Interesting to note why this comment thread is so long: we discussed everything from Sunday school through dealing with differences of opinion to PZ/Crackergate… As far as crackergate discussions go, this comment thread is pretty short

Haha… From looking at this thread, I would have to guess that you have a “P” (perceiving) preference. That’s MBTI talk for being casual, open-ended, spontaneous, and emergent. Email me if you’re ever interested in taking the assessment. You may need it at your new job!

There! another subject matter added to the list. I’m definitey a P! You can check out this list I made as a guest post on another blog! It may make you chuckle.

Good luck with your new job, Hugo!

Thanks Linda.

Furthermore, the worst has blown over to some degree. I’d say the problem is I handled it rather poorly. With hindsight I know quite well what I should have done differently, but what’s done is done. If I’ve ruined some relationships with me, that would be very sad. I hope any such relationships can eventually be repaired. However, my biggest worry was that I ruined other relationships indirectly, that would be really terrible for me. From the sounds of it though, it should be okay. (My mother says it’s okay.)

Now that’s that, I think we should put this matter to rest.

Interesting to note why this comment thread is so long: we discussed everything from Sunday school through dealing with differences of opinion to PZ/Crackergate… As far as crackergate discussions go, this comment thread is pretty short.

I’m really sorry about how it all seems to have turned out. But you were only trying to be honest. You were only trying to stick to your truth. You did not want your family to go on believing a lie about you.

They had to know sooner or later, right? It couldn’t have gone on indefinitely the way it was.

Consider this: When truth is presented to people believing in a lie, rejection is inevitable. That’s why Jesus had to be killed, correct? I think you should be more concerned if everything had gone smoothly.

Regardless, you are very brave. I admire your courage to stand up for the truth (or the ongoing search for the truth). Ultimately, love conquers all. If they love you and you love them, that should be the only thing that matters in the end.

Good luck with your new job, Hugo!

I’ve just found out my family have read this post, and it went down terribly. A complete misunderstanding of intentions and attitudes.

Sorry to hear that, Hugo. I hope my comments weren’t too bad in this one…now I have to go back and check, though I couldn’t change them now anyway…

Did I ridicule?

No. If this post was ridiculing, I’m at a loss for what to call other writings.

And all this happens two days before I leave. I’m running around like crazy trying to get things in order — found out today I have to go to Cape Town tomorrow (Tuesday) *and* Wednesday, to get my work permit. At the last minute. So I can’t fight this fire right now… The situation certainly feels quite terrible now.

One of my good friends commented recently that, had that (the old) sting come from someone else, he would have read it very differently. But, coming from me, it was… um… I can’t remember his actual words. Humorous? Interesting? Made him smile? I wish…

The point: a phrase written with my friends in mind, can be poetically written like that. How do I translate it for people that believe in demon possession though? And still maintain something of the same impact, and the same poetic, um, “flair”?

Well, what do you guys think of the new sting?

Another interesting thought was to use one of the French knight’s insults from Monty Python and the Holy Grail… Crazy and silly, but, I dunno, I enjoyed the thought. For those that want a refresher and have actually seen the movie, do a search “guard:” on this page.

Oh, wait, here’s another sting: I will say Nee to you! Hehe.

Naturally, these are not the kind of things that would pop into my mind when I felt as strongly as I did while I was writing this piece. I can’t really find a good substitute. The original is in a way irreplaceable, despite being so imperfect.

Nevertheless, enjoy the current one? Meh, this comment shouldn’t have been so long. I’m spoiling the original idea.

“believes he his prayers” -> “believes his prayers”

“And when it comes to” -> “Particularly when it comes to” (reads better)

“I have on this below, so I hope it falls under fair use?” -> missed some words… -> “I have a commentary or critique on this devotional below, so I hope it falls under fair use?”

I’m thinking of writing a “cover letter”, a little intro, to sketch out why I’m sharing it with them. Assuming I do so… but I think I might.

My mother read it today (yesterday). Said she was quite impressed, and wanted to send it to another aunt, but was worried about the particular family in question. Most interesting was her idea of what would come across worst: apparently the intro paragraphs? I took another look, I can only assume she means the “fundamentalism” word. That detail’s just too bad, I’m afraid. Firstly, some Shofarians are proud about the “fundamentalist” label, and secondly, they really should be aware of their importing of American fundamentalism.

I’m much more worried about some of the things lower down in the post, that will likely rock the boat quite badly, but that is because of me being more aware of what the Shofarian perspectives are, or how supernaturalism within the prosperity gospel works, as well as exclusive “we’ve got it right” religious traditions. But that is what would be most interesting: how badly does the mere suggestion that there are other ways of looking at things, go down?

I’ll write the cover letter, maybe share it here (hmm, English or Afrikaans?), and invite them to a conversation to clear up details and misunderstandings. If all that happens, I’ll probably make a post (or two) about what came up in the conversation. Seems a little more serious than the typical post in the “casual conversations” series… maybe I should have a “serious conversations” series?

The glass will be half full! The glass will be half full!

And then see what emerges from that… I may end up sowing some chaos in my extended family: Angus fan-club. And I’m fleeing to Switzerland. LOL. Pity that that will reduce the ease of good direct conversations with the people I’d love to converse with. Including my pastor. There I’d like to hack out some idea of his recommendations about where the line lies between directly sharing your beliefs, and explaining just the relevant portion, holding back to facilitate communication about that which is more important “right now”.

I hear at one point some went to speak at speaker’s corner… I’d think they’d quickly realise that is not the best way to go about recruiting, based on my own experience of speaker’s corner being “everything you need to put people off religion for a lifetime”.

Another strategy the members have been instructed to go with, is to befriend people. No need to evangelise, just invite someone over for dinner, or to watch the rugby with you, or anything like that. Just build friendships. Apparently, according to the Shofarian I talked to, Shofar might even sponsor a TV if you decide you would like to contribute via the “invite people over for rugby” path.

I assume the aim is: networking. Increase/improve/expand the social network, demonstrate a way of life, get into good books, create a network that can later exert peer pressure (and love-bombing ). Once connected and curious, they’re more open to having metaphysics thrown at them.

While you’re there, there was also another thread about education and funadamentalism.

Anyway, it’s disturbing to hear about the spread of Shofar in the UK. I’ll have to ask a British friend about it.

Fundie-style religion could be driven “underground” by this kind of ridicule, and become increasingly more tenacious and proselytizing (check wikipedia on Cognitive Dissonance), but some would argue “as long as it’s only a minor portion of the population, that’s fine.

Don’t underestimate the tenacity and influence of an underground splinter sect though.

In other news, it seems Shofar has planted a second church in London. The first is in Wimbledon, caters for the South Africans that became Shofarians in Stellenbosch, and are currently in London. The new one is in Tooting, aiming explicitly at recruiting Brits. And led by Brits as a result… Scared yet?