Stop playing Christian music on my country radio station!

[Bricker]

*Originally posted by Captain Amazing *
1. It suggests that Christians are inherently moral and non-Christians are inherently immoral.
2. It suggests that her parents in dying, got what they deserved for being so evil and non-Christian.
3. It suggests that all people are “naturally” Christian…that people are born knowing Christianity is right
4. It suggests that converting people to Christianity is a good thing
and finally
5. The song is poorly written and overly emotional.

FWIW, I don’t agree with propositions 1-3 - that is, I disagree that the song suggests these. I absolutely agree that the song suggests 4.

Proposition 5 is much less rigorous; I’m not sure, for example, what level of emotion is too much. But I grant that the song isn’t likely to become the next White Christmas.

• Rick

[Coldfire]

*Originally posted by Wildest Bill *
**Coldfire,

For some reason I must have read a post wrong or interpreted interpreted something wrong and I apologize. **

No need to apogolise, dahling, I was greatly amused.

[Wildest_Bill]

Goboy,

Thanks for the tips and of course you’re right(afterall you quoted the Bible )I will try to let the spirit come out more as you suggested. BTW you know the good Book very well. Did you quote all of those verses from memory?

[gobear]

Yep. I may be a Godless heathen, but I don’t have to an ignorant, Godless heathen. I find it sad that more people don’t read the Bible. Like it or not, the Bible, especially the King James Version, has shaped the sound of modern English as much as Shakespeare has.“Eye for an eye”? KJV. “The blind leading the blind”? KJV. “Judge not lest ye be judged”? KJV, and so on.

In addition, if you don’t know the Bible, the whole of Renaissance art will be lost to you because you won’t get the Biblical allusions and symbolism, and the same goes for literature.

[Polycarp]

Most worthwhile country music is one of the best means of examining the human condition. It gets down to some archetypal situations, tears them apart, and analyzes how the people going through them behave and react. Often it will do this in stereotypes, but so what? Do we condemn Noh drama or Greek tragedy for using them?

It’d be in this aspect that I’d encourage a little tolerance for religious expression (largely Christian) – for it is a common reaction of humans that when faced with problems beyond their ability to solve, they turn to some higher power to intercede. As a psychological phenomenon, there is little difference here between a society matron praying about her mother’s terminal cancer in Trinity Church, Wall Street, NYC, an Eritrean mother whose child is dying of malnutrition supplicating Allah, and a pre-classic Greek commending his outnumbered force to Zeus’s mercy.

Songs which deal with this sort of response abound in the country playlists, and are normally structured in a down-home Protestant little brown church in the wildwood sort of setting.

This must be distinguished from the overtly Christian praise song, which fits only the overtly Christian radio stations that play it between segments of “Focus on the Family” and “Insight for Living.” But I see a place for the former category in the format of a standard country station – their faith is as much a part of their lives as is their honky-tonking, and both get celebrated and dissected in worthwhile country music.

By the way, and as a slight hijack, I think perhaps the best definition of “grace” as understood by Christians that I have ever seen is in the George Strait song about the kid who gets into a fight at school and is awaiting his father’s punishment. The metaphor of unwarranted forgiveness out of love moves smoothly from the boy and his father, the boy grown to manhood and his son, to the man dreaming of having died and awaiting divine judgment. Esprix, how did you feel about that song?

[pldennison]

Lynn:

An atheist, by definition, doesn’t believe in karma.

Um, no. An atheist, by definition, doesn’t believe in deities. Whether he or she otherwise believes the universe operates according to some supernatural system of balance is up to him or her.

[Polycarp]

Nice points, Lynn and Phil. But how do you know Bill wasn’t referring to Carma? You may remember her from the LDMB Invasion just shy of a year ago. (And she’s quite a decent person, actually, when not incited to riot – although don’t get Falcon going on the subject of Carma’s Democrat grandmother! :D)

I would say it would be quite possible to be an atheist and believe in her, though she might try to convert you!

[DoctorJ]

Between the song in the OP and the one described by Scylla, I have decided to rip out my tympanic membranes on the off chance that I might happen past a radio sometime soon.

Dammit, they had just grown back from Madonna’s cover of “American Pie”.

Dr. J

[Falcon]

*Originally posted by Polycarp *
Nice points, Lynn and Phil. But how do you know Bill wasn’t referring to Carma? You may remember her from the LDMB Invasion just shy of a year ago. (And she’s quite a decent person, actually, when not incited to riot – although don’t get Falcon going on the subject of Carma’s Democrat grandmother! :D)

Poly…don’t you DARE!

(That STILL pisses me off, btw…)

[Esprix]

Good heavens…

Wildest Bill, I responded to you in my “second chance” thread also here in the Pit. Give 'er a rip. (Oh, and I’d rather be compared to Jesse Jackson than someone you’d be comparable to - say, Jesse Helms.) And I find it most ironic that instead of directly addressing the OP (as in, “I agree” or “I disagree”), you’re the one that decided to attack me based on my sexual orientation. Who’s got the problem, buddy? Sounds like you do.

pldennison, you best be careful - in some countries, you, me and Jodi would all be married by now.

Captain Amazing, have you dealt with WB before? Reason, logic, intelligent analogies or rationality don’t work. Everything you posted about the OP was correct, but, of course, WB prefers seeing things his way. Why bother? (And for the record, I have used the term “Jeezer,” both in context of a thread and to refer to rude fundamentalist Christians who get in my face, try to convert me and tell me I’m going to Hell, so if calling Fred Phelps a Jeezer is insulting, then trust me, I meant it that way.)

Polycarp, “Feed Jake” is a great song. The other Alabama song you mention I’m not familiar with, but if it is as you describe it, I’d probably listen and then roll my eyes at the end if they specifically relate the story to God’s love; again, I’m sure it’s a good song, but I don’t listen to country music to be witnessed to. Fair warning, though - I really don’t care for Alabama. I tend away from “classic country” types and more towards more contemporary artists with more pop/rock feels - Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Wynonna, Colin Raye, etc.

Minxsmom, I hope you were kidding about that “Ellen” comment.

Coldfire, it was my understanding that goboy already FedEx’d you the Agenda. matt, are you sending the drag outfit? I’ll handle the lube and condoms. Please pick up a copy of Fodor’s Guide to Denmark** and you’re all set!

Bricker, since the song starts off deliberately referring to the parents as “non-believers,” I can’t see it meaning anything less.

Esprix

[Jodi]

pldennison, you best be careful - in some countries, you, me and Jodi would all be married by now.

To each other??? It would be like Quentin Tarantino does Three’s Company.

[David_B]

Poly said:

Most worthwhile country music …

Now there’s an oxymoron for ya!

[Polycarp]

Poly said:
Me: Most worthwhile country music …

David B.'s rejoinder: Now there’s an oxymoron for ya!

::: mutters something about heathen atheists with no respect for the finer things of life ::::

[Esprix]

Poly, dost thou know how to two-step? I follow…

Esprix

[Captain_Amazing]

Esprix,
Maybe my contribution to this thread is part of a hopeless cause, and, from past experience, it looks like it, but you gotta try anyway, you know.

As for Fred Phelps, calling him a Jeezer might be insulting to Jeezers. :) Sorry for participating in the hijack of your thread, btw. I do agree with the sentiments in the OP...not only is it offensive, it doesn't sound like a good song. On a side note, have you ever listened to Delbert McClinton?

[Esprix]

Never heard of him. why do you ask?

Esprix

[Wildest_Bill]

*Originally posted by Captain Amazing *

You might believe that, but Esprix doesn’t, and, I’d assume, doesn’t like people trying to convert him. If you’d like an analogy, let’s assume there were these Buddhists who were always trying to convert you…to make you Buddhist. They might be decent people, and you might not have anything against Buddhism, but you’ll get tired of them trying to convert you.

This point is well taken but I think I would keep respect for what they were trying to do since they believe strongly in it but I would also take the opportunity and talk to them about Christ.

You sound like you’re happy being Christian, and I think that’s great, but at the same time, Esprix seems happy being UU, and I think that’s great too. He probably doesn’t want to change his religion any more than you do, and, just as a note, it’s really hard to change the mind of somebody who’s satisfied with something.

That makes sense. I am not as hard headed as people think I am.

If you talk to somebody who’s secure in his or her beliefs and is happy with them, you’re probably not going to change their mind about them.

True unless you can convince them they might be happier with a belief in Christ.

We are talking about a country song here are we not? And he expects something different? :rolleyes:

I have a friend who’s a big fan of country, and he’s gotten me liking it, and, there are some country songs that are really well written, and that succeed in what they’re trying to say.

This was really just weak attempt at humor. Looking back on it I should have used a wink smiley instead of one of those rolly eye ones. Matter of fact, I like some country songs too and really get sick of pulling your heart string ones(like the song in question).

Fundie and Jeezer do seem like hurtful terms, and if he used them, he probably shouldn’t have, and I hope you don’t think I’m approving of his use of those terms. As a side note, “fundie”, doesn’t refer to Christians as a whole, but to fundimentalist Christians, which make up a minority of Christianity.

No, I don’t think you are approving of him using those terms. I am kind of confused about your side note though. Are you saying it is any different to use “fundie” as refering to fundimentalists Christian just because they are a minority? I am sure you are not but I was wondering why you would put that information in there.

Well, first of all, some Christians don’t believe in a literal hell.

But that doesn’t mean they are right either does it and what a thing to be wrong on.

But for those individuals like yourself who do, I don’t think anybody here (at least I hope not) thinks that you have anything but the best intentions in trying to get people to convert.

I appreciate that.

However, as I stated above, for those people who have as much faith in their beliefs as you do yours, the attempt to belittle those beliefs, or to say they’re worthless, will upset them.

I can see this to. Again, I am not that hardheaded(not saying that I am not hard heading but I am not thathardheaded ).

[quote I hope that you understand what I’m saying, and that this isn’t an attack on you personally, or, for that matter on what you believe.[/QUOTE]

I certainly can see that. Matter fact of fact you are very nice(matter of fact you are amazingly nice for being in the pit and all) and you are really not wasting your time on your thought exchanges with me.

[Minxsmom]

*Originally posted by Esprix *
Minxsmom, I hope you were kidding about that “Ellen” comment.

Of course. I thought I had tagged that line with a smilie, but I guessed I missed it - sorry.
[great big hijack] Although, I must admit that I never did like the show. Ellen and I just never clicked. So, I never actually saw the last season of the show. I’m being a smartass totally on hearsay.

But, I heard somewhere that my absolute favorite actor of all time (Bruce Campbell) did some guest spots on the show and now I’m sorry that I didn’t watch it.[/great big hijack]

[Esprix]

Originally posted by Wildest Bill

This point is well taken but I think I would keep respect for what they were trying to do since they believe strongly in it but I would also take the opportunity and talk to them about Christ.

Oh, yeah - I got a lot of respect for my OP.

So do you think you or JMM might be interested in hearing about “the gay lifestyle?” Perhaps talk to you about taking a walk on the wild side? I mean, after all, it’s only fair…

True unless you can convince them they might be happier with a belief in Christ.

As Captain said, if somebody’s already happy, fat chance you’re going to convince them they’re not. (This is one of the many arrogant attitudes I do not like in Christians that feel the need to try to convert me, that somehow I’m “missing” something in my life.)

And you still haven’t said anything regarding the OP except some flippant remarks and a rather lengthy hijack. Any thoughts?

Esprix

[Polycarp]

So do you think you or JMM might be interested in hearing about “the gay lifestyle?” Perhaps talk to you about taking a walk on the wild side? I mean, after all, it’s only fair…

ROFL – no fair trying to get an extra toaster oven!! (Though for this you should probably get an entire new kitchenette – tastefully coordinated, of course!)