Evangelicals and prostitutes: [Have liberals succeeded in making them one and the same?]

The Atlantic Monthly. Boston: Jul/Aug 2003. Vol. 292, Iss. 1; pg. 40 ^ | Jul/Aug 2003 issue | Barna Research Ltd

[elenchus]

A recent survey by the Barna Research Group-which provides "information and analysis regarding cultural trends and the Christian Church"-asked "adults who do not consider themselves to be Christian" to give their impressions of the following categories of people: born-again Christians, Democrats, evangelical Christians, lawyers, lesbians, military officers, ministers, movie and TV performers, prostitutes, real-estate agents, and Republicans. Non-Christians, it turns out, have a low regard for evangelical Christians, whom they view less favorably than all the above-mentioned groups except one: prostitutes. The survey did not, however, reveal a general anti-Christian bias among the non-Christian population: ministers and born-again Christians ranked at the top of the favorability list, below only military officers. Real-estate agents did surprisingly well, ranking just under Democrats and higher than movie and TV performers, lawyers, Republicans, and lesbians. The study concludes that prejudice against evangelicals may reflect ignorance radier than actual dislike: few of the respondents were able to identify any difference between born-again and evangelical Christians, despite their considerably less favorable view of the latter.

[Sidebar] -"Surprisingly Few Adults Outside of Christianity Have Positive Views of Christians," Barna Research Group For links to the reports and documents discussed in these pages visit www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/07/primarysources.htm

[elenchus]

It appears that the liberal propaganda against evangelical Christians is working! For details on the original study by the polling organization, visit Barna Research Group at:

http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=127&Reference=F

[Roughneck]

liberal propoganda againts christians only hurts liberals. In the end, christians win. Who cares what the hell-bound think?

[Rays_Dad]

Exactly.

[Aquinasfan]

Wow. Persecution is just a matter of time.

[I still care]

I know this is a cliche, but you are right. I read the back of the book, and the Christians win.

The cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars end up in the lake of fire. I think that includes the Democrats.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Evangelicals and prostitutes"

Brought to mind that guy's fund raising appeal:
"Send me $5 million or the Lord is calling me home"

[biblewonk]

Where's my barf alert?

[normy]

Hello, new to this forum. I gotta agree man most evangelical preachers are prostitutes for money.

[steplock]

Now - now -we can't put TV beggars in the same light.

The TV preacher is the present form of the future Computer Confessional (run by the "gubmint")

Boy! What a way to gain control of the sheeple!

I am a Christian.

[Corin Stormhands]

"Surprisingly Few Adults Outside of Christianity Have Positive Views of Christians,"

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

While there is no doubt that many Christians give more than enough reason not to be trusted or respected, the message and the truth of the gospel has not and will not change.

My responsibility is to live and to present the gospel. If non-believers reject it, that is their choice. And, once they have rejected the gospel, their opinions of Christians and Christianity are irrelevant.

[newgeezer]

This article is hilarious. First, they limit the sample to admitted non-Christians. That, if I remember correctly, eliminates the 70% of American adults who, if you simply ask them if they are (in the most generic sense) Christians, answer in the affirmative.

Then, they ask those people their opinions of (among other groups) Christians.

I mean, you might as well ask vegans for their opinions about meat eaters!

[normy]

Not only are they prostitutes but adulterers as well because they teach the law of Moses including the ten comandments. However in Romans 7 Paul says if you are married to Jesus by faith in the death burial and resurection and live w/ Moses you are a spiritual adulterer. If these preachers teach be good by your own power by following the law of Moses and not repent and believe the gospel ( death, burial, resurection, "1 Corinthians 15 ") they are adulterers.

[txzman]

Uh, at least where I live, the term born-again and evangelical is nearly synonymous.

[biblewonk]

Considering how stupid it was, I expect PJ to be reporting it this evening. I'm also expecting the U of I to offer a class on the topic this fall.

[normy]

If the prophets of America walked in the power of the resurected Jesus (cast out devis, heal the sick,raise the dead and heal the lepers) instead of their own rightousness and greed the power would convert the unbeliever. The gospel of Christ is not in word only but in power.

[elenchus]

Even if I grant your assumption that a large proportion of tv evangelicals are corrupt (which I do not), does this (as you seem to suggest) validate the notion that evangelical Christians are more corrupt than the other groups mentioned? Or the notion that the influence of the evangelical movement is harmful to the United States and its core values? - This is an assumption that the media--and, it appears, you--would like to see adhere to evangelical Christians in general.

The fact is that there is no force more positive in American life for upholding objective moral values in America; without evangelicals, the country would surely have long ago sunk into a morass of permanent Clintonism, with Bill and Hillary our two-for-the-price-of-one Gods.

I wonder: What might the motivation be to derogate evangelical Christianity and subsume the entirety under the few who may be corrupt?

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Even if I grant your assumption that a large proportion of tv evangelicals are corrupt"

I did not say that, how the Hell would I know?
I said the title reminded me of Oral Roberts who said "send me $ 5 million or the Lord will call me home"

You don't know anything about my "assumptions,"
Go have an argument with someone who gives a shiite about you and your beliefs.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Non-Christians, it turns out, have a low regard for evangelical Christians . . . "

"The survey did not, however, reveal a general anti-Christian bias among the non-Christian population: ministers and born-again Christians ranked at the top of the favorability list, below only military officers."

This doesn't make any sense - they dislike "evangelical Christians" but like "born-again" Christians?

[Steve_Seattle]

"Hello, new to this forum. I gotta agree man most evangelical preachers are prostitutes for money."

Your comment apparently refers to televangelists, who comprise a tiny minority of evangelical ministers. Now, televangelists do sometimes couch their financial appeals in terms I find offensive, but on the other hand it's a fact of life they need to raise money to continue their ministries.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Its the "in the face" part that annoyed the respondents. A quiet and devout born again Christian who doesn't proclaim faith at every situation that arises during the course of the day and doesn't make a big deal about it around theirr non Christian friends is usually a very trusted person, and is more likely to win over converts.