Sandy’s appearance on Bill Maher generated quite a bit of email. We thought our readers might be interested in seeing some of it, along with Sandy’s response:
Feedback to Culture Campaign from a NY attorney...
Unfortunately for you, technology as well as freedom has ensured you have/will loose this 'war' you are fighting. With every new technology people get more and more free to follow what they wish as opposed to your puritanical dictates.
The Christian Right's complaints that Christianity is under 'attack' is seen by intelligent people as being absolutely ridiculous when 82% of Americans are Christians and you control every single branch of government.
I am not a Christian but it appears to me your and the rest of the Christian right's goals and methods are so far from what Christianity professes as to be unrecognisable.
I saw your Intergalactic Leader on Bill Maher's show the other night.
Ridiculous. Your understanding of Middle East/Iraqi politics was infantile and utterly incorrect from a factual basis. In other words, it complied with your larger world view.
If pre-teens look to Jenna Jameson as a role model, I guess you've lost your culture war already, huh?
Blocking .xxx domain is a terrible mistake for you people. It just means porn is distributed throughout the non-porn internet universe. Much better to have porn mainstream and legitimate than restricted to .xxx domain back alleys I say.
If the porn industry thinks it needs such an area, they can easily set one up under another country's top domain code. You see, as I said, with technology as we have today, YOU and your puritan ilk will *ALWAYS* loose.
Fortunately your logic is so screwy you'll continue to shoot youselves in the feet, like you have here by opposing .xxx domains.
I like porn, and moreso, I like being able to access it, and have the rest of the civilised world access it immediately! Be it on cell phones, (http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/132005e.asp) my computer, VCR tapes, or stained glass windows, it is here to stay. AS ARE most of the freedoms you object to. In the future there will be even more pornography, in more places, in relms of technology and access we can't even dream of as yet.
Chemestry promises there'll be more drugs for us, also. And if we take them or not, I look forward to having the choice (I don't recall Jesus ever being 'anti-drug').
You see...since the 1960s we have seen so much PROGRESS - gambling, contraception, abortion, pornography, individual drug use, and dozens of other freedoms people have free will to enjoy. Or not. That's freedom as I see it. As opposed to a world where puritans like your group tell me how to behave. Lucky you will always loose.
Like the divorce on demand you so hate. You'd rather children be brought up in unhappy, violent homes than non-compatable couples live their separate lives I presume. Tsk Tsk Tsk. So we have divorce on demand. You loose AGAIN.
How about That!
And think for a moment, if all these 'horrors' (to you) or 'freedoms' to me have come about in a republican administratoin whose main desire is to clenze and take America back hundreds of years (like Osama) can you IMAGINE what things will be like when we Democrats take over? Oh Goodness. We will really be in for soddom and Gomorrah. Good times, good times.
Also, with nothing to do with Hugh Heffner (whom I don't particularly care for), I happen to think having sex with multiple women is a blessing and indeed an obligation for a man today. One does not have to be dishonest to do it, either, the women can be compliant in this. In fact, ethically they should be!
Sandy's response:
Dear David,
I'll have to hand it to you....you're certainly honest about your motives. I don't blame you for opposing Christianity given your desire to be "free." I'd like to issue a challenge. Try NOT using porn or drugs for 30 days and see just how "free" you are.
Here's the deal, David. It took me years to "get this" myself, but I'll try to share what I've learned with you, even though, I'm sure my inferior mind won't be able to compete with your superior New York Doctorate of Juris Prudence. :)(There should be a sign for kidding)
It's one of the ironies of following Christ that by determining not to cross certain boundaries, you actually find freedom. When you "get that," you find yourself wanting to stay in the boundaries, because when they are kept with the right motives, they produce contentment...joy...peace...
While it's true some Christians keep them out of obligation, the true Christ-follower keeps them out of love. It's like obeying a loving mother. You know you could break the rules and still be loved, but because you are loved and love her in return, you want to please her. So...for instance...even though you're free to view any sexual activity you like on the internet, you have given up your ability to be truly intimate with anyone. Ever wonder why it takes more and more to satiate that part of you? Because it isn't sex you crave, it is intimacy and ironically that intimacy only comes by concentrating that part of yourself on one person who in turn concentrates that part of themselves on only you. God wants that for you.
I never thought I would understand why the Psalmist in the Bible said "I love Your law," but since I've seen my own family fall apart from violated boundaries, I love God's law, for one, because it preserves families. I think a loving mother and father loving their children is one of the most beautiful natural entities on earth. Boundaries make them possible. That's why I LOVE God's law. I don't keep it out of obligation, but out of love.
I realize some Christians seem to be hellbent on MAKING people like you keep those rules. God doesn't really want that. He wants you to love and serve Him voluntarily. He will never force anyone to do that and neither should Christians force people to their way of thinking.
I agree with you that Christians are losing the battle. According the Bible, there are very difficult days ahead for us. At first it will be our reputations...then our jobs..and eventually our lives. Christians in China and North Korea are already there. If this life is all there is, you've got it right and I would absolutely agree you should live any way you want. But if there is a God, you're making a huge mistake. Don't be deceived. God will not be mocked. A man will reap exactly what he sows. You sow vileness, lewdness and unfaithfulness, you will surely reap the same.
But it is your choice. Your "freedom" or God's boundaries....
David, God has transformed my life and the lives of my family and friends. I've seen lives sorted out in ways you can't even imagine. I have felt God's power in the midst of grief and joy. As hard as you are, I beg you not to disregard the possiblity of the reality of Him...
Respectfully....SR
