I sporadically watched AI throught the season. What got me interested this year first was watching the show while I did a workout at the gym and seeing the lineup because I thought at that time that the lineup this year was one of the better lineups. Even though Adam and Danny were projected as the front runners, there were others like Alison (my favorite), Kris, and many people thought Micheal Sarver that could have won.

I get a considerable amount of e-mail via the “Contact” page where people either comment in private or I get sent links to many articles of interest. When AI got rolling and Danny (with his tragic story being revealed) was in the top twelve, I received numerous e-mails about him that dealt with either (1): A vote for Danny is a vote for Jesus… type of logic / If Danny loses, Christianity will die and be further persecuted… or (2): Some e-mails about the church Danny affiliated with (Faith Builders International Ministries) and links to articles on the church web page that appeared to have a similar “Word of Faith” and “dominion / Kingdom Now” theological mindset as portrayed by the likes of Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, the Lakeland revival and the Elijah List.

I can see the legitimacy to your point of Carrie Prejean seizing the opportunity of fighting the Christian Culture war. I see it from a perspective as her being the byproduct of the system of education she experienced at the Christian junior college in the San Diego area. Which does raise up an interesting rhetorical Christian.

Is she being taught a real authentic Christianity or is she being taught a culture-warrior Christianity where like Neil Peart said in the Rush song “Subdivisions”

—–
Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone….
—–

I now wonder…

—–

As I said before, I think the Christian culture war is a sham and detracts from what Christians should really be doing. All it does is make us look like self-righteous, arrogant snobs to everyone else. Fighting a culture war is not the way to bring honor to Christ.

With respect to the Carrie Prejean incident, if you take a careful look at the question that was asked and her response, you’ll see that she didn’t really answer the question. Either on purpose, or without realizing it, she took it as an opportunity to fight the Christian culture war.

Thanks for your blog. I enjoy reading your posts.

First of all, it’s good to hear from you again.

Yes, many Christians get obsessed with a ‘reality tv’ show with a professing Christian. It started with Real World 2 in Los Angeles when a Christian by the name of Jon Brennan appeared on the show. Jon actually held his own during that season of turmoil and among the reality tv shows that had professing Christians, I felt that Jon was the most genuine and authentic Christian on a reality tv show. Christians watched to see if he would shine, compromise, or outright fall.

I really believe that the Carrie Prejean, Perez Hilton, and Donald Trump issue with Miss USA awoke the American religious right. Since Prejean’s bold stand in five minutes (and apparent long term victory) that it took the religious right thirty years to do (with no victory to show for their efforts), All I have heard on Christian radio is a new fervor among the apostolic anger agenda army to fight harder in the culture war. I really believe that they believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can win the culture war no matter what a prominent religious right leader has stated that America had lost the culture war.

Like the way Afghanastan drove out the Soviets in the Cold War and a hockey game entitled “Miracle on Ice” seemed to awaken the American Spirit, Carrie Prejean’s actions have seemed to have done the same thing in reference to the culture war.

In reference to your question about Christian American Idol, I know BET has a show called “Sunday Best” in the American Idol vein.

I’m very familiar with the Gray’s. I used to comment over at CRJournal and XN forums that discussed the Smithton Revival every day.

The “culture battle” some Christians have with “the world” seems to me to be just plain stupid. But Christians are just people too, and we people sometimes do stupid things.

Has anyone started a “Contemporary Christian American Idol” show yet? I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve and Kathy Gray are not already on top of this. If you don’t know who they are, go here: http://www.worldrevivalchurch.com.

BTW, I refuse to attend any church that puts a photo of its pastor on a billboard or at the top of their website.