Float joins '04 parade of religious disputes

[54anickel]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2577072,00.html

The drama in Denver over a church float that never was and a twinkling Christmas message caps a year highlighted by similar disputes over a blockbuster film about Jesus' final hours, the place of faith in the election booth and a struggle to define moral values.

The denial of Faith Bible Chapel's unabashedly Christian entry in this weekend's Parade of Lights and Mayor John Hickenlooper's plans to remove "Merry Christmas" from atop the City and County Building galvanized many, especially conservative Christians.

Some religious leaders suggest this year's earlier battles emboldened Christians to be more vocal in their desire to keep religion in the public square. To others, the parallel controversies are robbing attention from more important issues and fueling division.

On one level, the dispute is an old one, centering on how the religious meaning of Christmas has eroded over the years.

more...

[sam sarrha]

1. i have a float..Pride of the Passion,5 guys whipping the shit out of jesus

and the float leaving trails of blood that will heal the sick, but that would be Easter wouldn't it..? next year for sure..

[Vanje]

2. Passion of the Christ pinata

Hit it with a stick until candy falls out.

[xchrom]

4. lol -- that's funny!

i think better would be to give it a real camp spin -- like the sisters of perpetual indulgence having a go at christ -- now that would make the conservative christians hair fall out.

p.s. for the record i'm a christian -- but a very gay, irreverent one.
but then again -- i think jesus would share my sense of humour.
i mean why not he's jesus, for christs sake -- might as well laugh.

[sam sarrha]

8. with yard sticks !!!

[donheld]

3. The bible beaters now feel like it's open season.

Faith Bible Chapel is one of the Denver area's most obnoxious churches. I hope mayor hickenlooper kicks the shit out of them.

<<The mayor's office reported that a majority of the opposition calls came from out of state, perhaps fueled by conservative Christian Web logs that picked up the story.>> This is what pisses me off more than anything. I don't think our mayor should listen to any of them.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Of course the religious meaning of Christmas has "eroded"

It's just about impossible to find a Mithraeum for celebrating the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun. People act like "Saturnalia" is something dirty. And many apartments are unequipped for burning a Yule log.

Apparently the pastor of Faith Bible Chapel appeared on O'Reilly's show, whining about how Christians are being "oppressed": http://www.fbci.org/

While at the website, notice the church's production of "Old Mister Scrooge." The church can't be bothered to do a Nativity Play on their own premises, but they want to claim that a parade set up on a generic Winter Holiday theme isn't religious enough.

Read about how Christianity is "Under Attack" at the site run by the son of the modern founder of Christian Reconstructionism. http://www.chalcedon.edu/underwriters.php

Does the reverend in Denver realize that the hardcore Reconstructionists regard Christmas as a Popish/Pagan abomination?

[underpants]

6. The chalcedons have a website?

Gee thanks I have to bookmark this thread now. Lots of reading to do there.

They are out in the open?

[Bridget Burke]

7. Yup. Hours of fun....

They have a link page, as well. Down the rabbit hole!