SpongeBob receives 'unequivocal welcome' from UCC...

[carpe diem]

SpongeBob receives 'unequivocal welcome' from United Church of Christ

CLEVELAND -- Joining the animated fray, the United Church of Christ today (Jan. 24) said that Jesus' message of extravagant welcome extends to all, including SpongeBob Squarepants - the cartoon character that has come under fire for allegedly holding hands with a starfish.

"Absolutely, the UCC extends an unequivocal welcome to SpongeBob," the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said, only partly in jest. "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."
....

Thomas said...it is Dobson who is crossing the moral line for sending the mistaken message that Christians do not value tolerance and diversity as important religious values.

"While Dobson's silly accusation makes headlines, it's also one more concrete example of how religion is misused over and over to promote intolerance over inclusion," Thomas said. "This is why we believe it is so important that the UCC speak the Gospel in an accent not often heard in our culture, because far too many experience the cross only as judgment, never as embrace."

http://www.ucc.org/news/r012405.htm

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Wonderful message!

:thumbsup:

[Inland]

2. Unfortunately, as a non-human, SpongeBob REALLY IS beyond redemption

Or am I overanalyzing things?

[starroute]

6. Do you believe SpongeBob doesn't have a soul?

And if so, why not?

[Southpaw Bookworm]

3. Laughing my ass off

Because one of the best ways to beat these Talibornagains is to show them just how ridiculous they are.

:evilgrin:

On a librarian listserv, we discussed whether Spongebob and Squidward would have to sit in a tank in the pew to attend or whether UCC can establish an underwater parish.

[TalkingDog]

4. Thanks!

I've been sending out a running e-commentary on the whole Spongebob issue. I think it's nice that he's found an accepting place.

[saltpoint]

5. It's a rare day that I say something nice about the UCC but --

-- tonight's the exception.

A cold beer will be consumed in honor of the UCC's welcoming message to SpongeBob.

[davidinalameda]

7. I love the UCC

if I was a Christian, I would be a member

[kweerwolf]

8. Hooray for UCC!

This was the same denomination who's ads showing that all are welcome were rejected by a couple of the major networks as being "too controversial" for showing a gay couple and disabled person being turned away by a bouncer.

[Stop_the_War]

9. UCC are the only true christians in America.

[Rapcw]

10. Im proud to say that my mom is a progressive UCC member

[0rganism]

11. Spongebob is a CARTOON CHARACTER

Is it just me, or does anyone else get the sense that Rev. Thomas' well-intentioned message concerning "Jesus' message of extravagant welcome" to an obviously fictional creature seems nearly as loony as Dobson's claim that this asexual cartoon critter is promoting some kind of gay agenda? Or at least within the same order of magnitude of looniness?

IMHO, a major problem with our culture since its inception has been a disturbing tendency to blend fantasy with reality willy-nilly, much to the detriment of both.

[sonicx]

12. it's obvious they're making fun of Dobson...

[0rganism]

15. ...and the very idea of Spongebob has become their cultural hockey puck

We'd all be better off if this kind of bullshit would just die on the friggin' vine, rather than receiving hype and media coverage ad nauseum.

I'll grant you this much: without Dobson's overweening publicized hatred, the "We Are Family Foundation" would probably have faded into distant obscurity within a few years. Now it's front and center, and the generally helpful message it promotes has a greater chance of making a positive impact on society. But I feel pretty safe in estimating that about half a million kids who would otherwise be happily watching quality Nickelodeon shows are now going to be exposed to extra hours of TBN and the 700 Club to make up for all that aquatic decadence with some good old fashioned indoctrination.

[superconnected]

14. it's not really loony

when you consider that the fundies have made the fictional character out to be gay.

The UCC is simply showing acceptance for gays in any form.

But if you want to see all religious dealings in a negative light, I guess you can make a case for anything.

[superconnected]

13. as a UCC member

thanks church. The inclusion statement is what they say in church all the time.

Last year my church was with thousands of other churches that signed a letter, informing the Bush Administration that they do not speak for or promote our christian values, when they use the term "christian values".

my gay female minister also said something that's stayed with me:
"Jesus is a way, not the way." The UCC believes all faiths are valid and doesn't exclude other religions/non-religions, as the fundies do.

Dang I love that place.