I usually read them, and always throw them away immediately afterwards. Inconsistency of message, watering-down of responsibility to a 200 word essay, or even blatant contradiction in message (in one magazine) have made me roll my eyes and head for the trash can (Tossmass, I believe they call it!?).
For instance, in a November magazine, the feature talked about how parents should not lie to thier children. The ending "question and answer" section had Doctor Dobson himself advocating telling your children about Santa Claus (as in, telling them he is real, coming, has a flying sleigh, and a certain amount of mythical animals that can also levitate—I don’t even know how many there are!) for the "special memories" that he considered priceless and his children had also enjoyed.
In another magazine (or was it the same, memorable one) their President Jim Daly wrote about how much he enjoyed adding "holy-day traditions" to their normal family holiday routine…like celebrating the days of Advent and Lent. I threw up my hands in horror…. Now, they are not only pseudo-Baptist, we are advocating Catholic and Anglican-Orthodox heresies *hem *…….er….traditions! (yes, thats the word!)
I have considered telling them to stop sending stuff to me, because they are wasting money that they beg their radio listeners for all the time. However, being a born procrastinator, and finding amusement in the foibles of others, I have not done so.
This blog post is about the watering-down of Christianity.
Unlike my former self, ranting here a couple months ago, I now find it obvious that a poli-two-speaker like two-faced/two-party McCain would appeal to their set. They have no problems adopting and adding to their faith and doctrine. A good mix is the key to full flavor, I’m sure. They add in public schooling, adolescence theories, church going as the basis for estimating Christianity, and various shades of self-help advice. (like how to estimate the total amount of "pay withholding from a worker’s W-4")
If there is a "revival" of Christianity, it will not come from this outlet. They are entrenched firmly in their "pro-government" mentality that accepts government education (and then asks for money so they can help de-louse the youth from all their statist instruction)
I must add, in their favor ( and it even shocked/surprised me) there were actually TWO whole pages with the world (dare I say it) homeschooling on them. One, was an add for Christianbook.com and the other for a completely Biblical homeschooling curriculum.
In the entire magazine, there were 7 verses quoted (three in the main article, about death, when asking about the favorite verses of comfort). Two were references for two-hundred word essays on Transition, and "having-a-big-group-of-church-friends-so-your-kids-can-have-multi-generational-community". The last one was stuck on a bio of a guy who makes wooden crosses to give away free.
The last article, and the one that sparked this posting, was about Guitar Hero. Although I have not posted any material, I have about 5 posts buried in my drafts section about rock music and such. I have not actually had the time (or wish to read all the depressing and horrible stuff again) to format them into coherent, readable format.
The article talked about the objectionable material inherent in the system, and the guidelines some families had used (Is the singer modest; Is the concert atmosphere appropriate (i.e. not a bar?); And are the lyrics "acceptable"). Then talked about all the former/previous had-beens who are delighted with their music coming back into circulation.
They ended with these oh-so-politically-correct admonitions:
" …parents can’t afford to sit this one out. Since rhythm games are here to stay, we should strive to understand why our children connect with certain music, then channel those deep desires into healthy, positive outlets. One option is Guitar Praise: Solid Rock, a Guitar Hero alternative featuring dozens of tracks by popular Christian bands. Most important, help children sort through the values zipping at them in their music—whether they’re coming from a stereo, and iPod, or a frenetic virtual fretboard."
I don’t know how much more "Would you like some water with all your milk?" we can get.
While advocating "family worldwide" they allow the parents to cater to the children’s selfishness, tell the children that new, worldly fads are "Ok, with a ‘detox’ bath afterwards", and then wonder why so many see through the mist-screen and turn away to spit on the values they were taught.
They weren’t taught to be dumb. And their inner instincts know that when two opposing things seem to intersect, one has to be right, and one wrong.
6 comments:
what do you think of "the truth project"?
From what I've divined of it from Adventures in Oddesy sessions (yes, my little brother has an addiction I am entirely against....AiO is anti-homeschooling) is that it is as "catering to teens" as youth group sessions. I have not heard anything that would make me feel like it would be more enlightening than a good doctrine course.
hm... so you think that from what youve heard that its about as good as a good doctrine course? Ive never heard or seen it "marketed" to teens, not that it hasnt been though. What I do know is that it is full of truth, as the name suggests. And that is good. True, its a lot of truth that I think many of us have already learned, perhaps because we were homeschooled. But from what Ive seen it is targeted to adults, many of whom have grown up without knowing, for example, the truth that counters the claims of Evolution. And this is very good, at least by my estimation.
the focus of the Truth Project that i've seen has been highschool graduates to in-college people who want more grounding in faith/doctrine and apologetics. i don't have any opposition to it, except for what you point out, that it is potentially somewhat at a lower level than we would enjoy. they have advertised it extensively, though, and attending it provides one with many opportunities and some name-recognition, i'm sure.
Yes, I understood it was a "know what you believe" conference.
At the risk of my head, I would venture to say that there is something irreplaceable about traditions and rituals passed down in the church that help bind us to the Body of Christ throughout the centuries, which I consider extremely valuable and worth holding to for the community they promote and the ways they combat the helplessness, disconnection, and lack of place created by postmodernism for people of today.
I celebrate holy-days, and in looking for a church lately I've been looking for one that holds to ritual and tradition, not as orthodox necessarily, but as symbolic of things that are orthodox and worth holding to.
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