Jesus Cares
October 10th, 2008About what, I can’t be certain. Who can?
(Note: if you are christian, I appreciate it and all, but yeah. This isn’t a call to action. I’m sure you’ll be tempted. Don’t listen. That’s just satan talking.)
o
EXIF
- make: Canon
- model: Canon PowerShot G9
- exposureTime: 0.001 s (1/1250) (1/1250)
- fnumber: f/4.0
- isoEquiv: 80
- exifVersion: 0220
- flashUsed: No
- focalLength: 10.67 (10673/1000)
Tags: architecture, church, cross, G9, jesus, knoxville, tennessee, xpro
I understand Jon, that you are frustrated with organized religion. Really, I get it. What is a tad annoying to me though is that while you live in one of the whitest states in the country, whose media has consistently profiled innocent persons of color as criminals or gang members, and whose only form of diversity exists in dance and food festivals, I have NEVER seen a post about racial bigotry in the state of Utah. I believe it’s because you like many in Utah are complicit; since you’ve not had the experience of being a person of color, then racial bigotry is invisible. This is the one annoyance I had when I lived in Sugar House for six fabulous years. “How can you be LDS when you’re such a liberal?” they would say. “I can hold these paradoxes because people of color have had to for centuries,” was always my reply.
It would do you good to as Maxine Hong Kingston wrote, “make [your] mind large as the universe is large, so that there is room for contradictions.”
In the meantime, http://www.thefutureisbrown.blogspot.com will give you some insight into the minds of at least one cultural/ethnic minority group living in salt lake city.
This picture reminds me a that weirdly coloured (yes I’m Canadian!) sherbert we used to get as a kid…I loved that sherbert. mmmm…tastey tastey Jesus..oh crap am I going to hell now?
You know Jon, I have been a big fan of your site and your wife’s for a long time - years in fact. I disagree with both of you on a lot of stuff but I have always respected your opinion as an educated one.
That is why this post really pissed me off. You act like all Christians are uneducated ass hats. I don’t diss your decision to not believe, why do you have to make fun of my decision to believe?
I love you guys, I do. And I know you’ve got strong opinions on faith–and just about everything else. We are very like minded in many respects, and I’m even a Christian! Who da thunk. And the only reason I’m bothering to write this comment is that even though I’m not a Muslim, when I write it, I capitalize it. I’m not Buddhist, Hindu…you get the idea. I see you capitalize Mormon and other religions, but make it a point to go lowercase on god and christian. You certainly have a right to do whatever, but your subtle jabbing seems mean-spirited. I think you’re better than that.
I am WELL aware of how ironic Christians and so-called Christians can be, and it is very frustrating and saddening to me. I know we have a LOT of work to do to undo the un-Christlike things that Christians do. But it doesn’t make us all idiots or a-holes. Please keep that in mind.
This wasn’t Satan working through me…hope you can see that.
Go(o)d to know.
Angie (from over at [no self links in the comments please-Ed.])
Wow, I didn’t know that publishing a picture of a textured cross would incite so many.
I NEVER CALLED ANYBODY ANYTHING STOP THE FUCKING PROJECTION.
I see 5 posts at the time I’m writing this–maybe my computer’s goofy? But I don’t think that’s inciting “so many.” And none of those that I see are crazy mean or anything…so why go F bomb? And…it wasn’t the picture of the cross–it was your little comment–I know you’re not obtuse.
@dolphy36, email. email. email.
My little remark was a joke that appears to have ruffled some feathers.
F-Bomb=Because people are projecting their insecurities about being christian onto me. If you know what Jesus cares about here’s an open comment thread. GO FOR IT.
Wow. you project a lot of anger and bitterness.
Simple answer: me, you…all of us–every single one of us.
I can see a follow up question: then why does He allow suffering? There is free will. There is Satan. There is us not knowing everything.
There is the concept of faith–of believing in the unseen. There is grace. Mercy. Hope. But the greatest is love.
I’m sorry you’re receiving hateful messages from imperfect Christians. The goal is to reflect and be God’s love–but we fall short. Sometimes a little, sometimes a LOT. And that’s why there’s one other key to all of this…forgiveness. I need it every day. Though I don’t spout hateful things, I, too, am imperfect. But I have hope and grace. And I thank God every day for them.
Not sure how my post or my comment was “hateful”.
Post: jokey
Comment: tired of the pervasive projection online. I didn’t project anything on anyone. Here’s a picture of a cool cross. That it has made people upset?
Give me a break.
Preach it. I’m not going to buy, but you can try to sell all you want.
So where was this cross? Knoxville?
I like the photo.
Who pee’d in your cheerios this morning, jon?
Jon,
I just wanted to say that I completely understand your sense of humor. Maybe it’s because I too am a recovering mormon and grew up in Utah. Maybe it’s because I eschew all organized religion after reaching the age of reason. Maybe it’s because I think, and history backs me up, that major atrocities were/are committed in the name of god. Yep, that’s right uncapitalized. If christians are always supposed to turn the other cheek why do they get so worked up over those of us who don’t believe?
BTW, excellent photo, where was it taken?
@meg, Republicans peed in my cheerios.
@Salt City Girl, Knoxville, TN. I need to add that to the tags. Oops. I blame Republicans. JOKE, PEOPLE, JOKE.
Wow, these comments have been pure entertainment.
your choice jon, you didn’t have to eat them.
Everybody: it’s passive aggressive friday! Yay!
Jon,
The Republican’s have made all of us upset recently. I am Christian/Mormon and I am sick of all of the crap that has been going on recently with the Republican party. The video on youtube that Heather posted really made me mad. NOT that she posted it but that people are so heartless and unexcepting of anyone that believes different from them. And they do it in the name of religion. I have read yours and Heather’s sites for long enough that I knew you where just joking and implying… ” I am not posting this picture, so everyone can come try to convert and/or change my mind about religion.”
I really like the photo.
I understand the humor and irreverence of your comment. I appreciate your photographic talents and the comments sometimes are great.
Today… I think you put out some bait and some readers snagged it up. You almost dared them to do so.
I’m a UU so we live and let live. I think religion is a personal choice and try to be respectful of others beliefs. However I was raised without a religion, so I don’t have the view point of someone who has been harmed in some way by a church or religion.
I know bait when I see it, too. And honestly, there’s nothing really wrong with it. Jon can do whatever he likes with his blog…and everyone has a right to take that bait. How boring this blog would be if everyone was in agreement with Jon.
Personally, I like the photo…it’s neat. But I *love* the title and innocently snarky comment. Right up my alley.
This is my biggest problem with religion. All religion. There is no possible way that humans know what, if anything, god(s) care(s) about, even assuming they even exist.
I’m told that jesus hates me because I’m a fag, or that he loves me but doesn’t want me to have the same rights as straight people, or that those who believe in him love me, but they just don’t want to treat me like an equal because god told them that I don’t deserve it. and people wonder why I don’t like religion or christianity or especially mormonism in particular.
@salt lake city girl,
exactly.
@meg
They (meaning SOME - or maybe most - republicans/conservatives/bigoted assholes) are often not giving us much of a choice. too often those “cheerios” are being forced down our throat, whether we like it or not.
@happydog
I love the colours in this too. and yeah, that does look like the sherbet you can get in Canada. Though personally I always preferred the “tiger” flavour of ice cream.
@jodie
I agree with you that religion is a personal choice, and i respect those who can keep their religion to themselves and not try to make other people live it or punish them for not living it. I respect religions like uuism or quakerism a lot more than other denominations that can’t seem to handle living in a pluralistic society.
@dolphy36
are you that afraid of the word “fuck”? its just a word like any other.
@jon
I don’t think you were being impolite to christians by questioning some of their beliefs any more than a christian is impolite to me for doing the same.
it goes both ways people.
ok. I’m done.
Afraid of the word “fuck”? Fuck no. I was just trying to figure out why Jon was that irritated. Then he reminded me that he was referencing the emails he was receiving. No biggie. Look…I can type it even more: fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…Thanks for worrying about me, though, Craig. Glad to see you are as open minded as you want others to be.
Was I not being open minded in my comment to you? I’m so, I’m fucking sorry.
Just for clarification, that was a joke. It was unclear to me why you had a problem with Jon’s usage of “fuck”, so I simply asked for clarification. Thanks for giving it.
And, on a good note–I laughed aloud when I read your comment, Craig!
Great photo…texture, enigma, on and on.
I think you, Jon, are an equal opportunity lower-caser because you demoted satan [sic] to lowercase as well.
To your credit, FUCKING got all the caps. It’s underrated.
As to the rhetorical question, it’s entirely legitimate. Philosophically and religiously speaking, none of us can be sure. So most such questions are relegated to faith — which I’m gonna cap, Faith — and which embraces uncertainty by definition. You’re on solid ground there, as in not even controversial — except for meat in the temple. In fact, I’ve heard no less a question posed in Elders Quorum lessons, so you’re getting dangerously MO on me.
Nonetheless, I’m going to answer your unanswerable question:
There’s a brand new Modernica Case Study Daybed (a George Nelson design) sitting in my front hall, still in the box. Just schlepped it over from The Green Ant. Today, I KNOW Jesus Cares about me, because religion and good design are the same thing. Heather will vouch for that.
Furthermore, if I ever get to do any fucking on this Chataqua Red upholstery, then there will be little need for faith in my life, because I’ll know for an empirical certainty that God loves me. Way, way loves me.
If in the future I speak to you of God’s love for all mankind, you can be sure it’s code, and I got lucky.
Hey,
How did I (Republican) get dragged into this? LOL
I didn’t even comment a hundred times on this post or anything…again :).
I’m an atheist, so I just think your photo is pretty. I must say though, Jon, I knew the instant I read that comment from ya this would be the response. Now you see how us Republicans feel, tee hee.
Oh, and I would have said fuck too…just because I do all the time even when I’m not pissed. I’m imperfect and curse way too much. Oh, no…did I just admit I’m an atheist in a see of posts about Christianity. Feel free to delete this post Jon. I’m not in the mood to argue the orgins of mankind along with why NOT to vote for Obama, lol.
oh Interwebz, here you go again! sorry, I’m Christian (Catholic, to be precise), and I still thought Jon’s comment was funny and irreverent. People need to stop getting their panties in a bunch.
sweet picture, while I’m here.
Jon has a right to believe whatever he wants, and express that as he sees fit on his website. You don’t have to agree with him.
I didn’t see the comment under the photo as being mean spirited or as “bait”. I actually found it to be a rather heartfelt statement maybe stemming from having once been a member of an incredibly restrictive religion that uses shame and guilt and fear as weapons to keep it’s members in line. Same goes for Heather. So do they still have lingering anger and resentment- hell yeah. The point is, why are we dissecting Jon’s motives or feelings?
It’s their journey and their experience. If you take things like this personally, instead of stepping inside the other person’s shoes for a moment or two, there’s not going to be any clear understanding of where that person is coming from.
I have many Christian friends who are perfectly reasonable and kind people. I may not agree with everything they have to say but it’s not my job to go around clustering myself into groups who believe exactly as I do. What the F-U-C-K good does that do?
I don’t agree with every word that comes out of Jon’s mouth, what kind of mindless zombie would I be if I did? But I still care about both he and Heather and respect their right to express their own truth without being attacked.
Amen.
Jesus saves sinners!… and redeems them for valuable prizes.
In other news, wow. Reading these comments has been entertaining.
Interesting (from a psychological perspective) how a simple request that Christians NOT clutter up your comments with preaching causes some to disrespectfully do JUST THAT. And still, they wonder why people react like someone has farted when they open their mouths.
I see you chose not to post my first e-mail under the user name prof. And perhaps it was mean and I can’t blame you.
BUT, I hope you will consider printing a toned down version.
I see this as scary, no matter the quality of the image.
Why scary? Because I am a liberal, democrat, christian (lowercase is probably accurate for the kind of christian I am.) And I think that when liberals are willing to put down the sacred symbols of people that they are not helping the cause of acceptance and willingness to meet in the middle in order to come together as a people and make some damn progress already.
Believe it or not, I think this is just the sort of liberalism that has resulted in the last 8 years and more to come if this sort of post is considered helpful. Where was this cross? On a gravestone? Or perhaps a military memorial? At some point in time this was a meaningful monument - when you come in and piss on that, then you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Take some cues from your candidate Obama, who has impressed me by not rising to the bait of stupid denunciation and lies. Who doesn’t insult in order to make his point but speaks truthfully and respectfully.
Maybe you are all worked up and feeling snarky. I am all worked up too, with most of the same values and opinions that you have. But, I find this post offensive. I have never commented on your site before and I probably won’t again, but somehow this post really gets under my skin.
Reconsider, if you want to make fun of and throw down the institutions that have stood the test of time to make a snarky point, then you are no better than the enemy.
In my mind, Jesus cares about hookers and blow.
Don’t forget gambling.
I’m laughing because you post a picture of a cross and then ask “What Jesus cares about I have no idea” and are amazed that people don’t find it funny. Dude, I know you are smarter than that. I mean really, you live in freakin’ Utah - of course somebody is going to be upset. You should have just titled it “Cross in Knoxville” — you wouldn’t have gotten nearly the kind of response. Seriously, living in Utah, try not to kick the ant hill.
Seriously, living in Utah, try not to kick the ant hill.
But it’s so FUN
i’ve been reading and mostly admiring both your sites for a few years. i registered tonight only to be able to comment for the fist time - for one reason only - to say i (yeah i, lowercase i, as in i’m no better than you and you’re no better than i) strongly and wholeheartedly agree with what “Teach”, Comment #33, said. There is much wisdom in that comment, and i wish you had the maturity to see it and have the balls to show the original “Prof” version.
Interesting that both your sites show comments selectively. Censorship anyone?
Also, (and why don’t your readers get this?) provocation = more hits = Ca Ching for Heather & Jon.
i fully expect this comment to be deleted, and this is the very reason i am once and for all unsubscribing from both of your RSD feeds and deleting my bookmarks to your sites. i know i am only one reader you can do without, but i’m done with your immature, closed-mindedness. You call yourselves liberals? Think about that.
FYI: i am a total Obama supporter (upper case because i support)
i am not Christian (upper case because I don’t dis).