People Believe Barely Adventist

[Gregory Matthews]

Barely Adventist is a satirical Internet publication, somewhat like THE ONION, which publishes a daily fake news item about the SDA Church.  It is quite popular on the Internet, in part, because it speaks to the quirks that exist in SDA thinking and practice.  People have a good laugh at it.

Recently it published a fake news item that proclaimed that after a battle of many years, the U.S. supreme court had awarded patent & copyright protection to the General Conference for the word "Haystacks."  Many people (including me) have had fun with posting responses to that fake news item.

But, I have been dumbfounded at the number of people who have believed that the Supreme court actually did make such a decision, after many years of litigation by the General Conference.   I could not believe the number of people who have posted to that effect and even after responses have been made that stated that the original item was satirical and not true.

Where are we folks, that so many would believe that if it is on the Internet, it must be true.

NOTE:  As I write this, there are 54 responses to that post.

NOTE: To check out what I have said (Remember not everything posted on the Internet is true.) go to:

 

 http://barelyadventist.com/seventh-day-adventist-church-wins-copyright-to-term-haystacks-in-historic-ruling/

Edited June 13, 2015 by Gregory Matthews

[Outta Here]

Why does sarcasm, ridicule, satire, parody, mockery, or lampooning have any place in the Christian life? 

[Gregory Matthews]

Each of the words that you have listed have some differences in meaning.  So, an answer to your  question would require a much longer statement than I am prepared to write.

However, a common dictionary definition of "satire" includes, along with other meanings, the following:

Satire:  A literary work in which irony is used to expose folly.

From that perspective, the publication that I referenced challenges people to consider what it really important in ones life.    It challenges people to consider the importance, or lack of it, of the legal decisions that we often trumpet when they are favorable.  It challenges people to think through issues as to how finds given to support the ministry of the SDA Church should be used.  This is not to say what is "folly."   

While satire may involve derision, it includes much more and it does not always involve derision.

Satire can expose wickedness.  As such, there may be times when it is appropriate in the Christian life as well as times when it is not appropriate.

Satire may be ironic, which is an appropriate literary device.  However, as you did not list Irony I will not discuss that.

 Anyway, thank you for asking your question.  In short, satire may, or may not, have a place in Christian life and discussion.

 

 

[Outta Here]

After reading the comments on the site you shared, I see only 5 or 6 who originally may have believed the story to be true. Some of the responses were responding to the satire in kind: answering satire with satire.

When it is difficult for the audience to determine truth in a matter, IMO, nothing but truth, honesty and openness suffice.

 

Edited June 13, 2015 by Aubrey

[Gregory Matthews]

Yes, indeed, respondents answered with satire, to include myself in my post on "Whine."

 

But, notice that the satire was directed against "Wham."  IT wasn't against the SDA Church as the Church did not produce Wham.  Although it might be said to speak to the thinking the resulted in the production of Wham.

 

 

 

 

 

[Neil D]

Why does sarcasm, ridicule, satire, parody, mockery, or lampooning have any place in the Christian life? 

​Sometimes, we think in the same rutt.....by turning it around, or inside out, we think differently....and the answer to the question is quite obvious......to us....

[whbae]

It is so ironic and ignorant to believe that the U.S. Supreme Court has nothing better to do to take up such a folly case!

[phkrause]

It is so ironic and ignorant to believe that the U.S. Supreme Court has nothing better to do to take up such a folly case!

​Why?? They take up lots of "folly" cases!!!!!

[Aliensanctuary]

Elijah used satire in suggesting the reason for the inactivity of the god of the priests of Baal as they danced around the altar in a frenzy trying to get Baal to light a fire to burn their meat offering.

Some of the posters in Barely Adventist played along with the fake "Haystacks copyrighting report", while some were up-in-arms over the waste of money and the triviality of the supreme court's ruling. Good thing that Wham has already been copyrighted by its creators, otherwise we might be calling our fake pork delights, "Hamlets".

[Outta Here]

But....here's the thing....how can you tell the difference between those using satire in their response and those that (mayl) have been honestly up in arms? Because in my out-of-the-box thinking, I can imagine that ALL of those comments were satirical responses.

And if I were one of them commenting that way, I may not have come back with a response of...."Hahaha! Are you readers ao gullible as to think my response was serious? Did you really think I am so dim witted to not recognize satire when I see it?"

At any rate, thank you for pointing out Elijah. I will read his use of satire this evening.

[Tom Wetmore]

And then there is the harsh sarcasm of Paul regarding those fellow Jews determined to impose circumcision on the Gentiles. He said that in their case it would be better if they cut the whole thing off. See Galatians 5:12.

[Outta Here]

But maybe....it would have been better.

I know it's kind of  rare,  but some people do not have the wits to discern between sarcasm and truth. It seems important to me that when speaking of Christ's life and sacrifices for us that the Christian be direct and perfectly clear.

[Neil D]

But maybe....it would have been better.

I know it's kind of  rare,  but some people do not have the wits to discern between sarcasm and truth. It seems important to me that when speaking of Christ's life and sacrifices for us that the Christian be direct and perfectly clear.

​Those of us who use satire, irony, and wit don't mind explaining ourselves if you don't catch it.....of course, it makes us more vulnerable, open to various witticisms....but to MAKE us more vulnerable, you have to ask a question about our writing..... I won't talk about my imagination showing two ships with rows upon rows of cannon passing each other ....and boarding parties.....Oh, wait, this is TownHall, not the political forum......Ignore me entirely...

 

[Outta Here]

Despite the commonality of usage, the question remains: is it appropriate (is it even Christlike)  to use satire in promoting a Christian life?

[phkrause]

Despite the commonality of usage, the question remains: is it appropriate (is it even Christlike)  to use satire in promoting a Christian life?

​I like your comment! I've thought of that a few times this evening, reading some of the replies. Have also been wondering and thinking about some of the jokes I've posted. Are they appropriate?

[Outta Here]

Certainly something worth thinking about.

[LifeHiscost]

​ Have also been wondering and thinking about some of the jokes I've posted. Are they appropriate?

​After looking at some of the SoP writings just yesterday, I'm  wondering about my own sense of humor when joining the body of believers each Sabbath. Among other chapters, here is one that came up when putting humor in the search engine.

 

Chapter 6

 

6:1 In the year of the death of king Uzziah, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.

 

6:2 Seraphim were standing above him: each had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he flew.

 

6:3 And one called to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!

 

6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

 

6:5 And I said, Woe unto me! for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.

 

6:6 And one of the seraphim flew unto me, and he had in his hand a glowing coal, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;

 

6:7 and he made it touch my mouth, and said, Behold, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin expiated.

 

6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, Here am I; send me.

 

6:9 And he said, Go; and thou shalt say unto this people, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive.

 

6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and healed.

 

6:11 And I said, Lord, how long? And he said, Until the cities be wasted, without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land become an utter desolation,

 

6:12 and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the solitude be great in the midst of the land.

 

6:13 But a tenth part shall still be therein, and it shall return and be eaten; as the terebinth and as the oak whose trunk [remaineth] after the felling: the holy seed shall be the trunk thereof.

 

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

one needs to understand that there are different types of satire...  I see nothing wrong with Horatian satire, which is what I consider the Barely Adventist articles to be.  They aren't mean, caustic, or in any way related to Juvenalian satire.

Horatian satire is tolerant, funny, sophisticated witty, wise, self-effacing and aims to correct through humor. Named for the Roman satirist from the Augustan period in Rome, Horace, this playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild, and light-hearted humour. It directs wit, exaggeration, and self-deprecating humour toward what it identifies as folly, rather than evil. Horatian satire's sympathetic tone is common in modern society.

Juvenalian satire is angry, caustic, personal, relentless, bitter, and serious. Named after Augustan period’s Roman satirist Juvenal, this type of satire is more contemptuous and abrasive than the Horatian. Juvenalian satire provokes a darker kind of laughter; addresses social evil and points with contempt to the corruption of men and institutions through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. This form is often pessimistic, characterized by irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, with less emphasis on humour. 

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-v/english-literature/34302-satire-its-styles-types-devices.html

[D_Bishop]

Barely adventist is a waste of time.  But then, people find ways to justify anything.

[Tom Wetmore]

 

​I don't think so. He meant that they should be cut off from the rest of the people, a theme understood by the Hebrews in such cases as not observing the Day of Atonement.

It was actually a reference to this verse:

In Genesis 17:14, the one who is uncircumcised is "cut off from his people".  In the case of Paul in Galatians, he reverses it.

I know that some modern versions like the NIV paraphrase Gal 5:12 to mean castration, but that is not what Paul had in mind. Besides, castration would not solve the problem; Jezebel caused trouble with Israel regardless of not having male anatomy.

- joe

​And you have illustrated perfectly how sarcasm, satire, puns, etc. can hopefully get a point across, or can be misunderstood, but may just intentionally have a double meaning. Translators struggle with his sort of thing. Take it literally or metaphorically or both.  To be removed from fellowship or to be "cut off from the people" may well have been what Paul actually meant.  But the truth is the word he chose as it reads literally in the original Greek quite clearly means to amputate or mutilate by cutting.  It is the very same word used to describe the action Peter took against the servant in the garden, cutting his ear off with his sword.  Jesus very similarly used exaggeration or hyperbole, (some might even see it as sarcasm or satire) by saying if your hand offends you, cut it off (same word as used by Paul).  Did Jesus mean it literally?  Or figuratively?  Many have been confused by this passage.

[Tom Wetmore]

Not wanting to insult people who may not get the humor or intended meaning of sarcasm or satire, but science has shown a correlation between intelligence and sarcasm.  I would say that a lot of humor generally requires a bit more brain power.  A place understand that there is a difference between not getting particular humor and not liking it.  Some people are just more serious.  And a sense of humor comes in varied forms and is present across the spectrum of intellect.

Just one of many articles about the science of sarcasm - http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-of-sarcasm-yeah-right-25038/?no-ist  

Edited June 15, 2015 by Tom Wetmore

[Outta Here]

 

For me, personally, it isn't about whether or not I *get* the satire or sarcasm--or irony, parody, or so-forth-and-so-on ad nauseam--but rather, is it appropriate? Is it kind? Is it useful? Wouldn't a direct, open, truthful, less confusing approach be better?  Surely, those with a higher functioning level of "brain power" could understand directness just as well as the roundabout path of satire.

 

 

 

 

 

[JoeMo]

Despite the commonality of usage, the question remains: is it appropriate (is it even Christlike)  to use satire in promoting a Christian life?

​Sure it's appropriate, with the clarification that rudywoofs made above.  There is a difference between clever humorous satire and malicious satire (or sarcasm)  God is a Big Boy and He can take a joke.  He has made me laugh on many occasions when He shows me how ridiculous I behave in certain cases.  God had to be showing a sense of humore when He created animals like the platypus.  Just because we are Christian doesn't mean we can't have a sense of humor.  We take ourselves too seriously.  For me, the only thing funnier that satire is a pun or slapstick (like 3 Stooges or the movie "Rat Race").

[Gail]

The Bible does tell us to let our yeas be yeas and our nays be nays. To me that is saying just say what you mean without any hint of deception.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

"Barely Adventist" isn't an evangelistic tool... 

That said, the only thing that could be done differently is to have a statement very visible at the top of each article stating that it is satire.  I can see why some don't like the articles -- they're reminiscent of April Fool's Day jokes (which I abhor)...