Comments on: Christian on Survivor: China

By: Polly

Polly — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:02:08 +0000

I think Leslie was right to follow her conscience. Even if it’s not inherently wrong, each individual’s primary duty is to their conscience.

if you were in Leslie’s position, being asked to participate in what to you appeared to be a religious ritual related to beliefs you do not affirm, would you have participated anyway? Why or why not?

Well, I still go to church once in a while (my wife’s xian) so yeah, I participate in meaningless ceremonies for the sake of “society.” As I understand the Survivor scenario, (I’ve never seen the show) you don’t have to convert to, or even affirm the religion’s truthiness, just engage in a little ceremony – like a wedding, a christening, or a bar mitzvah or singing a xmas carol. It’s all pretty benign from my POV. If I choose to be somewhere where I know there will be religious ceremony, I won’t insist on my way. I’d abstain if the chants or whatever somehow promoted racism, sexism, violence, curses against the out-group, etc…

As for comments about Xianity being a relationship and not a religion – I used to say this exact same thing. Of course, it’s total bullshit. Xianity is a religion like any other belief system.

If JC were to show up in person, get chummy with each of his followers in the flesh, and say that you don’t have to be baptised or partake of the eucharist, or get together with other believers for a program on one special day of the week, then I’ll call it a relationship. Until then…IT’S A RELIGION. Let’s just dispense with the dissembling.

By: micketymoc

micketymoc — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:30:55 +0000

Marilyn, to say that Leslie's behavior is simply "loyal" and not "religious" at all mangles the meaning of the word "religious". Leslie is "loyal", true, but loyal to what? A creed personified by a deity (and you can't deny that Jesus is co-substantial with God, right?) and a belief system. It's religious behavior, no matter how you look at it, and it does a grave disservice to the truth when agenda-laden people play with words the way Leslie (and you) do.

By: Marilyn V

Marilyn V — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:18:41 +0000

I don’t watch Survivor, but a friend forwarded this to me…..and I fully understand Leslie’s reaction. I, too, am not “religious” but love the Lord Jesus because He chose to die for me (and you) so that we would not have to suffer the consequences of our sin. Paul said, “All have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.” (Rom, 3:23) Also: “The wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Jesus said, “For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:35) Heb. 12:2: “He, (Jesus) for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If someone dies for you, don’t you owe that person loyalty? Leslie was demonstrating her loyalty to Jesus by not putting any other gods before Him. If she is truly born again, Jesus dwells in her heart and participating in any other belief would be impossible for her. Persecuted Christians endure horrible torture rather than deny their faith in Jesus–they are loyal to Him. THAT’S relationship–not religion; that’s LOVE for the Savior.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:07:06 +0000

Way to completely not understand Buddhism. Nease needs to read a book or something.

By: HappyNat

HappyNat — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:00:15 +0000

Question for the atheists here: if you were in Leslie’s position, being asked to participate in what to you appeared to be a religious ritual related to beliefs you do not affirm, would you have participated anyway? Why or why not?

Sure. I do it every Christmas and Easter with my family. Dad asks me to attend and since I don’t have plans I go with him. If I signed up for a TV show and there was some contrived ritual I would still participate, for the sake of “survival” it would seem silly not to. An advantage of not believing is that I wouldn’t be worried about upseting my god or marking my soul.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:57:16 +0000

I would have left the area like Leslie did, and for the same reason, that it was just tugging at her that this is Not the right thing to do. I’m sure that the Bible verse found in Exodus 23:24 was running thru her head which says, “you shall not bow down to their gods…” Respectful observation of a religious ceremony is one thing, being asked to participate is something totally different.

I found it very thought provoking that even Denise said this feels like a spiritual event or experience. I don’t know Denise’s religious background, but if Denise felt this, the same thing probably was going on in Leslie.

I also don’t see much difference between Leslie leaving quietly and Courtney being disrespectful and indifferent towards the whole ceremony. Both didn’t like it for different reasons.

By: Iztok

Iztok — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:29:41 +0000

Well, the 91.9 closed their blog. First they’ve started deleting posts that didn’t agree with them, then they’ve closed it even for reading. I guess nothing really changed since the dark ages of Inquisition.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:43:52 +0000

I think most atheists have to attend religious rituals simply by virtue of living in a religious society where being part of a community means sometimes going to baptisms, weddings, funerals, commemorative services at work or for holidays. Usually there is prayer, hymn-singing, etc. and we just grin and bear it. We don’t get a choice if we want to be part of our communities, versus opting out and coming off as grumpy, disrespectful curmudgeons. And we have enough trouble with bad reputations anyway!

I only wish I got invited to more non-Christian religious services – I think they’d be more interesting to me just for novelty value.

“Not a religion, it’s a relationship” is a very popular (and frankly misleading) catchphrase that’s been around since the 1970s. It’s a way of disavowing the negative parts of institutional religion, while still evangelizing for Jesus. Indeed, these people are typically far more “religious,” in terms of church attendance and how important religion is to them, than are most Americans. Which is why I say it’s misleading.

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:05:17 +0000

Question for the atheists here: if you were in Leslie’s position, being asked to participate in what to you appeared to be a religious ritual related to beliefs you do not affirm, would you have participated anyway? Why or why not?

If it were for a tv show, absolutely. Well, let me qualify that- it would depend which show. I would do whatever I need to to win the show, so if I needed to become recognizable to the public I would appeal to people by playing whatever part I had to. If I needed to lay low, I would. I dont believe in any of it, so I hardly think I will bring curses upon me by pretending for tv.

Its a little different in the real world, but generally I avoid services. I am not against going or afraid I will get converted, but I have better, less boring ways to spend my time.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 12:57:31 +0000

I only saw a bit of the show and missed the ceremony.
I’m just glad they didn’t vote off the WWE wrestler who appeared nude in last June’s Playboy.