So I'm watching Jesus Camp and I've decided to write notes because there are so many thoughts flying through my head, I'm afraid to lose them.

"Warlocks are enemies of God! If Harry Potter was in the Old Testament, he would be put to DEATH!"

Seeing those kids crying because they act like kids in school but religious warriors at Church made me wonder what it was like to feel -that- strongly about something, and if, maybe, it's not such a bad thing to feel it about faith. Perhaps that is faith. Most likely, I still think it is faith misdirected.

Stopped at 38:00, this movie is terrifying.

I have a question. What is so wrong with cliche-images? Yes, they misdirect the populations into caring about things not worth caring about, hoping for things probably impossible, etc. etc. Would you rather have them bogged down with "truth" all the time? And I place that word in quotes because it is as ambiguous as the concept of utopia. I guess that's been my problem this whole time- by the way, I caught that dig in class, Mr.- with these stories. Life sucks, then you die. It's absolutely true. Atwood had it right about how the only real ending is death.

So if cliche-images help you to wallow through the muck of life, why shouldn't we indulge? Granted, they are like everything else that's tasty or fun- good in moderation- but just like those things, absolutely necessary to sustain human life. Without them, I guarantee suicide/crime rates would be higher. So, being constantly bombarded with news of family/friends/boy next door getting blown apart in Iraq, swine flu, personal tragedies, and more, why are the only authors worth reading writing about more of the same? Aren't we allowed to keep a vestige of innocence through which to enjoy the sheep grazing in green fields or the crazy fun of puddle-jumping?

Also, what makes anyone think that the essence of life can be understood through reading? Life is only gotten through living. I'll bet half the kids in that room didn't understand many of the stories because they haven't done any living. I know I didn't understand, nay, could not even begin to comprehend!, several of the stories because I haven't lived enough.

Maybe this is only a rant, but class this morning took me to the Dark and Twisties, as one of my favorite cliche-images coined, so I figure you owe me this much. Yeah, I'd appreciate a good rebuttal. Please, prove me wrong.