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800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
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What, is this rocket science?
A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I wonder what his feelings are on the constant re-translation and alteration of the bible over the past several thousand years. I wonder how God's will has been preserved through all of this...
That "make yourself a living sacrifice" quote, um, makes me wonder...
Now you can know what WE are talking about.
Done and done.
But, #1 is right. A thank you card is appropriate.
I always read the bible when I'm going to crazy Christians homes. It really helps me debunk their arguments. I especially recommend taking notes and memorizing passages...that'll stump most Christians, as I suspect that at least a small majority of Christians don't actually read the bible. LOL.
And I don't know, it's just a book. Put it on a shelf?
Eli, you fucking baby.
Just send him some "It Gets Better" toilet paper.
...or a science book for kids :P
Um... I think it is safe to assume that Eli has already read the Bible. (Or at least half of it.)
Just food for thought.
(I'm kidding. #1 is right. Just like when your grandmother got you an awful sweater for Christmas. I just like sharing that mail manual link.)
Later, you could respond further with a carefully composed letter demonstrating thorough knowledge of scripture ripping his bullshit theology to shreds. Look to the stories of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-36) and The Centurion and his Fuckslave (Luke 7: 1-11; Matthew 8: 5-10).
If he honestly thinks only the ignorant reject his batshittery, he could benefit from being shown how weak it is scripturally.
Also, thank him genuinely for a gift, this is not hard as #1 said. Feel free to send him a gift of "god is not great" if that sums up your view on religion.
It looks like a fairly nice bible, all things considered. Is that cover real leather?
@2 from what Christians have told me, the translations are holy words brought by angels. Perhaps that only applies to the original King James version.
http://www.amazon.com/Jefferson-Bible-Th…
If you believe this to a be an antagonistic swipe at you and your values, go with the spirit of @11's suggestion.
And remind him that he's not a fucking doctor.
Looks like you've got a new BFF there Mr. Sanders.
Unless he's is a very, very naĂŻve man, this is at some level a bullshit gift - not given out of a real desire to please you or better your life, but to make a statement about how you should be living it under the guise of generosity. I don't see a reason to thank someone for that.
I'd chuck it in the trash and move on to my next thing, if it were me.
He's implying that Eli is ignorant, and that ignorance is the basis for his disagreement with Hutch's Dogma. I don't think that warrants a thank-you note. I think it warrants a stern, but polite explanation as to why you shouldn't just assume everyone that disagrees with you is ignorant.
I hope that is a business address on his return label... that is really rude to post that specific of personal information even if "he started it".
Rather take the low road? Let's talk.
Ask around/google all the really horrible passages from the bible. Highlight them. You can color code it so....like.....yellow is for when God kills children to punish their parents, pink is for when women are treated like chattel....the discretion is yours, really.
On the inscription, scratch out the word "we" and correct it to read "you".
Then return it.
Strangercrombie 2011!!! This could totally be an item!
http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Faith-Intro…
No one says you have to read the damn thing. Just say "thanks" and be done with it.
@ 59, of course, but so what? Anyone who responds to dickishness with dickishness is a dick.
Nothing deflates dickishness like courtesy.
Taken literally it's some unbelievable crazy shit. Taken as a story it has some good lessons on responsibility, doing the right thing, etc.
You'd know, wouldn't you? Mattie boy.
It's bigoted to assume that a Jew is a Jew because he's ignorant of the Christian Bible.
Yeah, that's worked SO well for democrats/left-leaning historically against republicans/right-wing...
I'd say get a collection of fairy tales and send it inscribed "Now you can know what you are talking about!"
Not that I'd ACTUALLY do that, but that's what I'd want to do. And I would support someone actually doing it, under these circumstances. This kind of arrogance is NOT dissolved with courtesy @70.
But let's suppose for a second that he isn't, and that he is intentionally being insulting. (Accidentally or thoughtlessly being insulting isn't the same thing.) What would it bring Eli to react in kind? A bit of rah rah support from regular Stranger and Slog readers, and a lot of negative publicity should it blow up in his face, the way spats between public figures do.
Following etiquette is never a bad choice, and in this case, unless someone can show for sure that Hutch is purposely being a jerk who really has zero regard for Eli, it's the best choice here.
This isn't a sincere thoughtful gift from Hutch (however ill thought out). Hutch has been one of the most active and vocal opponents of any sort of gay rights for many years. He preaches exactly the kind of hatred that causes gay kids to kill themselves, and advocates to deny rights to those of us unwilling to kill ourselves. He knows Eli's background. He knows full well that there is exactly zero chance of converting Eli. At best this can be considered a stunt to impress his followers.
This absolutely does NOT deserve a polite thank you card. No way. He'd just wave it in front of his flock and claim victory.
Probably the least dickish thing to do would be to put it up on Strangercrombie. Then at least it gets regifted to someone who wants it (for whatever perverse reason), and it would raise a few bucks for a decent cause.
I will be sorely disappointed if you send this asswipe a polite card. He does not deserve that kind of respect.
My co-Denverite, Matt has the right idea. When someone gives you a gift, even a gift you don't particularly care for, the appropriate response is "Thank you very much."
@91 How could anyone, even with the sickest, most twisted mind imaginable, interpret a thank-you note as a victory? I'd welcome it if he tried to pull such a thing: there might even be someone in the congregation who thinks to him- or herself "You know, Hutch tried to be kind of a dick about this, but that Eli fellow seems rather nice."