Thank you for posting these. It's an incredibly important conversation that should be had, and shouldn't be drowned out by people made uncomfortable by it.
"what you are really saying is that you don't like us talking about harsh realities and would rather we discuss a comforting fantasy. Well, you can save that horseshit for church where it belongs. This is the real world."
This paragraph makes a really important point... but let me suggest that it would be made just as well without the last two sentences, which seem more inflammatory than inspiring or informative. If the point is that "You have a duty to have important conversations even if they make you uncomfortable", and you really intend that appeal to be heard by actual church-goers, it doesn't help to tack on "Oh and your church is pretty much horseshit". It kind of makes your message unavailable to the people you want to influence: the smart and brave people who do go to church and might be able to speak out.
Your previous post about the Finns was way more effective in this direction... it seemed to be all about encouraging people that they *can* criticize the church for its behavior, even if they are dedicated to it and are not going to stop believing the entire faith. In fact, you could make the complete opposite point from the horseshit comment... you could make the case that it is exactly *because* of their core beliefs that they have a responsibility to stand up for those who are hurt and killed by bad behavior of the current church leadership.
Anyway, thanks again for the series and take care.
no subject
"what you are really saying is that you don't like us talking about harsh realities and would rather we discuss a comforting fantasy. Well, you can save that horseshit for church where it belongs. This is the real world."
This paragraph makes a really important point... but let me suggest that it would be made just as well without the last two sentences, which seem more inflammatory than inspiring or informative. If the point is that "You have a duty to have important conversations even if they make you uncomfortable", and you really intend that appeal to be heard by actual church-goers, it doesn't help to tack on "Oh and your church is pretty much horseshit". It kind of makes your message unavailable to the people you want to influence: the smart and brave people who do go to church and might be able to speak out.
Your previous post about the Finns was way more effective in this direction... it seemed to be all about encouraging people that they *can* criticize the church for its behavior, even if they are dedicated to it and are not going to stop believing the entire faith. In fact, you could make the complete opposite point from the horseshit comment... you could make the case that it is exactly *because* of their core beliefs that they have a responsibility to stand up for those who are hurt and killed by bad behavior of the current church leadership.
Anyway, thanks again for the series and take care.