Christianity can be kind of fun

[Droopy]

Jesus loves the little children
all the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
they are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

I'll always remember that little song and the melody that went with it. It could be a part of a larger song, but that's what I remember singing in Sunday school when I was a little boy. The church was uncommonly diverse for the times. I'd say the congregation was about 50/50 black to white, including the children's Sunday school class that I would sing that little, liberal, Christian song with.

We did all have something in common despite our diversity as a church. We were all either working class or poor people including the pastor. He worked in a print ship through the week, but somehow found the time to write some very emotional and fired-up sermons. He was a gifted orator as well and really new how to work the congregation. Usually, at some point every Sunday, be it with the morning service or the evening service, there would be people in there just going out of their minds for Jesus. There would be men standing up by the altar with their arms raised to the heavens, tears running down their faces, and speaking in tongues. Women would be passing out in the aisles. I tell you, I don't care what you believe, that's entertainment right there. And that's the way my little boy's mind perceived it. It could be scary at times, but I would sit there listening to the preacher fire up the flock and hoping that it would draw some member of the church to be "anointed with oil" during a "laying on with hands" so I would get to see someone pass out. Yes, that was one great preacher right there.

It turned out that the preacher had a problem keeping the evil serpent in his pants. It was discovered one day by his wife that he was doing a little "laying on with hands" with the baby- sitter. We lived right across the street from the preacher and I accidentally walked into his house when he was getting worked over by the church elders. There would be no forgiveness for the pastor. He was booted from the church. About 3/4 of the congregation went with him and the church turned into a little, redneck place with about 20 people showing up on a good Sunday, mostly white folks. The new preacher just didn't have the fire in his belly like the other guy.

[sasquatch]

1. My brother is going to one of those crazy ass snakehandling churches right now

My grandmother told that my baby nephew raised his hands in that "touchdown Jesus" style the fundies use and yelled "AMEN!" when whe opened this large book she had with her.
:scared:
Needless to say I'm really worried for the child.

[Droopy]

2. Yes, to fully enjoy a church like that

and not get sucked into the snake-handeling stuff, you have to keep a detached mind set on what is going on in your surroundings. Kids aren't always able to do that, and a church like that can really scare the little ones.

The little guy will be alright, though. He'll probably rebel when he gets to be a teenager. :)

[Blarch]

3. Nice going.

I will assume you and grandma both believe in a god.

Why the fuck would you make fun of somebody Else's religion ?

As an Atheist, I think you are all nuts, and hypocrites

[sasquatch]

4. "Why the fuck would you make fun of somebody Else's religion ?"

Because its dangerous and it could get people killed.

[elshiva]

6. Do they literally handle snakes?

That is dangerous.

[Droopy]

7. I think sasquatch may have been exaggerating a little

But, yes, there really are Christian churches where people handle snakes. Usually rattle snakes and usually in some backwoods churches in the south. sasquatch lives near me and I don't know of any snake handling churches around here.

[elshiva]

8. Droopy, I DO KNOW that there are some churches that

actually handle snakes. I've seen pictures. I was asking Sasquatch if they were part of an actual snakehandling church. I think that is dangerous. I've heard that they actually get bit and some die.

[sasquatch]

9. No, its just a term I give to fundamentalist churches in general

[Droopy]

5. An unholy kick