Atheists & Agnostics

Freelancer

(2,107 posts) Fri Dec 18, 2015, 08:52 AM Dec 2015

Religious types are using the Star Wars release to proselytize

I was handed a bank note sized bill last night on the way in to see the Star Wars movie. It was dark outside and I could only see that, on the front, it had Leia's face and a $1.000.000 denomination in the corner. When I got to where there was more light, it was plain that it was a troll from the "Living Waters" church -- typical "do you know where you're going when you die" boilerplate. It really annoyed me -- that combined with the $7.00 they charged me for a soda. But, by the time I got seated, and the assistant theater manager had come out, asking us to silence our cell phones and deactivate our light sabers (pretty cute), and the 20th preview trailer had played, balance had been restored.

I enjoyed it immensely.

BTW, I left the bill in the drink cup in the theater seat armrest. Maybe someone on the cleanup crew took it as a sign.

7 replies

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Religious types are using the Star Wars release to proselytize (Original Post) Freelancer Dec 2015 OP

I found the goofy bank notes. onager Dec 2015 #1

That's it. You found it. Thanks for passing on the link -- nt Freelancer Dec 2015 #2

LMAO! beam me up scottie Dec 2015 #3

You found the source! onager Dec 2015 #4

Thinking of founding a religion based upon David Blaine. Who's in? Freelancer Dec 2015 #7

It's terrible the way edhopper Dec 2015 #5

Proselytizing would totally turn me from atheist to believer. DetlefK Dec 2015 #6

onager

(9,356 posts)

1. I found the goofy bank notes.

Reply to Freelancer (Original post)

Fri Dec 18, 2015, 02:34 PM

Dec 2015

Looks like they did them for the whole cast - Leia, Han Solo, etc. Weirdly enough, I could only find them on an Australian evangelizing web site. For sale, naturally:

https://evangelism.com.au/store/p/force-awakened-million-dollar-bill/

I'm puzzled about this whole approach. I know Xianity, at least in the US, often tries to attach itself like a parasite to pop culture phenomena in hopes of nabbing a few more suckers. But I don't see any obvious connection between Star Wars and damnation.

OK, maybe I do. I'd be tempted to hand the bill right back to the con artist and say something like:

"Thanks, don't need it. I already know Jesus and Star Wars are both just myths. But at least George Lucas doesn't demand 10 per cent of my income forever to watch his movies. Or threaten to burn me eternally in hellfire for saying I want to drop-kick an Ewok into the next universe."

ETA: after reading the back of the bank note, they were instantly familiar. "Here is the million-dollar question..." Used to see these as a kid in the Deep South, without the movie tie-in. They were usually passed out by people working for hucksters like Oral Roberts, Garner Ted Armstrong, etc.

Freelancer

(2,107 posts)

2. That's it. You found it. Thanks for passing on the link -- nt

Reply to onager (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 18, 2015, 04:49 PM

Dec 2015

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)

3. LMAO!

Reply to Freelancer (Original post)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 05:10 AM

Dec 2015

Force Awakened Collectible

Have you felt the Dark Side? Each one of us loves it and wants to stay in it. Gauge your own reaction as light exposes the darkness: “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Ever looked with lust? Have you ever lied, or stolen anything, irrespective of its value? Have you used God’s name in vain? If you have done these things, the Creator sees you as a lying thief and a blaspheming adulterer at heart. If you are found guilty on Judgment Day, the Bible says you will justly end up in Hell. But the one true Life Force became a Man and gave His perfect life as a sacrifice for the sin of this world. We broke God’s Law, and Jesus paid our fine. If you stand guilty in court, and someone steps forward and pays your fine, the judge can legally let you go, even though you are guilty. God can dismiss our case and let us live forever, because of what Jesus did on the cross: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Three days after His death, the Life Force awakened. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating the Dark Side- Satan’s dominion. Come out of the Dark Side. Repent and trust in Jesus alone (as you’d trust a parachute.) Do it today. You may not have tomorrow. Visit LivingWaters.com and click on “Save Yourself Some Pain” to learn more.

http://store.livingwaters.com/force-awakened-collectible.html

They don't have any reviews yet, any of our resident heathens want to help them out?:

http://store.livingwaters.com/force-awakened-collectible.html#product_tabs_review_tabbed

onager

(9,356 posts)

4. You found the source!

Reply to beam me up scottie (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 10:47 AM

Dec 2015

Why didn't that come up for me? WHY IS GOOGLE PERSECUTING ME!? GET MY LAWYER! W-A-A-H...

OK, I'm better now. Finished the pot of coffee and had my own experience with Living Waters. Though I doubt I can turn it into a Marketing Opportunity.

Anyway, I'm afraid I have to launch into one of my long and pointless tirades. Because I've been seeing this claim all my life and it really annoys me:

Three days after His death...Jesus rose from the dead...

Only true if you're using some weird version of Creationist Math. But let's take the Xian account at face value and see what we get:

Friday: Jesus arrested, arraigned before Pilate. Sent to Herod for interrogation, then BACK to Pilate again for trial. All that back-and-forth must have taken nearly all day. So...

Late Friday afternoon/early evening: Jesus crucified. Sky goes black over the entire world, massive earthquake hits Jerusalem. Though nobody else in the entire world finds those things important enough to mention. Jesus probably entombed sometime around dusk or after dark.

Saturday: all quiet on the Tomb front. Ancestors of Living Waters vendors may have been selling T-shirts around Mt. Calvary.

Sunday around dawn: Jesus' tomb found empty. When and by whom depends on which one of the totally different yet absolutely accurate and consistent Bible accounts you choose to believe.

So even according to the Bible, Jesus' dirt nap didn't last 3 days. Only 1 full day and change. From sometime Friday evening to dawn on Sunday.

These people can't even count from 1 to 3, and I'm supposed to believe they've figured out the secrets of the Universe?

Freelancer

(2,107 posts)

7. Thinking of founding a religion based upon David Blaine. Who's in?

Reply to onager (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 12:24 PM

Dec 2015

Connecting keyboard with facetious keys -- pairing... pairing... connected -- Okay.

------------------------------------

Here's the idea: We claim that David Blaine is only pretending to do magic tricks, but is actually doing miracles concealed as magic tricks. He is actually Jesus, and has been kicking around the world, pretending to age and die -- like "Highlander" -- for around 2045 years. Unlimited tax-free cash potential!

Can I get an amen?!!

------------------------------------

Disconnecting facetious keyboard now...

edhopper

(34,904 posts)

5. It's terrible the way

Reply to Freelancer (Original post)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 11:26 AM

Dec 2015

we atheists force our beliefs on people.

DetlefK

(16,459 posts)

6. Proselytizing would totally turn me from atheist to believer.

Reply to Freelancer (Original post)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 11:42 AM

Dec 2015

If they could perform some miracle or magical trick right then and there (you know, like this Jedi-stuff), and if there were absolutely no alternative explanation (religious or scientific) statistically possible for what I had just witnessed first-hand, I would totally believe what they are trying to sell me.

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