Posted on 10/28/2006 7:08:27 PM PDT by infoguy
An October 17, 2006, op-ed by Los Angeles Times columnist Joel "I Don't Support Our Troops" Stein condescendingly slams Christianity as a "death cult."
Writing a lippy account of a Presbyterian service he had recently attended, Stein belches,
"The first thing I noticed about church was how much like PBS it was. The lighting was dim, the speakers talked slowly, the songs were dated, there were a lot of references to reading material and every so often my eye line was interrupted by envelopes asking me to donate money. Also, I kept falling asleep."
And (bold added),
"I'd never realized how much of a death cult Christianity is. When we weren't fixating on how awesome Christ's murder was, we were singing about how terrific it was going to be when we bite it. Chipper up, Christians! There's a lot to live for. They're making more of those 'Narnia' movies."
Cute, eh? Ugh. There's more to Stein's column, but suffice it to say that it is a disrespectful and dismissive slap at Christianity.
A few days after Stein's arrogant column appeared, the Times, surprisingly, published two letters that were critical of the column.
Thank you, Richard Rorex of Apple Valley, California (bold mine):
Joel Stein's column would qualify as hate speech if the subject were anything other than Christianity. Making light of one of the two mandated ordinances of the Christian religion does not show any sense of decency. Considering the furor over the cartoons of Muhammad published in Europe, I do not understand why Christianity is fair game for ridicule.
And thank you, David Schwankle of Riverside, California, whose letter begins, "Even though I'm an atheist, I find myself offended by Stein's glib, juvenile ridicule of a church service."
As NewsBusters reported a couple weeks ago, the Los Angeles Times recently solicited readers for advice on how to improve their newspaper. My very first piece of advice, which I documented in the comments section and at the forum at the Times web site, was for the paper to hire a columnist with a genuine Christian worldview. At NewsBusters, we have documented several instances of anti-Christian and anti-Catholic bias at the Times. Stein's column simply adds to the pile of examples.
The Times seems to care very little about how often their columns offend Christians. If they did care, they would do something significant about it - right away.
Well, in a way, he's right. Christianity is ultimately about life after death.
Last time I checked we don't behead people at Lutheran gaterings like the Muslims Terrorists do when they get the chance.
It sure has been open season on Christianity lately, hasn't it?
Glad someone has posted on this. Stein had already proven he is no patriot. Now he has proven he's am anti-Christian bigot. Good to see that the LA Times, vile paper though it is, has printed two negative letters on this.
There should be a concerted campaign against Joel Stein, and it should get very, very personal. We should demand his firing, demand that advertisers pull out of the LAT, and encourage as many cancellations as we can.
It's disappointing to me that Hugh Hewitt didn't blog on this. Many, many people should have.
Oh, please. Just bash him.
I wonder if the pastor of the church that Stein attended and used as fodder for public ridicule had the guts to send a letter about this, preach about this, or anything at all? It would be worth finding out. Maybe that church's members should put his feet to the fire, if, as I suspect, he's too cowardly to have done anything about it.
Well this isn't the first time someone has used the words presbyterian and sleep in the same paragraph. LOL!
The "Death Cult" has already occured in this maroon's skull, as obviously there are precious few brain cells still living ...
Yeah, no wonder he fell asleep (smile).
It's only just begun, mom.
Reminds me; it's just about time for the 'creche menace' stories to start popping up in the news.
Now true Christians, don't flame me ...
But, if he went to sleep in a church service, can we really blame just him? Can you imagine him going to sleep in a typical 'holiness church' service?
WHICH Christians.....PCA (Presbyterian Church of America - CONSERVATIVE) or PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of USA - LIBERAL)......I think I KNOW.....
Who cares what that moron has to say? We know he loses in the end, unless he becomes one of those....*gasp*...Christians. LOL
Joel: Who the Hell asked you? I could care less what you think about Christianity. Stick to being a non-observant Jew, and you'll make two religions happy.
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today.
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
Alfred Ackley, 1933
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