Strength, courage and "manliness" are conditions of the mind. I have no problem with teaching some of this stuff (but no, it has nothing to do with Jesus), but what about kindness, compassion, etc? They say "Kill the dragon, get the girl," but is any of this training going to teach a young man to be respectful of women, to not be an abuser, to realize that many, many women need a safe man to help them heal and come to fulfillment?
While this relentless obsession with "battle", guns and "manliness", coupled with the attempt to justify it with Jesus, may be typical of Christian Nationalism, it also seems too personal for Josh...an unhealthy obsession exacerbated by a specific, private, deeply rooted issue.
These adults are preying on the main insecurity and anxieties of these vulnerable teens, that being their own masculinity. Gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity being passed down to the younger generations is only adding to our culture of violence. This is not a church. How they can get away with this and how people are so blinded to these “activities” are beyond me.
The mention of “man card” makes me think of Sandy Hook and the families successful suit against Remington Arms. Parents in the court case focused on how the Newtown shooter used a gun that was advertised specifically to young, troubled males. “Consider your man card reissued”
Of course - Right up there w/Matt Shea's life skills for youth. All kids need to know how to field strip & reassemble an AR15, have combat medic skills & comms - amirite? This church seems dedicated to the militia/patriot movement. The church 'MILITANT". They are heading toward 3-percenter, Oathkeeper, American Redoubt territory. All couched in christofascist dominionist theocracy that gives them license to harm the rest of us either directly w/bullets or indirectly by imposing their beliefs on the rest of us. Either way it is destructive to a civil society. Never listen to what they say - watch what they do. People like this believe that deception in the service to their "holy" vision for America is justified. In other words, they will lie to achieve their ends.
Something about the "Kill the Dragon, Win the girl" motto rubs me the wrong way. I think it's a bad idea to teach these sixteen-year-olds that they have to attain certain patriarchal ideals in order for them to be considered "men," because it will instill a sense of shame if they ever fail to measure up, and they will shame other people who can't measure up. I also think that it reduces women to a "prize" to be won (literally), which seems like it will instill a sense of entitlement. Since GCC also preaches purity culture and abstinence before marriage, I think that this just reinforces the idea that women have something they want.
So...gcc has infiltrated City government! Obvi councilman and Mayor protem Cuevas...who else is a member of gcc? Infiltrating law enforcement, local govt, indoctrinating our youth, arming themselves for a revolution...many many more people should be alarmed.
It has nothing to do with Jesus...they are just using his name as a license for violence/killing. WTH is this war training for...and against whom? Matt Shea spells it out in his preaching.
Do worse? An ex FBI special agent training teen boys hand to hand combat, tactical proficiency, stamina building and “building them up after breaking them down” all in the name of a MAN CARD! They could do worse?
There is absolutely no need for this “training” in the first place, especially under the guise of a Church event. An appealing training by an ex FBI special agent would be one focused on violence prevention and education!
If these parents want to TRAIN their teens and make them EARN their manliness, that should be their own business on their own time.
Strength, courage and "manliness" are conditions of the mind. I have no problem with teaching some of this stuff (but no, it has nothing to do with Jesus), but what about kindness, compassion, etc? They say "Kill the dragon, get the girl," but is any of this training going to teach a young man to be respectful of women, to not be an abuser, to realize that many, many women need a safe man to help them heal and come to fulfillment?
It would seem women are not equals within gcc teachings. My guess is, women dont deserve respect. They are there solely to serve their men.
Exactly.
While this relentless obsession with "battle", guns and "manliness", coupled with the attempt to justify it with Jesus, may be typical of Christian Nationalism, it also seems too personal for Josh...an unhealthy obsession exacerbated by a specific, private, deeply rooted issue.
These adults are preying on the main insecurity and anxieties of these vulnerable teens, that being their own masculinity. Gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity being passed down to the younger generations is only adding to our culture of violence. This is not a church. How they can get away with this and how people are so blinded to these “activities” are beyond me.
The mention of “man card” makes me think of Sandy Hook and the families successful suit against Remington Arms. Parents in the court case focused on how the Newtown shooter used a gun that was advertised specifically to young, troubled males. “Consider your man card reissued”
For reference
https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/ncna1289394
Hitler youth...?
I stand by my assertion that GCC is not a church, but a mens rights activism and western chauvinism training organization that doesn’t pay taxes.
Of course - Right up there w/Matt Shea's life skills for youth. All kids need to know how to field strip & reassemble an AR15, have combat medic skills & comms - amirite? This church seems dedicated to the militia/patriot movement. The church 'MILITANT". They are heading toward 3-percenter, Oathkeeper, American Redoubt territory. All couched in christofascist dominionist theocracy that gives them license to harm the rest of us either directly w/bullets or indirectly by imposing their beliefs on the rest of us. Either way it is destructive to a civil society. Never listen to what they say - watch what they do. People like this believe that deception in the service to their "holy" vision for America is justified. In other words, they will lie to achieve their ends.
Something about the "Kill the Dragon, Win the girl" motto rubs me the wrong way. I think it's a bad idea to teach these sixteen-year-olds that they have to attain certain patriarchal ideals in order for them to be considered "men," because it will instill a sense of shame if they ever fail to measure up, and they will shame other people who can't measure up. I also think that it reduces women to a "prize" to be won (literally), which seems like it will instill a sense of entitlement. Since GCC also preaches purity culture and abstinence before marriage, I think that this just reinforces the idea that women have something they want.
Grace City is creating such a toxic culture!
So...gcc has infiltrated City government! Obvi councilman and Mayor protem Cuevas...who else is a member of gcc? Infiltrating law enforcement, local govt, indoctrinating our youth, arming themselves for a revolution...many many more people should be alarmed.
I'm sorry but this is outrageous. What does this have to do with a church?
I truly don’t understand what this type of training has to do with Jesus….. 🙄
It has nothing to do with Jesus...they are just using his name as a license for violence/killing. WTH is this war training for...and against whom? Matt Shea spells it out in his preaching.
I guess I would hope that this was available for their female kids as well.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Read the entire thing. I think you could do worse than be trained by an ex FBI special agent. I can see how this would be appealing in a certain way.
Do worse? An ex FBI special agent training teen boys hand to hand combat, tactical proficiency, stamina building and “building them up after breaking them down” all in the name of a MAN CARD! They could do worse?
There is absolutely no need for this “training” in the first place, especially under the guise of a Church event. An appealing training by an ex FBI special agent would be one focused on violence prevention and education!
If these parents want to TRAIN their teens and make them EARN their manliness, that should be their own business on their own time.
There are many FBI agents both current and former that would never have anything to do with a group like this!!
I’m not reading past the first photo without commenting. Never again shall ye smile for a photo!
Obsessively so.