GodTube is the Christian community's answer to YouTube. It's all God all the time. It's an interesting place where you can check out the latest Christian music video or find a hilarious atheism joke for your next party. (Why is atheism like a wig? Because it's a false-hood!)
The site is not entirely about preaching to the choir, however. In the comments section there are a fair number of skeptics around to challenge the true believers, although I'm pretty sure they would not be allowed to post their own blasphemous videos.
You are not allowed to say bad words in the comments section at GodTube. Words like "ass" or "ho" get censored. The only problem is that their filtering software has a bit of a glitch; it censors those sequences of letters wherever they happen to appear. So you might find a slightly confusing sentence along the lines of: "I !ume you !pe to meet with the !istant in the cl!room." ("I assume you hope to meet with the assistant in the classroom.")
But I digress.
Hell is a popular topic on GodTube, and one particular video caught my eye. It's called "A Letter from Hell" and is the story of two high school friends, Josh and Zach. Josh, it seems, died in a tragic car accident and his friend Zach was devastated. When a letter from his dead friend arrived in Zach's mailbox, he was, of course, somewhat surprised. He didn't realize that Hell had such an efficient postal system. But as he read Josh's letter from Hell, his surprise turned to despair. In the letter, Josh blamed his friend Zach for the fact that he was burning in the fiery pits of Hell, because, you see, though Zach was a Christian, he had never gotten around to telling Josh about Jesus. It's all very dramatic and is designed to guilt-trip Christians into rounding up new recruits for Christ.
For me, it brought back memories of my childhood, sitting in Sunday School class while the teacher told me about Heaven and Hell. "If you believe in Jesus, you can go to a beautiful place called Heaven, where you'll be happy forever," she said. "But if you don't believe in Jesus, you'll go straight to Hell where you'll be tortured and burn forever as your skin slowly falls off your face!" I sat staring at her with my mouth agape. "So what's it gonna be?" she inquired cheerfully. "Well, if you put it like that," I said, "I'm gonna go ahead and believe in Jesus! Praise the Lord!"
This age-old scare tactic has been pretty successful for the Christian church. Believe in Jesus or burn forever. My way or the highway...to HELL!! It's not unlike Republican politicians who warn voters to vote for them or die in a terrorist attack.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Damien
Funny I tried so hard to write a review of REM's new DVD yesterday for Blogcritics and got it rejected twice and stuff like this speeds right through. I'm seriously questioning why I even link to them on my blog.
I'm a Christian with an account on YouTube. I'm also a lot more things than the hole you can squeeze a pigeon into as you try to do with those who believe in hell.
Of course, I do agree that GodTube as a concept is probably the single most annoying thing I've ever heard of in my life, next to Jerry Falwell of course. Don't blame it on me buddy, and there are more Christians like me out here in the blogosphere. The way I read the Bible on this is as such: "Be in the world but not of it." GodTube ironically is more of the world than in it (imho).
2 - Doug DeLong
"Funny I tried so hard to write a review of REM's new DVD yesterday for Blogcritics and got it rejected twice and stuff like this speeds right through."
Damien, thanks for your concise review of my piece, complete with the gratuitous insult.
I don't really have a problem with GodTube. Lots of communities form on the Internet because of their shared interests. My problem is with the whole concept of Hell and the idea that if someone doesn't go along with a certain dogma, they're going to be tortured and punished forever by a "loving" God. It's a concept that I can't quite wrap my head around.
I'd love to hear your concept of how the whole Hell thing works. Where is it? Who will go there? Catholics? Jews? Gays? Muslims? Buddhists? Athiests? Liberals? Mimes?
3 - Damien
It's a tired point and therefore a tired piece. I wasn't insulting you though.
I've debated more atheists on the net than I care to admit so I've learned to NOT.
I think, however, GodTube is a joke and your article assumes that modern Christianity can be pigeon-holed into poeople who watch and agree with it (or Jerry Falwell). You do have an audience who will agree with that. I don't.
All the best. I will watch your future stuff. Be yourself. Write.
4 - Doug DeLong
Damien, I guess refusing to answer something because it's a "tired point" is an easy way out when faced with having to give a reasoned response to something that is illogical on its face.
5 - Baritone
Doug,
I have engaged in a number of discussions regarding god and hell and all of that stuff. Whatever claims I may make about what christians believe, I invariably get commenters saying that what I may have said doesn't represent "true" christians or christianity. There are hundreds - nay thousands - of roads that christians and other believers take presumably to get to the same destination that it's damn near impossible to read the map.
Of course, such differences have the effect of disarming critics. My blog was set up in response to the emergence of politicized fundamentalists having as their primary goal, the establishment of a christian theocracy in the U.S. displacing our constitutional government and replacing it with biblical law. I have had scores of respondents claiming that such people make up only a small minority of fundamental crazies, not mainstream christians. Yet there are literally dozens of high profile organizations, many having open support from Bush & Co whose stated mission is the establishment of an American theocracy.
I won't belabor that point any further, but trying to define just what a christian is, or just what it is they believe, is often like trying to - paraphrasing Rogers & Hammerstein -"hold a moonbean in your hand."
6 - Damien
People believe what they want. I have never heard logic to prove the wisdom in atheism. I've had 5 logic courses through my college education and got A's in 4 and a B in one. I hope you listened to the part about not pigeon-holing a whole community of theism. It would do you well to.
7 - Doug DeLong
I'm not pigeon-holing anyone. I don't know where you get that from. In fact, I made a point of noting that not all Christians believe in Hell. I'm just asking questions and trying to get answers that make a modicum of sense.
8 - Doug DeLong
And by the way, congratulations on your outstanding academic achievements.
9 - Damien
You're a gentleman and a scholar. Sorry if I came off as dismissive. I just know where a logic discussion will go because I've been having them in vain with atheists for years.
You seem like a fun-loving guy, I checked out your site. I'm working on my BlogCritics submissions so maybe I'll see ya around. Take it easy and "rethink logic" sometimes, John Lennon said that!
Catch ya later boss.
10 - Doug DeLong
True enough, I am a fun-loving guy. Hope you like my podcast. And by the way, I don't call myself an athiest. I'm a guy who grew up in the Presbyerian church, but now I have lots of questions. I guess you could call me a skeptic.
Baritone, excellent post. You might want to check out this interview with Mikey Weinstein, who wrote "With God on Our Side: One Man's War Against an Evangelical Coup in America's Military":
11 - Baronius
Doug, you may view your article as a dissertation on the topic of Hell, but you certainly used GodTube as a way to poke fun at Christians.
12 - Doug DeLong
but you certainly used GodTube as a way to poke fun at Christians.
Well, yeah, maybe a little. So what's your point? Do Christians enjoy some sort of protected status that forbids anyone to make fun of them or criticize them or challenge them?
13 - Baritone
Heaven forbid that anyone criticize or otherise upset a christian. One must walk on egg shells; speak softly and deferentially. No swearing. They have delicate ears and sensibilities. They are, after all on a direct line to the Big Guy. You don't want to upset HIM. He can get testy.
B-tone
14 - Strappado
Baronius : "you may view your article as a dissertation on the topic of Hell, but you certainly used GodTube as a way to poke fun at Christians."
As an Atheist, I can assure you that I didn't interpret it that way. I'm horrified. Not because of Hell, but because of Christianity. It's got to stop.
15 - Michael J. West
Odd - I, an agnostic with not just a litany, but an army of questions, grievances, and overall skepticism of religions in general, can read these comments and find that Damien's are the most agreeable.
16 - Gene
Nice piece - I enjoyed reading even if I didn't agree with it. Your questions are valid, and although I don't get into debate either (I've never seen anyone's mind changed by religious debate. Ever.) I will do my best to answer why a supposedly loving God would condemn his creation to hell.
I believe it's possible that every grievance and disagreement that people have with Christianity can be brought down to one word: Choice. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and then He said, "Let us" and the whole shebang was started. That was a choice He made. And he created Adam and Eve, and put them into a beautiful place full of food, and gave them instructions for care and maintenance. And of course they ate the forbidden fruit, and God said "WHAT??? GET OUT!!!" Well maybe not like that, but you get the point. The point is that Adam and Eve made a choice that day, the choice not to do what God said.
Now, God had a choice. He could overlook their disobedience and let them stay, or he could send them packing and let them learn what it was like out in the cold cruel world. OR he could have destroyed everything and started over. He took door number two, and ever since then people have been making their own choices and suffering their own consequences.
But even then, God had a plan. His plan was to send someone who was as holy as Himself (Jesus) who would choose to live perfect in an imperfect world, and then would choose to suffer the ultimate consequence, death and hell, as a substitute for the whole human race. He did, and a way was made.
But. You knew there would be one, didn't you? But. We have to CHOOSE to accept this way. And if we don't, there's only one other way left after we die. Did you know the bible says that Hell is created for the devil and his angels? It wasn't made for us, but if we choose not to take God's way, there's only one place left to go. That's our choice.
Choice. It's a big one, isn't it? :-)
Gene.
17 - Gene
Oh. I don't care much for GodTube either. It seems to be a lot of churchy people telling each other how great it is to be churchy. I go there occasionally, but that's about it.
18 - Ryan Fitz
I also disagree with the hell concept posted on the video, but personally I don't mind the video.
Its not a "scare piece" for none believer, but a challenge for believers of what could happen if they don't spread the word of christ.
a youtube version of the video had the question " why don't you choose to witness" and i think this video points out the neccesity of witnessing to nonbelievers. something which christians in America have not really been doing
19 - Ruvy
"I'd like to go to Heaven for the climate, but Hell for the company. I mean, would you rather spend eternity with Jim Morrison or Jerry Falwell?"
If Falwell got himself admitted to heaven, all I can say is, "there goes the neighborhood!"
20 - Godless Jon
Godtube .. lots of Christians patting themselves on the back and telling each other how great they are. Sad. Moderating video submission = control freak admins over at godtube. Also godtube is a huge misnomer, it should be called christaintube because that is the only type of content wanted there.
21 - Roadie
I just want to say.There's one god.The Lord of
all,no other before them.The problem with man,is that we try to make something out of nothing.The
word of god is all that matters.So can we just
read it and live by it?God the father,son,and holy
spirit.It's sad,I'll say it again.It's sad that
man has broken and separate the word of god.Less
remember the word of god.The creator of all.Love,
Hope,and Faith.To all in which he created,god bless. Note;Life is what we make of it.But remember this,God give us the breath of life.So
instead of beating up on god and each other.Why
don't we fight back against the devil.And take
back for god and ourself's what the devil took
from us in the garden.With the help of Adam and Eve.The right to all thing through those who love
him.Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.God Bless us
all.........Amen
22 - Mark Saleski
wait...i thought Clapton was god?
23 - Jet
you, you, you mean he's not???
24 - Roadie
To those who don't like this sight.I have but few questions for you?Why are you on here?And what are you sreaching for?Perhaps your looking for a better way of life.If so here it is,Jesus Christ.
25 - Christopher Rose
Roadie, we do like this site, just not the confused - and in your case near illiterate - drivel spouted by people who can't actually think for themselves.