Alydar

This is scary:

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2005/1...he_left_b.html

"The best thing about the Left Behind books is the way the non-Christians get their guts pulled out by God." - 15 year old fundamentalist fan of the Left Behind series

orangebaw

Only in America...

Jehanne

We live 50 to 60 feet from a fundamentalist Baptist church. The women dress very nicely and femininely, and are enjoyable to look at. Speaking from experience, only a minority of fundamentalists really believe in that crap of Jesus’ “second coming.�? Nevertheless, crap is still “crap�?!

Rathpig

Though the Left Behind series is an America phenomena, it speaks volumes to the greater world issue of fundamentalism and it's acceptance of violence. I would content it is an easy leap from "violence by Christ" to "violence in the name of Christ." Once the precedent has been made, people may choose to act on it once other catalysts are present.

The theory I have expounded elsewhere about Islam fits just as well with Christianity. Once the groundwork of acceptable violence in the religion is made, the only factor missing is the social catalyst to cause the event. Religion remains the root cause and overwhelming justification for the violence.

Joe Bageant writes, "Americans would go beserk" if an Islamic book similar to Left Behind:Glorious Appearing was published. I agree that this would be "Americans" not just Christians. But American non-Christians and non-Christain fundamentalists see the book as a fairy tale for the most part. We see it as a Biblical Drama. We fail to see that increasing numbers of people actually believe these books tell a true future event and believe themselves on the side of righteousness and eventual victory.

Alot of modern American and European literature is violently psychotic, but Steven King, for intense, never compels his readers to join the side of blood and destruction. King always preaches a cautionary and heroic tale. Even when his hero is tragically flawed, he doesn't advocate joining in the flawed behavior or accepting it as normal.

I can't think of one artist in the "Horror" genre that advocates joining the side of violent perversion except Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. If they were not able to hide behind a historically accepted religion, the professional psychiatric associations would be up in arms at allowing the publication of such twisted material. The Book of Revelations is a story of horror that you too can (will) participate in - just pick a side.

I support their right to publish these tales, but I think selling it to children is wrong - much less encouraging children to read it.

Parental Warning stickers and Rating Systems should be applied to all creative content or none at all.

R.,