Religious Extremists at CMU

EternalMothra · #1 September 16th, 2008, 02:00 PM

So yeah, I have something very interesting to share with everyone that happened to me last week. I should have posted this some time ago, but I didn't.

Last week this religious extremist group decided to pay a visit to Central Michigan University's campus, and decided to start preaching on the very sidewalk that I use to walk to my only class on Tuesday and Thursday. Well I was minding my own business, text messaging someone when this tall man came out, pointed at me and told me that I was going to hell for being gay. He literally shouted it at me. I was like, "What the hell.." I turned to look at him, and he had a shirt saying:

"All homos are going to hell,

They have no place in heaven."

Or something along those lines. Naturally I kinda got a little ticked and told him that he'd be joining me since he's judging me. So I continued my merry way to class and could not think about anything but this extremist group.

It so happens that when I was walking back there were a TON of people gathered around them protesting against them. Numerous Christian groups on campus were warring with these three extremists (who sounded a lot like the infamous Westboro Baptist Church) Well I felt a little cocky that day, and I managed to bring along with me a copy of the New Testimate that was handed to me by one of the other friendly campus folk who happened to be a Christian. I started proving these people's verses wrong----the things they were saying did not make sense to me beacuse I am fairly familiar with the Bible myself. Oh and he said that the Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, and Jehovah Witnesses are going to hell....and pretty much every other denomination.

I swear...it had to be one of the most interesting occaisions I've ever experienced here at college. From being called a bane of existence for being gay, to the extent of debating with them about religious scriptures.

Anyways, here are two youtube videos featuring these ridiculous extremists, I urge you all to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPuE7sdxh2E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO75brYDUwY

The first one speaks of a campus group called "Open Grove Society" which is a religious diversity group, I happen to be the secretary of it and Sahra is the person in charge of the group's web oriented stuff.

But yeah, I guess to sum this up, I want to say that I respect all religions, especially Christianity. And I respect the fact that these people have the right to their own opinion. What I don't respect is their ideals, and I do not like the fact that they portray God to be a hateful being. What happened to "God is love and merciful?"

Raptor · #2 September 16th, 2008, 02:46 PM

My first question is where was Campus Security? Did this group have a permit for their activities there? Which (if any) campus organization/entity invited/sponsored them?
I would think that their "presentation" would be confined to a lecture hall or other venue and people interested could COME TO THEM rather than be accosted on a public thoroughfare.

Quote:

Oh and he said that the Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, and Jehovah Witnesses are going to hell....and pretty much every other denomination.

Or lack thereof, no doubt!

BTW, there IS a Hell and it's in MICHIGAN! When I get "informed" I'm going there (quite often, really, in the Bible Belt!) because of something I did the zealot doesn't agree with, I tell them Michigan is actually a pretty neat place!

Do keep us posted on what's going on up there with these "people".
For our political pundits, there is still quite a bit of "concern" that colleges are "breeding grounds" for all kinds of radical/liberal or whatever thinking. I'd also like to see if this "incident" made it into the "media" and how it was covered.

I moved the thread to General Chat for better exposure. It does bring up several considerations, from free speech to access to various venues.

EternalMothra · #3 September 16th, 2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor

My first question is where was Campus Security? Did this group have a permit for their activities there? Which (if any) campus organization/entity invited/sponsored them?
I would think that their "presentation" would be confined to a lecture hall or other venue and people interested could COME TO THEM rather than be accosted on a public thoroughfare.

Campus security was there once to my knowledge. Our lovely lil' religious friends decided to follow this gay person back to his dorm and preach at him the entire way----very bad idea on their part.

Quote:

Or lack thereof, no doubt! BTW, there IS a Hell and it's in MICHIGAN! When I get "informed" I'm going there (quite often, really, in the Bible Belt!) because of something I did the zealot doesn't agree with, I tell them Michigan is actually a pretty neat place!

ROFLMAO

Quote:

Do keep us posted on what's going on up there with these "people".
For our political pundits, there is still quite a bit of "concern" that colleges are "breeding grounds" for all kinds of radical/liberal or whatever thinking. I'd also like to see if this "incident" made it into the "media" and how it was covered.

Well for now they have left. I believe it did make it to the local news----plus I did see it in the newspaper. CMU is a big university, I was surprised to hear everyone talking about it everywhere.

Raptor · #4 September 16th, 2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EternalMothra

I believe it did make it to the local news----plus I did see it in the newspaper. CMU is a big university, I was surprised to hear everyone talking about it everywhere.

I don't think it would make the cut on many local 6 PM newscasts or our smaller local papers.
There are many things going on beyond our city limits that I firmly believe EVERYONE should be aware of. What they do with the information is then their responsibility.
I'm not one for close-mindedness on stuff, all too prevalent in many of our smaller towns, especially when it can stand in the way of progress that could benefit EVERYONE. Blind intolerance and prejudice get in the way IMO.

EternalMothra · #5 September 16th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor

I don't think it would make the cut on many local 6 PM newscasts or our smaller local papers.
There are many things going on beyond our city limits that I firmly believe EVERYONE should be aware of. What they do with the information is then their responsibility.
I'm not one for close-mindedness on stuff, all too prevalent in many of our smaller towns, especially when it can stand in the way of progress that could benefit EVERYONE. Blind intolerance and prejudice get in the way IMO.

Yeah.

Sometimes I just don't understand how people can function like that. It is so ridiculous.

Mindfreak · #6 September 16th, 2008, 06:44 PM

I HATE these kinds of people.As Ozzy Osbourne once said (sorta.) in a certain Black Sabbath song:
"Wait 'till their Judgement Day comes."
And
"Hand of God has struck the hour.
Day of Judgement, God is Calling,
On their knees the War pigs crawling.
Begging Mercies for their sins,
Satan, Laughing, spreads his wings"

GOOD LUCK IN HELL, A$$WIPES!

-Yeah. I'm pissed.

EternalMothra · #7 September 16th, 2008, 07:35 PM

lol, Amen!

I might be in one of the vids, I can't remember I"d have to go re-look. But I do know that Chris (one of the preachers) and I had a go around about homosexuality. In their ideals...I'm supposed to live life without any sort of love or anything other than my loyalty and love of God.

Mindfreak · #8 September 16th, 2008, 07:45 PM

Now I'm even madder.No mere emoticon can express my rage.

EternalMothra · #9 September 16th, 2008, 07:47 PM

Well I wish you were there lol. Imagine how pissed you'd be in person?

Mindfreak · #10 September 16th, 2008, 07:52 PM

They'd be Dead.That is how P.O'd I'd be.

yargh · #11 September 16th, 2008, 08:20 PM

If there's one pet peeve I have, it's fundies. Of every religion.

This makes me really, really mad: HULK YARGH ANGRY!!! PUNY FUNDIES!!!

On a more serious note, I wouldn't mind butting heads with those idiots-it's refreshingly cathartic actually.

Raptor · #12 September 16th, 2008, 11:17 PM

For those who don't believe what gets posted on the Internet, check the hard copy.

Know thy enemy Check the fader on their forum: OBEY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST... OR... BURN IN HELL!!! Duh...

EternalMothra · #13 September 17th, 2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yargh

If there's one pet peeve I have, it's fundies. Of every religion.

This makes me really, really mad: HULK YARGH ANGRY!!! PUNY FUNDIES!!!

On a more serious note, I wouldn't mind butting heads with those idiots-it's refreshingly cathartic actually.

It was really funny when I started proving their scripture wrong, they reacted angrily.

KAMERUS88 · #14 September 17th, 2008, 07:18 PM

People like this Give all Christians a bad name, ridiculous, how can anyone even take them seriously?

God Loves everyone no matter who they are, what they do, or who they themselves love, these guys obviously must have been asleep during church one morning when they discussed that minute detail.

They'll see whats up when there day comes.

Mindfreak · #15 September 17th, 2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAMERUS88

People like this Give all Christians a bad name, ridiculous, how can anyone even take them seriously?

God Loves everyone no matter who they are, what they do, or who they themselves love, these guys obviously must have been asleep during church one morning when they discussed that minute detail.

They'll see whats up when there day comes.

Damn Right!

Raptor · #16 September 17th, 2008, 10:14 PM

In the meanwhile, everyone else is supposed to be tolerant of their nonsense? Push the wrong person too far and call the medics.

Hybrid Gojira · #17 September 17th, 2008, 10:21 PM

As a christian, I'm pretty sickened by what what happened to you, EM. That's not how Jesus dealt with the issue of sin, since He commonly ministered to and spent time with "sinners" even more so than the religious fodder of that time. The only exception to this were His desciples, but even they were imperfect.

Jesus' hardest criticisms were of the so-called jewish followers, not sinners (i.e. the hypocrites of that time).

Mindfreak · #18 September 17th, 2008, 10:22 PM

Wrong Person=Me.

EternalMothra · #19 September 18th, 2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid Gojira

As a christian, I'm pretty sickened by what what happened to you, EM. That's not how Jesus dealt with the issue of sin, since He commonly ministered to and spent time with "sinners" even more so than the religious fodder of that time. The only exception to this were His desciples, but even they were imperfect.

Jesus' hardest criticisms were of the so-called jewish followers, not sinners (i.e. the hypocrites of that time).

Yeah.

I did tell them that their idea of rallying people to their cause was through fear, hence why they did not have anybody supporting them. If they welcomed people with open-arms and actually preached God's love and mercy they wouldn't have had such a bad appearence here.