Posted on 09/15/2009 10:12:21 AM PDT by NYer
My old boss is from Brazil.
He was raised a form of Baptist, but said that most of his friends where “culturally Catholic”. In other words show up for church once a year or so.
The problem started well before the Evangelical groups came to Brazil.
I see a curved surfboard with a small book on it. Shall we agree he’s using the surfboard as a table?
I would also agree that the evangelical speaker in the photo is definitely an actor entertaining the people.
The word “podium” is often misused. Since you were correcting someone, I thought you’d like to be truly correct. See the dictionary for the definition of podium. I’m not sure what “straining at knats” means. Did you mean gnats?
I would thoroughly agree that a minister using a surfboard as a table in a church is odd... or theatre. It looks as though he has his Bible on it.
***I see a curved surfboard with a small book on it. Shall we agree he’s using the surfboard as a table?***
We are in accord. Now if you look at our right (stage left), you will see some long thin object pointed towards the people. It would not seem to be the colour or substance of a microphone since the actor is using a microphone differently shaped and coloured than that object. I don’t recognize what this object is. The book has the size, shape and appearance of a Bible and it is near (but not at) the center of the surfboard.
Notice that he is waving a red object in his left hand while speaking into the microphone in his right. The object appears to be the approximate shape of a jewelry box (yes I am long married :) ). There are also two rectangular seats or benches under either side of the surfboard; under the altar is a shelf with some unidentifiable objects on it - a pitcher, perhaps with some unaligned papers? - and on the floor under the surboard in the middle of the hidden portion between the legs is a collection of some other unidentifiable objects.
The very existance of a hidden center panel and a shelf says that this is contrived and I do agree with you that this is not religious as much as it is acting.
Hee hee! And do you notice that the person in the front row of the audience (stage left) is taking a photo, not of the speaker, but of the holder of the second microphone?
Colonel Mustard in the auditorium with a surfboard and a jewelry box?
***Hee hee! And do you notice that the person in the front row of the audience (stage left) is taking a photo, not of the speaker, but of the holder of the second microphone?
Colonel Mustard in the auditorium with a surfboard and a jewelry box?***
Applause. In my careful and critical examination of the entire crime scene, I missed the second person entirely. I wonder if that person is dressed as many are in Carnival.
Judging from the stunned expression on the face of the young lady in red just above the second microphone, I’d say the second person on stage IS dressed for Carnival.
You are a good detective— and lots of fun, MarkBsnr!
***Judging from the stunned expression on the face of the young lady in red just above the second microphone, I’d say the second person on stage IS dressed for Carnival.***
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. My father’s (German) relatives that migrated to Brazil have sent us some picture of young ladies that, well, really don’t need much in the way of covering. Unlike myself, who wouldn’t think of wearing a Brazilian thong anywhere in public or basically where any human could see.
***You are a good detective— and lots of fun, MarkBsnr!***
Appreciate it; but there is much more to be gleaned from the photo. There is a stoned dude to our left of the actor raising his hand in the air in the position of no mas. The black lady in a white top just beyond him is pulling wax from her ear. The lady to our right from her is contemplating her hand. The lady to our left from her is looking with extreme cynicism. The lady to our left from her is waving her left hand to go to the bathroom.
The two dude in white behind them make up a couple and will be serving their Christian duties at the AIDS clinic immediately after the jewelry in the red box has been auctioned off. The young lady in the red tube top is trying to remember if she took the Pill this morning. Moving to our right, the young lady in white beside the hidden compartment and over the bench has had too much to drink and is puking on her shoes. The black lady next to her is rolling her eyes and wondering when this thing will be over. The Burger King dude next to her has finished shooting Ronald McDonald in the parking lot and is returning before doughnuts are served. The lady in white next to her is trying to remember her PIN so she can bid on the jewelry that the actor dude is auctioning off.
And we still cannot see the Carnival lady with the microphone. Pity.
Extra points if you notice the black stormtrooper from Star Wars at our upper left.
I think he is attempting to levitate the surfboard, using the hand-held remote control.
Never thought of that. Supposing though, he is attempting to use Scientology wave patterns in order to align the KRC and ARC triangles in such a fashion as to plot the exact position of the Tone scale? Of course, we must act responsibly in order to prevent squirreling.
MarkBsnr, I am home with the flu and you just made me guffaw out loud. it was the stormtrooper that put me over the top!
Perhaps we are missing the point on the whole photo? The fellow waving the jewelry box has just asked if anyone in the audience would like to marry him. Several of the women, as you noted, are waving their hands. It should not disturb us that a few men are raising their hands as well. The “altar” is set up for a mass wedding ceremony. The second “microphone” will be used later in the evening; but the expressions on the ladies’ faces indicate someone is delivering a message about what is to come. The lady pulling wax from her ear is actually a sensitive Christian soul and is cringing at the Carnival atmosphere of this wedding. One poor woman, to the left of the second “microphone” has just burst into tears. The girl in the red tube top IS trying to remember if she took the Pill this morning. The stormtrooper is actually a representative from the auditing firm Pricewaterhouse sent to make sure the bridal selection process is secret and fair— and to keep an eye on the jewelry box.
And we still cannot see the Carnival lady. Pity.
I wasn't going to be so obvious, just trying to point out that a lot of churches do a lot of events to attract the masses...and the other churches like to point out the splinters...
the majority of Brazilians belong to syncratic pagan religions, and don’t understand Catholicism. This has not been helped by those preaching liberation theology, i.e. religion as politics.
As a result, those in the slums have very little knowledge of Christ.
Better Evangelicals than drugs, devil worship, or communism...
The largest group of protestants in Brazil are the Baptists, many of whom are affiliated with the SBC convention here in the US. You also have various charismatics/pentecostals, many of whom were trained by members of the A of G here in the states.
A bigger issue for all Christian sects in Brazil is the high level of religious apathy and ignorance of scripture/doctrine among the larger populace.
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