Objectively speaking, my own religious beliefs are bizarre. Every once in a while, I actually pay attention to the things we say in church and I wonder if we are all crazy. But the beliefs continue to bring me comfort, so I do not abandon them. That doesn't prevent me at all, however, from finding other people's beliefs to be odd.
There are people out there who believe that Jesus has returned. He is a three-year-old boy living in Illinois with his parents. His father is a college professor who was just appointed to a diplomatic position within the U.S. government. He will someday become President of the United States, which will empower him to do battle with the Anti-Christ, who is currently alive and growing up in the Middle East. He has already performed three miracles: drawing upon a torrential rainstorm to douse a wildfire; curing a classmate's leukemia; and causing a van full of Al Qaeda terrorists with a nuclear bomb to crash into the Potomac River. The source of this information is someone within a group calling itself the Circle of Seven. Which circle, I do not know. I just glanced at the article while in the express lane at the supermarket.
I like the young men who meet for a regular prayer group at a Hooter's restaurant in Georgia. Some Bible study members initially resisted holding meetings at the restaurant known for its scantily clad waitresses. "Somebody comes up to me and says, come to a Bible study at Hooters. And my first reaction was ... I can see McDonald's or another restaurant, but why Hooters?" Well, since Christ himself associated with prostitutes and beggars, I don't think any Christians are in a position to judge them just because they study then Bible in the presence of some waitresses wearing tight shirts and short shorts.
But I would feel creepy if I walked into someone's home and saw a framed print of George Bush praying, with the ghosts of Lincoln and Washington praying over him.
I really don't like the in-your-face methods of groups like Repent America, who have things like "Are You Good Enough For Heaven" and a running tally of aborted babies on their website.
I am amused by people who see signs from heaven in unusual places like balloons. In Texas, there works a car salesman who blows up balloons to make people want to come in and buy new cars. One of the balloons has a stain. He thinks it is a vision of the Virgin Mary. I think it looks like genitalia. Would God really try to inspire us with a vague image like that? I doubt it. And would God use a balloon inflator as his prophet? Maybe, but I remain dubious.
I know Jesus saves, but I didn't know He co-signed. Last month, a man drove his pickup to a Chevrolet dealership and demanded that he be given a new car. When asked how he planned to pay for it, he said Jesus would finance it for him. When his offer was refused, the man got back into his truck, rammed the showroom, calmly got back out, walked back into the showroom, sat down and read his Bible as he waited for police.
If you feel guilty about gambling with cards, just remember that a deck of cards is nothing more than a representation of God and Bible stories.
The scariest stories are those of the people who kill because they think God told them to do it. Like this South African woman who believed that her young son was "possessed by the devil" when she hacked him to death with an axe and gouged out his eyes with a screwdriver. The boy was two.
Almost as scary: two churches in Greece celebrate Easter each year by shooting rockets at each other. I hope this firing rockets at each other's churches spreads to fundamentalist Islam.
As for me, I like to think of myself more like the harmless hypocrites who get their praise on (ack!) by stealing Christian music mp3s. Yes, young Christians enjoy stealing Jesus music. And they have their supporters -- people who think that getting the Gospel out is more important than getting paid. While that might be a good argument for trying to persuade artists to forego royalties, I don't really buy into it as a justification for swiping their product.
Then again, its a lot healthier than chasing 72 virgins by trying to blow yourself up with a bunch of innocent civilians.
I read most of your site and enyoyed it. I had some doubts about the story of a 3 year old Jesus. Then I am sure you have doubts about my story. Most everyone has. But then again Jesus said that he would return. True? What I wrote is not a Lie or a Joke. Jesus returned in Spirit in the Spring of 2006. He did not appear in a Cloud for everyone to see. But he is here on the Internet for everyone to read. Now Jesus had a lot to say but his big issue is the meaning of First is Last. There is proof that this story is true. It is hard to show on the Internet. Again, this is not a Lie. Melanie Stephan PS. I am not a Church person.
Posted by: Melanie Stephan | July 01, 2007 at 11:49
Hi Lex. This is an important message, please read and pass it along. God has made contact. The message is about Revelation. The message is from God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost respectively. It was sent in the Spring of 2006. It is about the meaning of First is Last and Last is First as written in Revelation. The message is this: In the morning I go to Heaven. In the afternoon I live my life. In the evening I die, death. What does this mean? In other words this means Birth is Last and Last is Birth. To understand this don't think from point A to point B. Think of this as a continous circle of life. Birth, Life, Death, Birth. God also said that Judgment will be before Birth in Heaven. AS birth on Earth is painful so will birth in Heaven. It is possible that this message was delivered by one of God's Angels in the Spring of 2006. Yes, God has made contact and he sent a messenger. Spread this message along, just like a chain letter. Tell two people. Melanie Stephan
Posted by: Melanie Stephan | July 01, 2007 at 11:42