This is a man who would be a U.S. senator from Virginia? I think he needs counseling...and quick!!
Here's a copy of Senator Allen's press release:
The Author’s Disturbing Writings Show a Continued Pattern of Demeaning Women
· Some of Webb’s writings are very disturbing for a candidate hoping to represent the families of Virginians in the U.S. Senate.
· Many excellent books about the United States military and wartime service accomplish their purposes, and even win awards, without systematically demeaning women, and without dehumanizing women, men and even children.
· Webb’s novels disturbingly and consistently – indeed, almost uniformly – portray women as servile, subordinate, inept, incompetent, promiscuous, perverted, or some combination of these. In novel after novel, Webb assigns his female characters base, negative characteristics. In thousands of pages of fiction penned by Webb, there are few if any strong, admirable women or positive female role models.
Why does Jim Webb refuse to portray women in a respectful, positive light, whether in his non-fiction concerning their role in the military, or in his provocative novels? How can women trust him to represent their views in the Senate when chauvinistic attitudes and sexually exploitive references run throughout his fiction and non-fiction writings?
· Most Virginians and Americans would find passages such as those below (go to Drudge site, I don't even want to post them here!! But be warned...you will find them to be sickening...) shocking, especially coming from the pen of someone who seeks the privilege of serving in the United States Senate, one of the highest offices in the land!
Webb's Writings Inappropriate for Radio News Show.
Sister Toldjah asks: What's with the pro-Webb bias of the Washington Post?
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteThe Bible doesn't approve of everything it records. It is an honest book and therefore, records the sinful deeds of beings, including man and the fallen angels.
I disagree that Paul said "harmful things" about women. The passages that you are probably refering to were not a blanket statement that "all women should be silent in the church," but the "babes in Christ" who were not well versed in Scripture should not be preaching. There were many women teachers and preachers in Paul's ministry. I can look up the names if you are interested.
I'm a bit puzzled as to why you would want to defend this particular man. You came on the Garden Guy website because you disliked what the Farbers said when refusing to do yardwork for two gay men. Yet here, you are willing to dismiss all of the derogatory things that Webb says about women (not to mention the gross incident between a man and young boy). What's up with that?
When it comes to picking political candidates, I think that evaluating what they do (and what they are like) at times other then when they are in the political arena is extremely important. It can make a huge difference in a voter's mind as to whether or not they would choose to vote for the person.
Sometimes, certain types of judgments are necessary. If we go through life never judging anything or anyone, especially on important matters, decisions, and when placing a person in a political leadership/representative position, then we can end up being stuck with the worst candidate(s) for the job. Not taking the time to judge a person for what they are like according to the information at hand can lead to making some very bad decisions!
You are entitled to your own opinion of course, but I don't agree with you that my words were "slanderous." I stated my opinion here:
"The blogs are abuzz with the news about Jim Webb's Weird World. Drudge has the disgusting details...if you really want to read them.
This is a man who would be a U.S. senator from Virginia? I think he needs counseling...and quick!!"
The rest of the post included the words of Senator Allen and whether you agree with him or not is, quite frankly, irrelevant. He's entitled to his own opinion.
BTW, slander is generally used in a way that means telling false statements or rumors about a person. I didn't see anything slanderous in Sen. Allen's statements. He made some true comments and, as a result, asked a few pertinent questions.
I think that what people say, do, write about and how they behave can be a window into their souls. Philipians 4:8 instructs us in this area.
Character is so important. Are we not to judge others by their character traits? I don't mean judgment in the form of salvation-wise. Only God can do that. But judgment about what we read, say, do and how we behave is important in this life. Jesus also said, "By their fruits you shall know them."
This man's writings may have nothing to do with his own beliefs. Of course, they certainly may mirror them entirely. I have no idea. I don't know anything about him, nor about his opponent.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree that "most" Americans would find those passaged to be disgusting. If that were true, internet porn wouldn't be the multi-billion dollar industry it has become. I think that most Americans have become desensitized to sex. Sex has become recreational in our society, as opposed to something sacred shared between two committed adults. That's the thing that bothers me. It's not the fact that this man wrote such things, but the fact that it didn't seem that "shocking" when compared to the countless images and discussions you can find on network television.
You'll notice, I'm sure, that I didn't even mention religion until just now. The fact is, we are entitled to free speech in our nation. We are not entitled to be well-received, we're not entitled to be free from repercussions, nor are we entitled to be "not" offended...we're just entitled to say what we want to say. That's how it works, thankfully. But if passages like those you mentioned are offensive to someone, no matter what the reason might be, they have the ability to cast their vote for someone else. If he loses because people are offended, well, so be it. That's the price we pay for speaking freely. Sometimes there are repercussions.
As for Paul, well, I don't adhere to the literal interpretation, which I'm sure you could have guessed. Stephen is right...there are many Christian denominations which view women as "less than" in the eyes of the church. The first one that springs to mind is the Catholic church, by my issues with that particular denomination run far deeper than that. I even recently listened to a re-broadcast of an interview with Jimmy Carter on NPR. In it, he said that he left the Southern Baptist Conference because they have decided to view women in a much more negative light. He said that they have been leaning more toward the "traditional" view that women should be seen and not heard, and that was something he couldn't live with.
I think that God loves us all, equally, without regard to gender.
Well...I don't particularly care for Webb's fiction but it is that: FICTION. If you look at Allen's history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen_(U.S._politician)
ReplyDeletethen you quickly see that his actions and words make him a racist. I guess if I was voting I would select none of the above.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteDon't you think that a person who writes fiction has a choice between writing about good things in life or evil things?
I find Stephen King's novels to be very creepy. I saw one movie made about one of his stories and that was it for me. Similar to what you said about Wilbur Smith. Certainly can't blame you for not reading any of his books anymore!
The stories may be fiction, but shouldn't just the fact that these men think up these evil situations make us wonder about them? I'm not judging them in the salvation sense that the Bible warns us about, but I do have the right to judge them based on what they choose to write about, don't I?
When Jesus said, "do not judge," it wasn't an overall condemnation not to ever judge anyone about anything. If that were true, then there would be chaos in the world. The battle between good vs. evil might just lead to an attitude of indifference to those suffering under the influence of evil.
As I said in the past, we must take the entirety of Scripture into consideration when interpreting what Paul meant when he said that women should be "silent in the church."
Here's a post that I wrote a while back regarding women and teaching.
Jaded,
ReplyDeleteWell said! I agree that a man's fictional writings may, or may not reflect his own personal views. But just the fact that he wrote so many derogatory accounts against women makes me feel that he might have a grudge of some sort.
You are right about the internet porn explosion. Years ago, a Christian analyst did a search to see how many sites existed for those seeking porn compared to how many sites existed seeking Jesus Christ. In the past, the sites seeking Jesus were way ahead of the porn site. Today, (I have been told) porn has overtaken the Jesus links. IMO, that's an extremely sad statement about the moral condition of people in our culture today.
Hi abfswan,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Talkwisdom!
Many people think that Allen is a racist because of a word he had allegedly used in the past. But many of his African-American friends and acquaintances have come out in support of him saying that the man they know isn't a racist.
I don't always trust Wikipedia, because anyone can add opinions/comments to the page. Therefore, it is likely that differing ideological battles can result in some incorrect information about a person.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteYou are entitled to go right on and believe that what I am sharing from God's word is "misguided." But IMO, I don't think that you can, or should, compare the two subjects (women speaking in the church and the misguided view that God approves of homosexual behavior).
For one thing, homosexual behavior is never mentioned in the Bible as something God approves of. In fact, it is mentioned several times in both the Old and New Testament as something He disapproves of.
In Jesus' prayer to the Father, Jesus said to the Father, "Thy word is truth." Since the New Testament was not yet written, it was both the words that Jesus shared during his three year ministry on earth as well as the Old Testament books, Law, and the Prophets, that Jesus was referring to as "Thy word is truth."
Jhn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
That means that God's word in the Leviticus verses (which you label the "clobber" verses) are certainly God's truth as well. God's word doesn't change. It's only people's opinion(s) about them that do.
Isaiah 55 reminds us:
Isa 55:8 ¶ For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Therefore, what we would choose to think about homosexual behavior doesn't really matter. What God says about it in His word is what matters most.
I find Stephen King's novels to be very creepy. I saw one movie made about one of his stories and that was it for me.
ReplyDeleteTo write off a novelist like Stephen King's work simply because it's creepy is to ignore the ultimate message that he is trying to convey. Certainly, he couches much of his work in the horror genre because people enjoy it and he is good at giving them what they enjoy. He does, however, often pit Good versus Evil, as in The Dark Tower series and The Stand. Is the depiction of evil things a bad thing if they are not condoned? Further, Stephen King has also authored a trio of highly acclaimed novels that have been made into equally highly acclaimed films. Specifically, Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile. None of these stories contain much, if any, element of horror, and all are quite beautiful and moral in their narrative. This is just one example of an author whose work is quite consistently written off as "trash," "too creepy," or "sick."
It is vitally important to thoroughly assess the quality, intentions, and breadth of an author's work before completely disregarding it.
Well, I guess I'm one of the few who does not enjoy horror. I'd rather see a good drama, love story (a.k.a. "chick flick") or comedy. There is enough darkness in the real world these days for me to desire seeing more of it onscreen.
ReplyDeleteThe exception to the rule (at least for me, personally), is a movie that has a redemptive message. Horror and gore for the sake of grossing people out has never been appealing to me.
I'm trying to remember the movie by King that I saw many years ago that was just way too creepy for me. Could it have been "Pet Sematary?" Did he write "Cujo" too? Hated watching that movie, too.
I didn't realize that he wrote the "Shawshank" and "Green Mile" stories. I liked both movies, except I don't like Tim Robbin's political ideology (or his girlfriend Susan Sarandon's either).
If it's merely that horror's a little too dark and spooky for your taste, that's perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteEven his darkest or messiest work, however, comes with overall positive messages. Pet Sematary functions more as a cautionary tale than an endorsement of evil, and never in any of his stories is there any ultimate confusion over what is good and what is evil.
Finally, if you're not a fan of the cast of his films, you can always read the source material from which they spring. The novels are every bit as good as the films, without the discomfort of watching cast members whose politics you don't agree with.
Regardless of Tim Robbins' and Susan Sarandon's activism, however, I still feel that they're excellent actors. As I see it, when I watch a particular actor/actress in films or television, I'm supporting their work in film/television, not their political causes. This is how I stomach Jason Dohring, from Veronica Mars, or Giovanni Ribisi, given their regrettable Scientological leanings. Their unfortunate choices of politics/religion, luckily, don't seem to have hindered their acting.
Pssst, in case you didn't know, the bible is a work of fiction. Complete with it's own rape scenes, incest, killing, sacrificing and turning of people into salt.
ReplyDeleteI could call you a bad person and call you out on your pro-jewish bias since you seem to love the OT so much, but why even bother?
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteI do not need to read that book. In some form or another (i.e. online, in books, at seminars etc.) I have probably read or heard the pro-gay arguments that liberal theologians have created in order to justify homosexual behavior.
A common example is the misrepresentation of the brotherly love and friendship that David and Jonathan had despite the fact that Saul wanted David killed. What those verses have represented for thousands of years have only recently been twisted into saying something different.
This is just one example of liberal ideologists turning the Word of God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent, into their own image rather than humbly submitting, repenting, and reflecting the true image and likeness of Jesus Christ as born again believers.
In another thread, I noticed that you wanted to write a "gay apologetics" essay. Sorry Stephen. There is nothing to support such an idea in Scripture...absolutely nothing! You have been duped into believing a heaping cauldron of lies, instigated long ago by the enemy of our souls and, unfortuately, currently being used by false teachers that have infiltrated some denominations of the Christian churches.
I know that this is very difficult for you to accept and face since you are "happy" in your current beliefs. But realize one extremely important fact. God doesn't call for us to be happy...but to be holy! Jesus reiterates this when he said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Christ's death on the cross saves us from the punishment for our sins. By keeping his commandments, we are showing Him day by day that we love Him! His plea for us to keep the commandments doesn't save us, but He is telling us the importance of sanctification and striving for holiness in our lives!
But one of the most awesome things that I have realized since I dumped those sins that used to keep me in bondage is that I am happier now than I ever was while wallowing in those former sins! I have met countless Christians who have said the same thing. The sinful acts that used to give them pleasure...for a season...are now worthless and repulsive to them. Isn't that amazing how Jesus Christ can change the heart of a person from the inside (Holy Spirit) to the outside (leaving former life of sin).
My friend Stephen B. (the other Stephen who posts on this blog) knows all about this. You would do well to seek his help in your same-sex attraction struggle. I love the verse that he uses often:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Stephen B. is a living example of that verse. Many people are. I pray that you will find it in your heart to seek the truth just as Stephen B. did.
God bless,
Christine
It is my hope and prayer that you will study the Scriptures more diligently to seek the truth for yourself. I realize that you will not take my word for it and you probably shouldn't. But seek out the Scriptures, on their own without any gay-behavior affirming propaganda and you will find the truth and the truth will set you free.
We are urged not to be led away from God's honest truth. The book of Jude warns us of this very thing that you are currently believing and following within the gay-behavior-affirming church.
For more on this issue, Al Mohler has a great article at his blog which describes the dangers of veering away from Scriptural truth through theological liberalism.
Lewis,
ReplyDeleteI guess the fact that most of the 350 prophecies about the Savior in the Old Testament were fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the New Testament is just a coincidence?
According to Simon Greenleaf, evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ are enough to make it pass as a proven fact in any modern court of law. Are you sure you want to just brush that off as "fiction"?
The rest of the prophecies about Jesus will be fulfilled at his second coming. Given Jesus' track record, I'd start thinking differently about Christ, and the Bible if I were you.
According to the logic that you are what you write then God is a pedophile. Didn't God write the Bible through a variety of holy men?
ReplyDeleteThe Bible has masturbation scenes, rape, pedophilia and worse.
Twisted logic goes both ways I guess.
ebsfwan,
ReplyDeleteI said this in my first comment here, but in case you missed it, I will repost:
It helps to remember that the Bible doesn't approve of all that it records. It is an honest book that records the rebellion against God, and the sins, evil, and death of fallen human and fallen angelic beings.
Well then how about you apply the same standard to other authors?
ReplyDeleteYou can't have it both ways.
Christine:
ReplyDeleteAl Mohler has a great article at his blog which describes the dangers of veering away from Scriptural truth through theological liberalism.
He specifically addresses the issue of women and says we should be following what the Bible says about them.