What is Digg?93 Comments
- Jimmyb207, on 12/07/2007, -5/+53I'm Not religious. not by any stretch of the imagination. But it's becoming painfully obvious that Christmas has become all about buying, spending and making sure your kids have bigger, better and more expensive gifts than the neighbors kids. Now Christmas is about making ourselves and family feel good through material means. The gifts were supposed to be small symbolic gesture of Christ's birthday. Now it seems, selfishness, greed and consumerism that would be obscene in many other countries has sadly replaced honoring the message of peace that Christ brought to the world.
Teach your children the difference between needing and wanting. That all the toys, four wheelers, snow mobiles, sony play stations, big screen tv's, wiis, and all and anything those tv commercials that try to make you feel that you won't be happy unless you have one of "these", you don't need it! Family, friends, good times and striving to make the world a better place is what it's all about. - pv2k, on 12/07/2007, -4/+28Amen!
- inactive, on 12/07/2007, -2/+20Jesus would buy new sandals, a pair of jeans with the American flag on it, and some Gatorade.
- TremorX, on 12/07/2007, -1/+14No, Jesus would turn water into Gatorade, because it's got Electrolytes (they're what messiahs crave)
- Timbertron3000, on 12/07/2007, -1/+13Buried because this guy ISN'T asking for money. Make the crack about some other tool claiming to be a prophet for profit...
- Tweekster, on 12/07/2007, -1/+10some churches just want to make rent, i know it shocking, but many just have enough donations to keep going, to provide for their members.
megachurches are not the standard - shep72685, on 12/07/2007, -1/+9Yes, I'm a minister and I can certainly say I don't drive a Lexus ;-)
Nor would I want to :-D - Hetman, on 12/07/2007, -2/+10it matters what you mean by giving others. Christmas is about giving to the poor and the helpless. Giving your cousin a wii is not giving. And that is what is wrong with Christmas. That is consumerism. If Christmas is about giving you give to who really needs it. And Jesus would not buy anything. Damn have these people even picked up a bible?
- xptoast, on 12/07/2007, -1/+8We don't all hate and spread fear. The bible isn't all brimstone and fire. It teaches of kindness and helping others. Most people that say they are Christian are fire and brimstone or all flowers and happiness. A well balanced Christian will speak kindly but tell the hard truth as well. Strife is nothing that God wishes to spread. Christians are humans as we all our. We are just persecuted by all others that are persecuted in secular society. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and know the true gift of existence and the opportunity to live with your everlasting Father after this difficult journey of life is over.
- natedouglas, on 12/07/2007, -1/+8I would disagree slightly.
Tight control over an economy can only be maintained through laws -- that sounds obvious, of course, but what we're both arguing against is government control, not so much a particular economic idea. Anarcho-communism is not repulsive to me, nor is anarcho-socialism, because the prefix "anarcho-" explicitly refers to a lack of coercion. If there is no coercion, then whatever economic system a consenting group of individuals chooses to take up is fine with me, and presumably they will improve, retain, or discard that system based on its abilities to provide for their basic well-being.
As it currently stands, I don't believe any society is free. Can you (legally) move to Wyoming, build a cabin in the woods, and grow your own food? No, because you must pay property taxes, school taxes, and so forth. If you make enough money to pay those taxes, you probably have to pay income tax and state taxes. To do that, you must be one of the fortunate with a sustained infusion of cash directly to your checking account. Most of the rest of us must sell our labor in order to accomplish the steady influx of cash needed just to sustain our freedom from legal prosecution, even provided the otherwise ideal situation just presented. That means living relatively close to your work, with higher property taxes, building codes, income taxes, and less potential for self-sustainability.
Similarly, a free market economy can exist in a truly terrible, repressive country. One example of that is Chile under Pinochet, the "miracle" according to Milton Friedman. Freedom to consume as you choose does not imply, say, freedom of the press, or freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, or even freedom from having the Army and Navy randomly decide to set up camp in your living room and ***** your daughter. It is a powerful freedom, I agree, but it does not guarantee a free society by any means. Not in the US, not Canada, not Iceland or Belgium or Somalia.
The only thing essential to a free society is the recognition of individual liberty and appropriately powerful restrictions on government power, mob power, corporate power, military power, and the powers of any other group of people that make their living by absorbing some of yours. Capitalism is a leaky boat; communism is a beautiful boat that can't be paddled; and damn near every other solution that's been presented has led to famine, mass murder, or Hello Kitty fetishism -- and often all three simultaneously.
The only guarantor of a free society is a society determined to be free. - natedouglas, on 12/07/2007, -0/+5It's only a matter of time until they create another Sweetest Day -- except instead of Valentine's Day, it'll replicate Christmas. Maybe they'll turn Independence Day into a big shopping and gift-giving day. "Celebrate our independence this year by spending too much on your children as a substitute for the time that you spend working to buy them nice toys!"
- joshuaer, on 12/07/2007, -10/+15Finally religion is being used for something other then spreading hate and fear!
- destinyland, on 12/07/2007, -2/+7Reverend Billy also complains about "the ambient presence of logos, the simulated sex-life while walking through a canyon of supermodels, the nano-science that leaves smart people well-paid because they reported on the neuro-switch in our brains that makes not buying impossible, the impulse inevitable!"
http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/10/15/reverend-bi ... - ABadPerson, on 12/07/2007, -3/+8War on Consumerism!?
I sure hope it doesn't involve randomly shooting people in a crowded mall. - Arramol, on 12/07/2007, -0/+5I still remember the chapel speech at my Christian university where the speaker said he didn't want Hummers even being driven into his church parking lot. Yes, there are some absolute scum bags who will use religion as a way to exploit people and get rich. There are also a lot of others who would rather use it to motivate people toward greater compassion and generosity. Unfortunately, since they (for obvious reason) aren't as flashy and showy, they don't catch as much media attention.
- Napoleone, on 12/07/2007, -0/+5"The only guarantor of a free society is a society determined to be free."
Great quote. Very solid arguments, too. - xptoast, on 12/07/2007, -1/+5Fearing that if you dont spend a massive ammount of money that they will feel like you dont care about them. This is similar to being a slave to someone in hopes they will love you in return.
- DiggCommando, on 12/07/2007, -2/+6This guy is great to watch in person. I had the opportunity to see him in action and if anything he is a really good performance artist. Listening to his message would do a lot of people well too.
- appetite, on 12/07/2007, -0/+3Let's come out with an invisible, weightless, odorless, tasteless product called 'Useless Nothing'. Then, we'll employ tens of thousands of people to make it and market it. Then, we'll convince millions of people to buy it. It'll be good for the economy.
- Tweekster, on 12/07/2007, -1/+4you are spending money on people who dont need what you are giving them, then they are giving you something of similar value, something you dont need. that isnt all that bad, but there are many people who have genuine NEEDS, a new dvd player is not one of them. giving is good, giving to people that need it, is better
- thotpoizn, on 12/08/2007, -0/+3You sir, are a troll and a jackass. The troll part is fairly obvious, the jackass part I just threw in there to be festive. :)
- smacksaw, on 12/07/2007, -1/+4I saw this on Nightline - it looks very funny. Morgan Spurlock is a genius and I give him mad props for self-financing this guy's movie. It reminds me a bit of the independent film festival from South Park where they say "Even if the movie is only seen one time etc"...the fact this will be in a theatre somewhere and someone is going to get to see this in a real theatre atmosphere is awesome. I'm jealous. We aren't getting that here in BFE.
- inactive, on 12/07/2007, -0/+3Cheap shot! It seems most people agree that Christmas has become commercialized and is losing it's meaning. There are not enough stories about how people should enjoy family and faith .. not go shopping like zombies. I say corporate retail could use a shockingly bad year anyway. Buy your gifts at local merchants!
- Stroggoth, on 12/07/2007, -0/+3Absolutely right, Christmas is about paying to God, not to others, you are to give your money to him. Have you not heard the word?
""You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not shrivel before they are ripe," says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:8-11 - osbjmg, on 12/07/2007, -1/+3I like your comment, but what society proved this?
- HunkOfLove, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2only people have willpower. nations don't.
- captinherb, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2You do realize he's not a real preacher right?
- inactive, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2WWJB.
- xptoast, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2Maybe some sandals for His followers as I would assume His sandals never wear since He is miraculous. Jeans are not as comfy me thinks as what they wore back then.
- musicbear, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2Aye, Amen. Christmas is now officially a holiday shopping ritual where people sacrifice tons of money they don't have for unnecessary gifts in obligation to people they may not actually like. If you are a Christian and you are standing out front of a Best Buy at 1 AM waiting to purchase a non limited edition electronic gadget that will be obsoleted a year later by the "new" edition so that your child will think you are "worthy" to parent him, you REALLY need to think about what you believe and just who you are making a sacrifice to here. I don't think giving your money to a mega corporation in Japan is really the best use of your money or the best way to teach your children about charity and your Christian faith.
The best thing you can do at Christmas? Is observe your religious rituals at the place of your choice with your family and leave it at that. You can buy gifts to tell someone "I love you" or "thank you" ON ANY DAY OF THE YEAR... FOR NO REASON... Use people's birthdays for gift giving... you'll probably have more time to find something more special for that person... you'll spread out the money you'll be spending through out the year... you can make more careful decisions about buying locally made product or contributing to local charities instead of sending money to over seas mega corporations or giving a LAME gift card because you are running around so hard at Christmas time you can't take the time to pick a better gift.
So yes. Stop the madness. Stop buying gifts at Christmas. Celebrate your religion at that time of year and give I love you / thank you gifts through out the year. - CrimsonBlur, on 12/07/2007, -1/+3Oh give me a break guys. People like giving and getting gifts for Christmas and all sorts of other holidays. Rampant consumerism may be a problem for some people, but most people just like to have nice things and don't mind paying for them, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
If I buy my brother an expensive shirt, it's because he likes to dress nicely, not because he has some kind of consumerism problem. If he buys me a Nintendo Wii, it's not because I am helpless to corporate greed, it's because I like to play games. There really isn't much more to it. I am not being consumed by anything when I buy gifts for my friends and family, I enjoy it, but that's not a bad thing. - xptoast, on 12/08/2007, -0/+2Thank you sir.
- FIREMILLEN, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2well played sir, well played.
- OttawaMarcin, on 12/07/2007, -1/+3People are placing their emotions in the hands of people giving them a gift.
- Shawn4168, on 12/07/2007, -1/+3Holy crap, did I just Digg something from RawStory?
- blast_flame, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2No americas economic system is not capitalism. It is a mixture of socialism and mercantilism.
- madroneDorf, on 12/07/2007, -0/+2bottled water is already being sold
- xptoast, on 12/08/2007, -0/+1I applaud you and thank you for speaking up for God as a good example. May God bless your life.
- thebaron2, on 12/07/2007, -0/+1It was a joke - relax guy.
- osbjmg, on 12/07/2007, -0/+1This looks great.
- RHandler, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Any legitimate manifestation of religion is anti-materialist.
- appetite, on 12/07/2007, -1/+2Wow. I just read part of that interview. I don't have the attention span to read the whole thing, but damn that guy is smart, and spot on.
- xptoast, on 12/08/2007, -0/+1No.
- funkywood, on 12/08/2007, -0/+1Martin Bashir is now on ABC? I thought he'd disappeared after screwing Jacko over.
- appetite, on 12/07/2007, -1/+2No. It's a massive waste season that would be more fun without all the useless ***** exchanging.
- osbjmg, on 12/07/2007, -0/+1I couldn't have said it better.
Also, I like to buy my own *****. You don't know what I like. - xptoast, on 12/08/2007, -0/+1I thank those who have dugg up my comment in light that it was a Christian comment among so many non believers.
- osbjmg, on 12/07/2007, -0/+1That's where you're wrong. Who told you it's about giving? Ahh, you see what I did there - a light bulb just went off in your head!
- Scottamus, on 12/07/2007, -0/+1I'm thinking he freeballed it. Now there's a man to follow.
- solid12345, on 12/07/2007, -1/+2Sudan and Somalia are great examples of functioning anarchy!
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