The fact that there are lots of bible quotes that are also evil just illustrates the point.

I don’t care who you are or what faith you follow. All I can say is get your hand of it. Be it e-meter, bible, koran, twirly stick, snake (for snake handlers), or 8 armed statue of whatever.

Believe what you want sure. But don’t pretend it’s the only true way and that those that don’t follow are damned.

It’s unchristian…

Did you know at “Jesus Camp” that they are made to worship the image of George W Bush?

Bruce

It seems like it means “oh good, he’s going to go away.” Or put less diplomatically; “I don’t want this abusive obsessive cyber stalking me.” You know; “No” means “No.”

You know that don’t you? When a woman says stop harassing me, it means stop. Sort of came part and parcel with the enlightenment, with women not being viewed as objects/property/adornments but rather as the equal of men.

Anyway, I thought you weren’t going to get down in the dirt? What gives? Oh the short lived promises.

Where you’ve writen that, ‘Its just not something I wish to introduce to them as a concept - here, die for your messiah.’ this leads me to conclude that you still are confused about the basic tennants of Pentecostal Christianity. (No, this is NOT evangelism - it’s clarification)

I think that you’re taking Jesus Camp (and evangelical Christianity) out of context. (I’m NOT saying that they didn’t say “Who’s ready to die for Christ” or any of the other things they DID say - I’m saying that what was said was edited so you don’t hear what prefaces it and/or goes after it.)

I/Pentacostal Church’s don’t teach kids to go out and ‘die’ (physcially) for Jesus Christ. We don’t say something like, “We want you to go out and strap a bombs to yourself.” as Muslim extremists teach their children.

What we (my family, my chuch and pentecostalism in general) DO teach is that physical life is temporary, God is not. That any person CAN choose whatever life they want - but there are cosnequences - any way you look at it. (positive or negative)

For example, a person can choose to tell lies, BUT the consequence will be that no-one will believe them when they tell the truth. They can choose to bully people - but the result will be that they will be punished by both the principle and us. On the ‘flip side’ they can choose to tell the truth, and after awhile nothing they say will be doubted and people will trust them. (Etc etc)

Some call this cause and effect, some Karma, some call it the law of sowing and reaping - but whatever YOU call it, THIS is what we teach our children.

That said (getting back to the topic at hand) as an adult, What *I* have been asked to do, both by God and by my chosen society (Church) is to lay down my selfishness (self centredness) and live for God first, family second, Church and Community - and then self LAST. THIS is what I practice to my wife, kids, friends, Church - and this is what I teach my kids to emulate.

I hope this helps clarify what Jesus Camp, Pentecostals in general and *I* teach to my/other community members children.

Moving on, where you wrote that your kids are welcome to choose any relgious belief they wish, and that all you expect is that they do it in an informed manner, not just follow a trend - I don’t have a problem with that. As I’ve said on LInuxSA previously, they learn about other religions every week at their Public Primary School. If they choose to follow one of these other religions later in life, that is their choice and I will respect that.

Where you wrote, “I’m very glad you have done with all this, my comments board should be MUCH quieter:)” this seems (to me at least) to be saying two different things - could you clarify (off-line is fine) what you meant?

Regards,
DFW