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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Those that say things like:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>are likely to find out that hey have bitten off more
than they can chew, but the recruits being young, naive, unable to tell when
they are being used, and obviously prone to delusion do not understand the peril
that they can place themselves in by thinking themselves warriors in a war
without rules. And the cowardly, chickenshit general, Cultmaster Douglas
Wilson, as usual, sits far arear from the front lines.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kjajmix1@msn.com href="mailto:kjajmix1@msn.com">keely emerinemix</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=nickgier@roadrunner.com
href="mailto:nickgier@roadrunner.com">nickgier@roadrunner.com</A> ; <A
title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:14
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] Crusaders vs.
Infidels: Moscow's Muscular Christianity</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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I agree with nearly everything Nick says here, and I'm thrilled that he's
written such a cogent analysis not only of "muscular Christianity" in
historical contexts, but also of how that sort of errant masculinism has
flooded the Kirk and, lamentably, a significant swath of evangelical
Christianity. I've raised two Christian young men; I'd be disgusted if
they engaged with nonbelievers or anyone else in the way described on NSA's
home page. Nick, you are a treasure, and I'd hope my sons would contend
and listen to others the way you do, regardless of your religious
differences.<BR><BR>I disagree with Darrell that "enough has been said" about
the Kirk, although he certainly has every right to feel that way, and
believing as he does doesn't make him an accomplice or one who accommodates
bigoted, pugilistic behavior. However, I also recognize that the "step
into the alley" thing is hyperbole -- offensive hyperbole, cheap marketing
hyperbole, hyperbole that absolutely indicates the heart and soul behind what
NSA stands for, and even grotesquely sinful hyperbole, but hyperbole
nonetheless. As such, it should be dealt with in the context of "craven
macho posturing," as I think Nick has done by reminding us of where we've seen
this before, instead of being taken literally as an invite to really, truly,
kick anyone's ass who doesn't agree with them. Obviously, taunting
"secularism" is fairly easy, and, thankfully, doesn't really threaten anyone,
other than the very real threat brought about by a kind of
"Christianity" that has nothing whatsoever to do with Christ, but strokes the
. . . ummmmm . . . egos of young men and makes the hearts of young women
presumably go pitter-patter for something other than the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. As thoroughly obnoxious as the header is, it's ultimately more
of the same, just packaged even more pathetically than usual. And the
bar for that one is pretty low -- anyone remember the Credenda/Agenda with the
romance novel cover featuring a studly guy with battery cables clipped to his
nipples? There was a high point in Christian cultural
engagement.<BR><BR>So, as pugnacious as it is, it's still just symbolic
hyperbole that falls into the category of "What were they thinking?," and then
reveals a great deal, when taken with the totality of NSA/Kirk theology and
practice, about what they were, in fact, thinking. As obnoxious as it
is, it's relatively innocuous compared with other examples of bad Kirk
behavior. Make no mistake -- I would be picketing NSA this moment if,
for example, the pissing contest and threats of being shoved up against the
wall were directed at Muslims, homosexuals, feminists, or even specific
secularists -- but targeting "secularism" with such language is juvenile,
safely and cowardly symbolic, and about as mature as two seventh-graders
arguing about which 70s cock rock band was more bitchin'. No person is
targeted by the taunts and posturing, other than the Peter Pan Oxford
Donnabees who OK'd it, who've now revealed themselves to be as puerile as many
of us have long believed. This isn't an announcement of a concerted
effort to contend boldly for the faith, as all Christians ought to do,
although I know that's what they intended. Unfortunately, though, the
last people I'd want representing the Gospel and person of Jesus Christ in the
public square is someone who puts across his argument with so little regard
for humility, kindness, and civility. (The Bible says to offer "every
man an answer, a reason for the hope that lies within you, with gentleness and
respect" so the cause of Christ is not maligned. Guess what? That
wouldn't include literally or figuratively promising to slam "secularism"
against the wall -- but I'm guessing they already know that). <BR><BR>I
realize my language here has been a little colorful, but my comments are
intended to put all of this into perspective. With great effort, untold
hours of study of its historical/theological/sociological/political
context, and at some personal cost, I've tried to confront Wilsonian
error and disgraceful behavior for one reason and one reason only: The
Gospel of Jesus is too precious to me to be carelessly bandied about,
maligned, dragged through the filth, misrepresented, and twisted by people who
presume to be followers of the One who gave it to us -- and who benefit most
from a warped gospel of privilege and power. Period. And so I've
tried to learn all that I can about what I then analyze, criticize, and
condemn, and then I've stood up to it. Yeah, I wish our brave
evangelical male pastors would feel similarly led, and I cringe when other
folks dive into waters far deeper and darker than warnings and cries of
"fundamentalism!" and "far-Right, Moral Majority-style extremism!" adequately,
or accurately, suggest. In contending as I do, I don't choose to align
myself with anyone else, on this forum or elsewhere, who is opposed to Kirk
practices or theology. I prefer to go solo on this one, thanks, and
wish others well in however they approach issues.<BR><BR>Having said that, I'm
seriously considering leaving Vision until the New Year, or maybe through
Spring. I haven't decided, but I'm frankly dismayed -- while
acknowledging that my own conduct hasn't been perfect at all -- that good
people so readily attack other good people, simply because of reasonable
disagreements. I admire the folks who consistently make excellent points
while remaining out of the rhetorical boxing ring (even naming some names
would no doubt anger someone else!), but more and more I see what has been in
the past a valuable forum for building community disintegrate into a verbal
slugfest with, unfortunately, the same pugnacious attitude that we rightly
condemn from NSA and the Kirk and all other masculinist, muscular
"Christians." I'm not sure what I'll do, and I'm really not soliciting
comments as much as I am sharing a dilemma. I guess I'll have to just
wait and see. Believe me, I know that I've made my share of negative
contributions to Vision 2020, although I regret nothing at all that I haven't
already apologized for; it's not strong words that condemn me, but weak
argument and an absence of charity. And I'm well aware that this will
appear both sanctimonious and belligerent to many of you -- but that's the way
it goes, I guess.<BR><BR>Before I sign off for awhile, if I do, in fact, sign
off, I do want to make one other point, and that is to thank Tom Hansen and
Nick Gier for being consistent, and consistently enlightening, sources of
information for all of us. I think that "Moscow Cares" and especially
"Not On The Palouse" are extraordinarily valuable resources for those
interested in the history and progression of so many noxious ideas, behaviors,
and movements that have either gained traction from the Palouse, as well as
for a source-documented record of information about local municipal
government. I can't imagine the hours and hours of time Tom and Rodna
have devoted to documenting, recording, archiving, and maintaining both sites,
and I'm grateful to them -- I have somewhere to point people to when they hear
about "some weird stuff" up in North-Central Idaho. Nick's radio
commentaries are a rich collection of academic knowledge made accessible to
non-academics like me, and while I may occasionally view things differently
from him, I have never failed to be challenged and edified by his work and the
irenic spirit with which he presents it. <BR><BR>I wish all of you a
blessed, prosperous, and joyful holiday season and New Year, and while I'm not
soliciting feedback, I won't reject it, either, if anyone has anything to say
to me. However, I'm guessing that my announcement is below toenail
clipping and kitchen-sponge disinfecting in its significance to your evening .
. . just remember to sweep up the trimmings, OK?? (She said
sanctimoniously . . . and with a smile).<BR><BR><FONT color=#8064a2><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt" size=3><FONT
face=Verdana>Keely<BR>www.keely-prevailingwinds.com<BR></FONT></FONT></FONT><BR><BR><BR><BR>Date:
Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:36:30 -0500<BR>From: nickgier@roadrunner.com<BR>To:
vision2020@moscow.com<BR>Subject: [Vision2020] Crusaders vs. Infidels:
Moscow's Muscular Christianity<BR><BR><PRE>Greetings:<BR> <BR>Despite Darrell Keim's belief that enough has been said about Christ Church and NSA, their recruiting blurb is simply beyond the pale.<BR> <BR>This is my radio commentary/column for the week and the full version is attached as a PDF file. I direct you to my Logos School revision of West Side Story at the end.<BR> <BR>Read everything that I've written about Pastor Wilson at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/Wilson.htm.<BR> <BR>Nick<BR> <BR>THE CRUSADERS VS. THE INFIDELS:MOSCOW’S MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY<BR> <BR>A long war is a small price to pay for eternal peace.<BR> <BR>--found on a toilet stall wall<BR> <BR>I don’t often cruise the website of New St. Andrews College (www.nsa.edu), Moscow’s small Christian college, so the new recruiting campaign gave me quite a jolt. The headline is “Yo, Secularism, Why Don’t We Step into the Alley?” <BR> <BR>The blurb describes the NSA faculty as “not timid in a rumble,” and they want to make the students “dangerous” so that they can “throw the lies of this age up against the wall, lifting wallets and the occasional gift card.” It ends with “an invitation to a brawl.”<BR> <BR>Is NSA a Christ-centered liberal arts college or a fighting club? If it is the latter, then its conditional use permit should be reviewed.<BR> <BR>After the initial shock receded, my first thought was “How can they possibly recruit young women with this raw machismo”? Out of seven images (two with real tough guys) only one includes female students. <BR> <BR>Silly me, I forgot that some females might want to go to a college where they can meet “real” Christian men to whom they can be properly submissive. These religious brawlers would defend their honor in an alley or anywhere for that matter. <BR> <BR>NSA men, however, would not defend their ladies’ right to vote. According to NSA’s founder, Douglas Wilson, misguided women might decide to cancel out their husband’s wise choices in church and political matters. <BR>Wilson also believes that only propertied males should vote. Deliciously ironic, however, is the fact that Wilson encourages all of this congregates at Christ Church to vote for conservative candidates.<BR> <BR>The phrase “muscular Christianity” came out of the Victorian Age, where Charles Kingsley and Thomas Hughes encouraged young men to combine Christian ideals with physical conditioning. Thanks to muscular Christianity, I built up some pretty nice biceps at the local gym of the Young Men’s Christian Association, but I still ended up with the Unitarians, who of course can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag. <BR> <BR>NSA does have sports teams, but “pumpkin” rugby has replaced lacrosse (too feminine?), and there is a “girls” volleyball team. Some of the senior faculty, however, look like they have not been to a gym in ages. <BR> <BR>In 1964 Douglas’ father Jim Wilson wrote a small book entitled "Principles of War: A Handbook on Strategic Evangelism." I once told Wilson Pere that I thought that upraised sword on the front cover of the book was rather provocative, but he just shrugged his shoulders and said that he only meant spiritual warfare. Being thrown up against a wall sounds pretty physical to me.<BR> <BR>Has Douglas Wilson’s “Trinitarian skylarking” now turned into godly gang warfare? An example of the former is an outrageous April Fool’s stunt. NSA students stole University of Idaho letterhead and used the English department’s FAX line to announce a feminist scholar who would lecture topless. Wilson later admitted encouraging his students to do the deed.<BR> <BR>Douglas Wilson also established Logos School, whose K-12 students, I’m told, put on some very good plays. I would like to propose that they do an adaptation of West Side Story. Instead of the white working class Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, the gangs should be renamed the Crusaders and the Infidels. <BR> <BR>I foresee two snags in this version of the play. Although the killing of Maria’s brother by the Jet’s Tony could go ahead, the love story between Christian Tony and non-Christian Maria would be a real stretch. NSA men must get the permission from a potential date’s father, or from Wilson in loco parentis. Even more problematic is the fact that there can be no truce between the gangs at the end. For Wilson and other conservative evangelicals, there will be bitter warfare until Christ comes to smite the infidels.<BR> <BR>As a “post-millennialist” Wilson believes that there will a 1,000 year Christian theocracy with strict enforcement of biblical law until Christ deigns to appear. I might prefer to get it over with more quickly in the “pre-millennial” Rapture. I’ll paraphrase Milton’s Satan: I would rather fry in the Rapture and take my chances in Hell rather than serve oppressive Christian masters.<BR> <BR>Sometime in the late 1970s, I found a saying on a toilet stall wall near my campus office. Compared to most toilet graffiti, this one was quite sophisticated and a bit puzzling: “A long war is a small price to pay for eternal peace.” One might ask: What kind of peace is this when everyone who has not converted to your religion has been killed?<BR> <BR> Nick Gier taught religion and philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. <BR></PRE><BR>=======================================================
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