Rachel Maddow is criticized by LaHaye and Jenkins, posts full interview

[ProfessorPlum]

Run time: 02:03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5cKqpfzqOs   Posted on YouTube: March 06, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 09, 2009 By DU Member: ProfessorPlum Views on DU: 1006

 

[classof56]

1. I have watched the full interview and oh, my indeed.

I recall Rachel interviewing Tim LaHaye on her radio show in 2004 (w/Lizz Winstead, hope I'm recalling that right, no time to google right now). At any rate, during that interview LaHaye stated he predicted the rapture would take place in 40-80 years. I figured it had something to do with that 4-book deal (or was it 5?) he'd just signed with his publisher, Tyndale. I note he adjusted his time frame a bit in this interview with Rachel, so maybe book sales aren't so great. And about those Left Behind books--not just terrible theology but equally terrible writing. And Jenkins gives would-be authors courses on writing, for which they pay pretty big bucks. My advice: Save your money. Oh, and if you have a hankerin' to read the LB books--save your time!

As for Rachel's interview with these two charlatans--she did great!

Tired Old Cynic

[EVDebs]

3. The Catholic Origins of Futurism and Preterism

The Catholic Origins of Futurism and Preterism
http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/antichrist.htm

Futurism is what LaHaye and Jenkins believe.

This article from PBS shows how far some will go to put a Third Temple in Jerusalem

Impact of Millennium on the Holy Land , Jan. 7, 2000
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week319/cover.html

[StoryTeller]

5. Jenkins' Writers Guild

I have a TON of gripes about Jenkins/LaHaye and their books. I'm a published novelist myself, as well as a freelance fiction editor, and I feel that Jenkins' own writing leave MUCH to be desired from a literary standpoint. And I won't even get into what I think about their theology!

However, I would like to offer a defense of his Christian Writers Guild. I have novelist friends who work as mentors and writing teachers, and the curriculum is actually VERY good. Yes, some of it is aimed at the Christian market in particular, but what the students learn about the craft of writing and the publishing industry in general is absolutely top notch and very accurate and reliable. They also have one of the best instructional programs for young people that I've seen. It's all mentor based, which means that students get to work with a published writer or experienced editor and get personal feedback throughout the course.

So as an industry professional myself, I think it's important not to assume that just because Jenkins is not a brilliant writer himself or because he has a lot of ideas and perspectives we disagree with, that this means that he is a horrible human being or a "charlatan" or that his writing program is bad or unhelpful.

That's not intellectually honest and it's not a just or fair assessment. People can be very mixed bags. In this case, what Jenkins has built to give back to the writing community--out of his Left Behind profits--is actually quite commendable and has encouraged and instructed a great many writers who otherwise would have had a hard time learning the craft of writing.

Not to excuse the LB books--they're horrible--but the world is rarely black and white. In this case, it's quite gray.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. That raises the question of why his own writing is bad, if his course is OK

I read the Slacktivist blog, and his regular criticism of Jenkins' basic writing style and approach (including quotes from Jenkins' interviews where he admits he rushes through his writing, never revising it) seems spot on, to me.

[StoryTeller]

8. That's a good question.

It's a question I've wondered, too. I have a feeling that it's because he did not personally write the curriculum. He commissioned a variety of other novelists--several of whom have written how-to books for Writers Digest and who teach at writers conferences across the country--to create the curriculum. From what I have heard, he is pretty honest about his own limitations as an author. I don't think he goes as far as calling himself a hack (though I think the term is apt).

I don't understand it myself. But I'm hopelessly a perfectionist who is rarely completely satisfied with anything I write. :-)

[classof56]

11. Ah, another Slacktivist fan!

I love Fred's posts, his analyses of L&J's writing, spot-on as you say, and I love the comments. I'm a Slacktivist junkie, I tell you! At any rate, there was a time when I bought into the Rapture thing (long boring story of my life), and was surrounded by people who were absolutely enraptured (so to speak) with the Left Behind books. I have now seen the light about many things, including the whole Rapture Rhetoric, but as I read Fred's blog (my daughter introduced it to me a couple years ago), he opened my eyes as to the huge problems with the LB series. I do believe it was Fred that first used the phrase I cribbed, "Bad Theology, Bad Writing" re the LB books. As a writer, I chide myself for arguing with success--would that I could write that badly and sell a bazillion books--but as a writer with integrity, I stand aghast at what L&J have wrought. If I still believed in the God I grew up with, I'd send up thanks for Fred and Slacktivist. What a difference they'd made in my life!

Sorry to wax on so long--I saw you say Slacktivist and just went all goofy!

Tired Old Cynic

[Divine Discontent]

9. thanks for the advice

I tried reading the first, it was so painful. I wanted to be excited about the premise, but they seemed incompetent as writers. I've thought, goodness, they must have gotten a little better with all they've sold. As you say, definitely not. Rachel was very kind to them. She's awesome.

peace & blessings, classof56

[VAliberal]

2. Rachel is the epitome of graciousness

She's going above & beyond by posting the full ten minute interview -

she rocks

[safeinOhio]

4. I must have missed the part in the bible

where it says "world socialist government".

[Divine Discontent]

10. yeah, it's as bad as the GOPers I know who sent me bible verses with references to an anti-Christ

who sounded an awful lot like Pres. Obama. I was like, what a sick person to say the lies you're writing for an email forward are from the bible... these are the wolves in sheep's clothing that steal from the gullible, that we were warned of, people like Robert Tilton and Jim Bakker.

take care

[rosesaylavee]

6. I remember watching the interview on Friday

and marveled how professional (ie respectful, non-judgmental, neutral) with those two nuts. She is more than fair in posting their whole interview. What goofs. She can't make them sound any smarter or more coherent. They will just have to live with themselves as goofy as they are.