Wanna bath? How about a baptism?
Apr. 7th, 2003 01:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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greenshadows
Army Chaplain Offers Baptisms, Baths
By Meg Laughlin
Miami Herald
Saturday 5 April 2003
CAMP BUSHMASTER, Iraq - In this dry desert world near Najaf, where the Army V Corps combat support system sprawls across miles of scabrous dust, there's an oasis of sorts: a 500-gallon pool of pristine, cool water.
It belongs to Army chaplain Josh Llano of Houston, who sees the water shortage, which has kept thousands of filthy soldiers from bathing for weeks, as an opportunity.
"It's simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized," he said.
And agree they do. Every day, soldiers take the plunge for the Lord and come up clean for the first time in weeks...
Full story here
As i said when first seeing this, "Crucifixion is too good for that deceitful, manipulative motherfucker. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest his underwear, and a particularly virulent scorpion rip his dick off."
Granted, the number of "authentic" conversions is probably not much past a single digit binary number, but just the whole process reeks of extortion. Besides, if these are people who have been out in the desert getting dirty and smelly, how long is that tank of water going to last before it comes to resemble a mud puddle?
What's even more offensive, i think, is that this guy doesn't see anything ethically wrong with what he's doing.
greenshadowsArmy Chaplain Offers Baptisms, Baths
By Meg Laughlin
Miami Herald
Saturday 5 April 2003
CAMP BUSHMASTER, Iraq - In this dry desert world near Najaf, where the Army V Corps combat support system sprawls across miles of scabrous dust, there's an oasis of sorts: a 500-gallon pool of pristine, cool water.
It belongs to Army chaplain Josh Llano of Houston, who sees the water shortage, which has kept thousands of filthy soldiers from bathing for weeks, as an opportunity.
"It's simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized," he said.
And agree they do. Every day, soldiers take the plunge for the Lord and come up clean for the first time in weeks...
Full story here
As i said when first seeing this, "Crucifixion is too good for that deceitful, manipulative motherfucker. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest his underwear, and a particularly virulent scorpion rip his dick off."
Granted, the number of "authentic" conversions is probably not much past a single digit binary number, but just the whole process reeks of extortion. Besides, if these are people who have been out in the desert getting dirty and smelly, how long is that tank of water going to last before it comes to resemble a mud puddle?
What's even more offensive, i think, is that this guy doesn't see anything ethically wrong with what he's doing.
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 03:30 pm (UTC)Gives the rest of us a bad reputation.
(Grew up christian - Catholic - but it's not something I really gave up on. Still struggling, but it's the journey that counts, right?)
Re:
Date: 2003-04-07 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 04:22 pm (UTC)I figure there's a Great Big Divine Something out there and that's ok for me.
Re:
Date: 2003-04-07 05:05 pm (UTC)Out driving in Queen Anne, which is the neighbourhood on the other side of the main arterial from our region, and we went past a church. The sign read as follows:
Saint Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church
Home of the Polish Catholic Community.
Which made me think: don't the Poles have any saints of their own? Or is it the sheer Polishness of the whole thing which made them adopt one of another nationality.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 05:15 pm (UTC)My dad is being uber Polish and "doesn't like the idea" of letting me go to Seattle. Um, aren't I an adult? Even buying my own tickets, he's trying to veto me. Gah.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 05:15 pm (UTC)My dad is being uber Polish and "doesn't like the idea" of letting me go to Seattle. Um, aren't I an adult? Even buying my own tickets, he's trying to veto me. Gah. Call me.
Re:
Date: 2003-04-07 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 06:31 pm (UTC)*I checked discount airfares from expedia and travelocity, plus Amtrak, but still expensive. Must keep pestering dear old dad.*
sad
Date: 2003-04-08 07:15 am (UTC)Saying that, I find it absolutely abhorable that someone would apparently bribe or engage in an act of perceived humanitarianism by coercing people into getting baptized regardless of their motive. This gentleman is a shame and mockery to those who believe in Christ and His message of love thy neighbor. He will get his judgment if what is reported is true.
I know it wasn't solicited but from a perspective of someone who is a follower of Christ, I thought it to be important to know that all that come in the name of Jesus may not be coming in His authority.