Fweethawt Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Ala. Church Youth Swallow Live Goldfish Thursday, October 6, 2005 (10-06) 14:53 PDT Florence, Ala. (AP) -- The First Assembly of God Church has a Fear Factor ministry that had youths swallowing live goldfish — if they were up to it. The church's youth minister says it teaches children about fear, but a grandparent questioned it and a pet shop owner called it animal cruelty. "Fear Factor" is a reality TV show in which contestants compete by participating in dangerous activities or by eating stomach-turning foods for cash prizes. "We need to be realistic about what the Bible says about fear and not be afraid to share our faith in school," youth minister Anthony Martin told the TimesDaily in a story Thursday. "We can't let that fear rule our lives." Martin said the ministry's participants are between the ages of 14 and 21 and that they had to get their parents to sign a waiver to be involved. "Through this ministry, kids are surrendering their lives to Jesus and developing a deeper relationship with Jesus," he said. "The method of the ministry that we use to bring people is going to change, but the message is going to stay consistent." In teaching the lesson about fear, participants in last week's round were asked to pull a number — between one and three — from a bowl that would indicate how many live Comet goldfish would be swallowed. Martin said 12 of the almost 20 young people who participated advanced to this week's round of activities, which involved undoing chains and getting out of a real coffin, with the eight fastest advancing. The final four will compete for $250 by the ministry's final week. Martin said he had been contacted by one participant's grandmother, who was angry about the activity, which he said was used for the first time last year. "We resolved the issue, and when I explained what happened and that we were using it to draw kids to Jesus to have a deeper relationship with him, she seemed to simmer down," Martin said. Paula Keeton, manager of Pet Depot, which sold the fish, said she considers the church's action as animal cruelty. "It's against our policy to sell to people if the animal will be killed," Keeton told the TimesDaily. "To me, it's the same as taking a dog or cat and killing it in front of a group of children." Martin said about half of the participants in the Fear Factor ministry are members of the church, which has about 300 people attend Sunday morning services, and others are guests. Martin maintains that the children are not forced to participate and there is no peer pressure involved. But there is no alternative to the activity and not participating means forfeiting the right to advance in the game. FROM HERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaoi Huntress Earth Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 "Through this ministry, kids are surrendering their lives to Jesus and developing a deeper relationship with Jesus," he said. "The method of the ministry that we use to bring people is going to change, but the message is going to stay consistent." I find the first sentence to be very, very disturbing. The loss of freewill is very disturbing to me. Martin said 12 of the almost 20 young people who participated advanced to this week's round of activities, which involved undoing chains and getting out of a real coffin, with the eight fastest advancing. The final four will compete for $250 by the ministry's final week. Now that's just wrong. I never liked Fear Factor, but put someone in a coffin is very dangerous. What if they don't get out in time (assuming that there are no airholes)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 I never liked Fear Factor, but put someone in a coffin is very dangerous. What if they don't get out in time (assuming that there are no airholes)? Jesus will save them, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixentrox Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Why don't they handle poisonous snakes? That would be a better test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specs appeal Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I heard about that. That's so nasty. Moreover, I may be dense, but I think I missed the POINT of such behaviour. What is it supposed to achieve? Goldfish-swallowing contests take you closer to God or something? "Take, eat, this is my goldfish"? WTF? I'm NOT seeing the connection Haha, at young peoples once they had a Fear Factor thing. Not that bad, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnosis of Disbelief Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 And fundies are the ones that say television is ruining the country.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Challenger Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Swallowing live goldfish used to be a college fad: http://library.thinkquest.org/3205/SwalG.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero of Hyrule Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Everybody who swallows goldfish alive for other purposes then being hunger (As if Goldfish would stop your hunger...) should befall the same fate! Eye for Eye, Theeth for Theeth. Hmm maybe that's too rash but it does deserve some kind of punishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totallyatpeace Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Everybody who swallows goldfish alive for other purposes then being hunger (As if Goldfish would stop your hunger...) should befall the same fate!Eye for Eye, Theeth for Theeth. Hmm maybe that's too rash but it does deserve some kind of punishment. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh, God.......forgive me. I did this when I was in high school. (without the teaching) It's probably why I'm a vegetarian now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruthSeeker Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Sick. More Christian insanity....draw closer to God? Maybe the $250 prize had something to do with those choosing to compete? Just sick...they do anything to indoctrinate youth... It is speciesm. "Paula Keeton, manager of Pet Depot, which sold the fish, said she considers the church's action as animal cruelty." I would agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beverly Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Sick. More Christian insanity....draw closer to God? Maybe the $250 prize had something to do with those choosing to compete. Just sick...they do anything to indoctrinate youth... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, I guess I'm the only one that thinks this is a wonderful idea on the up side, they are not handling poisonous snakes and, maybe when the kids get a belly full of goldfish as they are puking it up, they will get this "revelation" about pastor also loading their heads full of crap and they will stop giving their lives, minds, and money to support the old gezzer I say---let them puke Beverly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixentrox Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 That's the down-side that they arent handling snakes. Could eliminate a future generation of Xtians. Hell it's a shame they ALL don't handle poisonous snakes. [ok...I don't really mean it but it's how I feel sometimes] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaoi Huntress Earth Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 That's the down-side that they arent handling snakes. Could eliminate a future generation of Xtians. Hell it's a shame they ALL don't handle poisonous snakes. [ok...I don't really mean it but it's how I feel sometimes] <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I remember correctly, doesn't the Bible say somewhere that if you have faith in God, poisons will not kill you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixentrox Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 If I remember correctly, doesn't the Bible say somewhere that if you have faith in God, poisons will not kill you. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep...funny on how few Xtians have the faith to actually test this one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnosis of Disbelief Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 It's also the waste of a few, perfectly good goldfish. Maybe we can get them to imitate Jackass, the Movie next....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero of Hyrule Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Oh, God.......forgive me. I did this when I was in high school. (without the teaching) It's probably why I'm a vegetarian now. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You evil person! A well...You're forgiven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white_raven23 Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I didn't know people feared goldfish. Seriously, that's an aspect of the Fear Factor show that has never made sense to me. What the hell does having an iron stomach and a low grossout factor have to do with FEAR??? You want to challenge fears, stick with covering people with spiders or rats. Close them up in coffins for a while. Throw them in a holding cell with people they "think" are hardened criminals (actors). Drop their ass off the side of a boat and leave them out in the ocean all alone for an hour or so (don't tell them you WILL pick them up later....make them wonder). Or pack them into an fully crowded elevator and give it a power failure between floors (mot moving, no lights). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixentrox Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Foamy the Squirrel had a good rant on reality fear shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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