Posted by giveawayboy on December 15, 2001 at 17:49:11:
In Reply to: not very cute posted by jonvon on December 15, 2001 at 14:56:35:
I agree with John. I don't think it's cute. I know it is meant to be humorous, but I don't subscribe to the camp that finds it humorous. There is a way we laugh at others that is demeaning and almost cruel. That is how it sounds to me. The underlying presumption here is that 'Dammit! We Christians are right and we can therefore laugh in indifference at those around us." The tone of little Lucy is almost like she knows that all atheists are morons and it's almost like she is 'gloating' about it. I don't like that. Another reason I don't like this type of thing is that it does 'pit people against each other' as John said. Instead of respecting the image of God in atheist people and longing to enter into relationship and dialogue w them, this type of thinking puts up walls and draws lines. Jesus was the opposite of this. He drew lines about what was true. He did not draw lines between men. Infact he was constantly in trouble for drawing all men to himself. He was exactly NOT like Lucy. Lucy reminds me more of the 'righteous man' that says, God, I thank you that I am not like that sinner(tax collector) over there. By the way, by saying all this I'm not trying to bash whoever posted it, since I can understand why they might have posted it, after all the scripture does say, He is a fool who says there is no God. And it also says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So, there is a truth in here, but it is illustrated in a mean, prideful spirit. I don't like it. Plus, what about Christian agnostics like me who don't KNOW if there is a God, but who BELIEVE BY FAITH that he exists? What about people like that. What would Lucy say to them? What would Lucy say to the Christian alcoholic who still struggles? What would she say to the homosexual Christian? What would she say to the Christian girl who just aborted her baby? The problem with Lucy is that her faith is cookie cutter and her response to people is VERY cookie cutter. And I don't buy it. To be substantial as a witness, Lucy needs to enter into the realtime experience of those around her. This means that she would see the atheist, the agnostic, the homosexual, the immoral, the outcast, as through God's eyes. She would behold in them the image of Christ, and she would become humble before that. She could still believe atheism is foolish wout needing to proclaim the atheist a fool. She could believe in right and wrong without making herself their arbiter.
No offense to whoever shared this.
Peace, Bill
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: the problem with stuff like this is that it pits people against one another. for instance, ok, someone is reading this who is a christian, and maybe that person, we'll say Person A, put herself in the place of Beautiful Lucy. And then someone else comes along, Person B, who is an atheist. Person A says... what exactly? ..."Good one Lucy! Way to show your idiot teacher! Woo hoo!"
: this seems ludicrous to me. there are so many things wrong with this i'm not sure where to begin.
: Maybe Person B says, gee I think I'll rewrite that story and make Lucy the an atheist and the teacher the stereotypical Ignorant Christian. Or whatever... i DON'T think Person B is going to read something like this and say, "gee i guess i should become a christian now. i certainly don't want beautiful little girls from "perfect" christian homes thinking i'm a moron". it is god's KINDNESS that leads people to repentance. remember?
: anyway, personally i really don't find this dumb little story "cute" at all. basically the point of this seems to be that atheists are pompous morons, and christians are beautiful perfect people who also happen to be pompous assholes who aren't afraid to insult authority figures. which, actually, is about right much of the time. essentially, no one in this story is "beautiful", they are all ugly, or made out to be ugly. i don't find any real life here. things are thankfully more wonderfully mysterious, complex and truly beautiful than the ridiculous scenario laid out here.