i'm only doing this because my sisters printer and my email are fucked up...

Emma Lange

Mr. Graves

SUPA Sociology

November 26^th, 2005

 

                                                            JESUS FREAKS

   Everyone has some sort of preference or opinion on religion, cults or just faith in a higher power. Occasionally people don’t come to realize their faith until later on in life, after something tragic happened or almost happened to them. Some people even like to call themselves “jesus freaks,” meaning that they have complete faith in their religion and are over zealous in their redemption of the lord. In this case study we will examine people who call themselves Jesus freaks and take a look at someone who has had a pivotal moment in their lives, resulting in mass changes in their daily lives. The real question here is how and why can someone have so much faith in something that they know so little about, is there prove? Is it a result of great persuasion? I hope to answer these questions and leave you with some of you own.

            “Jesusfreaks,” originally a derogatory term used to describe, or poke fun of people who were overzealous in their passion for Christ; is now a term that some people call themselves with ease and acceptance (Jesusfreaks.com). Almost, as if it were a defining word. A member of the Penfield Presbyterian Church who would prefer to remain anonymous has shared with me some of their opinions on the matter of “Jesusfreaks.” They told me that they didn’t have any preference on being or not being called a “Jesusfreak,” they said that “nothing could hurt my faith. Especially name calling.” When sitting in the back of my sources congregation I was pressed with a bigger question, were you taught to believe in this or was it your decision? My source told me that “from an early age I had always been told to attend church, but I would still believe and attend even if my parents hadn’t made me,” my only response was that if it had been another church, would they believe in what they were told then?        

            After the service, I sat down with my source; they were wearing a t-shirt that read ‘I’ve got a big bowl of Jesus’ love sitting by the door. It tastes like watermelon.’ We started out by talking about their faith, this church, their outlook on ‘nonbelievers’, all things that could be asked of anyone. I was interested in knowing about characteristics that distinguish my source and other believers of their faith. “Believes in god, openly prays and worships, and wants other people to share in our joy,” my source replied. I then proceeded to ask them if they tried to force their believes on other people, and if they believed in other religions, because Muslims follow all of those characteristics that you just recited to me. I think that at this point in the interview that I hit a nerve, one that I had been prowling on all day. They coolly changed the subject to the books of the bible and said that “Jesus Christ knows all,” well does Jesus Christ know that there are people just as faithful as you to different religions and believes other than Presbyterianism (a form of Christianity)? I though this to myself for fear of offending my source and his believes.

            The term Jesus Freaks isn’t just a term anymore; people are literally joining groups and clubs with that name. Take Jesusfreaks.net for instance; anyone can join, on one condition. You must have an undying faith to god. That’s a pretty big condition if you ask me. The website’s motto is ‘Fear God, Not Man’ (Jesusfreaks.net). This website is complete with everything that a devote Christian might need, a chat link to talk to fellow believers, a shop link to purchase clothes, accessories, bibles and things of that nature, along with current news on the Christian community (Jesusfreaks.net). The only thing that the website is missing is actual evidence to why one should join. Why not join a gang’s website, or the Ku Klux Klan? There is no real reason why anyone should join any of these. Jesus isn’t on the website advertising his love, the gang’s headman isn’t promising fame and woman, so why is it that people get sucked into subcultures? Tradition, perhaps? I must say that the fact that millions of people in my past have believed in one man whom may or may not have existed is very powerful. My source agrees.

            A man by the name of Brian Welch, caught my attention while researching Jesusfreaks, his nickname is HEAD, he is a devote Christian and he was once the guitarist for a rock band by the name of Korn (Korn.com). HEAD was once a crystal meth addict, only to have found Jesus and join a Christian rock band (Korn.com). While reading one of his journals online he said that he felt like he had found his place, that everything was leading up to this, his faith. If I could I would ask him, why now? Why not discover the teachings of the lord when you were ten or eleven years old? Maybe it took his recovery from addiction to realize his meaning and purpose on earth. Perhaps. 

            I love to eat watermelon. I love the taste of it. If it is true that Jesus’ love tastes like watermelon, then I’m not going to lie I want to try that. But how do I know that it’s true? Because a t-shirt told me? I think that many people would agree that it’s a very powerful thing to find so many different people with such strong believes, but the information making Jesus real and a heroine addicts addiction real, seems very similar. Neither one has concrete evidence and fact as to which scenario is better. Granted heroine can kill you, but being a lover of god can also push you away from fame, money and ones dream, like we saw with HEAD from Korn. Whether it be personal preference or concrete evidence, a strong moral belief in something can help you survive tomorrow, help you find yourself, or be the center of your life.