Original forwarded message follows in all its poorly-formatted glory.

It's the common Christian forward that contains lines like "> Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently) complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said, OK. Then..." and ends with "Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me."

----- Original Message -----
Subject: Where is God?
>
>
>
> Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show and Jane
> Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" And Anne
> Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said "I
> believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've
> been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to
> get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is, I believe that He
> has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to Give us
> His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?" I know
> there's been a lot of an email going around in regards to 9/11/01, but this
> really makes you think. If you don't have time, at least skim through it,
> but the bottom line is something to think about.... In light of recent events...
> terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. Let's see, I think it started when
> Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently)
> complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
> Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says
> thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.
> And we said, OK. Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our
> children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped
> and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) and
> we said, an expert should know what he's talking about so we said OK.
> Then, someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our
> children when they misbehave. And the school administrators said no faculty
> member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we
> don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (There's big
> difference between disciplining and touching, beating, smacking, humiliating,
> kicking, etc.) And we said, OK. Then someone said, let's let our daughters
> have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents.
> And we said, OK. Then some wise school board member said, since boys will
> be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms
> they want, so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell
> their parents they got them at school. And we said OK. Then some of our top
> elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do
> our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone,
> including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the
> economy is good. And then someone said let's print magazines with pictures of
> nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty
> of the female body. And we said, OK. And then someone
> else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children
> and then stepped further still by making them available on the Internet. And
> we said OK; they're entitled to their free speech. And then the entertainment
> industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence,
> and illicit sex. And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder,
> suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it's just entertainment, it has no
> adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead. Now
> we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't
> know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers,
> their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard
> enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP
> WHAT WE SOW."
>
> "Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her
> classroom?" Sincerely, Concerned Student...
> AND THE REPLY: "Dear Concerned Student,
> I am not allowed in schools". Sincerely, God.
>
> Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's
> going to hell.
> Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible
> says.
> Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe,
> think, say, or do anything the Bible says.
> Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by
> the way, also "believes" in God.
> Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.
> Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like
> wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think
> twice about sharing.
> Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace,
> but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
> Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible
> Christian the rest of the week.
> Are you laughing?
> Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many
> on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will
>think of you for sending it to them.
> Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than
> what God thinks of me.
>
>
> msanto >

....Funny how my first instinct is to delete this without reading it through or commenting on it.

Frankly, I disagree with many, many parts of this. The logic is faulty. Keeping school-sponsored prayer out of schools doesn't keep God out of schools -- it keeps people from telling our children how to worship God. Face it -- do you trust the public school teachers to teach that? Families, and local churches should teach that. Even so-called non-sectarian religious stuff is really only playing to the top-rated publicly-accepted religions. The Ten Commandments aren't followed by all religions, just the Judeo-Christian ones. The crêche isn't a simple symbol of the season. If your child goes to school, or walks past the Town Hall, and sees a variety of religious symbology, but doesn't see anything that represents what her family believes, won't she feel like an outsider? How would it be if the prevalent religion wasn't yours? Try to imagine it, and see how you'd feel.

God is not being kept from schools, religious partisanship is.

Upholding our first ammendment rights should not be equated with child pornography. Whoever wrote this was using emotionally-charged words with really muddy logic. I could go on and on about freedom of speech and why pornography is "bad" -- but my intent is not to bash anyone's beliefs here. The challenge at the bottom of the post is intended to keep this message forwarded -- it's a chain letter, using guilt to propagate itself. God will think better of you if you forward this e-mail. *I* think that this e-mail, and the message therein, while it sounds nice and Christian, while it *seems* to be propagating family values, is *actually* quite harmful, and part of the reason most Americans see Christianity as a refuge for the mindless. I love my Mom, and I know she's pretty bright. I went to Bible school, and met some genius-level scholars who were firm Believers.

This tripe is beneath them.

Yet the idea that certain topics are undeniably Christian in nature persists. Christians MUST be against pornography, Christians MUST be in favor of school prayer, Christians MUST oppose Gay marriage, Christians MUST oppose abortion -- this strips from the individual the power to think for him or herself. God gave us all brains, and blindly following a party line without thinking things out for ourselves is to bury our talents, as it were -- something *not* held up as a goal for the Believer.

You may likely know that I don't count myself among the Believers any more -- but be sure I gave my heart to Christ and the Church when I did. I don't do this sort of thing lightly. And I have always had a problem with the idea that we shouldn't think for ourselves.

As I say, I was going to simply delete this without comment, but the end of the e-mail challenged me, so I answered it. Sorry if this steps on any toes.

Scott

From Mother:

----- Original Message -----
From: (mom)
To: "Scott Maddix"
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: EXCUSE MEEE!!!

> Scott....
>
> I was not attacking you personally or meant anything by what I forwarded to
> you, but thought of it as food for thought. You are certainly allowed to
> your thoughts, rights, etc., BUT, why forwarding your opinion to all the
> people that are my friends and family the way you did was necessary, is
> beyond me. I do not mind debating thoughts and feelings, but one on one, not
> generically to everyone.
>
> I feel that whatever I email to you, even though I might have forwarded the
> same to other people, is between me and you. I have not forwarded many
> things to you, like you would not forward things to me for obvious reasons,
> but something that was, again, food for thought, was not meant for anything,
> but that. Just because I forwarded this does not necessarily mean I agree
> 100% with everying said, impossible. My thoughts and thoughts of the other
> people (which I am sure have opinions also) that I forwarded this to can be
> discussed and I have open ears, but I do not expect an attack.
>
> For your information, it was by Billy Graham's daughter and it was not a
> chain letter and did not request to forward to anyone else, that was my
> choice.
>
> I think you might want to sit back and wonder why such a strong reaction!
> Consider my toes and heart a little scratched.
>
> Love, MOM
>
> PS.. Did you enjoy your gifts??? (I had to ask)

From me:

Ooh, the letter and the PS in one swoop!

Uh, the PS first:

Absolutley -- I always enjoy receiving packages from home. The Moxie was drunk within 24 hours and the other gifts are much appreciated. The kitchen supplies are all stuff I either don't have or the one I *do* have is rusted and/or beat up. As Tony said, "These are almost like wedding gifts!!" (and the towels are comfy and snuggly.)

As to the rest: I greatly appreciate your response. All too often in our family (or families) things go unsaid in the name of keeping the peace. I'm pleased to see that's starting to change.

I'm sorry if the response felt like an attack. I'm further sorry if you received any flak for it -- I would hope any flak would have been aimed at me.

As for it being a chain letter, I'll admit it's a subtle one. The intent is for it to be forwarded around. The last bit, "Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me" is aimed at guilting the recipient into sending it on. That phrase is also the reason I responded as I did. Until I read that part I didn't want to respond, I just wanted to hit "delete" and not be challenged to repsond or think about it or anything. But then this last bit effectively said, "you are going to chicken out rather than send this on." --And I was going to chicken out rather than respond. Well, not this time.

I'm not angry that you sent it. I *am* angry that the poor logic of this message is often seen as the best Christians can do. You and I both know that the religion had a bad PR problem in the world. The entire belief system is often seen as illogical, hokey, old-fashioned, brainless, in-your-face, etc etc etc. You and I also both know that this is not true.

It has always bugged me that the Faith had such bad press (once I learned better). The faith that built cathedrals and raised choirs of voices to the sky now makes poorly edited books and Amy Grant. The faith that once had great speakers and great healers and great humanitarians now has Jerry Falwell.

Amy and Jerry have their points, but on the whole they're not doing the faith much good. And then this winter (as always) everywhere I turn I see the BILLBOARDS! "Jesus is the reason for the Season" "The greatest gift is Jesus" "Merry CHRISTmas" -- agh! does anyone actually believe that someone's going to look up at that billboard and say, "Wow. I never realized." and fall to their knees and convert? Because if I recall right, the only purpose for Christians to be sharing their faith is so others will See the Light. The Holiday is older than Christianity, and most people know it. Seeing those billboards turns people away. Jack Chick Tracts (those little cartoon pamphlets), with their hateful speech and poor logic, turns people away. The Church is working really hard lately to make itself obsolete.

I bear no ill will toward Christianity, but the one we see the most are just making it worse for everyone.

My response to the original forward stands. I forwarded it to the whole list because it seemed more honest than sending it back to you. Just as you are unashamed of your faith, I am unashamed of mine. And I'm unashamed of yours. It pains me to see decent people blindly following when they could think for themselves if they tried. I think that forward and all it stands for pisses me off because I *know* that you are smarter than that, and so are most of the Christians I've known. But when matters of faith come up, putting "Jesus" in sentence makes it true.

One thing Christians have to learn in this day and age is that teaching about your beliefs is the most effective way to convert, and it always has been. Be true to yourselves, be the best people you can be, and people will want to know why. Lead by example. Using the TV and billboards and the internet isn't going to do it.

Trying to pass legislation that tells non-believers how to act is certainly not going to do it. Passing legislation that makes it illegal for me to marry the one I love just pisses me off. All in the name of God.

That forward made a mockery of Christianity. Ms. Graham made a cute statement and it was taken as literal truth. The littany of things this country had done wrong is *very* close to a list of things we have done right, to protect the freedoms of the people, and to protect boneheads like Jerry Fallwell from being shut down when he says stupid things like the Trade Center was bombed because of gays and pagans.

It also protects us from the machinations of George W. Bush, who before running for office tried to claim that Wicca was not a religion but was evil, and therefore its practice should not be allowed on governemtn rpoperty (where the right of Sailors, Soldiers and Marines to practise their religion is one of the few human rights that *isn't* signed away when someone enlists).

Hmmm, I'm getting a bit far afield here. You suggested I should wonder why a strong reaction. Well, it's all tied together. Knowing people of Faith who are intelligent, caring and open makes me all the more pissed at the hateful bigots morons who are at the forefront. When I was at the Bible School I had the same arguments.

And again, I'm sorry if my earlier response seemed like an attack. I tried to make it clear that it was not. I love you, and I know you're a pretty smart cookie. I guess I also know that your family and friends are likely to read anything you send without much critical thought, because they *also* know you're a thoughtful and intelligent woman. It pained me to think that anything my mother did, even accidentally, might work toward spreading the bad name and bad works of Christianity, particularly since I know you in person, and I know you are one of the ones who do the opposite in day-to-day life -- you spread light.

And since I knew you before, I know that this is a sign of the person you have grown to become, and I am thankful for it.

And, even though my current life is not what you would hope for from your son, it's pretty good, and folks know me to be fairly wise when I put my mind to it. I think I reflect well on my mother. I'd hate to think that I'd have to be someone other than who I am when I interact with the people you know. I'd *really* hate to think that you were in a position to pretend I'm other than I am, or that I'm not part of your life when talking to your friends and the other churchmembers. I'm proud of who I am, and I know you've said you're proud, too. This rant is part of who I am as well, and the older I get (32! can you believe it???), the less willing I am to put on a mask for the peopel around me, particularly the people I love.

So I guess I replied to the list in aprt to announce myself as the ornery Pagan bisexual son of a wonderful woman, the guy who's not afraid to stir up a little trouble in the name of what's right, the guy who occassionally disagrees with his Mom, but loves and respects her too much to hide it.

I have to go to work in a few minutes, so I have to wrap this up. I *do* love you, and I'm sorry that I cause you grief, but know that it's because I respect you too much to put on a mask when I face you, and I know you're strong enough in your love and your faith to take it.

*big hug*

When Tony and I visit, expect to do this in person sometime. I'll bring the coffee brandy.

Scott

January, 2002