"this is very interesting. i don't recognize myself."

Sep 22, 2004 21:08

mary,

also, forgot to mention, but my ethics professor was talking yesterday about the difference between sin and crime- just because christianity says something is a sin, doesn't mean it should be a crime. he even used abortion as a possible example of this; something that dropped the jaws of non-mennonite christian students in the room. even if as a christian we have a problem with it, does that mean we should criminalize every young woman who has one? i don't think so. you know i'm very vocal about separation of church & state, and not regulating morality. but because of that and also my speaking out in favor of gay civil unions, the (again) non-mennonites in the room look at me now outraged, and probably think i'm a crackpot.

Lilpippinflying [8:36 PM]: jen is an 8, the "protector." very outspoken and practical and opinionated. it's funny; like when i, the 4, the "romantic," had the butterfly in my hand yesterday and was overwhelmed by its beauty, i showed it to her and she said "i got news for you. all bugs die."
Dream82298 [8:36 PM]: lol
Lilpippinflying [8:37 PM]: can you believe this is my closest friend on campus? LMAO!
Lilpippinflying [8:37 PM]: doesn't make sense, but somehow it works
Lilpippinflying [8:37 PM]: and she's such a major bush supporter. she is with bush like tom was with clinton.
Dream82298 [8:37 PM]: lol opposites attract
Lilpippinflying [8:38 PM]: o yeah, she's editor of the weathervane's opinion page, and this week she has a thing in there she wrote called "the war on terror can be won" *rolls eyes*
Dream82298 [8:39 PM]: nice
Dream82298 [8:39 PM]: the rep opinion
Lilpippinflying [8:39 PM]: of course, that opinion is not popular on campus AT ALL! every other car here has an anti-bush bumper sticker. jen said several people said "i saw your article," and nothing else. LOL!
Lilpippinflying [8:40 PM]: but then when i asked if anyone gave her a hard time she said no and she was hoping someone would!! she likes debate i guess.
Lilpippinflying [8:41 PM]: oh yeah, there is a bumper sticker here which i have seen online before and i want... but here's the funny (and cool!) thing.... i had never seen it on a car before, and up here i swear you walk through a parking lot and see at least 10 of them. it's that one that says "god bless the whole word no exceptions"
Dream82298 [8:41 PM]: yeah that would be the Mennonite thing probably
Lilpippinflying [8:41 PM]: oh and i saw one today that said "i think when jesus said love your enemies he probably meant don't kill them"
Lilpippinflying [8:42 PM]: to jen the mennonite thing is very foreign. liz told me jen's parents had gotten her a book that warns about new age religions! LMAO!!! her parents are worried she's gonna get corrupted or something. they're pentecostal bush supporters
Lilpippinflying [8:42 PM]: they think it's their duty
Lilpippinflying [8:43 PM]: under God to vote for bush. i (and most mennonites) think the exact opposite! that it's our duty to get him out of office
Dream82298 [8:43 PM]: mennonites are new age???
Dream82298 [8:43 PM]: ROTFLMAO
Lilpippinflying [8:43 PM]: no, they aren't mentioned in the book, but i guess her parents think their beliefs are too radical?
Dream82298 [8:43 PM]: they are older than pencoastals!
Lilpippinflying [8:44 PM]: listen, jesus was radical. it's much harder to follow his teachings than the old testament things about righteous indignation and revenge
Lilpippinflying [8:44 PM]: ya know?!
Dream82298 [8:45 PM]: absolutely!
Dream82298 [8:45 PM]: people get scared though
Lilpippinflying [8:45 PM]: jen always says "in the bible there is lots of war and defending yourself against enemies! it's very violent and vengeful!" but that is the OLD testament. she doesn't see how we can reconcile our beliefs with it; i say jesus came and changed that. if you're judaism, that opinion makes sense. but if you're a christian, what about the things christ said: love your enemies, turn the other cheek, don't judge, etc.?
Dream82298 [8:46 PM]: i know, that's true
Dream82298 [8:46 PM]: did you ask her if she's jewish?
Lilpippinflying [8:46 PM]: LOL
Lilpippinflying [8:46 PM]: then when i said if you call yourself CHRISTian you should emphasize what CHRIST taught, she goes "but Christ above God?"
Lilpippinflying [8:46 PM]: i don't get that!
Lilpippinflying [8:47 PM]: ick it kicked me off but reconnected. did you get my last IM? the "christ above god" thing?
Lilpippinflying [8:47 PM]: she says mennonites put christ above god, and they shouldn't! how odd
Dream82298 [8:48 PM]: yes i see it
Dream82298 [8:48 PM]: what??
Dream82298 [8:48 PM]: that does sound jewish lol
Lilpippinflying [8:49 PM]: well but actually most denominations, like baptist and penecostal anyway, emphasize old testament more. bush supporters certainly do. think about it; it's very true! i think there should be another word besides christians and jews; one for those who believe that christ is the messiah but emphasize old testament. there's jehovah's witnesses. but i think alot of christian denominations put old testament above christ.
Lilpippinflying [8:50 PM]: not many christian denominations actually follow the words of CHRIST like mennonites do, in such radical ways. when i think about the nonjudgment and pacifism, it is very strange in comparison to the hellfire teachings of alot of denominations. and yet that's why i love it!!!
Dream82298 [8:51 PM]: yeah, you have a point
Dream82298 [8:51 PM]: Mart, if you think to, go borrow the movie "The Radicals" from the library
Lilpippinflying [8:51 PM]: like dad's beliefs. you know? he just doesn't get how you are supposed to love someone who is a "sinner" or your "enemy". he almost laughs at it when you suggest it!
Dream82298 [8:52 PM]: It really made me appreciate my mennonite heritage much more
Dream82298 [8:52 PM]: exactlyy
Lilpippinflying [8:52 PM]: ooh yeah i really want to!!!!!!! i should show it to jen, too.
Dream82298 [8:52 PM]: donnie has a little part in it! LOL
Lilpippinflying [8:52 PM]: i know that too! another bonus LOL
Dream82298 [8:52 PM]: lol funny
Lilpippinflying [8:52 PM]: well i'm so shaky. i better go sleep
Lilpippinflying [8:52 PM]: nice talking wid ya
Dream82298 [8:53 PM]: ok
Dream82298 [8:53 PM]: i hope you feel better son
Lilpippinflying [8:53 PM]: love yous
Dream82298 [8:53 PM]: soon
Lilpippinflying [8:53 PM]: thank you son!
Lilpippinflying [8:54 PM]: LOL my lakewood camp counselour called everyone son!!!! i need to start doing that, it's funny!!!
Lilpippinflying [8:54 PM]: see ya later son!
Dream82298 [8:55 PM]: lol
Dream82298 [8:55 PM]: like sir in peanuts
Dream82298 [8:55 PM]: Marcy calls everyone Sir
Lilpippinflying [8:55 PM]: LOL!! yeppers. and snoop dogg calls everyone "dirty nephew" :-D
Lilpippinflying [8:55 PM]: what's up, dirty nephew?!
Dream82298 [8:56 PM]: how weird
Dream82298 [8:56 PM]: lol
Lilpippinflying [8:56 PM]: LMFAO
Dream82298 [8:57 PM]: what?
Dream82298 [8:57 PM]: the snoop dog thing?
Lilpippinflying [8:57 PM]: the snoop thing yeah
Lilpippinflying [8:58 PM]: well better go nurse myself back to health i guess. LOL.
Lilpippinflying [8:58 PM]: and write a paper on why elizabeth is prouder than darcy. LOL.
Lilpippinflying [8:58 PM]: oh yeah, and my poem about you and davy jones. :-D
Lilpippinflying [8:58 PM]: say goodnight mary!
Dream82298 [8:59 PM]: yeah tell me about it all!
Dream82298 [8:59 PM]: goodnight mary!
Lilpippinflying [8:59 PM]: i shall send it to you before i read it to the class so you can approve your role in it
Lilpippinflying [8:59 PM]: LOL i was waiting for that!!
Dream82298 [8:59 PM]: why thanky
Dream82298 [8:59 PM]: lol

another thing. jen does not see the conflict between capitalism & christianity. well it IS a conflict; it's a contradiction. capitalism literally teaches that greed is good (read adam smith if you doubt it). obviously christ didn't. jen says socialism isn't right because christ wouldn't give "hand-outs"-- bullshit! although i take issue with calling socialism "hand-outs", christ said plenty about helping the poor, obviously. He even said if someone asks for your coat, take off your shirt as well, and give them to him. Sounds like a "hand-out" to me.

"you have heard that it was said, 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' but now i tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. and if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well... when someone asks you for something, give it to him... you have heard that it was said, 'love your friends, hate your enemies.' but now i tell you: love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you... why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? even the tax collectors do that! and if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary?" --matthew 5:38-47

"do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others... why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? how dare you say to your brother, 'please, brother, let me take that speck out of your eye,' when you have a log in your own eye? you hypocrite!" -matthew 7:1-5

"do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? you have no excuse at all, whoever you are. for when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself... do you think you will escape God's judgment? or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience." --romans 2:1-4

"share your belongings with your needy fellow christians, and open your homes to strangers. ask god to bless those who persecute you- yes, ask him to bless, not to curse... have the same concern for everyone... if someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong.... do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it.... instead, as the scripture says, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will make him burn with shame.' do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good." --romans 2:13-21

"love your neighbor as you love yourself; if you love someone, you will never do him wrong; TO LOVE, THEN, IS TO OBEY THE WHOLE LAW." --romans 13:9-10

"if the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first... if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.... you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when anyone who kills you will think that by doing this he is serving God. people will do these things to you because they have not known the Father or me. but i have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember what i told you."

it turns out the stereotype of college students watching tons of movies is true! i've seen more in the month i've been up here than i had in 3 months back home. i'm off to bed now (fighting a cold, but slept all day so i haven't been sleepy tonight!), so i won't bore you by mentioning them all. but has anyone else out there seen the believer? pretty powerful stuff.
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