I have come to realize that there are certain things that Christians tend to do and say, mostly for the purposes of having other people know that they are Christians. There is a whole big expectation of things that Christians are "supposed" to do. I grew up in the Conservative Baptist church of the USA, so for years I was taught that you couldn't drink, smoke, dance, or listen to secular music (heaven forbid it be rock'n'roll!) and be a Christian. Had to have a "daily quiet time," and it had to be first thing in the morning. Had to have a ready answer to the Christian school principal's question of "How's your walk with God lately?" and God forbid it be anything except a verbatim quotation of the scripture that you'd read that very morning.
Christians are supposed to be involved with politics, but nothing as messy as giving a home to an unwed mother, adopting a child, or donating one's time or money to the Crisis Pregnancy Centers. No, it's much easier to simply picket outside the abortion clinic, and say ugly things to and about women who wear "I Had an Abortion" t-shirts. One of my closest childhood friends had an abortion, and she tells me it was the hardest thing she'd ever done -- not least because of the stigma and ostracism she knew she would face if she ever returned to the Christian community (which, to date, she has not done). She did tell me that my reaction of heartfelt sympathy went a long way towards helping her to heal from the wounding she experienced from other Christians about it.
Christians are supposed to show gay people the love of Christ, but at the same time make sure they know at all times what abominable sinners they are. Sure, put a huge weight of guilt, shame, and condemnation on 'em -- that'll lead 'em to Jesus for sure!
Lately there have been things added to the list of rules: Christians don't read Harry Potter. This reminds me of a very funny story about when my pastor and his wife came over to dinner once, and she was talking a mile a minute while he was perusing our bookshelves (don't ask me why). He noticed our boxed set of the Chronicles of Narnia, and drew her attention to it.
"Oh, what a great series that is!" she exclaimed, beaming. "Ever so much better than that nasty Harry Potter series--those books are nothing but occultic! Christians ought to have NO truck with the devil!" she told me with a wide smile and a decisive and self-righteous nod.
With a sweet smile, I pointed to our entire set of Harry Potter books. "Those are one shelf up," I told her. She changed the subject rather gracelessly, and I tried not to laugh. I doubt she has ever read any of them.
(I can assure you that my obsession and admiration for Professor Snape does not negatively impact my faith at all; in fact, with my great fondness for redemption stories, I think he illustrates the concepts very nicely.)
So it's apparently part of the rules that Christians have to have other people do their thinking for them. They aren't allowed to read books that other Christians say are bad; they aren't allowed to watch movies with any sex, swears, or nudity (although violence seems to be universally accepted; I wonder why the double standard?); they aren't allowed to do, say, think, or experience anything for themselves that they've heard other Christians say are bad for any reason.
The upshot of this is that Christians seem to have their own little sub-culture wherein they can stay happy and comfortable -- and be perfectly worthless and useless to the outside world around them. And woe to any Christians who break the "rules" -- they get castigated by all the rule-followers and accused of not even being Christians. It's as if, to be a Christian, you're supposed to just ignore all the ugly and gritty aspects of living in the world, in favor of keeping up appearances and pretending everything is fine. And if you don't pretend everything is fine, then you ARE the problem.
Might as well move to Pleasantville.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
8 Things
I don't usually do these sorts of things, and I want to make another church-related post, but my brain is mush lately since my uncle's death last weekend. I have way too much on my mind and verging on a nervous breakdown, so I'll make this one a light entry, especially for Alise who said she thought an "honest" list would be interesting. I just won't tag anyone else.
The rules: Each player lists 8 facts or habits about themselves; the rules of the game are to be posted first; at the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and goes to their blogs to leave a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged.
You ready for this, Alise?
1) I make beaded jewelry, and absolutely love it. I even gave up crocheting and knitting for beading -- gave away all my hooks, yard, and needles to make room for my beads. When I figure out a way to take a good digital picture of them, I'll be putting them up for sale on Etsy.
2) I like cats very much, but only shorthairs. I like dogs a whole lot, but only large breeds -- the small one are just too dang yappy and puntable to be good companions. But my favorite animals are horses; I've wanted one since I was three years old. Haven't been able to get one yet. My current pets are a pair of little boy blue budgies. Cute, but not in the same league as a furry pet.
3) I stay up too late, sleep too late, work on the computer too much, am not organized enough, and have an absolute HELL of a time dealing with paperwork. I currently work as a caregiver for a developmentally disabled man who is a friend of the family, but I don't enjoy it very much. Having to pick him up and drop him off every day, having to fill out reams of paperwork for every day I work with him -- well, let's just say it's not what I want to do when I grow up.
4) I used to be conversational in American Sign Language. In high school I studied it, worked as an interpreter for the Deaf folks at my church, and when I graduated I planned to study to become a Certified Interpreter for the Deaf. Unfortunately, I was working as a cashier during this time, and all the repetitive motions from signing and ringing register ended up burning out my wrists with tendinitis and I had to start planning for a new career.
5) I've lived in two other countries, one short-term and one long-term. As a teenager I lived in Jamaica for a couple of summers while my parents did missionary work, and as a married adult with a child, I lived in the Netherlands for a year while my husband fulfilled his computer contract. I had an odd situation arise with a Jamaican friend of mine, which led to my not returning since then. But I absolutely loved living in the Netherlands, or would have if I hadn't had Post Partum Depression at the time. Having got over it now, I would love to return and live there again... but my French friend wants us in France or Belgium instead.
6) I love to sing, took 2 years of voice lessons, and am told I sing well. The voice lessons first began because my three years of piano lessons... simply didn't "take." My teacher and I were both frustrated, and when I started just singing a piece instead of playing it, she just looked at me with this speculative gleam in her eye and told me she was going to talk to my mother about my taking voice lessons instead.
7) I'm a writer who got my start in the shady and disreputable world of fan fiction. I have written stories based on many different universes ("fandoms"): Star Trek, Hannibal Lecter, Harry Potter, and Buffy, to name just a few. Not to mention the Phantom of the Opera, which is in the public domain and therefore fair game. One of the "Phantom" stories I wrote a couple years ago, I have revised and am planning to publish as a novel this fall. After that, I've got to get back and finish up some of my unfinished fanfics, so my readers will stop buggin' me! :)
8) I like sushi. Salmon sushi is my favorite. I also like seafood in general: my idea of heaven definitely contains de-shelled lobsters, steamers, shrimp, scallops, and salmon. I also really like brie smeared on crackers. Moose meat is a newfound favorite, and I really like brined chicken. Strawberries are divine, and apples with peanut butter are a very common snack around here. My all time favorite thing to consume, though, would have to be fresh, raw milk from the farm. Grey calls me a "dairy slut," and he's not far wrong. I would live on nothing but milk, if I had to, and be quite happy.
There, there are my eight things, and if you were expecting brevity from me, Alise, then you really don't know me that well. ;)
The rules: Each player lists 8 facts or habits about themselves; the rules of the game are to be posted first; at the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and goes to their blogs to leave a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged.
You ready for this, Alise?
1) I make beaded jewelry, and absolutely love it. I even gave up crocheting and knitting for beading -- gave away all my hooks, yard, and needles to make room for my beads. When I figure out a way to take a good digital picture of them, I'll be putting them up for sale on Etsy.
2) I like cats very much, but only shorthairs. I like dogs a whole lot, but only large breeds -- the small one are just too dang yappy and puntable to be good companions. But my favorite animals are horses; I've wanted one since I was three years old. Haven't been able to get one yet. My current pets are a pair of little boy blue budgies. Cute, but not in the same league as a furry pet.
3) I stay up too late, sleep too late, work on the computer too much, am not organized enough, and have an absolute HELL of a time dealing with paperwork. I currently work as a caregiver for a developmentally disabled man who is a friend of the family, but I don't enjoy it very much. Having to pick him up and drop him off every day, having to fill out reams of paperwork for every day I work with him -- well, let's just say it's not what I want to do when I grow up.
4) I used to be conversational in American Sign Language. In high school I studied it, worked as an interpreter for the Deaf folks at my church, and when I graduated I planned to study to become a Certified Interpreter for the Deaf. Unfortunately, I was working as a cashier during this time, and all the repetitive motions from signing and ringing register ended up burning out my wrists with tendinitis and I had to start planning for a new career.
5) I've lived in two other countries, one short-term and one long-term. As a teenager I lived in Jamaica for a couple of summers while my parents did missionary work, and as a married adult with a child, I lived in the Netherlands for a year while my husband fulfilled his computer contract. I had an odd situation arise with a Jamaican friend of mine, which led to my not returning since then. But I absolutely loved living in the Netherlands, or would have if I hadn't had Post Partum Depression at the time. Having got over it now, I would love to return and live there again... but my French friend wants us in France or Belgium instead.
6) I love to sing, took 2 years of voice lessons, and am told I sing well. The voice lessons first began because my three years of piano lessons... simply didn't "take." My teacher and I were both frustrated, and when I started just singing a piece instead of playing it, she just looked at me with this speculative gleam in her eye and told me she was going to talk to my mother about my taking voice lessons instead.
7) I'm a writer who got my start in the shady and disreputable world of fan fiction. I have written stories based on many different universes ("fandoms"): Star Trek, Hannibal Lecter, Harry Potter, and Buffy, to name just a few. Not to mention the Phantom of the Opera, which is in the public domain and therefore fair game. One of the "Phantom" stories I wrote a couple years ago, I have revised and am planning to publish as a novel this fall. After that, I've got to get back and finish up some of my unfinished fanfics, so my readers will stop buggin' me! :)
8) I like sushi. Salmon sushi is my favorite. I also like seafood in general: my idea of heaven definitely contains de-shelled lobsters, steamers, shrimp, scallops, and salmon. I also really like brie smeared on crackers. Moose meat is a newfound favorite, and I really like brined chicken. Strawberries are divine, and apples with peanut butter are a very common snack around here. My all time favorite thing to consume, though, would have to be fresh, raw milk from the farm. Grey calls me a "dairy slut," and he's not far wrong. I would live on nothing but milk, if I had to, and be quite happy.
There, there are my eight things, and if you were expecting brevity from me, Alise, then you really don't know me that well. ;)
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