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Wednesday, September 13, 2006 12:00 AM

Come as you are

At Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Snoop Dogg figures in sermons, housewives cradle babies in tattooed arms -- and religious fundamentalism rules. Meet the Disciple Generation, the fierce new face of American evangelism.

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  • Tuesday, September 12, 2006 07:57 PM

    For Christ's sake, please don't procreate...

    I love how evangelical Christians think it is their duty to multiply and inhabit the earth. Usually they point to a well-known passage where God tells Noah to "be fruitful and multiply." Never mind that Noah just survived a devastating worldwide flood where nearly everyone bit the dust except his family. Meanwhile, there are currently 6.6 billion people on the planet today and these Christians want to add more?

    Unfortunately, for Christians eager to get hitched and do the nasty, there are just as many passages in the Bible advocating lifelong celibacy for Christians. After all, everyone knows the end is nigh and Jesus is coming back any day now, so what's the point in having children. Just check out Matthew 19:11 or Luke 17:26. 1 Corinthians 7.8 is another personal favorite. Paul compels his readers, "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am." While these passages never rule out marriage in special cases where individuals cannot contain their passions, lifelong celibacy is apparently a superior state to "holy matrimony."

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