Do you want to hear something really weird?

[Bertha Venation]

Hearing these names and phrases make me feel I'm about to have a panic attack:

Amy Grant
Gary Chapman
Michael W. Smith
John MacArthur
Christian recording artist
contemporary Christian music
maranatha
Calvary Chapel
Karen Lafferty
Alex
Hotchkiss Hall
Bridgeport, CA

:scared:

[nini]

1. Calvary Chapel ...

:eyes: A freind of mine got 'saved' by them about 5 years ago. Proceeded to tell me Catholics were this and that.. knowing full well I was born and raised Catholic... She hasnt' talked to me since I asked her why this church she was going to didn't dwell on themselves instead of trying to convince her Catholics weren't Christians(which in itself is funny).

I hear ya sister!

[Bertha Venation]

3. some fundamentalist churches thrive on telling their converts that

God wants them to disavow everyone who is not born again. I used to do it myself. To my shame, I once recommended rejecting the membership application of a woman about my own age who was new to my church. After spending a little time with her (as a member of one of several small groups assembled to "vet" potential new members) I didn't feel she was truly born again. Who the bloody hell was I to judge?! Gawd, I am so ashamed. I hope she's forgiven me.

edit: the church took me up on my recommendation and I never saw her again.

[nini]

5. You have to apply to your church?

:D


Hell, I just show up at whatever parish I feel like going to..

[Bertha Venation]

6. not quite

This wasn't application to attend. It was application for membership. And it's not my church anymore. It was, many years ago. http://www.fefcful.org/

[nini]

7. whoa!

to each his own I guess.. People think I'm nuts for being Catholic .. however I go to a liberal, integrated parish where people actually practice the real teachings. Believe me Bush would NOT want to come on over to this place and try and recruit for votes.



I figured it wasn't a current church for you.. :-)

[Bertha Venation]

8. I wish I could imagine the politics of that church today.

My first guess would be overwhelmingly pro-Bush. After all, they are fundamentalist evangelicals.

But when I get beyond the choir director who kicked me out because word reached him -- after I came out to a trusted friend -- that I was gay, and beyond the women's studies teacher who offered similar Christlike behavior :eyes:, I think there are probably quite a few closet liberals agitating from within.

After all, I know I wasn't the only queer in the "young singles" meetings.

[NJCher]

2. me too!!

The mention of contemporary Christian music sends me diving for the dial!

There's one of those stations near my NPR spot on the dial and it drives me nuts to tune back and forth between that and AAR. I'm thinking I'll buy another radio and keep one on each station so I don't have to ever hear any Amy Grant AGAIN.


Cher

[Bertha Venation]

4. funny thing is, I really did love their music --

Grant's, Chapman's (he was Grant's first husband), Smith's, Lafferty's. I saw Amy Grant in concert five times. It's the memory of what my life was like when I listened to that music that makes me run for the Xanax.