#0
First of all I\'m not endorsing the below link, I don\'t think there is anything wrong about it, on a secular American societal level. (no cussing, etc ...)
But on an Orthodox level there is a whole different problem with it.
I\'ve been reading about the secularization (or protestantism) of certain aspects of the OCA in another post. I\'ve chosen to be silent on that note because really where do you start, was it a failing of education? Are we being influenced by society or culture or something else? Could we just be making new traditions? All this is stuff I just don\'t know.
But back to the link below, and a little background for those who don\'t know, here in America there is a commercial for some towels / rags called shamwow, and the announcer is rather persuasive in selling the product.
A Roman Catholic priest has apparently decided to parody the commercial and so we now have:
http://www.soulwow.com/
Which brings me to the thought for anyone to chime in on. Obviously no Orthodox Priest would ever do such a thing as that \\"commercial.\\" I personally don\'t think its a very effective way to reach out to those that are unchurched.
But is the message right or is the intent right? That\'s what I\'m really struggling with. The simple idea that this can bring you to a near baptized feeling? Yes its wrong on so many levels, but I think most would get it\'s just meant to bring attention.
We are told by St. Paul he would do anything to bring someone to Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:19-27) Yet we know there are limits as to what should be done.
Orthodoxy stands for something, Christianities past predominately in my mind, I\'d be willing to add to that if not for brevity.
But are we getting to a point where these secular influences or protestant / Catholic influences would encourage us to do some modern markting?
Or to paraphrase Paul, to the secular American we should become secular to win some of their souls.
Or does that cost us too much of who we are?
What do you say?
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When coming up with a presentation, it is a good idea to pray for some wisdom from God first. James 1:5: \\"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.\\"
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John Chan
#2
I can\'t say anything about the intent of the one who came up with the idea. But as far as it being an advertisement (for the RC church) it\'s brilliant in that it got your attention and made you stop to think about it for awhile.
Perhaps that\'s all they wanted - a reaction, a response, somebody to take notice.
As for your second question: should we become more secular in order to win some souls - even when I was practicing my own \\"non denom\\" protestant variety of Christiany, I was taught that you don\'t attempt to find out how close to the edge you can drive before falling off the cliff.
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#3
As far as the commercial goes I don\'t see anything wrong with it from the RC perspective. In terms of what he\'s saying it all follows the general theological concept of what confession is. Now as far the question of whether or not the Orthodox could ever do something like that, I think it revolves more around whether or not someone can make a \\"commercial\\" that is respectful in its presentation of the Church.
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I\'m pretty sure that got non-Catholics (perhaps even atheists) thinking about God and the sacrament of Confession let alone the Catholics themselves. Overall, quite effective.
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I find this more of a satire of modern commercialism more than any thing else. Sure the tone is silly, but I don\'t find any thing blasphemous about it. And I think there is a place for humor in religion. Lots of jokes in the bible and I don\'t know if you all have heard of the tradition about st Lawrence, who was being martyred by being roasted on an spit over a fire. The tradition states he said to his executioners,\\" turn me over. I am done on this side.\\" This says to me that humor is part of our human condition. Of course what we say and joke about matters as to whether it is approriote or not
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