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Monday, May 08, 2006

Urban Dictionary's Definition of Evangelical - Capturing Multiple Significations of Words

This is an incredible website that I came across over the weekend. It's a great semiotic device as it captures the signification of terms in the vernacular of the everyday man or woman.

I find it rather humbling to view their definition of 'evangelical.' I don't reject it - even though my heart breaks that this is what most people think of our 'witness.'

Here's a couple of samples:

Def. 1 "christians who like to argue and force their ideas of religion on others. sometimes resulting in violence and always voice raising."

Def. 2 "A sect of christianity that is full of mindless, brainwashed followers who spend their entire life in misery when they aren't spreading the gospel. The whole sect is full of middle class/rich white folks who want to go to church to be entertained by crying, hysterical preachers and find new prejudices to be in support of. They believe that their religion is the only way of life and refuse to accept any other ways. There is no 'conversation' with evangelicals...they only convert. BEWARE."

Def 8 speaks prophetically: "Don't try and force god on someone, pray, let god sow the seeds and just be a mate."

In my humble opinion, we've got a lot of serious work to do.

Steve

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