1. Will it be wrong for me to laugh my head off in 5-10 years when they wake up and realize they've wasted their lives following a knock-off cult?

2. Why are they buying houses? If the end times are around the corner, why do they need to build up equity? In fact, can you give them my name so they can call me the day BEFORE the end times? I'll fly out to Seattle and buy all their property for $1. If they're right, they won't be needing the house (or the $1 for that matter). Let's see them put their money where their faith is.

My question regarding the disturbing assertion that the only role of women is childbearing and childrearing is this: What is a woman’s role those 30 years or so after the children are grown and out of the house? Is she then worthless?

What about women who are unable to conceive? Do they have less worth than women who are able to bear children?

I take it that ‘a little bird’ doesn’t have any kids.

Seriously, how many six year olds do you know who are exercizing their first amendment rights? Up to a certain age, kids have *no* latitude to make choices for themselves where *anything* is concerned. Dad says you’re going to kindergarten and you’re going. Mom says you’re getting innocuation shots and you’re getting them. Dad says you’re joining the cub scouts and you’re joining. Mom says you’re taking swim lessons and you’re taking them. Before kids are able to make choices for themselves, parents make literally thousands of decisions on their behalf that they believe will be beneficial for their children. It’s not hard to imagine religious parents believing that religious practice would be beneficial for their children. Like *all* of us, those kids will have a chance as they mature to determine which of their parents’ beliefs they will retain and which they will reject.

Furthermore, what parent thinks they are supposed to keep all of their most deeply held principles, convictions, and beliefs (religious or otherwise) from their own children? If we don’t think our own principles and beliefs are helpful for guiding our lives, they aren’t good for much, are they? And isn’t that simply part of parenting – sharing your own understanding of the world with your children with the hopes that it will help them navigate their way through life?

Not sure why we’d expect differently from Mars Hill folks. Oh, except for the hypocrisy that secular parents should raise secular children, but Christian parents should keep their beliefs to themselves.

Poco wrote this absurd statement: "Now for the hypocrisy: Teen depression, suicide, pregnancy, drug use, drop out rates, profanity, crime, lack of respect, narcissism, aimlessness. You think secular society is doing better than Christian society? I beg to differ."

Uh, in case you haven't noticed, 85% of the American people are Christian. While those of us who aren't religious have to constantly struggle against attempts to make this an official "Christian" nation, it basically is one already. So while our government is officially secular, it cannot be argued that this is a "secular society." All those problems you're talking about: kids dropping out of school, people committing crimes, suicide, pregnancy (I'm assuming you meant teen pregnancy)--it's Christians, for the most part, causing and/or suffering from these problems. The something like 2-5% of Americans who identify as atheist or agnostic are clearly not committing all the crime, getting all the teens pregnant, or committing all the suicides.

And as far as comparisons go, all the non-religious people I know are way better adjusted than the average religious person I've known. Not only that, but they're more generous, compassionate, fun-loving, honest and sincere. The greediest, most selfish, most malicious and antagonistic and negative people I've known have all been so-called "Christians." When our country is led by people who call themselves Christians but pursue war without hesitation and advocate for the death penalty for the mentally retarded and do everything they can to make the rich richer and ignore the poor, it becomes clear that being religious often equals being a total hypocrite.

Maybe you should try being secular for a while. And maybe our country should too. We'd be a lot better off.

As a Seattle residing liberal Protestant, (yes I voted for Kerry, Gore, etc.), I can't stop rolling my eyes as I continue to read the letters in response to the Mars Hill Article. The members of Mars Hill Church in Seattle are grown adults making their own grown up choices. No one has forced them into this community and yes, while it may be difficult emotionally to leave, thanks to the freedom of the laws of this country, they are entirely free to leave should they choose to. I studied Comparative Religion at the University of Washington and have witnessed first hand the lives of those in the extremist branches of religions of all types. I even lived in Utah for two years and came to know many devout Mormons as close friends. What makes someone choose a life like this, especially a female, who in mainstream society's eyes gives up so much to submit to the patriarchy? The answer: There isn't any one answer. We are all complex adults, the products of a lifetime of influences. The most important thing is the ability to choose our own path. I truly feel sorry for a girl born in Hildale, Utah, the daughter of a polygamist. She isn't given the opportunity to chose her own path, but rather is married to an uncle at the age of 14. That is something to feel sorry for and to fight to prevent. But a few thousand people who have found a religious community in Seattle to belong, and which they identify with, are free to join and leave as they wish? Good for them. Now, quit feeling sorry for these "submissive" women and go help people with real problems and no real choices.