(N.B.: This post discusses issues and uses phrases that aren't appropriate for kids. I usually keep this blog family friendly, but it is hard to address this issue without being blunt.)
After writing my post yesterday, and re-reading the Devout Life's Post I & II on the subject, I walked away from my spiel about Alliance Christian Fellowship's "Porn Weekend Promotion" a little unsatisfied. I know why I have a problem with the billboard, and I think the topic and workshop are an OK idea (I hedge a bit due to the fact I don't really know what they are going to say), and I feel like I didn't give it a good treatment. This is mostly because I didn't explain myself well, which may be due in part to the fact that until today I didn't truly know what was wrong with the billboard. I blame most of the problem on my poor writing skills, but I digress.
Well today, I was standing in line at the store waiting to buy groceries when I realized the double standard that ACF is using. You know how at supermarkets there are check-out lanes labeled "Family Friendly"? You know, aisles with no Cosmo's or Glamour's at eye level for your 10 year old boys? Some stores even go as far as not having candy in those aisles. Some will just cover up the Cosmo with a nice plastic board. Well, who do you think argued for their implementation? It was the protestant evangelicals. It was the same people that fills the pews (or should I say fabric covered seats) of most evangelical protestant churches. It wasn't just the pictures, but the words that they wanted covered. Why? Because words have MEANING, and words have affect and effects. Because, a 9 year old boy or girl could just as easily see women wearing what they do on the covers in the store, but reading: "100 Great Ways to Please Your Man With What You Have In Your Basket Right Now" is entirely different. Because, although there is nothing per se wrong with sex (when conducted between a married couple) there is a detrimental affect on your child when they read the words: "Have Better Sex TONIGHT!"
So you see when kids, 10 year olds (which is under the age of what even ACF deems appropriate for their workshops, read the PORN WEEKEND billboard they are affected. The effects? Well it is a query into "What is porn? And why is there a weekend about it at a church?" In fact, it looks inviting, it looks interesting, and the billboard seems to be promoting it. Again, my argument isn't that the billboard shouldn't use the word PORN, but that it how it uses it that is harmful and improper. It is a gimmick, and they are utilizing a standard which they don't normally employ: e.g. the Cosmo Argument.
Likewise would it be appropriate to have "ABORTION WEEKEND"; "Abortion and Apple Pie", "Condoms and Cake", or "Peanut Butter and Spermicidal Jelly"? How about promoting a weekend about Alcoholism with: "Keg Party Weekend!"; "Beer and Baseball"; "Shots and Ladders"; and "Tequila makes your clothes fall off"? Or what if the Catholic church did this with "Pedophilia"? There would be outrage. It isn't that these things shouldn't be talked about, but it is how it is promoted. It is the way in which the church is enticing folks to come. It is tacky and it misleads folks. Not that I think people will be tricked into coming, but it misleads those that don't know how to interpret this – Children.
As I said, I wonder what the Pastor would say about my other weekend ideas, or the Cosmo lane at the supermarket. I bet he would have some way around it, but really, ACF is wrong here. They are using a gimmick, they are fitting their church and God into the culture rather than fitting themselves into God. What is really sad, is that at the end of the day I bet this is all about money. I can almost gurantee that the group behind this, XXXChurch.com is charging a pretty penny to come here and so they have to promote in a provocative way to make sure they make money. Because isn't that what PORN is all about, making money? That is the problem with double standards, you end up right back where you start.
After writing my post yesterday, and re-reading the Devout Life's Post I & II on the subject, I walked away from my spiel about Alliance Christian Fellowship's "Porn Weekend Promotion" a little unsatisfied. I know why I have a problem with the billboard, and I think the topic and workshop are an OK idea (I hedge a bit due to the fact I don't really know what they are going to say), and I feel like I didn't give it a good treatment. This is mostly because I didn't explain myself well, which may be due in part to the fact that until today I didn't truly know what was wrong with the billboard. I blame most of the problem on my poor writing skills, but I digress.
Likewise would it be appropriate to have "ABORTION WEEKEND"; "Abortion and Apple Pie", "Condoms and Cake", or "Peanut Butter and Spermicidal Jelly"? How about promoting a weekend about Alcoholism with: "Keg Party Weekend!"; "Beer and Baseball"; "Shots and Ladders"; and "Tequila makes your clothes fall off"? Or what if the Catholic church did this with "Pedophilia"? There would be outrage. It isn't that these things shouldn't be talked about, but it is how it is promoted. It is the way in which the church is enticing folks to come. It is tacky and it misleads folks. Not that I think people will be tricked into coming, but it misleads those that don't know how to interpret this – Children.
As I said, I wonder what the Pastor would say about my other weekend ideas, or the Cosmo lane at the supermarket. I bet he would have some way around it, but really, ACF is wrong here. They are using a gimmick, they are fitting their church and God into the culture rather than fitting themselves into God. What is really sad, is that at the end of the day I bet this is all about money. I can almost gurantee that the group behind this, XXXChurch.com is charging a pretty penny to come here and so they have to promote in a provocative way to make sure they make money. Because isn't that what PORN is all about, making money? That is the problem with double standards, you end up right back where you start.
†††
No comments:
Post a Comment