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November 17, 2009
Mainline Churches Go to the Dogs
Posted by Gregory of Yardale at November 17, 2009 4:28 AM
Since the late 1960's, mainline protestant denominations in the USA have been declining (while evangelical churches are thriving). The old-school churches have watered down the gospel and, in many cases, have become little more than daycare and social activity centers with a vaguely Christian theme. These churches become ever more secularized, and wonder why their congregations are elderly and declining.
A few churches think they've found the answer: Dogs.
Every week, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles holds "Canines at Covenant," a service for dogs and their owners, featuring dog treats, dog beds, prayers for pets and even special music, such as "GoD and DoG."
A church in Austin, TX is offering a similar service. I don't think this is an occasion for "outrage," it's more an occasion for "point and laugh." And I get the argument that anything that gets people into church is good. But when I hear people say things like, "dogs are my children," I think their values are misplaced. In most cases, people ought to count more than animals (although I'll make exceptions for Nadal Hasan, Eliot Spitzer, and Bill Maher).
Comments
Esmeralda my disabled kitchen cockroach afflicted with AIDS counts for more than Nadal Hasan, Eliot Spitzer, and Bill Maher all rolled together...
Posted by: Fuzzlenutter at November 17, 2009 5:03 AM
Fuzzlenutter,
Have ALWAYS wanted to put that thought into words, now you've done it for me. Thanks.
My kitchen cockroach, Perry, just died of AIDS and he still counts more than those three + 537 others that I can think of, right off hand.
Posted by: RDJ at November 17, 2009 5:19 AM
People whose lives are worth less than an AIDS-ridden cockroach, you'd have to include: Courtney Love, Sean Penn, Larry O'Donnell, Keith Olbermann, Medea Benjamin, Andrew Sullivan (who, I believe *is* an AIDS-ridden cockroach), Mark Morford, The entire congressional progressive caucus, Senator Dick Durbin...
Posted by: V the K at November 17, 2009 5:24 AM
To continue V the K's thought: Barbara Streisand, Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda, John Kerry, Jack Murtha, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the Obummers themselves.
Posted by: TrickleUpPolitics at November 17, 2009 5:42 AM
The Church of Christ is the church that Christ himself founded-it is not a Protestant denomination. It's doing fine because it believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God and guides all that it does. If you are looking for a church that does not indulge in gimmicks, visit a Church of Christ.
Posted by: TrickleUpPolitics at November 17, 2009 5:44 AM
With Obamacare coming people will need to get used to the government putting them down like dogs when they get to old to "contribute" to society anymore.
Posted by: Bruce Pierce at November 17, 2009 7:10 AM
Whatsoever happened to "preach to all creation"?
DOG is my co-pilot.
Posted by: Mustafa Falafa at November 17, 2009 7:32 AM
Trickle up, I'd take Jim Carrey out of your list (I mean, it was just one gaff he made, and he's also spoken out on good subjects such as Ang San Suu Kyi), and replace him with one or more of the following: Michael Moore, Lewis Black, and Barbara Walters.
Posted by: Adam at November 17, 2009 8:10 AM
Oh, and Ted Rall, too. He'd be towards the top of my list in that category.
Posted by: Adam at November 17, 2009 8:11 AM
"In most cases, people ought to count more than animals"
Is there absolutely no single story anywhere, of any kind, of any circumstance, about animals that does not automatically elicit this cliche' in response?
Posted by: Fiberal at November 17, 2009 8:13 AM
Yeah, Fiberal, that was my reaction, too. Sorry, G of Y, but that smacks of political correctness. Stories of the courage and loyalty of your run of the mill dog make certain humans pale in comparison. To add to VtheK's list, Henry Waxman, Shiela Jackson Lee, and the entire membership of the DU.
One DUmmy wanted to have the whole of Gitmo over to her house for dinner. She thought they were hawt. (The prisoners, not the guards.)
Posted by: Anonymous at November 17, 2009 8:29 AM
While I believe church services for your dog are a bit whacky, most pet owners do consider pets to be part of the family.
Posted by: Henry at November 17, 2009 8:59 AM
Oh great. Now the dogs are gonna' get religion and get all right wing and pose a greater threat to the country than Islamic Terror Dogs. What's next a doggy Fox network?
Posted by: Davey at November 17, 2009 10:44 AM
Will PETA get itself involved in this kind of poppycock bull kaka now?
Posted by: SPURWING PLOVER at November 17, 2009 12:55 PM
The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion have an annual event that dates back centuries.
The Feast of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis is the patron saint of animals and it is customary to hold ceremonies honoring animals around his feast day of 4 October annually.
It is a solemn, dignified yet fun event for the the church & the church's pet-owning parishioners.
Posted by: SK at November 17, 2009 4:06 PM
On this website I've noticed that it's pretty much the good guys with an occasinal liberal heckler and look at the crap comments on an article as important as this. Does anyone have any substantial questions as to how Zero got elected and why this country is in the shape it's in?
Posted by: Rick Schroeder at November 17, 2009 6:26 PM
ST FRANCIS is often shown amounst birds saying prayers to them
Posted by: Flu-Bird at November 17, 2009 9:41 PM
