evolution

I can’t decide whether this trend is good or bad. Unthinking devotion to something is bad*, but I myself reject most forms of pop culture; I will not immediately condemn anything that causes others to reject it en masse, and I’m not religious at all. I merely think that most entertainers and “celebrities” are dolts and not worthy of my attention or approbation.

Unfortunately, there appears to be plenty here for everyone to dislike (all emphasis mine):

A 45-year-old married father of three, Luce began his youth ministry, known as Teen Mania, 20 years ago.

“It’s a battle, it’s a very real battle, it’s a spiritual battle for their heart and soul, so we tell them about how they can come close to the Lord, but it is also a cultural war, and essentially we live in a Christian country with a very un-Christian culture,” Luce said.

If you didn’t know any better, you could mistake a BattleCry concert for any rock concert, minus the sexy clothes and alcohol. There’s plenty of loud music, fireworks and contemporary self-expression, but there’s also praise and prayer.

Saturday morning the teens gathered in groups around the stadium and prayed before the entertainment and speakers began inside.

When Luce talks about the “un-Christian culture,” he makes it clear that he is on a crusade against all the influences bombarding kids today.

“BattleCry” would have been a kick-ass name for a metal band. Well, as I was saying, there’s enough here for everyone to dislike. Oh, the irony:

“This is a hateful and narrow and bigoted brand of Christian fundamentalism, which does not represent Christianity, and they do not know and understand the agenda that is behind it,” said Giovanni Jackson of World Can’t Wait, a nonprofit political activist group.

Last year, the San Francisco board of supervisors condemned the event and took some heat for it. This year they issued the following statement: “BattleCry’s efforts to spread the intolerance and bigotry promoted by its leadership to our young people are reckless and irresponsible. We need to increase understanding of our human differences, not teach our kids to be suspicious and hateful toward people unlike them.”

“There are few people that epitomize things that they can’t stand more than the mayor of San Francisco right here, and I’m not particularly offended by their point of view, and I just hope they are respectful and they don’t hurt people in the process,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Those poor put-upon San Francisco politicians.

“Now, such a union is not always possible…”