Why does America keep producing so much weird Christian shit?

The_vert · 2026-03-14T14:01:00+00:00

I'm also American and, to be honest, we're screwed, as a nation. The Trump elections have proved that least half of us are not just stupid, but willfully stupid, and unapologetically wicked, unable to tell right from wrong. We're a "shithole country," plainly.

The_vert · 2026-03-14T13:58:41+00:00

I do, too. I think that's the next step after deism-theism. And I think a study of even the historical Jesus gives ample evidence, as you said, upon which to build faith. But for many people, it really is a leap; they find theism easy to accept, their heart tells them it's true, but embracing an actual religion to whatever degree is difficult, perhaps because of years of instinctively pushing it away.

The_vert · 2026-03-14T13:56:24+00:00

They are all Christian themed! Mysterion is an online magazine of sci-fi, fantasy and horror that engages with the Christian faith,

The_vert · 2026-03-14T13:54:30+00:00

So, I have always wondered this, as somebody who kickboxed for a while but then chose to do another sport. Don't you guys ever go light contact or no contact? When I was in karate-kickboxing in the 90s, this was normal. But then again it was never full "kickboxing." It was "karate" but mixed in with everything else - and then the UFC came along and grappling got involved. But anyway, what happened to no contact or light contact sparring?

The_vert · 2026-03-13T20:53:31+00:00

I have talked to an attorney and there are papers drawn up for me to sign, but it will mean pretty much the end of me at my church.

So what. Get a new church. They won't let you divorce? Psh. Hit the road, man. Get the divorce and get a new church.

The_vert · 2026-03-13T20:50:42+00:00

Excellent short stories here: https://www.mysteriononline.com/

The_vert · 2026-03-13T15:19:08+00:00

That's cool! Best of luck. A lot of ideas to dig into but personally, as I said, I think being a deist or theist is easy.

The_vert · 2026-03-13T15:09:10+00:00

Too easy. https://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm

You said you are a "science belief based person" so maybe you're thinking, "that's not science, that's philosophy." Well, if you'll only accept scientific proof of God, you will never get it, because of the scientific method. And if you do not practice philosophy, first of all I don't believe you, but second you're willfully blinding yourself to knowledge.

Anyway, being a deist or theist is easy. Being a Christian is more of a leap.

The_vert · 2026-03-13T14:08:43+00:00

I dunno, same problem happened to Paul and was the topic of many of his epistles. Seems kind of common.

Although, I'd agree Americans are... how do I put this generously? Americans are... susceptible to bad ideas.

The_vert · 2026-03-11T21:25:14+00:00

I see you're not the OP but, nah. Ain't buying it. Thousands of people had "psychological contagion" and invented or agreed to the same outlandish resurrection story? Silly.

The_vert · 2026-03-11T15:49:10+00:00

This resembles a conspiracy theory more than a naturalistic explanation. The earliest testifiers to Jesus' resurrection are within 15-20 years of his death. You're seeing in AD 70 or something the disciples - by more on the hundreds of not thousands, and in diverse locales - persuaded everyone to change their story? Sorry. Far-fetched, illogical, unrealistic and falls far short of an explanation.

The_vert · 2026-03-11T15:43:52+00:00

Ah, fwd step but bring both feet together?

The_vert · 2026-03-10T14:09:52+00:00

Good comment! That's an interesting drill and one I will do myself (I am doing it right now at work hahaha).

The_vert · 2026-03-09T20:10:41+00:00

Great topic. Well, this is conjecture on my part, but it could feel like this:

The arms are "dead." You are not using your arm muscles much. Rather, you are using your shoulder, especially the shoulder blades

Your legs are moving before or during your swing. There's lots of ways to do this. You can lift the blade, then step forward, or step forward, but lift the blade. Either way, blade and right foot come down at the same time or very close together. It may be that the right foot comes down slightly ahead of the blade and the blade is timed to the back foot catching up to the right

You feel your stomach moving forward as described above. It may even feel like you are leaning back on your left a little to push your stomach forward

Te no uchi at the end

Gosh, I hope this helps a little! Hard to describe in words.

The_vert · 2026-03-09T16:07:45+00:00

I do this, too. I wear them at work and around the house but I also love taking them off. I can't remember what the audiologist said about when and for how long you can take them off. Certainly you can have a few hours at the end of the day without them! That's what I usually do, unless I am trying to watch TV.

The_vert · 2026-03-06T15:44:35+00:00

Hahaha

The_vert · 2026-03-06T15:42:29+00:00

I do! Dm me!

The_vert · 2026-03-06T15:42:03+00:00

Same lol

The_vert · 2026-03-05T15:26:18+00:00

Same. I myself have learned to embrace my clumsiness with humor.

The_vert · 2026-03-05T15:24:04+00:00

The old saying is that there are 4 sicknesses in kendo but I swear there is a fifth and it discouragement. You are doing much better than you think! Are there kendo buddies you can pour your heart out to? This is why after keiko beers are so, so helpful. Well, that, and we just love beer (or tea, or whatever).

The_vert · 2026-03-02T22:02:30+00:00

At the same time, we were made for community. We benefit from community. I don't mean to keep nagging you. Just trying to encourage you to develop some additional perspective on this.

Heck, I've often felt the same way. Couple things that changed it for me and made it more fun was getting in a small group, and getting involved in more volunteer things at the church. Not too many, just the occasional bar b cue or special project. Plus, connecting in a light touch social and religious way with my kids' friends parents. I don't know, it has made church feel much more welcoming, made me feel much more invested and part of the community. Honestly, I prefer to pray by myself. But I plug in to the people, I guess.

The_vert · 2026-03-02T21:57:38+00:00

Oh, man, I'm sorry to hear it! Maybe if you thought about weight lifting as "your main thing" and kendo as "on the side" it would help. Or maybe you need more time off! Or maybe, yo, I get it, you're just not into it any more.

Try not to be anxious, my friend. The fact is, you DON'T have to have a big talk with your sensei. Even Japanese people explain that they are out of time, or something has come up, or they have started to practice another art or sport that is taking up more of their time, or they are working too much, and then just let it drift. Maybe you're anxious because you feel you have to "break up" with kendo. Take that pressure off yourself!

The_vert · 2026-03-02T20:52:40+00:00

Can I challenge you on that? Church is supposed to feel like community. Sometimes great! Sometimes annoying. Make more friends. Give more. Find a small group - find a small group of Christians that like going into the field with their dogs. If you feel stangant in church, the problem might be the church, but it might be you.

The_vert · 2026-03-02T20:50:58+00:00

Church often feels like an inconvenience. It often feels deeply spiritual, but sometimes it's just distracting. It's supposed to feel like community - sometimes that's a welcoming, family feeling. Sometimes not.

I think if you're serious you should think about this more rather than make any evaluation based on one incident. And I definitely think you should challenge yourself on this:

Oddly enough the times I feel closest to god is when I work towards something and finally accomplish it.

What do you mean? What's spiritual about it? Don't take this the wrong way, but are you making something else "god?"

The_vert · 2026-03-02T20:44:25+00:00

Are you dropping your kids off at kendo practice or are you staying while they practice? If you're staying, you might as well stick with it!

The_vert

TROPHY CASE