Comments on: The IM Weekend File: 09:18:09 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809 ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:58:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: J http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511951 J Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:00:43 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511951 Oh and personally I'm just filing my nails, humming quietly to myself, waiting for the Duggars to either A.) utterly implode, a la Jon and Kate or B.) discover they've given birth to a whole bunch of atheists. Or that 6-7 of their kids are interested in converting to Islam. Or are elected Democratic congressmen. Or, y'know, just want to form normal, non-televised families with 2.4 children and have nothing to do with the whole Vaginal Clown Car scene. In short, I've tried really hard but am not capable of summoning up any fear of big families from other streams of culture. Oh and personally I’m just filing my nails, humming quietly to myself, waiting for the Duggars to either A.) utterly implode, a la Jon and Kate or B.) discover they’ve given birth to a whole bunch of atheists. Or that 6-7 of their kids are interested in converting to Islam. Or are elected Democratic congressmen. Or, y’know, just want to form normal, non-televised families with 2.4 children and have nothing to do with the whole Vaginal Clown Car scene.

In short, I’ve tried really hard but am not capable of summoning up any fear of big families from other streams of culture.

]]> By: J http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511949 J Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:51:20 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511949 Back in my student days, I participated in an Urban Semester program where I lived in NYC for 6 months. There were 2 themes to the program: one, "New Americans", where we 'surveyed' various communities, old (i.e. Little Italy) and new (i.e. Lefferts-Liberty in Queens where huge numbers of Caribbeans are settling) and two, "Health Systems" where we did all kinds of shadowing in NYC hospitals, clinics, mobile health units treating the homeless, etc. We did a "survey" of the Satmar Hasidim neighborhood in Williamsburg (on Purim eve, no less, so the place was wild--it's like Jewish Halloween, for those unfamiliar). Then, we went to a lecture by the Orthodox director of a secret psychiatric unit at Bellevue Hospital for Hasidic women who are either A.) infertile or B.) *worn out* by having 5, 7 or more children. Both are equally verboten conditions among the Hasidim (btw, Hasidic *not the same* as ultra Orthodox), but this clinic secretly treats these women for the mental trauma of either of these 2 conditions. Anyway, I'm not trying "out breed" anyone. Either from the left or the right, the religious or the secular, it seems particularly criminal to bring children into the world as "soldiers" in a cultural war. It's an act of abuse. My child will be himself or herself: He/she will not be me or my wife or some pseudopodic extension of our ideals. Yeah, I suppose I'd like it if they did believe in the same things we do, but I won't get angry or depressed if they don't. Back in my student days, I participated in an Urban Semester program where I lived in NYC for 6 months. There were 2 themes to the program: one, “New Americans”, where we ’surveyed’ various communities, old (i.e. Little Italy) and new (i.e. Lefferts-Liberty in Queens where huge numbers of Caribbeans are settling) and two, “Health Systems” where we did all kinds of shadowing in NYC hospitals, clinics, mobile health units treating the homeless, etc.

We did a “survey” of the Satmar Hasidim neighborhood in Williamsburg (on Purim eve, no less, so the place was wild–it’s like Jewish Halloween, for those unfamiliar). Then, we went to a lecture by the Orthodox director of a secret psychiatric unit at Bellevue Hospital for Hasidic women who are either A.) infertile or B.) *worn out* by having 5, 7 or more children. Both are equally verboten conditions among the Hasidim (btw, Hasidic *not the same* as ultra Orthodox), but this clinic secretly treats these women for the mental trauma of either of these 2 conditions.

Anyway, I’m not trying “out breed” anyone. Either from the left or the right, the religious or the secular, it seems particularly criminal to bring children into the world as “soldiers” in a cultural war. It’s an act of abuse. My child will be himself or herself: He/she will not be me or my wife or some pseudopodic extension of our ideals. Yeah, I suppose I’d like it if they did believe in the same things we do, but I won’t get angry or depressed if they don’t.

]]> By: The Monday Melange 09.21.09: Swine Flu and Worship « Everyone’s Entitled to Joe’s Opinion http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511909 The Monday Melange 09.21.09: Swine Flu and Worship « Everyone’s Entitled to Joe’s Opinion Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:05:20 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511909 [...] of my favorite bloggers has a blurb about doubts this week.  Apparently some believe that it is sinful to air one’s unresolved doubts.  Now granted, [...] [...] of my favorite bloggers has a blurb about doubts this week.  Apparently some believe that it is sinful to air one’s unresolved doubts.  Now granted, [...]

]]> By: James the Mad http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511785 James the Mad Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:05:44 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511785 Aw, man, NOW he tells us about the discount on the book (ordered right away, had it shipped prioroty mail, already about 40 pages into it)! But we're cool, and it's all good. So far I'm enjoying it, if that's the right word for a book that continues in the tone of much of my recent reading, dissecting Evangelicalism and the sins and foibles thereof. Aw, man, NOW he tells us about the discount on the book (ordered right away, had it shipped prioroty mail, already about 40 pages into it)! But we’re cool, and it’s all good. So far I’m enjoying it, if that’s the right word for a book that continues in the tone of much of my recent reading, dissecting Evangelicalism and the sins and foibles thereof.

]]> By: 'didi http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511782 'didi Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:46:30 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511782 Haven't been on here in months! I came across your Jesus Girls review and it really piqued my interest. I pray you'll be relaxed at the retreat. About Jonathan Edwards...I have my reservations. Sub cruce veritas. :D And J, congrats on the kiddo. My agnostic dad has 5 - 4 of us are Catholic, one Episcopalian (moi!) Haven’t been on here in months! I came across your Jesus Girls review and it really piqued my interest.

I pray you’ll be relaxed at the retreat.

About Jonathan Edwards…I have my reservations.

Sub cruce veritas. :D

And J, congrats on the kiddo. My agnostic dad has 5 – 4 of us are Catholic, one Episcopalian (moi!)

]]> By: Martha http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511768 Martha Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:09:42 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511768 Yet more evidence of the baleful influence Christianity has had upon the masses! Merely by posting upon the same forum as Christians, you too have been sucked in by the odious demands of the church to propagate in order to fill the pews with subjects of the Pope and the pockets of the clergy with all your earnings! Oh, wait - that's only us Catholics, isn't it? :-) Congratulations on the happy event! Yet more evidence of the baleful influence Christianity has had upon the masses! Merely by posting upon the same forum as Christians, you too have been sucked in by the odious demands of the church to propagate in order to fill the pews with subjects of the Pope and the pockets of the clergy with all your earnings!

Oh, wait – that’s only us Catholics, isn’t it? :-)

Congratulations on the happy event!

]]> By: Joe http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511764 Joe Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:16:44 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511764 I too was wondering why Edwards' personal life was "interesting". And congratulations J. I too was wondering why Edwards’ personal life was “interesting”. And congratulations J.

]]> By: FollowerOfHim http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511759 FollowerOfHim Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:29:39 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511759 J, I have to say I also recall your posts and your paternal intentions. Congratulations! I'm dying to know if you've got an appropriately non-theistic baby name picked out (like Christopher?) Keep us posted! On that same theme, I was reading an article in Ha'Aretz yesterday about the average Orthodox Jewish woman in Israel having....SEVEN children. So you might be able to outproduce the average American evangelical ("Quiverfulls" excepted, of course), but you'd better get really busy if you're wanting to keep up with the Israeli Hasidim! Pax. J,

I have to say I also recall your posts and your paternal intentions. Congratulations! I’m dying to know if you’ve got an appropriately non-theistic baby name picked out (like Christopher?) Keep us posted!

On that same theme, I was reading an article in Ha’Aretz yesterday about the average Orthodox Jewish woman in Israel having….SEVEN children. So you might be able to outproduce the
average American evangelical (“Quiverfulls” excepted, of course), but you’d better get really busy if you’re wanting to keep up with the Israeli Hasidim!

Pax.

]]> By: Steve in Toronto http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511746 Steve in Toronto Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:32:35 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511746 Change we to you in that first sentence (Freudian slip?) and congratulations J! Change we to you in that first sentence (Freudian slip?) and congratulations J!

]]> By: Steve in Toronto http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-im-weekend-file-091809/comment-page-1#comment-511745 Steve in Toronto Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:29:59 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4508#comment-511745 Hello Michael Could you elaborate a bit on why we should feel that Edwards’s personal life should cause us to question his use a role model? I know that his relationship with his congregation was very flawed towards the end of his life, but on the other hand he seemed to have a wonderful marriage and his many children and grandchildren have blessed the United States to a remarkable extent. God Bless Steve in Toronto Hello Michael

Could you elaborate a bit on why we should feel that Edwards’s personal life should cause us to question his use a role model? I know that his relationship with his congregation was very flawed towards the end of his life, but on the other hand he seemed to have a wonderful marriage and his many children and grandchildren have blessed the United States to a remarkable extent.

God Bless
Steve in Toronto

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