I'd bet if you ask them, those "Jersey Shore" people will tell you they are all Christians. Maybe they're not the "right kind" of Christians, but really, are there any at all? How about a "Pandeism Shore," there's nothing in pandeist ideology to justify fighting, but pandeists are fine with "fornicating" for fun.

One thing I have never understood is how people who think themselves followers that are "not of the world" give the greatest obeisance to the worst cultural manifestations of it. That obeisance manifests by tinkering a little bit with it to make it their own, or allegedly sanctify it. What they have done, which they somehow cannot see, is bow deeply to the worst idols of junk.
And they keep on doing it. That is how one can tell that a huge percentage of Christianity is pure crapola.

How is it that the religious nut are alway being force to watch shows on tv that they do not want too? I mean you could always change the channel or turn the tv off, stop blaming other for your short comings , this clearly show how weak religion is because everything threaten it and the believer can not control themselves and resist temptation.

I'm wondering if Cultural Historian and kwolf443 actually read the blog.

"The Rev. Anthony Storino, pastor of Abundant Grace Church in Toms River, says members are not against the TV program. But he says there's another side to the Jersey shore."

It sounds like they are simply promoting their own different values than Jersey Shore". Maybe the poeple feeling threatened are the two of you.

Mr. Anonymous,

I think you just made my exact point. The Pastor "says members are not against the TV program." Therefore, they are attempting a Christianized version. I am for freedom of speech, association and entertainment, even if it means inexorable decline. But let us at least not kid ourselves that there is anything the least bit holy or heavenly about it.

I say that being very aware that there are MANY classy Christians!

Cultural Historian - What escapes you is was not done because they are concerned rather to show others like yourself that there is more to there area than shown. If you want to draw irrelevant conclusions from that be my guest. I say that being aware their are also classy atheists.

Anyone who name is Anonymous must be trying to hide something and feels that they must defend gods and religions because they need defending .

Mr. Anonymous,

Again, you have made my point. You are incredibly helpful! Of course they are not trying to impress people like me. But you think at least they would trying to impress God Almighty, and I doubt anything even tangentially related to the Jersey Shore would do that. Consider a more appropriate case of Christian art. One thinks of Johann Sebastian Bach dedicating all his works to the glory of God. Can you, even in your wildest dreams, defend this whole crapola in the same manner?

The worst part about these shows, such as reality tv, is that young people are caught up into thinking that it is how they should behave because that is how they see adults behaving. The adult cartoon shows tell kids it is ok to behave this way also. After all, they are cartoons so it is ok for kids to watch them, right? Parents have a very important role in keeping most tv away from their kids, as well as monitering what their kids see on the internet. The social networking sites can be reality tv for these kids. Isnt it funny that the Amish dont have the problems with their kids that the rest of America has? I live near the Amish, and I have yet to see one Amish kid smoking a cigarette, using drugs or even misbehaving in general. I am not saying that they dont have problems. I am just saying that they have a lot less of them.

I have heard, several times from people who interact with the Amish, that very many have false teeth because they are addicted to sugar. Not just a sweet tooth. But a lot of sugar!!! Don't know for sure, but i have heard you can tell that many have dentures.
Very interesting if true!

You're right Clay. The Amish don't divorce, rarely use abuse drugs or alcohol, and have a suicide rate that is half that of the surrounding culture.

What you should also note, though, is that they are very serious about worship but they never push their views or their way of life on others.

Well the Amish do sell a lot of baked goods. And as far as "pushing" their beliefs on others, the bible tells us to witness to others and spread the word. Perhaps the Amish could do more of that, although they of course dont have any electronic outlets to do it. That is one of the few bad things about not having electricity.

kwolf443 It may have eluded you but using a bunch of letters and numbers in a id really doesn't reveal anymore about you except that you took a few seconds to fill in the name line here. You also mistake correcting your own wrong assumptions with defending. A popular atheist tactic. Make some ignorant ot flase statement then when someone attempts to point it out you try and spin it as some need to defend religion or God.

Cultural Historian I'm not even sure what point you are trying to make. the point you are makingis that you feel threatened by Christians celebrating their faith. Why wouldn't God be impressed with that? The only crapola is the show Jersey Shore which I don't watch. The real question is why are you spending so much time defending it and attacking people for celebrating something better.

The Amish do witness Clay. They do it with their way of life. Their lives are living testimony to the grace that comes from living a faultless life. What they don't do is tell outsiders how they should worship and what they should believe.

That's what you do. And the bible doesn't tell you to do that.

Clay - Dana is right witnessing is much more than words how one lives their life and conducts oneself can be witness to Christ.

Mr. Anonymous,

You inability to even grasp this basic cultural observation is the best evidence I could have wanted of how far gone most "Christians" are. They seem to have confused the shadow cast by Hyper -Capitalism with piety. I say this as a great believer in Capitalism as a system. But like everything in life it has its weaknesses which should be avoided if possible, or ameliorated. What they should not receive is mindless, de facto impious glorification by people who imagine they are doing the Lord's work.

By the way, what is the "Christian" answer to The Bamboo???

Cultural Historian - You mistake rejecting your observation with failure to grasp it. I understood what you were saying. You aren't the first person to make such observations. What you see as "mindless, de facto impious glorification" I see as nothing more than an attempt by a group to follow its mission statement.

http://movetheearth.org/index.php?nid=40375&s=au

To answer your question there is none. Christians are called to turn the other cheek. That isn't the same as ignoring what you call "the shadow cast by Hyper -Capitalism" Nothing wrong with any group trying to change views. It's particularly refreshing when it's done without resorting to petty personal attacks, insults and ridicule used by non-religious individuals.

Mr. Anonymous,

I feel like Jerry Seinfeld in that episode about the Car Rental place not honoring his reservation. After they tell him they don't have his car, and he says they don't know what a reservation is and they contradict that he notes: " I don't think you know what a reservation is. You know how to TAKE the reservation. You just don't know how to HOLD the reservation. And that's what a reservation is."

Your sense of what constitutes cultural regeneration, as witnessed by the mission statement you provide, has one big problem. Like the holding of the car reservation, the de facto attitude of the group is simply at odds with the holding of the means of our culture. If you give obeisance to the rot of culture by imitating it -- vis-a-vis Jersey Shore -- you already have lost. This is why these groups are always like a dog chasing its own tale.

The day one of these groups makes an effort to actually preserve something great from the past I will be impressed. As a follower of Jesus myself, I think he would mostly throw- up if he came back and saw what was done in his name.

Cultural Historian,

The trouble with your analogy is in my case I never took your reservation and you presumed that means I didn’t know what one is. Just as you presume because I provided the groups’ mission statement I concur with what they did. While I don’t see the big deal you’re making. A lot worse things have been done in Christ’s name, I also don’t see the value either. Cultural regeneration is a subjective what one person views as important may not be to someone else. I agree with that last sentence I just don’t think it applies in this case or understand why you seem to think it’s such a big deal.

"A lot worse things have been done in Christ’s name,"

Well, Anonymous, finally we really agree!

Cheers!

p.s. And don't call Snooky fat!!!!