The Blasphemy Challenge

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

What can be GAINED from the denouncement?

To whom will it prove a point?

We aren't 100% sure one way or another, so why take the risk in the event it is true?

Corps...God... and Country.

You really want to know?
There are stories of fifteen year olds of getting kicked-out of their home when announcing their disbelief.
Being locked in their rooms and attempts at programing.
Shunning by the entire family.
Hate, rage, disgust, being told they will suffer and be tortured for eternity at the hands of their "loving god", while seeing replies of the same in the threads and YouTube comments.
These people feel, felt alone for years, many have felt alone and have said nothing until the challenge.
This gives them a voice among many, lets them know they are not alone, not the only one going through what they are dealing with.
It gives them a community, a support structure to deal witht he persecution that they deal with.
It is important and a good thing.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

You really want to know?
There are stories of fifteen year olds of getting kicked-out of their home when announcing their disbelief.
Being locked in their rooms and attempts at programing.

Don't forget being placed in mental hospitals. Selene used to do the same sort of work that Wolf does, namely, intake for a local private psych facility. A significant number of the teenage girls there were there, at least in part, because they had been reading about witchcraft.

Strangely, she never once met a teen who cited rampant Christianity as one of the reasons for their confinement...at least, not on the part of the patient.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Don't forget being placed in mental hospitals.

Everybody's experience may vary, of course, but in nearly 15 years I have not had anyone try to admit their teenager for reading about or practicing witchcraft, or even had that mentioned in the course of the discussion about the need for admission. Of course, I'm not in or anywhere near the Bible Belt, so that could certainly account for some of the difference.

I would expect, however, based on my experience outside of the workplace that a lot of disturbed or distressed young folks, particularly the ones who have turned to either cutting or Gothiness as a way of finding an in-group, will also tend towards alternative religion as a means of self-expression and rebellion.

More importantly ... rzen, did you get a submission uploaded in time to qualify for the free video?