Finally, Christians are beginning to see the problems ...

And just out of curiosity, how would you write off Angel Tree?

 

Oh, Lord.
It's the Biblethumping!
Make it stop....

 

So hating and villifying fellow sinners is the Jesus way, then? What are you saying, sir?

 

As already stated, their guidelines for what they classify as "successful" is not what is normally considered successful. There is no doubt that for some people, this program works. However, it is no more successful than the secular programs out there.

For example, one of the measures of success is whether the inmate continues attending church and does not commit a crime. While this seems fine and dandy, how do they classify an inmate that leaves the church and does commit a crime? Your answer is, he no longer counts as a statistic. What about those that leave the church and don't commit a crime? Well, those are still classified as a "success" since they didn't commit a crime.

True success rates are determined based upon the number of entries in the program and how many of those return to crime. Angel Tree doesn't go by this. They manipulate their numbers by claiming those that commit crimes have left their program and therefore do not count.

 

I wrote: "Condeming and villifying others? No." I'm not sure why that's unclear.

All I'm saying is that there is right and wrong, good and evil. Jesus didn't just go around telling everyone it was okay to do whatever the heck they wanted to do.

 

Jesus also didn't walk around pointing out the faults in everyone he met. He also didn't follow that up by threatening the person should they not follow him.

 

Angel Tree is the Prison Fellowship program that facilitates the care of the children of people who are incarcerated.

 

Did Jesus go around telling people they weren't good enough to follow him or too sinful? Seems to me the only people he got steamed at were the hypocritical ultra religious.

You could look it up, trouncy.

 

I'll be a good Christian and forgive the Pastor for blowing that answer.  Let's give him a second chance, eh trounced?  

 

I think you have it backwards, JR. In my view, the radical right wing (neo-conservatives, not to be confused with fiscal conservative) of the Republican party have played fundamentalist Christians for fools by makiing promises to them that they knew they would or could not keep. Oh sure, they'll selectively raise an issue to make it look like they're trying (let's amend the Constitution!) but, in reality, they just want the votes. In doing so, they've forged an implausible coalition that has nonetheless won two presidential elections.

 

My mistake then. I was thinking of the Prisoner Reform program. It is in the same umbrella and based on the same premises.

In the case of children, I find it a little sickening that in order to receive help, a sermon is forced upon them.

 

So you'd rather they not be helped? You sound just like the libs who are not against a minimum wage increased because it's tied to estate tax relief.