We make fun of him behind his back

[Tracyjo]

A guy that my best friend and I knew from school has turned into a fundie nut case. I don't talk to him anymore, but my friend talks to him online sometimes. Last night, he got this from him:

We go on our missions trip in a couple of weeks to Norfolk. And we are going into a black community. Steve (our pastor) said that we would be the minority there. I don't know what to think. We will be staying at the Ingleside Church. And doing a backyard bible school 2 hours every night for an apartment complex of about 700 units. It was kinda freaking me out last night. He was saying that some of the kids don't have fathers and if they do, don't know who they are. Or worse, in jail. Are you holding on???? LOL!!!!! He said that we
will be safe. During the day, we will be able to do what we want. We are planning on going to the beach, shopping, movies, etc.... We have to be at the bbs between 5:30 - 8 every night. We leave on the 29th of July and return on August 6.

Yeah, LOL! Some black kid's dad's in jail. That's just soooo funny. So, I'm just gonna go shopping...

If the guy had any compassion, I'd be all for it, but he seems to think by doing this he's getting brownie points from the guy upstairs.
What do you guys think? Am I an ass for posting his message?

[seeminer21]

1. Ummm

Yes

[Bill McBlueState]

2. great insight into the mind of a freeper

This is what we're dealing with, folks. There are people who think it's unusual and funny that there are single parents. For those of us with our eyes open, single-parent families are just another component of the American landscape, as remarkable or unremarkable as other types of families.

Election after election, people vote for bigotry and ignorance. With guys like this out there, it shouldn't be surprising.

[getmeouttahere]

3. Nope, nice to be reminded of what these nutjobs...

are up to...that's what these poor people need, bible study! Why didn't I think of that?

[ComerPerro]

4. Maybe the experience will open his eyes

For a lot of white people, the idea of being in the minority and surrounded by non-white people is terrifying.

Sometimes, the only thing that can cure such a nonsensical way of thinking is full immersion.

[mattclearing]

6. Morgan Spurlock's show 30 Days is good for this.

Full immersion for someone, every week.

[ComerPerro]

9. Yeah that show looked interesting

I just wonder one thing about that:

Does he have enough time to present enough of the material? Seems like that would be an extremely difficult editing process.

[mattclearing]

18. It comes off pretty formulaic.

The timing aspects, anyway...you know you'll be 15 days in by the second commercial, that kind of thing. The last episode of season 1 (I think there are 5 eps total or so) airs tomorrow on FX at 10 EST.

It's totally worth watching. Spurlock and his gf (wife?) were the focus of only the pilot, where they both attempted to live on minimum wage. Every other episode has subjected others to the fish out of water act.

So far they've had a guy undergo an anti-aging regimen to see how it affects his health, a Christian who believes Islam is violent live with Muslims, a Christian who believes that the Bible condemns homosexuality to live with a gay man in San Francisco, last week it was two people live off the grid, plugging vegan lifestyle, bio-diesel, and a few other things.

I forget what the finale is to be, but I plan to catch it.

[ComerPerro]

19. Thanks!

[mattclearing]

20. OOps.

Sorry, it actually airs tonight. My mistake. For some reason I thought it was Tuesday.

[Tracyjo]

8. I thought about that too

I sure hope his eyes are opened.

[gratuitous]

12. There's an outside chance of this happening

From my reading of the original poster's email, it looks like our little missionary will be spending most of his time at the beach, and investing about three hours a night for seven nights or so with his potential converts. That's about 21 hours total spread over a week's time. I don't rate his chances of epiphany very high.

What I do rate highly is the chances that one or more of these kids will bump their cynicism level up substantially as they remember the white folks who came to their community for a week one summer, condescending and uncomprehending of what their lives were like, and tried to tell them all about the love of Jesus. Then the white people went back home to their nice big houses, fancy cars, and didn't give them another thought.

[ComerPerro]

17. Yeah, you've got a point there

So many "Christians" are so very unChristian.

It makes me sick.

[Oreo]

5. People like this aren't Christians

The only thing they want is their place in heaven cemented in. They think that by helping "those people" they're a shoe-in for the pearly gates.

Maybe this guy should... are you holding on???? do a mission trip to Fallujah.

[Bill McBlueState]

7. maybe it will teach him something

Remember that old "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" saying? Maybe living among the poor for a week will teach this guy something.

On the other hand, it's hard to learn anything when you're surrounded by fundies.

This is what I don't get -- they're taking a week out of their lives to go "help" people, but they slack all day, and show up at a bible school for 2 and a half hours a night. Surely there are people in that area who could use a new roof, or a paint job, or there are older people who could use some volunteer yard work. I guess these Christians are too morally bankrupt to see needs and address them.

[getmeouttahere]

10. Yeah, God forbid they actually do something useful...

of course their rational is probably "God helps those who help themselves"

[Tracyjo]

11. Hell, there are people in their neighborhood

that could use those same things. Guess god likes it better when you leave town to "help" people.

I probably should be telling HIM this, and not you guys, but the guy bugs the shit outta me.

[catnhatnh]

13. They won't walk three feet in "those peoples" shoes...

..don't you get it-they aren't there to LISTEN to jack. They're going there to bring "LIGHT" to a "DARK PLACE"....That means-they talk/you listen...mostly I'm sure he'll complain about low turn out and bitch about how those people could live like that...

[Tracyjo]

15. I just can't wait for his update

about "those people". :eyes:

[GeekMonkey]

14. Holy Roller's fix for everything:

Take 2 Hail Mary's and call me in the morning.

What these people need is training and jobs, not preaching of myths.

It's fucking silly to respond to poverty with piety.

[Tracyjo]

16. Yeah, but they do it so well... n/t