Great. My mom has decided Joel Osteen is a really cool guy.

[lightningandsnow]

Yeah. I know. Well, she's not into the whole Jesus thing, my family being of the Hebrew persuasion and all.

But still. She thinks he's awesome. :crazy:

(it might have been Rick Warren, atcually, which isn't as bad, I suppose. I think it's Joel Osteen, though.)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. Joel Osteen is a twit.

he's certainly no scholar.

He dropped out of Anal Roberts University in Tulsa after ONE SEMESTER.

I bet he couldn't pass the religion classes I took at a Presbyterian University.
We had to take 6 hours of religion to graduate. Both my courses were very interesting.

[LaurenG]

2. He is one of the only open minded preachers out there.

He was raised in India, and his dad taught him not to judge other religions. He also got himself into hot water with the fanatical evangelicals because he refused to pass judgment about abortion.

As far as dropping out of Oral Roberts U. That was probably the smartest thing he could have done. If your mom is a Christian, Osteen is one of the more reasonable televangelists out there.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. He could have transferred to a mainstream Protestant seminary.

He could have gone to a mainstream Protestant seminary, for example. My religion professors had all gone to Princeton Seminary.

I used to see his old man on TV commercials, snarling, "Come to the O-AAAA-SIS of LUUUVVV". He looked like a grumpy old bastard to me. I wanted no part of it.

He is into feel-good Christianity because people don't like the hellfire and brimstone, judgmental, shame and guilt-inducing standard Christianity. Somebody has already invented that denomination. It's called Unity and Unity is full of New Age space cadets.


I refuse to subject myself to shaming and blaming and other such disrespect by preachers who don't even know me, so I don't set foot in Christian churches anymore. Christianity is quite harmful psychologically to people. It also encourages people to not take responsibility for their actions. They can say "it's God's will".

[LaurenG]

4. LOL

I never saw his dad preach but that would definitely have made me run the other way. :scared:

I hear you on the shaming and blaming, I was once a regular at an Assemblies of God church. One day I walked out in the middle of a sermon and NEVER went back, much to my parents dismay.

I think that when fanatics and over emotional people try to preach the "gospel" of whatever religion we are all put in danger. Look at what went down in this country over the last 8 years.

I have no bone to pick with any religion so I think it's great if people want to use church/mosque/temple/synagogue etc. as a way to spirituality. I have found that honest people don't try and blame "God" for their actions though.

The world is a tough place to be a lot of the time and I think whatever gets people by until they're ready for the next step is fine as long as they aren't hurting others.

[Ava]

5. yeah because all us christians are irresponsible assholes?

that's your point right?

:eyes:

[Critters2]

10. I know I am

Hell-fire and brimstone, brimstone and hellfire. That's pretty much all I preach. :eyes:

[lightningandsnow]

12. Why, of course!

:eyes:

[Midlodemocrat]

6. How's that broad brush working for 'ya?

Series. :eyes:

[cloudbase]

7. He actually seems to be a fairly decent guy.

The wife, though, is a real piece of work.

[newmajority]

8. Either Osteen or Warren would be better than John Hagee and Rod Parsley

The dominionist zionist nazis who "inspire" Grandpa John McLoon.

[Critters2]

9. Osteen is harmless. He's basically a motivational speaker.

He avoids any controversial subjects because he doesn't want to scare anyone away. So, none of the judgmental content of most evangelical preaching.

Personally, I'd take Osteen over Warren. Warren is convinced we're in the last days, and you should do good works to be raptured (really, read _Purpose-Driven Life_). Osteen won't go into that kind of detail...might be off-putting to someone.

[lightningandsnow]

11. Yeah... Osteen must be pretty non-denominational

if my Jewish mother likes his sermons.

[Critters2]

13. Yeah. Think Tony Robbins carrying (but not quoting) a Bible.

http://www.tonyrobbins.com/Home/Home.aspx

[shaniqua6392]

14. He is nothing but a motivational speaker.

I guess he is harmless, but he still creeps me out. I can not even watch him or listen to that voice. Whatever works for you though. No harm done unless you start giving him money. That "church" of his rakes in tens of millions of dollars every year.

[KamaAina]

15. Well, my mom decided my stepdad was a really cool guy,

so she married him. Knowing full well he was a repuke. This from the woman who carried her eight-year-old son on her shoulders to a McGovern rally in '72. :eyes:

[mountainvue]

16. She could do worse. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. He's waaaay better than a lot of guys she could have latched onto. He's really just a

"see it, be it.. you deserve that wealth" kinda dude.

[Skittles]

18. idiot coworker kept going on about Mr. Osteen

I finally told him look, if you mention that piece of shit Osteen to me ONE MORE TIME, I WILL KICK YOUR ASS. Yes. (Mr. Osteen gives me the MAJOR CREEPS)