(October 9, 2019 at 11:07 pm)mordant Wrote: Well I don't think I was ever comfortable stereotyping to that degree -- I had enough sense to realize saggy pants or tattoos or rap music (well in my day it was rock music) weren't "of the devil" even if I felt they were of questionable utility or taste. And, I wouldn't have been that assertive concerning my views. But other than that, in my 20s I probably fit the "weird, uptight and full of strange ideas fundagelical" demographic pretty well.
Personally never got into the whole "only listen to gospel music and hang out with church friends" type of Christianity. Though I do remember regurgitating ideas about the rapture when I was like 10 or 11, though I blame my father for that; I had no idea how insane it sounded to other kids at the time. It's a wonder I had as many friends as I did.
(October 9, 2019 at 11:07 pm)mordant Wrote: He's sticking to an abstraction that renders life simple and comprehensible and orderly for him. Someday, it may no longer do that, and then the pain of facing reality will be less than the pain of barking his shins on reality while living contrary to it. I wouldn't let it disturb me too much. Guys like him abound in some parts of the country.
I tend to agree. Unfortunately, because most people are 'polite' in some sense of the word, he'll never be challenged on most of these ideas.
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
