[bdi]

that Dave's 'Christianity' is classified as 'extremist' ?

Seems not, but it didn't take me long to find out.

A few years ago Dave founded his 'Emerge Wales' Christian church. I was shocked to discover it's based on the teachings of the American, John Crowder (see WalesOnline, 13th June).

I know Crowder and his cult, and they make David Koresh and the Taliban look like cuddly Kittens.

Google The New Mystics and The Sons of Thunder to find out what Crowder (and Dave) actually believe. It's very, very scary.

They believe that their version of Christianity should be imposed on the rest of us, and there's much talk of 'Christian armies', violence, compulsion, militancy, in fact, if you go to 'Sons of Thunder', and put 'homosexuality' into the site search box, you'll get a fright.

And that's what Dave actually believes. Like most 'charismatic' Christians, they keep quiet about it in public, and although we all think we know what he thinks about gays and women, his spiritual guru, Crowder, tells it all.

For example, talking about any church that welcomes gays and treats women as equals, Crowder states " a sissy church will never stand up to the truth".

The truth ? Everything in the Bible is true, and all the rules and laws must be obeyed. That means death to gays, women are the property of the man, and anyone who disagrees will be punished.

Remember, there are several hundred commandments in the Old Testament, not just ten.

Most Christians (outside the USA) now reject those rules, and with very good reason. It seems that Dave doesn't.

What's a 'Christian Charismatic' ?

Well, all those US guys (always guys, women don't count for anything, remember?) we see performing miracles, speaking in tongues, whipping people into a frenzy ? That's them.

They target the uneducated, the young, and the vulnerable (like recovering alcoholics and addicts, or those who are mentally ill).

Noticed how Dave is very different in a group from a one to one ? He's looking for converts, and anyone under 25 is a target.

But check the Wales Online and the Sons Of Thunder stuff before making your mind up.

And no, I don't think Channel 4 did check too thoroughly. At least I hope they didn't !!

[Raph]

Yeah, he is quite an extremist. But there are other good qualities to him, which make him a decent housemate, and important element to the house dynamics and atmosphere.

[bdi]

Sorry Raph, but I've checked, and he ain't.

When he comes out the house, there'll be plenty of youngsters wanting to get to know him, and his 'Church'.

There's at least one member of his group on the BBC Messageboards, and some of the stuff he comes out with there would have him arrested if he said it in public (for hate crimes and homophobia).

I'd rather see him tell the truth, and see how Steve and the others react. I think he'd get 100% nominations and he'd be voted out with a record margin.

[Jessica.]

Woah!

[Angus]

Originally Posted by bdi

that Dave's 'Christianity' is classified as 'extremist' ?

Seems not, but it didn't take me long to find out.

A few years ago Dave founded his 'Emerge Wales' Christian church. I was shocked to discover it's based on the teachings of the American, John Crowder (see WalesOnline, 13th June).

I know Crowder and his cult, and they make David Koresh and the Taliban look like cuddly Kittens.

Google The New Mystics and The Sons of Thunder to find out what Crowder (and Dave) actually believe. It's very, very scary.

They believe that their version of Christianity should be imposed on the rest of us, and there's much talk of 'Christian armies', violence, compulsion, militancy, in fact, if you go to 'Sons of Thunder', and put 'homosexuality' into the site search box, you'll get a fright.

And that's what Dave actually believes. Like most 'charismatic' Christians, they keep quiet about it in public, and although we all think we know what he thinks about gays and women, his spiritual guru, Crowder, tells it all.

For example, talking about any church that welcomes gays and treats women as equals, Crowder states " a sissy church will never stand up to the truth".

The truth ? Everything in the Bible is true, and all the rules and laws must be obeyed. That means death to gays, women are the property of the man, and anyone who disagrees will be punished.

Remember, there are several hundred commandments in the Old Testament, not just ten.

Most Christians (outside the USA) now reject those rules, and with very good reason. It seems that Dave doesn't.

What's a 'Christian Charismatic' ?

Well, all those US guys (always guys, women don't count for anything, remember?) we see performing miracles, speaking in tongues, whipping people into a frenzy ? That's them.

They target the uneducated, the young, and the vulnerable (like recovering alcoholics and addicts, or those who are mentally ill).

Noticed how Dave is very different in a group from a one to one ? He's looking for converts, and anyone under 25 is a target.

But check the Wales Online and the Sons Of Thunder stuff before making your mind up.

And no, I don't think Channel 4 did check too thoroughly. At least I hope they didn't !!

He can believe what the hell he likes - this is still a democracy and we just have to accept that other people believe stuff we don't. Religion has always been a controversial area, and we now live in a society where we have to co-exist with people whose belief systems are so far removed from our own that they might as well have come from another planet. So why not just concentrate on his personal attributes and personality rather than what he chooses to believe. By the way I am in no way a Dave fan, just someone who thinks we should all be tolerant of other people's beliefs or lack of them.