You knows what's Crazy????

[WCGreen]

Buying a 3500 sq foot house and then having to rent out an off site storage facility for all of the stuff you can't fit in your house and can't, for who knows why, simply get rid of.

Jesus, how much stuff do people really need? How much stuff is just bought to fill up the emptiness of our nihilistic propelled consumer way of life?

And then these Devotees of consumerism, the Hoarders, trot on down to the newest Mega Church in their suburb and pray to Jesus for Salvation. But the trick here is the guy or gal in the pulpit knows they are there seeking to fill that emptiness but that they are addicted to money and the things that money can buy. So they preach a religion based essentially on tithing your way to heaven. They preach that it's okay to be rich, god wants you to be rich. Gives us the money for a Child Care Center or some far off Mission and we will tell God that you're an okay guy or gal. Meanwhile, the preacher rides off in his brand new Beamer bought by the church tax free....

In our "Affluent" suburb, there are now two Mega Church's and more are planned. Two are splitting time preaching out of the High School Gym. Six new "Delux" Storage Facilities have sprouted up in the last few years. I wonder if there is a connection? I personally believe there is, filling the void with things and then getting salvation and justification from the Entrapanaster who fills their heads with tales of riches being given to those who serve the lord. Salavation is only a donation away.

No word from the pulpit of Jesus speaking of the Rich Man having trouble getting into heaven. That's so 30 AD...

[YOY]

1. I live in 900 sq feet.

It's snug but we don't but sh*t we don't need. Works out nicely.

[babylonsister]

2. We're thinking of going from a house to a condo; you confuse me, and

Jesus has nothing to do with it. We're are thinking of downsizing.


And the 'stuff' should bother you. Time to downsize. IMHO.

[WCGreen]

5. I'm talking about the people who see nothing wrong with having so

much stuff that they can't possibly use it and so rent a storage facility in order to keep it.

It's insane.

I live in 1300 sq house and made it a point years ago to get rid of something before anything else comes through the door.

Go to a mega church and you will see what I mean.

[emilyg]

10. I did that. Like condo living.

Much smaller than the house - but comfy, no yard upkeep.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. But I 'll bet they see it differently!

God has told them that success means having stuff!

So, go forth and consume!

Never mind raising the kids right, with good morals and all that...

Consume!

You know, those who die with the most toys, win!

Good grief.

Your points are spot on, as usual...

[WCGreen]

11. Why thank you, CP...

[Captain Angry]

4. Ever see the commercials for vacuum seal garment bags?

They show people with closets full of stuff.

It doesn't make money to suggest that they donate the stuff they haven't worn in a year or two. It does make money to advertise a way to store MORE stuff in a way that you can't see what you have anymore.

The only business that grew faster than banks during the mortgage run-up was churches.

In my neck of the woods, you looked at construction, and tried to see if they had a drive-through. If so, it was a bank, otherwise, it was certain to be a church.

And these mega-churches look like fortresses. They don't evoke anything spiritual. Massive parking lots, massive square buildings. I wonder how they justify it to themselves that they build a bigger church instead of spending that money on tending to the less fortunate. The megachurch next door to me has a Starbucks in it.

And my favorite hypocrisy, where did Jeff Skilling go before he went to jail? He was allowed to get on stage at his church and declare his innocence. Skilling was a part of millions of people losing billions of dollars. But he's a good enough man to be allowed on stage at a church.


I got ranty there. The mega-church next door to me gets police every weekend to direct traffic. So anybody who is traveling one of the major north/south arteries in my town waits until the church is finished letting out its legion of SUVs. I wonder how that works.

[WCGreen]

6. IT's a scam...

i actually went to one of these churches for several weeks to write a story about them for a local mag. It was very interesting.

[Breeze54]

7. People who need 'stuff' are just filling an empty hole in their hearts.

I agree and it's sad, imho. I probably can't give away all my 'stuff'.

But maybe the storage places are for the deployed or newly homeless? Maybe.

Mega churches are not a phenomena around here. Sounds weird. :crazy:

[WCGreen]

8. The Bible Belt, like Kudzu, keeps creeping north...

[pansypoo53219]

9. but teevee

shows all this great stuff and it looks ever so shiney and new...