Jackson Free Press

I've sat on this one too long. Feministing has blogged about the ickiness of the Purity Ball for a while now, and this one is quite the ickiest.

First of all, I'd just love to be a princess. Daddy's regal little princess. However, that job market has shrunk somewhat since I was a little girl, and I even scanned the local career sites to see what the current market is looking like for a princess. I found zero openings.

Therefore, I find the whole "princess" thing fun for Halloween and such; I even have a tiara or two of my own, but I speak from experience here. There are NO paying jobs for chicks who can't make decisions on their own, who feel entitled to have the world submit to daddy's plan and have all their eggs in the basket of "pretty." Now I like pretty and all, but really. I imagine if my daddy called Donna Ladd and said, "As Emily's authority, I expect you to pay her to be cute and chaste," Donna might just laugh at him and bruise some male ego.

Also, if Daddy is the ultimate authority of a chick's sexuality, where does she get the strength and courage to say "Kiss Off" on her own? Perhaps these Daddies should be less concerned about trying to control their women, and more concerned about a culture that touts sexuality as our worth. Oh wait, they have a whole ceremony, crowning Princesses, entirely around their sexuality.

I could see where a little girl would see her worth as her hymen, or lack thereof.

Please.

Yes, it looks very Disney and pure and oh-so-special, but I bet a Monkey those girls are more excited about having a pretty dress and some cake than having their Daddies the "authority" of their sexuality. Daddy better go ahead and move in with them as adults, with a sword and perhaps a lion, because I'm telling you it's a mean world out there. Wouldn't it be better if these girls were taught to live in it on their own, with some empowerment and confidence?

Because you know, you can get a pretty dress and tiara just about anywhere, but self-reliance ain't for sale.

Previous Comments

ID

110776

Comment

Is it just me? Where in Peter 3:4 does it specify "precious in the sight of God" as "Regal Princesses"? I mean it does say "do not let your adorning be external," but, well, nothing of Princesses, ballerinas or even authority.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-23T12:04:08-06:00

ID

110777

Comment

As always, you are great, love love love this one!

Author

Melissa

Date

2007-03-23T12:09:37-06:00

ID

110778

Comment

Very icky indeed! I just love the fact that girls are required have a father to protect them and hold authority over them to ensure they make the right choices. Because, you know you might as well just write off a happy childhood and future success if your father is absent in your life. But, wait, maybe one of the nice men at the church can step in or Uncle Al or Grandpa Jim. I mean, a woman has never been able to have any success of her own without a man behind, er, in front of the scenes. Thank God we have all of these rational, intelligent men around to make our decisions for us. (Just like the Mississippi Legislature!) I also love how the balls are targeted at girls. There are very few purity balls that men attend with their sons (yes, they're out there, but definitely not as en vogue, because son and dad exchanging wedding-like "vows" might promote homosexuality! Gasp!). If you ask me, the men should be schooling the boys in "purity." Such as, how not to objectify women, which leads to lustful, impure thoughts. Or maybe, that ending the impure act of rape begins with men, not arming women with mace and strong boyfriends. Nope, let's target the girls, because they're susceptible to fairy tales and white-dress balls. So once again they can sugarcoat the poisoning lies being fed to girls: you rely on man, he owns your chastity, and without him, you too vulnerable to succeed in this dangerous world that wants only to crush your flower.

Author

PostmodernMilly

Date

2007-03-23T12:26:50-06:00

ID

110779

Comment

Well, there's also the issue of girls now accepting penetration in other places, because it's not "sex." Not to mention oral sex. You're right on the boys. That's my rant too. You know MTV/BET/Comedy Central, etc. have a system of producing shows. They always have the "slutty" young girl gone wild type show/character and then the male counterpart, the dumbass, who puts fireworks in his butt and then has "juggies" and girls on trampolines in the marketing. Too bad dads don't get their energies involved in that cycle. The networks do it because we buy it, and we buy it because the networks do it. We have some accountability in the hypersexualization of our women and the idea that boys will just be boys.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-23T12:34:21-06:00

ID

110780

Comment

Is it just me, or does anyone else see the irony in this damn thing being called a "Purity BALL". Come on, can we call it a Purity Vagina? I'm tired of male genitalia getting all the top billing. If all balls were pure, they'd be no need for a Purity Ball.

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-03-24T10:13:49-06:00

ID

110781

Comment

Yes. It also looks like "Purty Ball." Of which I've never seen. Not to be sexist, but the balls are not the purtiest spot.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-24T10:32:28-06:00

ID

110782

Comment

EWWWW! Pardon me, but this concept just seems gross. First of all, if a girl chooses to pledge her virginity to anyone, she should first pledge it to herself, not to her father. I hate to say this, having a little girl of my own, but that's no one's business but her own. Oral sex not sex? Then someone's not doing it right. :)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-24T11:40:15-06:00

ID

110783

Comment

You know MTV/BET/Comedy Central, etc. have a system of producing shows. They always have the "slutty" young girl gone wild type show/character and then the male counterpart, the dumbass, emilyb The worst is the one where the parents and the boy/girlfriend watches the other as they go on dates with "approved" future possibilities by the parents. The whole time the parents are taking abuse from the current b/g'friend, and watching what (usually) a rude idiot their child is with the opposite sex. Not to mention, when did it become vogue for parents to watch video of their children making out with their dates? Multiple dates! At one time! These purity dad's need to get over it, and just support their daughters as they grow. Be there for the bumps in the road, and sage advice. Amazing what support and advice can do as children make the hard decisions in life.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-24T11:47:01-06:00

ID

110784

Comment

Oral sex not sex? Then someone's not doing it right. :) Lady H. That's Citizen Blogger of the Year stuff right there! :-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-24T11:51:11-06:00

ID

110785

Comment

yeah, fathers trying to do something constructive with their daughters. Thats real icky. When you could be using your time and space to slam the crap like the videos on BET or the Flava of Love culture that degrades women you instead criticize fathers who at least in their minds, are trying to do something constructive. good job.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T12:05:31-06:00

ID

110786

Comment

now this is on the same issue and pretty funny: abstinence rallies

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T12:11:37-06:00

ID

110787

Comment

From the article posted: One of the most memorable highlights of the ball is when the fathers stand in the middle of the ballroom and form a circle around their daughters standing all aglow in their lovely ball gowns. The fathers place their hands on their daughters, and together we pray for purity of mind, body, and soul for generations to come. Ewww... too much far right modern christain ritualistic hooha! More... The Father Daughter Purity Ball is a memorable ceremony for fathers to sign commitments to be responsible men of integrity in all areas of purity. The commitment also includes their vow to protect their daughters in their choices for purity. The daughters silently commit to live pure lives before God through the symbol of laying down a white rose at the cross. Because we cherish our daughters as regal princesses—for 1 Peter 3:4 says they are “precious in the sight of God”—we want to treat them as royalty. Then tomorrow in the paper they will read where one of their pastors did meth with a gay hooker or something. Or the dad will be picked up for chatting with a 14 year old on-line. Or the mom is so hooked their son's Adderal or Ritalin that she's a size -1! These same dad's probably send their daughter to a school that has found "school girl" outfits vogue again. They better be really strong (and perfect) men to sign a purity contract. On a whole most parents are not like this. Yet, if they do fail in some shocking way, then it shatters the mystique of the "purity contract" the "bond" the father and daughter made. Children can take betrayal hard because they haven't a full grasp of man's nature to do wrong. And, sometimes they are not ready to accept man's strength for forgiveness till much damage is done.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-24T13:30:00-06:00

ID

110788

Comment

Fish-Actually, young girls pledging their virginity to their fathers IS icky. So is the culture that "Flava of Love" perpetuates. The two are not mutually exclusive. I can choose to think ANYTHING is "icky" and commence to b1tching about it. Damn, I love America. I could also be using my time painting my toenails and talking about new face cremes. I'd bet you would LOVE that. Please, come on the "Chic" thread and tell the women what they are allowed to think is "icky". That's the way to do it up male!!

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-03-24T13:31:46-06:00

ID

110789

Comment

And shaving, Lori. Don't forget shaving. I completely believe that the father has to be an important part of a young girl's life. But exchanging rings and pledging purity to each other is going a bit too far. This sounds like a faux marriage to me. The way the father should influence his children is by example, not by dragging them to a purity ceremony.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-24T13:40:20-06:00

ID

110790

Comment

I agree, Lady. I also wouldn't have half as many problems with this if father's encouraged their sons to keep the same amount of "purity". If this is the way you want to go, have the kids pledge their purity to the same sex parent. Then, that parent should be a role model to that same sex child in their behavior. I may just be a social worker in my understanding of healthy sexual identity. Girls shouldn't look to their FATHERS to understand their own sexual identity...which is what this promotes.

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-03-24T13:48:36-06:00

ID

110791

Comment

Oh Lord Kingfish. Are you really that one-minded? You don't think it's possible these mend could do the Purity Ball on Friday night then hit the titty bars with the boys on Saturday? It's THAT thinking that is purely obnoxious and really shows sexist is as sexist does. Which is why we have a madonna/whore society where the girl is either a virgin wearing daddy's chastity belt or a slut on BET. Of course, ALL these dads must be the symbols of purity themselves if they are leading. Because LH is right, lead by example. And as a CHRISTIAN, I find placing ones authority ALL into daddy a bit on the side of idolotry and playing God. Daddy can't be the authority. If this were truly a Christian ideal, the women would be the authority through a God who leads them. NOT a daddy. Power of a praying parent folks.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-24T14:08:34-06:00

ID

110792

Comment

actually I was very disappointed it wasn't about microderms. You need to step it up. For the record, I thought the whole thing was a little silly. However, I can appreciate the sentiment, which I take to be active in their daughters' lives, respect them, and be a positive male role model for them as well as discouraging promiscuity. As for your comments about being involved in their sons' lives, I completely agree as well.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T14:09:01-06:00

ID

110793

Comment

Agreed, Lori. This is something that I despise about the church: that girls/women are held far more accountable than boys/men, and that the whole family answers to the father for everything. I have seen a friend forced to apologize to the church because she became pregnant before she married. Who knows how that traumatized her? And why wasn't her boyfriend forced to do the same thing? Because boys can do it all they want, and there are no visible consequences.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-24T14:11:35-06:00

ID

110794

Comment

I still say the best way to discourage promiscuity is a 10 gauge. But then I'm old skool. ;)

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-24T14:13:19-06:00

ID

110795

Comment

not disagreeing with your post at all Lady. not one bit. Like Vito said, a man who does not spend time with his family is not a man.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T14:13:54-06:00

ID

110796

Comment

and people tend to forget in Corinthians it says something about Men honoring their wives as well. that part tends to get left out.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T14:16:37-06:00

ID

110797

Comment

and Emily, I am aware that they could do the balls on Friday night and go to a strip club on Saturday. However, I don't assume every man who says he is a Christian is a hypocrite or closet Jimmy Swaggart either.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T14:26:28-06:00

ID

110798

Comment

I don't assume they are all hypocrites. I DO assume that all women deserve empowerment and the honest truth that we are NOT treated like "princesses" in the real world. Turn on any t.v., look at any magazine, and check out the wage inequity while you're at it. I also assume that they need to be able to go straight to God themselves for love, guidance, etc. I could debate that whole Bible and the roles of husbands/wives again, but I won't since I've done that already. Of course men should honor their wives. There's not room in the spirit of faith, love, self-dicipline, etc. that says men should ever not honor anyone. Why would they get a freer pass than Jesus? Lean not on your own understanding...... It's the "authority" word that cinches it here. Like I said, I'm all for dress up. We'll do the whooolleee castle thing at Disneyworld. We can spend time together as a family, with my husband, without him being the authority of our lives. That's what we've got God for. :)

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-24T14:37:04-06:00

ID

110799

Comment

check out the wage inequity while you're at it. Sorry, I just had to comment on this part, Em. I read an article two days ago stating that even women social workers earn .80 on the dollar for what male social workers earn. That pisses me off. Just looking at my OWN bottom line. Mainly since the "wage inequality" debate usually starts with men having to support a home, car, etc. I HAVE a home, car, and the ETC (in the form of two very hungry cats :)). Once again, This pisses me off. Lady-you actually knew someone that had to apologize to her church for getting pregnant? Seriously? Oh Holy Sweet Jesus in Heaven. I can only say that I wish I would have been there to hold her hand. And open my mouth.

Author

Lori G

Date

2007-03-24T18:50:48-06:00

ID

110800

Comment

Pisses me off too. And Princess's DAD. Where are all the other DADS standing up to this? THOSE are the places I think a dad's energy could really make a better future for a daughter. Think of the energies were put THERE. On true women issues. Not just glittery, girly crap sprinkled with tiaras a sceptors to cover another CONTROL issue. And you are dead on with the burden of home on the men. That's bullshit and I have personal experience with that myself. Try feeding a kid and hungry animals on 24,000 a year while your GM makes a killing coming in late after going to the gym, not answering emails, ignoring customers and...wait...I'll stop. But it's a sure GRRRRRRR for me!

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-24T19:01:52-06:00

ID

110801

Comment

Yes, Lori, I did. It was pretty shocking to me at the time. I was about 12, and this friend was about 16. The preacher was the old-fashioned hellfire and brimstone preacher, no formal education: I don't think he graduated high school, even. His opinion was that this young lady had committed a mortal sin against the church, and she had to make a sincere apology to the church and her God for failing everyone so miserably. She left after that, and I wasn't that far behind. I am very thankful to have a man who spends all of his time (outside of work) with his family. He has two children who adore him, and who got to spend all of their young lives with him. I worked full time plus while he was a stay-at-home dad. This is the best influence ever. I had that with my grandfather. He would also know when to back off when our daughter gets older. This whole purity ball thing scares the crap out of me. IMHO, it's one step away from Jessup Mormonism: having multiple wives. A man only traditionally exchanges a ring with his spouse: exchanging a ring with your daughter is just oogy.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-24T19:35:15-06:00

ID

110802

Comment

For what it is worth Miss Emily, I posted a link to the purity ball on a nother forum which is more conservative and male oriented and needless to say, they had a field day with it. I think the words "control" and "simple-minded" were used as well as phrases about wanting their little girls stay 11 forever etc. It was interesting how a forum that would be the opposite of this one almost had the same viewpoints on the same thing. ;-)

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-24T20:50:47-06:00

ID

110803

Comment

Well, it is creepy. I don't know what you have to be on to think it's a good idea.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-24T20:56:26-06:00

ID

110804

Comment

That was funny, Kingfish. Sex is a roadblock to holiness? Hmmmm. What a choice... Guess holiness ain't gonna happen here. :)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-24T20:58:10-06:00

ID

110805

Comment

It's creepy to me because it has this underlying hint of incest. I adored my father, was probably what you could call a "Daddy's Girl", and he was very protective of me, but this stuff is peculiar. I'd be suspicious about some of these daddies.

Author

C.W.

Date

2007-03-25T07:33:33-06:00

ID

110806

Comment

What is this Miss Emily stuff? I'm also not understanding your point in posting this on another forum. I mean, glad you did and all. But I'm not understanding what the responses should prove to "Miss Emily"? What is the information I should get from "For your information Miss Emily...."???? Also, that sounds like something my kids would say to each other when trying to prove a point. I'm just NOT getting the point you are trying to prove. If it's that men find this equally offensive, I'm sure there's a way you could have said that without patronizing me. ;)

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-25T08:12:35-06:00

ID

110807

Comment

I posted it because I was just curious what a site with different demographics would say about it and found it interesting that in both sites the reaction and comments were pretty much the same is all. That is the only point I was trying to prove. That and the fact that quite a few guys found it ridiculous as well. you're going to take offense to "Miss"? delete the post then. sorry I wrote it. THere was no patronizing involved, just a little playful show of respect, like when I say Miss Ladd.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-25T08:37:31-06:00

ID

110808

Comment

I went to a church too where a girl who got pregnant had to apologize. Her Dad was the preacher, and she was a great person, but talk about a fall from grace. A lot of people ostracized her after that. She went on, married the guy, and stayed in the church. I don't konw where she is now, but I hope she is happy now. But, yeah, it happens a lot. I can't believe the 300+ grown men and women who sat there quietly, approvingly, while that poor girl had layed out her 17-year-old soul in front of them. ::shudder::

Author

PostmodernMilly

Date

2007-03-25T18:49:46-06:00

ID

110809

Comment

Pfft. Are people still suprised that PK's are some of the best hellraisers around?

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-25T19:09:03-06:00

ID

110810

Comment

IG: We'll have to chat. My example was not a PK: just a regular girl whose mistake (if she considered it that) was more obvious than most. It doesn't matter if it's a PK or not: no girl should have to be put through that kind of humiliation. Your post sounded bad, and I know you're not that way.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-25T19:30:27-06:00

ID

110811

Comment

I used to go to a church here in the Jackson area where the daughter of one of the pastor's got pregnant and was not married. Reaction of the church was great. Instead of taking the path outlined above unfortunately, everyone in the church embraced her and never once made her feel like she was not wanted or was "unclean" for lack of a better word. That is something I wish I could hear more people say about their churches but I know that is not the case sad to say. It wasn't just because it was the daughter of a pastor by the way. In this SOUTHERN BAPTIST church, they didn't care about that kind of stuff as much or who wore what. It was more about how can we serve God, what does he want for us, and how can we help each other. Might see a biker in leather sitting right next to a guy in a coat and tie. :-)

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-25T19:31:20-06:00

ID

110812

Comment

Kingfish: I would love to know which SBC church that was: you're right about it not being the case for most. IG and I were both raised in the SBC, and we have both left in disgust. I don't even want to attend a CBF church, because they can't make up their minds whether to sever ties with the SBC. I'm happy to read of a good experience like that. There may be a glimmer of hope yet. :)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-25T20:02:01-06:00

ID

110813

Comment

My experiences in the SBC aren't fit to print.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-25T21:09:06-06:00

ID

110814

Comment

some late night comedy for you clowns: wedding stop sign

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-25T21:39:28-06:00

ID

110815

Comment

Kingfish, how do you KNOW she was never made to feel unclean? Your examples are usually third person and do not hold a strong argument to me. I get you're playing "devil's advocate," but speaking on behalf of the girl is a little farfetched for me. And I love the sentiment that not ALL SBC are the same; however, their money goes to places I can't with a clean heart support. I attended the SBC with my minister (friends with his daughter) when I was fourteen. That's when I was told I could never be a minister, and it pretty much sealed my thoughts of the SBC forever and until now. The fact that my church is a part of the SBC makes me give our tithes to other places. I don't want ANY of my money going to an organization that is NOT all bad, but definately puts too much energy and funds into things I can't support as a Christian. Namely being fourteen and waiting in the hallways of the superdome, since women of course can't be in some of those sessions. I was preggers in that same SBC mentioned above (not the one I attend now) and they all came to my wedding, with their eyes crossing from looking down their noses at me. I can name a handful who did not. My mentor and Sunday School teacher had to stand up in front of the church and apologize for ruining her marriage when her husband divorced her after HE had an affair. Don't get me started on my sister's church. It's somewhere in the Memphis/Bartlett area and she gets GRADES. Ugh. But of course, they called our Picasso print "pagan."

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-26T06:04:39-06:00

ID

110816

Comment

Paul Pressler has a lot of explaining to do. That whole bunch who danced on the tables in New Orleans when they took over the SBC will pay for a lot of sins....

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-03-26T07:35:05-06:00

ID

110817

Comment

So does abstinence only federal funding go to crap like this? Did I PAY for that horrible ballet? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26623-2004Dec1.html 750,000 teenage girls a year get pregnant according to Planned Parenthood. (On Lisa Birnbach this morning) And Bush just increased the abstinence only funding for 2008 by 28 million. Gag.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-26T14:19:08-06:00

ID

110818

Comment

Devil's advocate.: What about the many little girls who have been sexually violated by others and sometimes to include fathers, boyfriends, and you know the story? Are they excluded? Would a young girl having this kind of traumatic experience qualify for a "Purity Ball?" I have a real problem with these blanket titles. They are all in keping with the "JUST SAY NO" movement. Wherein I do agree that it would be better in many cases that the answer is "NO;" but, what happens when the answer is YES and daddy nor mommie has prepared the princess to take care of herself. I have seen entirely too much of this and now these young women who have not been empowered with knowledge and behaviors that are life saving, become victims of the worse case scanario. There are stds to include HIV/AIDS and un-NEEDED pregnancies. Maybe we could change the name to: "GIRLS GET YOUR OWN BALLS." I have had the experiene in life to know that you will need them.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-03-26T15:03:35-06:00

ID

110819

Comment

My mentor and Sunday School teacher had to stand up in front of the church and apologize for ruining her marriage when her husband divorced her after HE had an affair. Good grief, Emily, I am appalled. I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church, but swapped to another denomination after I was grown. I knew it was not what I wanted then (and it's so much more repressive and controlling now than it was then), but this is just totally beyond the pale. I didn't realize it had gotten that bad.

Author

C.W.

Date

2007-03-26T15:19:59-06:00

ID

110820

Comment

CW, I grew up in a SMALL and rural Southern Baptist Church. Monkey and I visited that church (first time for me in a decade probably) and I laughed and laughed when Monkey asked, "Why is the minister *yelling*?" He totally hated it and because of that, I know I've raised him right.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-26T15:46:03-06:00

ID

110821

Comment

Emily (relating what Monkey said): "Why is the minister *yelling*?" Philip: This is a big reason I became very disillusioned with the SBC. THE main reasons are theological, but there is NO question that the prevailing preaching style and tone was a MAJOR reason. Some people may respect yelling and screaming because it's "powerful preaching", projecting charisma, strength and confidence - which is why many people find their message credible (this certainly was the case for me at first). With greater life's experience (not to mention 3 years in Midtown Memphis, where I was forced to deal with many people radically different from the small-town Midsouth norm), I started to see yelling and screaming not so much a sign of strength but as a warning sign of potential narrowness and intolerance. In fact, I'll even go further and say that in many cases, it's perilously close to bullying (and in a few cases even goes over the line into it). When I was young, The calm, seminar, rational style of my mom's Methodist church didn't appeal to me because I assumed, incorrectly, that this style was merely a 'watered down, wimpy version of the gospel'. Ultimately, I came to realize that I was worshiping excitement and charisma more than God, though this wasn't obvious to me until a few years after I left the "powerful prechin'" churches. I wonder how many men and girls would have more open attitudes toward one another if they weren't so thoroughly convinced that traditional view of sex roles was Biblically ordained - with charisma as a conduit for traditional notions to enter thier hearts and minds. Didn't Jesus himself say something about false profits, sheep's clothing, and ravenous wolves?

Author

Philip

Date

2007-03-27T17:19:12-06:00

ID

110822

Comment

BTW Emily, It's TOTALLY ironic that your sister's church is only a dozen or so miles from the very place that provided the initial spark for my journey into independent thought (i.e., the birthplace of the Philip as you know him today)

Author

Philip

Date

2007-03-27T17:20:52-06:00

ID

110823

Comment

Oh, it was total hellfire preaching. He was threatening us all with a burning afterlife. He also pulled in some "end times" crap with the Middle East. Monkey called crap, and so did I. I adore Memphis. I always find Jesus in Memphis ;) Gospel singing on Beale St. on a Sunday morning. I love that city; it has an incredible spirit. I found a verse once, and now can't find it for anything, regarding sin and how we all define it differently. I wish I could find that passage again. It was essentially that if YOU find it sinful, then it's sinful for YOU. But someone else may not find it a sin. I also find it hard to be ministered to by folks without a well-rounded education. Seems to easy to go from vacuum cleaner salesman to the typical SBC preacher (which is what my childhood one did.) Like preaching the spirit of Jesus is as easy a gig as anything else. I like my prechers to have a few degrees and thoughts of their own. And I really love the ones who tell ME to have thoughts of my own.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-03-27T20:39:16-06:00