The Revival
So I was just reading an article about about faith healers. It reminded me of a tent revival that I went to once. My friend had asked me to go and I had no clue what I was in for.
There was a lot of singing, asking for money, praying, speaking in tongues and asking for more money. There was the baptism by fire bit but the thing that stood out the most, and still makes me laugh is when the pastor was laying hands on people prophesying over them.
What happened is that he would walk up, whisper something in their ear then slap the palm of his hand on their forehead and of course they fell back to be caught by a couple of guys from the congregation.
The part that is so funny to me is that a couple of people refused to go down. One guy I watched be forearmed in the forehead until he finally (had enough of that I'm sure) and went down. My friend however, was more stubborn. I asked him later and he said "I just wasn't feeling the spirit."
My friend for about 5 minutes looked like he was one of those life life punching bags that they use for martial arts. He took slaps, smacks, elbows, forearms and yes even a few headbutts. I was waiting for him to tap out or for a referee to call the fight but it went on.
This -for myself and others who weren't feeling it -set the tone. In hindsight I should have removed myself from the line but I didn't want to stand out. I thought to myself "don't resist and it'll be over with soon enough" and it was. I never had a clue as to what he whispered in my ear because I am deaf in that ear but I think its a safe to assume it was rubbish.
I look back and laugh but I cant help but to feel for the people that live for that type of thing. Ever been to a tent revival? Ever seen anything that hilarious? Just curious.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Milos Cakovan on -
Good thing you played along.
If you refused to go down, I'm sure they would claim you are possessed, and who knows what they would have done...
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Permalink Reply by jared manley on -
a stake through the heart? haha I don't know either.
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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on -
Dude, I live in Alabama, most of my relatives are baptists, fortunately I only had to survive two!
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Permalink Reply by Ed on -
I sometimes feel many people are just simpletons and unfortunately lack the necessary faculties to think critically about how they came to believe the preposterous bullshit they are fed from a ripe young age. Thankfully some of us have those eureka moments or a moment of clarity and realize it is time to run for the doors.
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Permalink Reply by jared manley on
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Perfect! "run for the doors" is right!
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Permalink Reply by Diane on -
I've seen some strange things, although I never have been involved in the faith healing thing personally. I have a daughter who is emotionally scarred from, among other things, being predisposed to having psychiatric issues and being made by her father to go to huge fundamentalist churches where these things were going on. The bit I saw was scary.
On another note, I used to think this video was quite funny until I watched it just now. It seems sad and evil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lvU-DislkI
Benny Hinn - Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
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Permalink Reply by jared manley on
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and when the magic powers fail it's blamed on the darklord.
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on -
@Jared - are you saying he didn't heal your deafness? Did you mention that to him?
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Permalink Reply by jared manley on
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Believe me. If I ever see him again I will give him a stern talking to about that.
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Permalink Reply by Dale Headley on -
I went to a revival/evangelical meeting in my Baptist Church back in 1961. It made a huge impression on me, causing me to vow never to set foot inside a church again. I did eventually break that vow - twice - in recent years. My only excuse is that it was a revival-free Unitarian Church; but even then...
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Permalink Reply by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on -
This documentary is worth a look if you can track it down.
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Permalink Reply by jared manley on
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I'll see if i can. I like what I read about it. Thanks!
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