorry about the tangeants.

Anyway, I was watching this A&E Bio on Rowling. She was saddened that these religious groups were reading stuff into the books that really wasn't there. What got to me was they showed this church group protesting at a book store, and there was this guy they interviewed who seemed really upset. He'd been 'prayin' and the Lord laid it on his heart' that Harry was evil. The reporter asked this perfect Christian specimen if he'd read the book and he said no. So, excuse me, but what gives you the right to try to ban something you never read? His reason for protesting was likely this:

* Friday night church group was going to protest the book store because their craft night was cancelled
* This guy heard some gossip about the book
* Rather than investigate the book, he assumes the gossip and rumours the old biddies in his church were spreading MUST be true, so we gotta get that book BANNED

I am not a violent person. But when I heard this particular jackass say he'd been 'prayin' about it', I wanted to punch the TV. It was that SMUG LOOK about him. He didn't seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer, and he was bald (and wearing the customary Sunday suit - does God really care if you worship Him in a suit or jeans? I thought the point was that we worship Him? Ah well... another topic for another post!) so I don't know why he thought he was better than anyone else. I just wanted to hit this guy to try to knock some sense into him.

Alexander (and the guy ((girl?)) who posted the nice comment) I grew up in church. My father started a church in our city to minister to the deaf community. There was no where for the deaf to go as, obviously, they can't hear and the churches were not supportive or understanding of their handicap (no surprise - churches tend to either use a ham fisted approach to things, or sit back and do nothing) Anyway, I went to a regular hearing church while my folks looked after the deaf. I stopped going to church when I returned from a missions trip to Guatemela. I could not stand the hypocrisy I saw in the church. I couldn't stand the back stabbing. I couldn't stand the gossip. And this wasn't one church, Alexander - before I stopped going, I tried SEVERAL churches:

* Baptist
* Free Methodist
* Pentecostal
* Lutheran

They were all the same. Joyless, backstabbing hypocrites.

The only church I truly felt at home in was a Seventh Day Adventist church. And in spite of their zealousness of predicting the end of the world incorrectly a bunch of times, I would have continued to go there had I not moved.

I only bring this up to say that I KNOW your kind because I lived the life. I have three editions of the Bible, from KJV to the latest watered down version. I listened to CCM, praise, Maranatha, Christian metal, rock, gospel, George Beverly Shea... I even helped my dad with the commitee to bring BILLY GRAHAM to our city (and he did - three sold out nights and what a FANTASTIC Christian example he was (no sarcasm). I avoid church to stay in touch with God... not to have the taint of other "believers" on me.

But you, Alexander, and your opinionated, narrow minded, near sighted smug attitude is what's prevalent in the church today. YOU are the epitome of what's wrong with Christianity in the US. You are the reason people won't go to church. You are the reason church attendance is at an all time low. Try as you might to blame the media, Tim Henson, Harry Potter immigration laws, etc... YOU are the reason. Look at it this way - why would someone want to go to a place that demonizes everything (other Christians included), only to watch you "eat" your own?

God, my wrists are sore now.

I know I rambled a lot (again, I'm not always able to get a point across the way I want it to) and I hope I didn't bore anyone.

But hey, Alexander, I asked another question here. Let's see if you can answer this, in addition to the other 6 I asked and still have not seen a reply:


1. You state in one of your laughable posts that these books lead children to Satanism and witchcraft. I would ask you to show documented proof that this is the case. NOT RUMOURS ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HEARD FROM AN OLD LADY IN CHURCH ABOUT HER SECOND COUSIN TWICE REMOVED'S EX HUSBAND'S SISTER'S DAUGHTER! Concrete, solid proof that there is an epidemic of children joining Anton Levey's Satanic Church or Wiccan faiths AS A DIRECT RESULT of a Harry Potter novel.


Have a nice day,

Anticornswalled