The Babylon Bee stings again!

[GalRevRedux]

I tried to find the existing thread but could not. My apologies.

The Bee takes a jab at the ELCA:

https://babylonbee.com/news/elca-dropping-problematic-evangelic-lutheran-church-and-america-from-denomination-name

Donna

[Charles Austin]

Jabs ought to be funnier. I think I'll write one.

[Dave Likeness]

Thanks Donna for sharing this.   The ELCA has definitely caved into the current culture
of our nation.  They should certainly remove the name Lutheran from their endeavors.
The ELCA has made a mockery of God's institution of marriage by affirming homosexual
marriages of their own clergy..

[Charles Austin]

Ok, now we're getting funny.   

[Dan Fienen]

OK let's see.


Evangelical, definitely a trigger. There is a long history to this word but as we know positive history is no excuse for images that have been associated with with bad actions or attitudes. Evangelical has come to be associated with traditional, conservative, homophobic, misogynistic, predominately white (ipso facto racist) and cisgendered people. Current associations mean this part of the name really must go.


Lutheran, oh my no. Luther is an old, dead, white, cisgendered, European male. Could it get any worse? Well, he was also a known and blatant anti-Semitic racist. Although as forms of racism go, anti-Semitism is generally considered to of lesser concern and even indulged in by some current Democratic Congresspersons with only minor disapproval. Perhaps if they put out the story that they named their church after a famed civil rights leader they could sneak it through.


Church, well, maybe this could be kept but still problematic. Many groups identified as churches are notorious for using their supposed religious beliefs to justify discrimination against a number of oppressed groups. Does such an enlighted and socially conscious group want to have a name associated with such regressive and repressive groups?


in, a simple preposition, so probably not objectionable. It also provides the prefix for "inclusive." Although, "in" implies that there is an "out" which could be problematic for such an inclusively minded group. The jury is still out. Maybe another focus group could help.


America, just got to go. It has been demonstrated that America has a long history of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression of the people who were here when the Europeans arrived. All in all, is there really anything great about America?

[James J Eivan]

Gosh Rev Fienen....

Writing as you have above may earn you job offers from NY Times and/or WaPo.


Given that you have on screen experience ministering to your flock may earn you a career behind the anchor desk of MSDNC and/or even the Communist News Network.


Please remain with your current call as a orthodox faithful pastor in the sea of heterodoxy.

[DCharlton]

America, just got to go. It has been demonstrated that America has a long history of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression of the people who were here when the Europeans arrived. All in all, is there really anything great about America?

Don't forget that America is named after an Italian navigator.  Not Columbus, thank goodness, but still an Italian interloper. 

[DCharlton]

Lutheran, oh my no. Luther is an old, dead, white, cisgendered, European male. Could it get any worse? Well, he was also a known and blatant anti-Semitic racist. Although as forms of racism go, anti-Semitism is generally considered to of lesser concern and even indulged in by some current Democratic Congresspersons with only minor disapproval. Perhaps if they put out the story that they named their church after a famed civil rights leader they could sneak it through.

Luther was also on the side of the police, as he encouraged the rulers of the German states to crush the Peasants Revolt.  He was on the wrong side of history.  Muntzerian would be a good alternative.  Enthusiastic Muntzerian Church in America. 

[James J Eivan]

America, just got to go. It has been demonstrated that America has a long history of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression of the people who were here when the Europeans arrived. All in all, is there really anything great about America?

Don't forget that America is named after an Italian navigator.  Not Columbus, thank goodness, but still an Italian interloper. 

One of these days those attempting to find fault with each and every historical figure will remember our Lord's admonition " He that is without sin may cast the first stone."  Currently those attempting to rewrite history, ignore the faults and failings of their ilk while castigating those not of their own ilk.

[Charles Austin]

Pastor Fienen:
Nice try, but satire should be funny, not just bitter and angry. The bitterness and the anger is supposed to be masked in the humor and lightheartedness of the piece.
And the lightheartedness of satire has to reach beyond the conventional into the absurd. Consider Gulliver's Travels, for example.
The Bee, So beloved by many in this modest forum, frequently fails in the basics of satire.

[Dan Fienen]

Everybody's a critic.

[James_Gale]

America, just got to go. It has been demonstrated that America has a long history of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression of the people who were here when the Europeans arrived. All in all, is there really anything great about America?

Don't forget that America is named after an Italian navigator.  Not Columbus, thank goodness, but still an Italian interloper.

Our nation's capital is named after both Washington and Columbus. Oh my.

[DCharlton]

America, just got to go. It has been demonstrated that America has a long history of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression of the people who were here when the Europeans arrived. All in all, is there really anything great about America?

Don't forget that America is named after an Italian navigator.  Not Columbus, thank goodness, but still an Italian interloper.

Our nation's capital is named after both Washington and Columbus. Oh my.

The ELCA has a chance to be ahead of the curve, for once.  I'd bet that a majority of people on the ELCA Facebook page would be in favor of renaming the U.S. capitol,  but probably not as enthusiastic about changing the name of the ELCA.

[Charles Austin]

We will not let these so-called evangelicals steal the word.
"Lutheran" is still a valid word, and we have officially, frequently and internationalLy repudiated end apologized for the anti-Semitic portions of Luthers writings.
"Church" is not yet a corrupted word
And "America" still a valid geographic description.
So, unfortunately for those who wanted to try, the ELCA's name does not lend itself easily to parody or satire.

[DCharlton]

We will not let these so-called evangelicals steal the word.
"Lutheran" is still a valid word, and we have officially, frequently and internationalLy repudiated end apologized for the anti-Semitic portions of Luthers writings.
"Church" is not yet a corrupted word
And "America" still a valid geographic description.
So, unfortunately for those who wanted to try, the ELCA's name does not lend itself easily to parody or satire.

As I predicted.