@adam -- I think we're going to have to agree to disagree here. To paraphrase Willy Wonka, I think beliefs and ideas can and do make a difference.
I'm not a hater. I respect all people to beliefs what they want and live their lives accordingly -- until their views take those same rights away from others. Mars Hill accomplishes this by preaching values that demean my gender, discriminate against my friends, and negate science. Specifically:
As a female (and the new mother of a daughter), I find Driscoll's views that women are inferior creatures -- meant to breed babies and obey their husbands and not work -- offensive and antiquated.
As the best friend to a gay male, I find his views on homosexuality not only misguided and wrong but also downright dangerous, esp. with the increasing rates of violence against gay people these days.
As an intellectual, I find his views on evolution/hell/etc just ludicrous.
It breaks my heart to see our country in the grasp of an anti-intellectual, discriminatory backlash brought on by the rise of so-called compassionate Christian Conservativism. And to see it burgeoning in the heart of my nice liberal town -- cleverly masked by some skilled marketing people to appeal to urban tattoo rocker sorts -- is insidious.
True, what I supplied above are just "select quotes," as you said... but they summarize everything I know to be true about what Mark Driscoll preaches to his congregation at Mars Hill. If you or Jon or anyone else has evidence that those statements are not representative, I'm all ears.
{You can also click through to the Stranger site to get loads more specifics, if you want to read more. Or just Google.}
PS ~ My pal Ariel wrote a great blog post after attending a Mars Hill sermon -- also well worth the read if you want more details.
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imaginary dana said on April 7, 2008:
@adam -- I think we're going to have to agree to disagree here. To paraphrase Willy Wonka, I think beliefs and ideas can and do make a difference.
I'm not a hater. I respect all people to beliefs what they want and live their lives accordingly -- until their views take those same rights away from others. Mars Hill accomplishes this by preaching values that demean my gender, discriminate against my friends, and negate science. Specifically:
It breaks my heart to see our country in the grasp of an anti-intellectual, discriminatory backlash brought on by the rise of so-called compassionate Christian Conservativism. And to see it burgeoning in the heart of my nice liberal town -- cleverly masked by some skilled marketing people to appeal to urban tattoo rocker sorts -- is insidious.
True, what I supplied above are just "select quotes," as you said... but they summarize everything I know to be true about what Mark Driscoll preaches to his congregation at Mars Hill. If you or Jon or anyone else has evidence that those statements are not representative, I'm all ears.
{You can also click through to the Stranger site to get loads more specifics, if you want to read more. Or just Google.}
PS ~ My pal Ariel wrote a great blog post after attending a Mars Hill sermon -- also well worth the read if you want more details.