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Original poster

to draw your attention to MN'ers being threatened with court for posting

568 replies

gordyslovesheep · 09/10/2014 16:07

By Samaritan's Purse

I know I'm not the only one

who else have they decided to silence?

It's quite interesting that they dislike criticism so much

OP posts:
PolterGoose · 10/10/2014 08:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

exexpat · 10/10/2014 09:06

Brass - It wasn't a live chat, Brian just popped up on a couple of threads discussing Operation Christmas Child, but I have to agree that his PR efforts were somewhat counterproductive. The line "I have never met a gay person who, when you get to really know them, is truly comfortable with that lifestyle" was a particular winner. here.

The thing is, all the animosity to Samaritan's Purse could have been avoided if they had always been totally honest with schools, parents etc about the true purpose of the Operation Christmas Child scheme, which is to use the shoeboxes (often donated by people who are not even Christian) as a tool to get children into churches and to sign up for a bible studies ("discipleship") programme, aimed at turning them into US-style born-again Christian fundamentalists. ("The Greatest Journey")

Instead their material for schools has for years glossed over the proselytising aspect and just made out it is just a lovely warm and fuzzy thing to do for poor children at Christmas, with no ulterior motives.

What I and lots of other regular posters on Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child threads have always been trying to do is point out the background to those who didn't realise, and encourage people to share the information with their schools, so that people can make an informed choice about whether to participate. And along the way people have googled Samaritan's Purse and its leader, Franklin Graham, and have found out all sorts of other things about the organisation and its attitudes, which have also found their way onto the threads. And that's how we have ended up with this going on...

CalamitouslyWrong · 10/10/2014 09:20

Wonc: I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people realise that SP are not at all representative of all Christians. They're not representative of the vast majority of Christians worldwide, however much they'd like to convince everyone that they are.

Giraffe: I hope you brought a (really, really long) book. I fear you'll be waiting forever a long time.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 10/10/2014 09:24

exexpat
The thing is, all the animosity to Samaritan's Purse could have been avoided if they had always been totally honest with schools, parents etc about the true purpose of the Operation Christmas Child scheme, which is to use the shoeboxes (often donated by people who are not even Christian) as a tool to get children into churches and to sign up for a bible studies ("discipleship") programme, aimed at turning them into US-style born-again Christian fundamentalists. ("The Greatest Journey")

This happened in my children's school which is very mixed. Everyone did their shoeboxes the first year and then people started to look into what exactly SP was about. It wasn't done again and I, for one, felt tricked and used. Food / treat donations are given to a local charity for the elderly instead.

madhairday · 10/10/2014 09:26

Another Christian here standing with wonc (great verse btw) Flowers to those affected by this.

Numanoid · 10/10/2014 09:30

I looked at the thread linked by exexpat and if that is really the man behind this organisation, then I have been put off them. Shock He seems very rude and his views on homosexuality are awful.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 10/10/2014 09:31

Wonc
There is nothing for you to apologise for. I think people like SP are not doing ordinary Christians any favours at all. I have met many Christians over the years who feel that living a loving and caring life is the best way to "advertise" Christianity.

I am very impressed with your Bible knowledge - a very apt quotation.

SauceForTheGander · 10/10/2014 09:42

Just posting to add my support to those who have been emailed.

A quick google search about SP & their beliefs reveals much about their Christianity. Not sure why they feel the need to target MN.

Osmiornica · 10/10/2014 09:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UltraNumb · 10/10/2014 09:46

Because a lot of people on here are responsible for putting schools off doing shoe boxes for them, and we continue to reveal the alleged truth about the organisation and the beliefs of the Graham family.

Bambambini · 10/10/2014 09:51

Brian/goober is not the man behind the organisation. He is the mellow sanitised PR man sent out to charm and win hearts and minds. Franklin Graham is behind OCC.

Brian / gooner " Franklin Graham doesn't call women who have abortions 'murderers'! What he is reported as saying is: "Abortion is wrong. It is the murder of unborn children, and no law of the land and no party platform can ever legitimize it". No Bible-believing Christian would disagree with him. In Psalm 139 and verses 13-16, it is written:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I don't believe Franklin Graham has ever called a homosexual 'deviant'.

Are you suggesting that UK parents are universally pro-abortion and pro-gay? I'd like to see your evidence!"

quietbatperson · 10/10/2014 09:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OddFodd · 10/10/2014 09:57

I'm very shocked by this. I'd like to also say I'm surprised but I'm not. I suspect this will prove to be a massive own goal which I'm rather delighted about

PastorOfMuppets · 10/10/2014 10:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CalamitouslyWrong · 10/10/2014 10:05

I wonder if, maybe, SP don't fully realise that what people are saying about them is true.

Brian would probably try (and fail) to argue that he isn't homophobic, using the kind of torturous logic that always accompanies attempts to paint God-bothering homophobia as not homophobic. The abortion/murder bit quoted above is another fine example of such logic. Maybe the folks at SP don't understand that having your founder very publicly call a major world religion 'evil' is, well, Islamophobic (and spreading hate speech). Or that it very clearly associates their organisation with islamophobia.

Regardless whether it's incredible stupidity or carefully calculated, it's all very dangerous and disturbing (especially when their main activities involve trying to dupe people into supporting their proselytising under the guise of doing something nice for some poor children).

GroupieGirl · 10/10/2014 10:11

Wow. I fully support those posters who are being attacked (yes, I consider the threats of legal action to be a form of attack) in this manner, by SP.

On a separate note...does anybody else keep wondering "what the hell has poor SP done to upset everyone"? when not paying enough attention Wink

hoobypickypicky · 10/10/2014 11:00

Samaritan's Purse. Those are the homophobic, anti women's rights people who have a problem with free speech, aren't they? The ones with members who spout the view that other people's gods don't love them, are they not?

So sue me. I have nothing to lose. You can have my details, for all they're worth. But before you get them I want to know which of my statements above they're taking issue with.

Sallyingforth · 10/10/2014 11:02

What I find sad about this is that SP are actually doing some very good health work in Africa and Asia. If they would only stick with that and drop their extremist views, I for one could support them.

I do think comments above about them being "at least as bad as islamist extremists" are off the mark. I don't see any reports of beheadings or mass rapes.

But legal attacks on critics are unacceptable.

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 10/10/2014 11:04

Is this link posted by Bambambini Here from the real SP site?
Not doubting Bambambini, but I can hardly believe my eyes.

ImNoClownIWontBackDown · 10/10/2014 11:44

Genuinely - why can't people just do nice things for others without bringing their personal views into it?

I really really hope this is taken up by the media. What with the themes of free speech and religious fundamentalism, surely this is particularly relevant at the moment. I do hope MNHQ are on the phone to Newsnight, Radio 4, Channel 4 News etc etc RIGHT NOW! Angry

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 10/10/2014 11:47

I'm only partway through reading this thread so someone else may already have highlighted this

From \link{http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/04/21/franklin-grahams-detestable-anti-gay-statements/\one of the links about Franklin Graham's anti-homosexuality rants posted earlier}:

"Putin is going to make these decisions that he thinks is best for the Russian people and he thinks taking advantage of children, exploiting children is wrong for any group."

Except when it's done by SP with their adorable little books, of course

windchime · 10/10/2014 11:49

I must be the only Christian on here who agrees with the ideals of SP.

HowsTheSerenity · 10/10/2014 11:50

The one true god?
Unloved?

Can I have an eye roll smiley?

Chippednailvarnish · 10/10/2014 11:52

What do you want wind, a medal?

LiverpoolLou · 10/10/2014 11:58

I must be the only Christian on here who agrees with the ideals of SP.

That non-Christian children are not God's children?

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