Christian tropers, join together!

Thank you. This isn't done yet though.

This next part isn't as poetic unfortunately, but it's less a requiem and more a curiosity.

Because, hey, Friday was the sad part. Saturday is where we wonder, "Well what now?"

Also thank you for that post, because I don't know how this part of the forum handles double posts.

Now maybe we could think of this.

...

In many of our modern stories we often include the presence of life on other planets. And not just microbial life, but usually sapient, sentient beings capable of complex thought, shifting emotions, and lapses in judgement. Essentially, we imagine creatures of free will on other planets. And often times, we imagine that they are, in some way shape or form, a lot like us, because building an entire species from the ground up is already a daunting task and these other worldly people are more often than not used as metaphors for our behavior.

In many of these stories where humans are involved we will usually inevitably compare and contrast them with ourselves. In our shortsightedness, we would declare them inferior to us because of a collective narcissism that says that of course humanity is the best that could be. In our shortsightedness, we would declare them superior to us because we want to say that our narcissistic view of how the world should be is being lived out by them. These otherworldly beings that we write of often serve as propaganda for our ideals and thoughts.

Now keep in mind that in many faiths, including our own, otherworldly creatures are already a present concept.

In many of our more esoteric stories we often include the presence of alternative timelines. Entire histories where we imagine that things have gone wildly differently, where the massive collisions of cause and effect stem from simple decisions of "did do" and "did not do" and all between and beyond them. And other times, we imagine that even with these changes, little will have actually been altered because of the sheer complexity of the interactions of cause and effect and all that such a thing would involve.

Many of these stories are examinations of the things we did and didn't do and the things that would result from them. In our shortsightedness, we would declare these inferior to our own because we think that because of our intelligence, to do anything different than what has been would certainly result in something far worse. In our shortsightedness, we would declare them superior to us because we think that our own narrow-minded regrets and envy make us think that certainly these other realities where things match our ideal worldview are built off of decisions that we say should have happened. These alternate realities that we write of often serve as sermons on human choice.

Now keep in mind that this does not invalidate the constant presence of certain parties, especially ones that predate time and reality itself.

Now think of Christ. He is God's outreach to humanity, to a people that have made certain choices and has thus needed His help to truly bridge them to Him.

Suppose then that the part of the trinity that we know of as Christ isn't just God reaching out to humanity, but also God reaching out to all people on all worlds to bridge us all to Him. Suppose that he isn't just God in human form, but that he is God in the form of the creature of free will. Maybe then we can say that Christ is any instance of God being born into this world in the form of the species he seeks to extend a hand to.

Here on Earth, he has done as we have we recorded. But know that this what he has done for the species that is humanity. This is what is relevant for us here. For any other sentient and sapient species, He would still be Christ and the path to God, regardless of what happens to him in the presence of... other people. How that went for them is what is relevant to them and thus up to them to recognize and react to, but it would still be Christ.

So rather than "If Jesus, Then Aliens", let's say "If Aliens Then Still Jesus Among Them And Us In Some Manner".

Now add the sheer convolution of alternate timelines to that.

At its base we can think of Jesus as "God who shall come down to His creation made in His image, and He shall live the most virtuous life fit for that creation." "Living" here also including dying at some point. Not necessarily as gruesomely as he has done with us, but that's probably not something that's going to be avoided most of the time considering that he is dealing with creatures of free will. But in any case, the main outline of the incarnation is God materializing and living righteously and passing on as part of this world.

And then coming back as that being brought to God's holiness.

What plays out beyond and within that general timeline is up to us, them, and us. But the one true constant is God, and thus goodness itself, whether we accept and recognize it or not.

And whether or not we can and/or should even consider the presence of aliens and/or alternate timelines, we would still have the one we know as Jesus son of Mary.

...

But maybe I can't earnestly ask you to think of this, because these are small words meant to catch bigger things, and He knows I can't. His imagination is far beyond our own, and He will do what is right and what needs to be done. But if we do fail to understand this, then we can at least fail gracefully. He knows I need to start doing so.

So passes this second thing on Saturday.

Easter Sunday here. Christ is risen.

God bless you all.

Amen to that.

Amen, friends.

Amen.

Amen.

Now before I get to this, please closely observe my avatar/icon circa April 12, 2020. Recognize it? If not then that's okay. It's been a while since the thing associated with it has been relevant, even if it just has something new come out. But know this and see here my declaration regarding it:

All that which has led me to take my faith more seriously, I thank them for, and I thank God for them. And so, I say, all that I admire in them and all that I have learned from them, I subordinate to my faith in the Lord and I will build upon them. No masters before him indeed. Yes I read that article and the meanings behind it. But an elaboration of that from y'all would be alright.

Now truly you will witness this.

...

If you need to be so unscientific that you would deny the existence of a carpenter turned preacher who was slain in pain and humiliation on a place whose name can mean "Skull Hill", then renounce reason and evidence. Rationality has forsaken you, and evidence is silent on your behalf.

If you must say that it would be truly easy to speak of Yeshua in the records and Christ in the narrative as so separate that only the later need be regarded as fiction, then wallow in the hypocrisy of those who are accused of just picking and choosing at will. We here will find you to be as good and humorous company as ourselves.

If already believe in Christ, then nothing here will be new to you, just as the hearts of the people are truly lacking in novelty to the Lord.

The life promised to the saved is obviously different from the dying life we know commonly. The salvation promised to us is obviously different from the everyday aversion of immediate mortality we know commonly know. You never had the virginity of new knowledge with which to challenge believers.

This salvation is of a character that destroys and renews those who truly grasp it. It will never destroy free will, for it is free will itself that gives this salvation its potency.

This salvation is brought about by a sacrifice fully purged of all the barbarities of any other such action. It is death defeated through mercy that has trampled the pain of dying.

This salvation is arduous in its cause and effect, stalled by our folly and so dependent on our input. It is our near constant failings that has made it necessary to be as unusual and labored as it is.

No tale you have, be it seen as reality or fiction, is greater than what Christ has accomplished.

His mind does not need you to depend on Him, even if you declare fealty to Him. His actions do not need your sympathy, even if you attempt to understand Him.

His will is free from our tyranny, for goodness itself shall be as it was, is, and will be through all of possibility and impossibility. His greatness shall be it's own worth beyond all of our measures and bargains.

His gift of salvation is above and beyond all others, and it resonates through the all other, lesser saviors brought to us, be they only through narratives or verified accounts.

Now let this blasphemy upon humanity be heard: even if you were only to take the barest of the non-supernatural, non-Christian, historical accounts of Yeshua, it will be said here by this text that no other narrative offers a greater act of sacrifice or salvation, be it real or wishfully real.

...

As I say this, He knows of my need to vent and validate. I cannot debate well, and certainly others will decry me for this. They may have their words be seen and heard. But as for me, God will have my faith.

But I will earnestly ask you to witness this: death has failed, and Christ is, before, now, again, and forevermore.

So it has been and will be on this third thing on Sunday.

And again, Amen.

Amen.

What a beautiful collection of writings for this year's Easter, 2020.

Simple, yet powerful in the message and intentions of God's divine will that you wished to convey.

And truly, anyone who wishes to do God's will through any of their endeavours will find their efforts to be truly fruitful.

Once more, God bless you all.

I've been watching Community on Netflix. I'm digging it a lot, but it kind of bothers me that Shirley, a very vocal Christian, is depicted as a close-minded xenophobe and sometimes even antisemitic.

A ton of self-identified Christians are terrible people, but that's just Sturgeon's Law. Christianity is about loving strangers and treating them with dignity.

A lot of more mainstream media is very secular and therefore tends to have a bad opinion of religious folks, particularly Christians.

If anything, what bothers me most is how US media has colored the way every denomination of Christianity is viewed.

For instance, the Catholic Church is very much in favor of Evolution and against teaching Intelligent Design in schools.

I know, because I grew up in a Catholic school.

But secularism isn't supposed to be about bashing Christianity. It should be about keeping things equitable, and not holding up any one system of beliefs over another.

Edited by ThriceCharming on Apr 20th 2020 at 8:44:16 AM

It should be. It doesn't stop them from pointing and laughing at people that aren't them at times.

Worse still, whenever you try and bring it up it feels like you're made out to be the asshole half the time.

Well, that depends. Christians enjoy immense privilege in much of society, and non-Christians are right to call that out. If we're serious about following the J-man, we should be eager to build a more equitable society alongside non-Christians, even if that means giving up some of our privileges.

But the Seth MacFarlanes and Ricky Gervaises of the world like to use than inequity to justify being bullies. Shouting "Lol, magic sky daddy!" isn't fightin' da powah; it does nothing to help anyone who's been marginalized by Christian privilege. They just enjoy being mean and hurtful, and they've found a target not everyone is willing to stand up for. It's perfectly okay for us to call that out.

Edited by ThriceCharming on Apr 23rd 2020 at 2:30:59 AM

I'm glad that most Christians are really good people, unfortunately the problem is people with creative goals often grow up in very Conservative and restricting households, and the most common people to be conservative right now, (at least in America) are Evangelical Christians, and it doesn't help that they even portray themselves in that way in media made specifically for them, (even see God's Not Dead, Right to Believe or other terrible Evangelical cinema) or people they are friends with did. So unfortunately, until the power structure changes and stays changed Family Guy won't change. All we can really do is try to be better on a personal level, whether Theist or Atheist.

As someone from the evangelical brand of Christianity, I feel the need to point out that most of us aren't evil assholes out to screw over minorities every chance we get. Now are there folks like Westboro Baptist Church out there? Of course, but there are extremists of every lifestyle.

I'm aware, but the WB aren't the only extremists just one of the worst. The creators of God's Not Dead, the head of Liberty University, The Liberty Counsel, and many many politicians among the GOP are terrible and out to do damage to others and among the Evangelicals there are a lot of enablers to this bad behavior. So it is understandable that there is a backlash, especially in entertainment where people who don't often fit in in the places evangelicals think of as "Real America" find their calling it makes sense. Not that it justifies bullying or a constant attack on others who happen to share the religion.

Edited by Wildcard on Apr 23rd 2020 at 7:21:00 AM

I am going to be honest I feel there is a lack of nuance about evangelicals from the left centric media. Especially when the left media perpetuates myths about certain evangelical practices and views, which are just not true. And in some ways, the left media can do the same things that they criticize the evangelical right for doing.

Also I would like to add the media needs to stop confusing certain evangelical and Catholic beliefs. I am looking at you, Drawn Together! This is coming from an evangelical leaning woman, who respects Catholicism but please don't confusing certain traditions. Also Orthodoxy needs more love in mainstream media.

One thing I didn't like about Simpsons in the 2000's is that they degraded Flanders into a strawman punching bag, just because they didn't like the conservative climate at that time. It comes off as petty and meanspirited to change a character just for that. It would have been good if they just created a new character to contrast with Flanders. Sure, the character would have been a Strawman, but at least it would have saved Ned's character.

Also I don't know if this is still true, but I think certain media still thinks that evangelicals don't trust Catholics. I mean certain brands of evangelicals still don't, but a large amount of them have actually come to accept Catholicism as legit.

Edited by firewriter on Apr 23rd 2020 at 9:47:24 AM

I mean I don't agree. I think Religion in general gets a pretty fair shake in most mainstream media if you discount the rare exception like Family Guy. Without looking it up I can name too religious superheroes who are portrayed as good guys and their religion highlighted as a fine thing, (Nightcrawler of the X-men and Daredevil) while in Evangelical media, I don't think I've ever seen a decent gay character for instance.

That's because the only evangelicals who make movies and other things suck at being subtle about as much as, say, the message that Captain Planet preaches.

Edited by Weirdguy149 on Apr 23rd 2020 at 8:40:34 AM

Hey, apologize to Captain Planet!

That was the best I could come up with. Instead, maybe the new Black Christmas counts?

Actually despite what people say Captain Planet really shouldn't be as looked up to, because it's still horrible in how it portrays issues. Also that reminds me in one episode of Captain Planet they imply that Linka is supposed to be Catholic, even though she's Russian and they are historically Orthodox. Again another example of how mainstream media needs to do their research when it comes to religion.

Another nitpick comes to mind is they always connect Dracula with Catholicism, when Romania is Orthodox. Heck, like the Catholics they even have their own crucifixes. Seriously, as much as I respect the Catholic Church, I really think the Orthodox Church doesn't get much love in the media. It would be fun if there was more accurate works of Dracula that depicts the Orthodox faith of Romania.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Orthodox+crucifix&rlz=1C1NDCM_enUS838US838&sxsrf=ALeKk01kGNF6_WlPf1_uaqJWiiHNp4My2Q:1587695380449&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGzKaZgoDpAhVBnJ4KHcA1DQEQ_AUoAnoECA0QBA&biw=1366&bih=657

Edited by firewriter on Apr 23rd 2020 at 7:31:25 AM

And that Dracula in the original novel is set in Transylvania, which at the time was Hungarian; and Hungary is Catholic.

Okay, that makes sense. And reading more into this, I found out that Vlad Tepes (aka the Imapler) was blessed by both the Catholic and Orthodox church, but officially considered himself Orthodox more.

https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vlad_the_Impaler