Facebook vs. The Good Book/Books

Our facebooks have literally become our online extension of ourselves over the past few years. Similarly, we choose what we share with the world. Every time I receive a new friend request I secretly pray it won't be someone awkward, like an aunt who thinks Ellen DeGeneres is the devil. Mainly because faking who we are is a lot easier for an individual to do to an acquaintance that will remain as such--and crazy aunts you only see once a year, etc.

Oh, and P.S.
Facebook asks you to put your religious views on your profile. Ehhh. Already an awkward conversation for new friends in a lot of settings, now my aunt and latest friend will have the opportunity to base their opinion of me by a simple answer to a question that is anything but.

So I took a poll of 10 random friends that were on my news feed--no cheating. I mainly chose from those who has birthdays today, so some may say this is rigged still.

Here are the results to a poll of 10 people, and their answers to facebook's curve ball.
( I decided to throw a few random characteristics of the people as well, so feel free to pick at that as well)


All "younger" people polled happened to be around high school/ college age, and the older man is in his late 40s, in case you were wondering.

1-->Younger-->Jewish-->Male
1-->Older-->Catholic-->Male
1-->Younger-->"No Answer"-->Male
1-->Younger-->"No Answer"-->Female
1-->Younger-->"No Answer"-->Male
1-->Younger-->Christian-->Female
1-->Younger-->Christian-Baptist-->Male
1-->Younger-->Jesus Freak--> Female
1-->Younger--> Jewish-Reform--> Male

1-->And the most interesting was a friend of mine, Tyler. He is a younger male, a year away from graduating nursing school at UAB. His interests read:

Political Views: Don't Care.
Religious Views: Same as Above.


So...

A) What is the difference between labels such as "Christian" verses "Catholic" or even "Christian-Baptist"?
          - The answer lies with the same person who asked, to be cliche.
          - In this particular example, I personally see no difference. It's almost like claiming to be a ginger, instead of a red head. It's all hair, isn't it--but of course that would be a silly metaphor.
          - My aunt will tell you a little different, however.

B) Who really cares?
       -If someone wants to look down on me for my answers to personal questions, well, I don't really need you as a pal anyway. Sure, I'll read your status updates when they're on my news feed, but actual friendship might not be in our future.
      - If my answer sparks a cool convo, we might have lunch at the ferg on Friday to continue. I enjoy intelligent discussions, without an agenda.

The Art of Why

But... why? We ask ourselves this about almost everything we come in contact with. And usually, the answer is unclear. So, how on earth--with the word why around--can evangelism happen? How on earth can you convince someone to believe in something as important as the existence of a God? Especially if they already have their mind mad up? Ah, why? Well the answer isn't simple at all. In fact, I don't know the answer, I'm just going to ramble on about it for a few paragraphs because THAT'S WHAT BLOGGERS DO. Anyway. We should embrace the why. Discussion is the only way you will get anywhere with a person who has opposing views. Ask for a why. But also, make sure you're ready for it. I've read a good deal of the atheist side evangelism, and most articles say the same things. The educated/non-anger driven articles simply state that they are open minded, but the evangelist is not. The"why" angers the person trying to do something as important as completely change a person's life. May I ask--Why? I do not know the answer but I can guess that their beliefs are being attacked and therefore taking is personal. These people need to stay out of the recruiting business. Long story short, I think they "why" is fun for conversation and educated discussions, but as far as it's role in fundamentalist Christian evangelization, eh I don't think it will ever work. When it comes down to it, Religion is something a person is better of experiencing on their own. It's a little too intimate for a rando to be creepin around.

Join Today and Win a Free Soul

Brother Micah

Evangelism-- Americas favorite past time-ish


Southern recruiting in general has always fascinated me. Think about the Greek system, or Mallet Assembly, or any other group on campus. All will admit their groups are related to a religion in the fact that they evangelize their future members. The process is so customary to us that we don't even realize it. In fact, I think we seek it out. Religion can be broken down into a million zillion ways, but essentially it is a group of people worshiping a central icon. You meet with these people once a whatever and discuss things important to it's center.


Brother Micah is an older man that visits college campus's in order to evangelize/harass students.He yells at girls to watch what they wear and at men for not looking like men, and for a list of other reasons. He is crazy. But we are too. Everyday Sarah Somebody wears her letters, she is really saying "This is what I am, and what you are not. Don't I look hot in Nike tempos?" Which is pretty strange and I think it's a little scary. We are so easily affiliated with things.


I am not saying it's not cool to be in clubs--or even that all clubs are this way, but it's the people in them that turn them into cults. When you allow a group to define you, and recruit new members in a way that is similar to a religion, they become one.

Mom, Dad, I'm Catholic.

After years and years of being told what you know, at what point do you look in the mirror and wonder if Jesus lives next to Santa Clause in the land of childhood you thought you had figured out?

Nine years in Catholic school is no small feat. Life becomes a box you pich a tent in and wait for cool stuff to walk by. This will never happen because little do you know, the box is separated from the general public. Doctrine embodies the decisions you make to a T and it suits you. For nine years (k-8), the sacraments you learn about in Religion class go hand in hand with the make-up of a cell in Biology.

For this Puerto Rican, "Redneck", Catholic raised in a small town, my questions began when the Church finally asked me what I thought. Years fly by as you color Jesus in kindergarden and memorize the parts of the mass, and then they ask you if you've believed them this whole time. Do I want to be confirmed in the Catholic church? Uhmmm.... is this a trick question? No, my mother would reply. It was my turn to speak for 13 years of kneeling, Eucharist eating, and confessing my sins. Come on, isn't thirteen awkward enough?

So I decided to think. I decided to think. And contrary to popular opinion, most of my friends did actually think about all of these things we thought we knew. Their is a huge misconception about the ritualistic-ness of the Catholic church, or at least in my small section. It became a bigger deal to me than I had originally thought it would. Maybe I didn't believe in God. Or maybe, just maybe, I really did.

For the first time, my head became flooded with what I thought about this whole religion thing. It was a scary thought to think that everything was a lie. I decided to rip apart all that I had believed. For a while, my faith became a song that I was trying to decide if I actually liked--or was did I just like the band that sang it? I often wondered why I had never gone this far into what I thought about the world around me.

Light bulb.

I thought, maybe the black and white had gray areas? I decided to plan out what I believed, and went from there. I decided that the formalities of the Catholic church were a way for me to feel at home with God. I began to defend my Religion--even if I did not agree with every detail. I decided God is where you see him, and no letters on the front door of a church make a difference. God became something that I sought out. I decided to go through with Confirmation, and remain a practicing Catholic. As far as the formalities such as Reconciliation go, I opt out--but have the utmost respect for. I enjoy religious debate and love hearing all points of view. Questioning my box meant turning my back to what I knew, and then folding it up and taking it with me.