Skip to main content

Cultural Observation - DALLAS, TX



My co-worker Ryan makes a poignant observation:

“I saw a billboard for Celebrate Freedom the other day and the thought crossed my mind, “What freedom are they celebrating? Freedom from Sin? Freedom of religion? Freedom from Britain? Ah, yes, freedom as in Independence Day. Duh.

Based on the chapter summaries you’ve been posting on your blog, the following thought just occurred to me…

No indictments here, just observations…Celebrate Freedom = 2 days. 3 stages. 40+ musicians and speakers. It is the largest Christian Music festival in North Texas which typically occurs on the weekend before Independence Day. Is it ironic that one of the largest Christian gatherings in the metro-plex occurs around the same time that our Country celebrates itself? No irony here. What is ironic is the sponsor list, which includes the likes of the following: Interstate Batteries, Verizon, Capital One, CBS Channel 11, Gospel Music Channel, Dr Pepper, Texas Power, David McDavid Auto Group, DBU, Nationwide, Toyota, Chick-fil-A, Hyatt, Geico, State Farm, The National Guard, U.S. Army, Dallas Mavericks, Just Brakes, Holiday Inn, Blue Bell Ice Cream, etc.”


Ah, yes... Jesus, Patriotism, and Capitalism. Texas, the greatest country in America.

Popular posts from this blog

You and Whose Army?

America elects a pro-choice candidate and suddenly my fellow Christian brothers and sisters head for the hills screaming the world has come to an end. Are not abortion rates much higher in several other countries? Why aren't we just as concerned about "life" in those countries? America elects an economically progressive candidate and people are screaming "socialism" preparing for a Rapture. (An mid-1800's invention of conservative Christian theology). Doesn't America know that Democracy is one of the youngest political philosophies to be employed? Why do we think the fate of the world depends on the success of our economical and political philosophies? America is struggling economically, and Jesus is now coming back to rescue his 2000 year old church from this difficult tribulation. Doesn't America remember that its only 232 years old? Why does God's blessing equate with monetary blessing? Why do American Christians constantly tie the end of the ...
Read more

Where I've Been

visited 30 states (60%) Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project visited 6 states (2.66%) Create your own visited map of The World or try another Douwe Osinga project
Read more

Pastor Or Theologian?

I received a facebook message from a long-lost college friend and roommate the other day. In his cordial greeting he noted, and correctly, that I had just graduated with a Masters in Theology. I really appreciated the recognition and congratulations, but what bothered me was his next question. He asked if I was "going to be a Pastor or a Theologian?" I laughed, not because I thought the answer to the question was obvious, but because of the fact that he dichotomized the two disciplines as mutually exclusive. My first reaction was to respond with a smart alec remark about his ignorance and misconstrued views of Christianity and its relationship to education, but then I had to stop and remember that he graduated from the same undergraduate institution which I graduated from, and probably, like me, attended a 'fundy' church growing up. Reminding myself of this context cooled me off a bit and I kindly responded that I would hope someday to do both. Nonetheless, what his ...
Read more