Comments on: All this over a s’more…?

By: Solanole

Solanole — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:04:31 +0000

I don’t know whether it’s my outcast’s cynicism or my atheist’s insecurities, but I sympathize with Mr. Musci. Yes, he does commit the error of talking about ‘Christians’ as if all Christians were the same, which of course they aren’t. But when he’s talking about Christians who are actively evangelical, I think he has a point. If you’re having to put a lot of effort into getting other people to agree with your opinions, whether they’re ideas about religion or fashion or politics, it’s implicit that your ideas aren’t so obviously true they simply stand up on their own. When people realize this, even subconsciously, it can make them insecure, which drives them to try even harder to convince people.

Bear in mind that this editorial was sparked by an encounter with the Campus Crusade for Christ, and clearly fueled by too much exposure to the pit preachers who frequent UNC’s campus in a never-ending quest to turn people away from Jesus. Especially in the case of the latter, Mr. Musci is not aggravated by Christians who are simply “asking you what you think about Jesus.” These are the type of Christians who leave little booklets lying around implying that the non-Christian reader is going to Hell because his or her ideas are wrong. These are the types of Christians who condescendingly pity the informed non-believer right along with the uninformed non-believer.

Just look at the title ‘Campus Crusade for Christ.’ Right there in the name of the ministry it states the organization’s goals: to convert campus members to Christians. All fine and good. But that means that their offers of food are indeed loaded offers, and that the conversation accompanying that food will indeed turn to evangelism at some point. So if Mr. Musci comes to eat their s’mores, he’s putting himself at risk of being condescended to by people whose very fervency implies that their opinions could be as wrong as his might be.

Here’s where the outcast’s cynicism comes in. I’ve eaten the CCC’s s’mores, and I was dead grateful for them. But I’ve also accepted doughnuts from them, and on that occasion I was handed off from one intent girl to another all asking me a constant stream of stock questions about my classes, how I was doing, how I felt. Well, how I felt was like a charity case taken in off the street. Maybe for the real charity cases that’s all right. But I’m an independent, thinking person, capable of making my own perfectly respectable decisions about how to live my life, and I have my own friends, my own religious-or-not points of view that the fervent evangelicals like the CCC don’t seem to respect.

Wow. That turned into an essay. Sorry, Ariel, I guess I’m just new to this whole ‘commenting on blogs’ thing. I’ll have to practice keeping the insecure atheist side of me in check also.

By: lucky pennies

lucky pennies — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 18:57:09 +0000

Thank y’all very much for your comments. And Wesley, I concur with my mom…I’d really like to see you take this further in a post.

By: ben (aka guitar maniac)

ben (aka guitar maniac) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:51:12 +0000

Ooh dag…you got him. I enjoy the biting Christian wit (and logic)! You seem to have answered Musci’s defenses and pushed him to answer in a logical, mature fashion! You go girl!

And I must add that it would also be only natural to feel some type of anxiety/insecurity when trying to convince someone as close-minded as that dude.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:38:04 +0000

Actually, Wesley, I think your comment is very eloquent. As was your letter. In fact, I would love to see you do a post on what you wrote about above and in your letter. Like Ariel (luckypennies), your posts are insightful and show that you’ve given the subject a great deal of honest reflection. And, by the way, Ariel, again let me say–this was a wonderful post.

By: wesleyjeanne

wesleyjeanne — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:59:42 +0000

I agree with Beth–great response. Don’t Republicans and Democrats and the campus Gay and Lesbian group and sororities offer social events for those who are willing to come hear what they have to say? Why is the Crusade different? It appears they didn’t beat down his door and drag him out there, forcing a s’more and Christ down his throat–they politely invited him to an event where he could listen to what they have to say.
Sadly I think there are so many Christians out there who are judging and pushy and cause people to associate them with other Christians who, as you say, simply want to share the solace they’ve found with others. I believe the latter group makes up the majority of Christians. Unfortunately we are all painted by the same brush, as this fellow has done.
Your response was on target. Methinks he doth protest too much.

I’m rambling. Sorry. I was more eloquent when writing to your mom about this–ask her.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:20:17 +0000

Excellent response, Ariel, to Mr. Musci. He seems to have a very large chip on his shoulder. Or maybe he’s just cranky because he’s hungry. What kind of idiot turns down a free s’more anyway? (Ooops, was that judgmental of me?)