“Black people are so lazy. They need to get off the welfare and food stamps and get jobs.”

Though that sounds like something Archie Bunker would’ve said back in the day, it’s actually the kind of stuff Gingrich people are accusing Republican presidential candidate hopefuls Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich of saying on the campaign trail.

Gingrich was criticized for repeatedly calling President Barack Obama a “food stamp president” and for saying that he’d be happy to teach young black people in economically depressed areas how to have a work ethic, so that they wouldn’t have to grow up to be pimps or prostitutes.

Santorum was criticized for saying that he didn’t want “to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.”

Republican presidential hopefuls Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have been criticized for saying things that could be perceived as racist on the campaign trail.

Based on what they said, it’s understandable why people are accusing the two of racism and more than 40 leaders in the Catholic Church have told the two to chill out with the race baiting.

Either they are trying to appeal to a racist element in their party or they are ignorant of the facts.

Either way, as seasoned politicians these guys should know better. They should know that when they open their mouths, they shouldn’t be espousing empty rhetoric that relies heavily ill-founded stereotypes.

If Gingrich and Santorum did the research they would know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one-third of the 223 million white people in the United States receive food stamps.

If you look at the raw data alone, more white people (about 74 million) receive food stamps than the total black population (38.9 million) of the United States.

I imagine that if they had been armed with this knowledge, they probably wouldn’t have let such racial diatribe come out of their mouths, and had they told the truth they would have ended up alienating their voter base.

As Christians, these guys should know better as well.

The heart of God is pretty clear throughout the Bible on discrimination (See James 2, Galatians 3:28, John 7:24, Romans 10:12) – it’s abhorrent to Him because all people were made in His image (Genesis) and He hates partiality (Leviticus 19:15, Malachi 2, Deuteronomy 16:19, Proverbs 24:23) . In the Bible, partiality is the term most often used for “bias.”

Because we are prone to bias, we have to constantly watch what we say.

In Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees confronted Jesus about his practice of eating and drinking with the ritually unclean–sinners.

To explain his position on the issue, Jesus called those around him to come near.

He said, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

The Pharisees were enraged when they heard Jesus take on the matter and they left abruptly.

After the exchange, Jesus explained what he meant to his disciples: ”¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

I don’t know who is going to get the Republican nomination, but if either of these guys do, one of the questions I’ll be asking myself at the polls is, can I really trust a candidate who unabashedly repeats inaccurate information in an attempt to bolster himself, while never really trying to actually address or understand the needs of one group of people he seeks to govern?

Though  Gingrich and Santorum claim they care about “right to life issues,” and the cause of Christ, it’s obvious that they aren’t really trying to love their brothers and sisters in Christ, and the fact that are publicly proclaiming racist stereotypes shows that they are biased. These are serious spiritual deficiencies of which they need to take care.

Did you watch the December 8 elimination episode of the X Factor on Fox? I didn’t. I haven’t seen the show since it debuted thinking that it just isn’t for me. After watching the clip below, I’m sure of it.

Like the rest of America, I too am hooked on “reality TV,” but I’m sometimes I wonder why. So many shows are like seeing a terrible car accident where you’re hoping that nobody got hurt but are fascinated by the wreckage at the same time.

Reality competition shows, whether it be American Idol, The Bachelor or The Apprentice, all promise to provide the lucky winner a lifetime of bliss. You hear story after story of contestants who “gave up everything” to be on the show. Some quit their jobs and others spend their last penny on airfare to get to the auditions “knowing” that they will be one that receives the rose, the contract, the fame. Over and over again, countless poor souls delude themselves with misconceptions of their own talents and are shocked to find that they’ve been voted off the island. But what happened the other night on the X Factor is just plain puzzling.

At the end of the show, there were two contestants with the threat of going home. In one corner, there was Rachel Crow, a powerhouse of a singer and just 13 years old. In the other corner was the 20-year-old Marcus Canty. Unlike American Idol where “America” decides who wins, the four judges vote on who should be eliminated and “America” decides only if there is a tie. LA Reid chose Canty. Simon Cowell chose Crow. Paula Abdul chose Crow. Then all eyes were on Nicole.

While Nicole was totally distraught, Crow said from the stage, “Please don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m good with anything.” Nicole couldn’t make a choice, so left the vote to the public and Crow nodded in approval. In fact, just before the host gave the final decision, Crow looked totally smug knowing that her adoring fans would not let her down. Then the verdict was read, Canty would not be going home. The competition was now over for Crow who looked wild eyed and then fell to the stage in a tantrum. One writer for the Huffington Post described her actions as a “death cry.” Apparently she wasn’t “good with anything.”

Crow’s mother rushed to the stage to comfort the girl, taking a hold of her face saying, “Look at me. It’s going to be all right” to which Crow asked, “You promise?” It looks like Mrs. Crow has had to do this before.

While then the show showed footage of Crow’s “journey” on the show, the cameras panned back and forth from the crying girl to the crying Nicole being comforted by Paula.

Then the host asked Crow, “What’s been your highlight on the X Factor so far Rachel? You know we love you. Have you enjoyed yourself?” What kind of questions are those? The poor girl was bawling her head off and you ask her if she enjoyed herself?

What surprised me the most were Crow’s final comments: “I just…I love you so much everybody…for voting for me even though you didn’t. And thank you for giving me this because without you I am nothing. And I hope that this is not my ending. You know what? I know it’s not. And I will go so far. I promise you. And I love you.”

This is where I think there needs to be more of a reality check in reality programming. First of all, at least at that moment, Crow truly believed that she loved everybody in that room and everyone watching the show, which is impossible. Second, someone needs to pull her aside and tell that poor girl that she is something with or without adoring fans. The fans, the fame, the fortune do not make you into “something.” There can only be one winner, but if that isn’t you, then it doesn’t mean you are a loser.

Nicole never did recover nor was she able to give any words of encouragement to Crow, at least, not on the air. She probably felt that she “ruined” Crow’s life, which is also a lie. Yes, it would have been fantastic for Rachel to win the competition, but in the end, it is just a TV show. She is very talented. As long as she doesn’t wallow in her “defeat,” she will survive. Still, I wonder if the damage has already been done.

Originally posted at Examiner.com.

An evangelist from Detroit announced recently the pending release of a DVD series entitled, The Real Housewives of the Bible, which is inspired by The Real Housewives of Bravo TV, but with a Christian twist.

Ty Adams, Christian writer and inspirational speaker, said the goal of the DVD is to provide women with a more wholesome reality TV series option that includes biblical teachings and a Christian life view on marriage as it follows the ups and downs in the lives of six women.

The series, Adams said, will also include ways that women can preserve their marriages even in instances of marital infidelity and other marital difficulties.

Adams said that she hoped the DVD series would be an alternative to “outrageous reality shows,” adding, “I was frustrated with what I was seeing. A lot of society is looking towards programming to educate them on relationships and these shows haven’t effectively done that,” according to UPI.

Adams added, “They have ruined and tainted our ability to secure good relationships and to make women into good wives,” UPI reported.

Of The Real Housewives of The Bible, Adams told Fox News, “Because we live in a media-driven society, telling these age-old stories of adultery, loneliness and longing through entertainment helps women relate.”

In the series, the lives of six women are followed as they deal with marital difficulties such as infidelity and infertility, which have been the experience of women since biblical times, the UPI said.

The biblical perspective is culled from the experiences and qualities of women in the bible such as Sarah who dealt with infertility, Ruth and her sense of loyalty, Esther and her leadership quality and Jezebel and her cruelty, among others.

Adams told Fox News, “Many single women can get a man but they can’t keep a man. So many singles have been in girlfriend status for so long that they only understand that mentality. They don’t know what it takes to be a good wife in order to sustain a relationship and some parts of society promote that.”

Adams founded the production company Heaven Enterprises in 2002, through which she has produced faith-based plays and DVDs.

She has also, for some 10 years, offered Christian advice on relationships through her online column, “Ask Ty.”

Adams wrote the book, Single, Saved and Having Sex, where she shared her personal story as a victim of child molestation, as well as talked about the duality of being a single Christian who is having sex, and the process of sanctification, among others.

It was announced in March of last year that Warner Bros. would be bringing a big screen version of the 60’s sitcom, Gilligan’s Island, to theaters. However, at this time, the project is still “in the works” with no stars attached to the project. Whether or not we actually need another GI is to be debated. For some, the original show brings back fond memories. For others, it was a wonder it stayed on TV as long as it did. For me, it’s a study in sociology.

I have a theory that all the personalities marooned on that desert isle known as Gilligan, can be found in our local churches as well. Think about it. Seven distinct personalities all stuck together creating community. See if any of these sound familiar to you:

Skipper
Skippers are known for their strong leadership skills, but hide behind others. The natural leader of the original castaways should have been the Skipper, but he relinquished his role to the Professor over and over again. Skippers serve as a small group leaders or Sunday School teachers who secretly know that they would do a better job as the pastor. Skippers always have a smile on their face when a member of the church staff walks by. They pride themselves  on always looking their best and are horrified if their children or “Gilligans” are ever out of line. Sometimes Gilligans are confused. One minute they are a “little buddy” and the next, they are getting whacked in the head.

Professor
Professors can seen as the senior pastor or some other leadership position. Just like on the island, while the rest are making coconut cream pies, Professors have their noses in their books. (How many did he pack anyway?) They can quote the Bible frontward and backward. They are very intelligent and are great at public speaking. However, they tend to fail at one-on-one friendships. Just as the Professor didn’t understand Ginger’s advances on the show, Professors tend to be oblivious when others are hurting.

Mister Howell the Millionaire
You don’t need to have a million dollars to be a Mr. Howell. You just need to like money…a lot. Mr. Howell’s reluctantly give up their tithes every week but not a penny more. Mr. Howell’s get upset over every new purchase a church makes and doesn’t understand what was wrong with the old pews. On the flip side, if they see a need for something new, they are very vocal about it and threaten to leave the island if they don’t get their way. (Most others realize that they aren’t capable of leaving if they tried.) They tend to be out of touch with the younger generation or those with collars of blue. They attend church every week but often forget why.

Mrs. Howell, the Millionaire’s Wife
You’ll find Mrs. Howells at every women’s social event, weddings and funerals. She will often scold others for not attending, but will rarely be seen lifting a finger to help. She often feels that she is too old to serve. Although she acts as if she is above the atrocity, she gossips freely about others on the island. When confronted on such sins, she will pretend she knows nothing about which you speak. If she apologizes, it is that she is sorry that you were offended, not that she did any of the offending. She believes wholeheartedly with her husband’s position about finances and wishes that she had the stamina of a Mary Ann.

Ginger, the Movie Star
Gingers are essentially younger versions of Mrs. Howells, except that they still have their looks. Despite what is seen on the show, Gingers can be male or female. Just as it is amazing how many outfits that movie star took on a three hour tour, Gingers’ wardrobes are full of the latest trends and an endless supply of shoes. They help serve at various functions with one eye on their work and the other on the singles in the group. Like Skippers, they tend to go Sunday services with a smile on their face even if they are in pain on the inside. Even though they know it’s wrong, they tend to worry about how they look rather than how they act.

Mary Ann
Mary Anns are those who do 80% of the work and receive only 20% of the credit. If others try to help, Mary Anns wave them off. Mary Anns are very talented. They can do anything from milking a cow (she was raised on a farm you know), to whipping up a coconut cream pie. They are happy to serve but are disappointed that others don’t value their serving. Mary Anns are very dedicated. They read their Bible and have a “quiet time” every day. They tend to say things like, “So, what is the Lord telling you today?” fully expecting an answer. Mary Anns are at the core, incredibly nice people but wish that they were born a Ginger.

Gilligans
Gilligans are the leftovers at church. They tend to stand out, not because of some special gift or ability, but because they tend to lack that special gift or ability. They try out and quickly quit many ministry programs. If they find their niche, they do very well. If they don’t, they tend to have their heads whacked by the Skippers. Gilligans are very honest and that sometimes gets them in trouble. Their hearts are in the right place but sometimes at the wrong time. They may know the perfect solution to a problem but are overshadowed by Gingers, Skippers or Professors. Gilligans love easily but find themselves lonely. Their best friends are Mary Anns.

Originally posted here: Examiner.com

A young Christian man who impressed the judges of the television show, Britain’s Got Talent, said recently that he used to be bullied at school because he read the bible.

Paul Gbegje, 19, was taunted by classmates because he would bring his bible with him to school while his classmates were reading Playboy magazines, according to The Christian Institute.

Gbegje said, “I was different because of what I believed in. In year eight I would bring my Bible for reading time and they would bring Playboy and stuff like that. They would call me Jesus Freak,” The Christian Institute reported.

Gbegje told The Christian Institute, “I didn’t swear, didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t bunk. They were listening to things in the charts, whereas me I was listening to piano.”

He spent most of his lunch breaks in the music room, where he would play the piano and experimented with composing music. He said, “I’m not a good talker, but I do it through music. What I like from playing the piano is the feeling you get from it. It’s like a high. As soon as I got a piano, I’m just happy,” The Christian Post reported.

He also practiced on the church piano, sometimes for up to 10 hours straight. He had to make up for lost time, having only gotten started on the piano when he was 14 years old, The Christian Post said.

Gbegjo has received basic formal training but largely his output is the work of creativity and personal passion. Even before he had a piano, he used to think about music in his head, and he would play the tune on a ‘keyboard’ that he drew on a piece of paper, according to The Christian Institute.

Gbegjo said to The Christian Institute, “People didn’t understand my passion and they saw it as strange and weird. But now I am so glad I stayed true to myself.” He impressed the judges with his performance, and afterwards, some of the bullies contacted him and congratulated him.

Gbegjo told The Sun, “Some of them even emailed me on Facebook saying, ‘Well done.’ I feel like I’ve had some form of victory. I had the last laugh.”

Gbegjo is the son of preachers, and he hails from Dagenham, East London. Before performing in front of the judges he prayed backstage. When the judges gave him accolades he said, “I knew God was with me. He really came through for me,” The Sun reported.

Gbegjo’s piano performance was partly original, with the first and last portions composed by himself, and the middle being Bella’s lullaby from the movie, “Twilight,” The Christian Post said.

All three judges passed Gbegjo into the next round. Amanda Holden told him, “I just think you did an amazing job today.” Michael MacIntyre told Paul, “You were sensational,” according to The Christian Institute.

The show’s hosts, Ant and Dec were also impressed and lauded the young musician, The Christian Institute said.

A survey last year showed that Christians feel uncomfortable reading the bible at work in their free time. However, the same survey showed that most of their colleagues would not be bothered by it, The Christian Institute said.

In 2008, a report that was submitted by a charity on anti-bullying, which indicated that one out of every fourth child is bullied for their religion, The Christian Institute said.

A 20ft. cross made from thousands of coat hangers will be the centerpiece of a show of biblical scenes that will be on exhibit at the City Art Center in Edinburgh, U.K. to mark the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible.

The cross and other biblical artwork are made by Scottish artist David Mach, in preparation for Precious Light, slated for July 30. The cross will also be exhibited in Gloucester Cathedral in Easter, according to The Telegraph.

The art show will also include a coat-hanger depiction of Calvary, and numerous collages, an art form that Mach has become famous for, The Telegraph reported.

The King James Bible was written from 1604 to 1611 when it was published under the reign of King James I of England, The New American said. It is considered the most influential English translation bible, and is a landmark in English language history.

King James was king of Scotland for 36 years before he succeeded Queen Elizabeth I to rule England. He set about not only uniting the two countries, but also uniting all the Protestants under this bible, The New American said.

A number of common-used English phrases today come from the King James Bible including “fire and brimstone,” “at his wit’s end,” “eye to eye,” and “powers that be,” according to The New American.

Phrases from Bob Dylan’s song Highway 61 Revisited, and Martin Luther King’s speech, I Have a Dream, were derived from the King James Bible, The Scotsman reported, adding, “Our culture is permeated by the King James Bible-both the phrases themselves and the morality and civilization they promote.”

Epic stories

Mach, who is not religious, told The Telegraph that the bible is rich in epic stories of struggle, mayhem, sex, pestilence, famine and violence, making it rich in artistic possibilities. He had wanted to do the show long before, but when he approached a number of contemporary galleries that featured his past work, they all turned it down.

Noting the secularism of England Mach told The Telegraph, “It’s like a weird subject they don’t want to touch.” Now, he has five floors of the City Art Centre to fill for Precious Light, thanks to the commission from The King James Bible.

Mach employs 30 people to help him prepare for the 10-week exhibit. The Telegraph said included among the pieces being worked on is a piece showing pairs of animals heading towards Noah’s Ark in front of Table Mountain, and another of hell, boiling up and positioned to burst under the Eiffel Tower.

The hosts of a popular radio program were the recipients of the 2010 Dr. Robert Dreyfus Courageous Christian Leadership Award.

Geri and Bob Boyd, the husband and wife team and hosts of Issues in Education, a radio ministry, were given the award by Frontline Ministries Inc., and Exodus Mandate Project, Christian Newswire said.

The award, which was established in 2007, is given to Christian leaders who show moral courage through their contribution to the advancement of Christianity in the nation’s life and culture, according to Christian Newswire.

The Boyd’s were awarded, Christian Newswire said, because of their successful international radio program, which focuses on K-12 Christian education and homeschooling, which they have run for more than 20 years.

Issues in Education is aired in more than 650 stations and four satellite networks, the largest being the Christian Satellite Network which has 424 stations, Christian Newswire said.

The show is intended to convey to listeners the need for their children to either attend K-12 Christian education and home schooling, or to send them to a quality Christian school. The program also aims to support and encourage those who already home school, has played a large role in contributing to this endeavor, Christian Newswire reported.

On their website, Bob and Geri say, “Don’t simply ask what kind of education you want for your children, ask what kind of people you want them to become.” They also point out the link between quality of education and the future of the nation.

The website also contains a list of radio stations, states, cities and times when their program is aired, and contains samples of previous radio programs. There are also videos that show examples of lessons taught in public schools.

Dr. Robert Dreyfus, whom the award has been named after, is a prominent, retired Florida dentist who is distinguished for inventing a medical appliance to relieve neuromuscular pain. He was a former president of the Florida Dental Society of Anesthesiology and is Florida State Coordinator for the Exodus Mandate Project, which seeks to encourage Christian parents to take their children out of public schools and to ensure that they have a good Christian education, Christian Newswire said.

Christian Newswire quotes Bob and Geri saying, “Just as a craftsman takes time in woodwork or art or music, so the cultivation of godly children takes time, but the results outlast anything else.

“If you want to do it right, invest yourself in your child. Children are a gift from God, not to be sent away, but nurtured and cared for with love and attention to every detail. It’s called home schooling.”

There are both benefits and pitfalls to be weighed where Christians are concerned with regard to appearing on reality shows.

This is the cautionary warning that Adam Holz of Focus on the Family told the Christian Post saying, “It’s easy to edit TV to make someone look bad. Christians need to understand that if their actions contradict their faith, that causes good ratings. It’s about entertainment. The agenda is to create drama.”

These days, the exception seems to be the Duggars Family from the TLC television program, “19 Kids and Counting.” According to their website, the Duggars only agreed to go on television if the producers promised not to edit out their faith, which is the core of their family.

In their website they said they felt the show would be “an opportunity to share with the world that children are a blessing from God.” The family of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar has emerged to become one of the most famous families on reality TV.

Michelle told People Magazine, “People think we are overpopulating the world, (but) we are following our convictions.” Christian Post noted that they “take the scripture, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ very literally.”

The Duggar website does not tread lightly on the family’s faith. The entire website is designed to glorify God, just as the show does. It says, “Our prayer is that all who view this site will realize that we are ordinary people with our individual weaknesses and imperfections, but we serve an extraordinary GOD who delights in demonstrating His great power.”

Jim Bob and Michelle also last year experienced being grandparents for the first time when their oldest son Josh and his wife Anna gave birth to Mackynzie Renee on October 8, according to their website.

Not every Christian appearing on reality TV gets to be presented in such a positive light, however. More often, as Holz said, conflict brings up ratings. An example cited is the canceled “John and Kate plus Eight” series where initially the couple professed their Christian faith and family values, the Christian Post said.

Holz told the Christian Post, “John and Kate should be a cautionary tale. Now we all know them, but for the wrong reasons.” The media had a field day after the couple separated, showing the cracks in the family.

Another example of a Christian who did not come across well was Marguerite Perrin, in an episode of the former show, “Trading Spouses.” The program would feature two vastly different families, where a spouse from each family had to trade places and live each other’s life for a week, the Christian Post said.

Perrin, from Ponchatoula, La., is a devout Christian believer who owns a dance studio with her daughter Ashley. She traded homes with Jeanne D’Amico-Flisher, a hypnotist, pressure healer and tarot card reader from Boxborough, Mass., Media Watch said.

During the show Perrin experienced a television meltdown that FOX, who produced the show, ran frequently to promote it. Perrin soon joined the ranks of other unpopular reality show people (non-Christians) like Omarosa of “The Apprentice,” and Richard Hatch of “Survivor,” Media Watch said.

Perrin’s appearance on the show also “took its toll on her own family,” the Christian Post said.

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said recently that Christians should get involved in politics, even as he said the fourth of July is “holy,” and urged Americans to thank God for their freedom and for their founding fathers, the Miami Herald said.

Before a 1,800 audience at Charlotte’s First Baptist Church Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher, said evangelical Christians should play a larger role in restoring the country’s moral grounding, the Miami Herald said.

“What America really has is not a money problem, it is a moral problem,” Huckabee said. He also said that since the 2000s, Wall Street became “Las Vegas East, a legitimized casino,” and decried the loss of ethical principles among traders, the Miami Herald said.

Huckabee hosts a weekend TV talk show on Fox News and will soon release a daily news show with Fox this month, the Miami Herald said.

The former presidential candidate said America suffers from a moral problem rather than financial. Noting that the country’s founders envisioned a limited government, Huckabee said America’s failure to be faithful to the vision is because of a failure to adhere to the Golden Rule. “If we all lived by that one … rule, we’d have no need for other laws, and it gets real expensive when we don’t live right,” the Miami Herald said.

During the event Huckabee also signed books and handouts. Rev. Mark Harris, senior pastor of First Baptist said Huckabee fit with the church’s theme that year urging Christians to make a difference. Churches cannot legally endorse candidates, the Miami Herald said.

After Huckabee’s speech Fox News asked his opinion on Charlotte’s recent billboard war. Huckabee said, “If people want to spend their money to tell everyone they don’t believe in God, the joy, beauty, and incredible greatness of America is we let them do it and don’t shoot them for it.  What I would hope is that people who believe in the power of Jesus Christ like I do would put 10 billboards for every one like that,” Fox News reported.

When asked if he would run for the presidency again in 2012 Huckabee said, “Having been there before, I’m not ruling it out, it’s a tough hill to climb.” He added that he would probably dwell on his options after the midterm elections, Fox News said.

Comments he made on other issues:

Gulf oil spill: Huckabee said the BP “deserves a good kick in the rear” but also said President Barack Obama handled the operation like “a college professor” with lack of management experience, the Charlotte Observer said.

On unemployment benefits: Huckabee expressed support for unemployment benefits to a certain level, but not to the point that people already depend on the benefit and no longer want to work, the Charlotte Observer said.

Next season, the hit TV show Glee will introduce a new character, a Christian, TV Guide says.

Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator said, “We’ve taken a couple jabs at the right wing this year, so what I want to do with this character is have someone who Christian kids and parents can recognize and say, ‘Oh, look—I’m represented there, too!’ If we’re trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we’ve got to include that point of view as well,” TV Guide said.

The character has not been cast yet, but it will be someone who is outspoken and respected. She will be part of New Directions and will object to some sexually suggestive musical numbers, TV Guide said.

Columnist Cathy Grossman of USA Today mentioned misgivings about Murphy’s assumption that a Christian is “right wing.” She writes, “…the overarching theme of the show is everyone’s in the same club — jocks and divas, gays and straights. The new character…opens the possibility that by joining in the show choir — creating normal, friendly respectful relationships with her fellow singers — the branded official Christian will be shown accepting what her elders reject. Statistics show young adults hold more accepting attitudes on race and on homosexuality.”

Christianity Today’s Laura Leonard wrote, “I anxiously await Glee’s interpretation of the American Christian teenager, having been one myself and knowing many who currently choose to identify themselves with Christ in the halls, and playing fields, and choir rooms, of their schools. If she can demonstrate Christ’s love in her relationships with others without giving up the values and beliefs that form her identity, it will be a great success indeed—even if she hangs a Kirk Cameron poster in her locker or greets her fellow Glee Clubbers with a side hug.”