“If you don’t have faith that God can heal me over your stupid ventilator then keep the Hell out of my ICU room, there’s no room in here for fear or lack of faith.”
Why did he go to the hospital in the first place? Shouldn't his 'faith' have kept him out? Maddening how these nutjobs use yet deny science.
I imagine he was in such a terrible state he didn't have much choice. The sad thing is, it was all so preventable. And it's a pity his church didn't help him when he needed it.
Urgh. It is everywhere. The anti-vaxxers called for NHS staff to be hung in London yesterday, just like doctors and nurses who worked for the Nazis. As a former nurse I wanted to smack that woman into next week, so I think it is fine to challenge them. However, if a young man dying of covid isn't enough to make them rethink and encourage vaccination, what will? Sadder still that the man lost his life listening to someone who really doesn't give a damn about him.
I hear these conspiracies about a secret organisation that’s infiltrated our governments and is secretly controlling the decisions made and I’m thinking here in Australia, it’s no secret. They’re called Hillsong. The prime minister is a proud member.
Exactly but addressing that would require actual action. It’s so much more fun when you can fight imaginary enemies right. I myself have a perfect track record as a dragon slayer. See any dragons around? Your welcome.
I remember a Hillsong worship leader coming to the Invercargill town hall in the 90s. I was an impressionable evangelical teenager. Afterwards my Dad said, "that's not worship it's entertainment" I didn't get it at the time but he was right, there is nothing truely spiritual or connected about Hillsong. It's all just brand marketing. I don't do the Christian thing anymore but I like to morbidly watch the antics of the capitalist prosperity doctrinites. They do exactly what Jesus hated. He would turn their money tables upsidedown for sure. Not really to do with covid, more just a Hillsong rant.
Bang on, Freddie. The way music is used in modern Christianity - the slow build to back a vapid pastor - is so, so cynical. Hillsong took that and injected it with as much crack as they could and spawned a multi-million dollar music business.
The strange pattern finding ways of the brain: I scanned the first paragraph and somehow saw that the church/cult worshipped Justin Beiber and Chris Pratt. Well, "Justin" has a couple of the same letters as "Jesus", and "Chris" is just one off "Christ" - coincidence? - I THINK NOT.
I don’t know whether or not to feel sorry for Harmon since it was his own ignorance that led to his demise. On one hand it’s horrible that he lost his life, but on the other, it was his choice to not get vaccinated and continue to listen to harmful lies. I guess the real evil here is the rhetoric spread by these cult-like weirdos.
I feel sorry that he was surrounded by people - in leadership positions - who were vaccinated, but stayed quiet. He was in a system that was doomed to make him make terrible choices. It sucks.
Seriously? That is tragic and has dashed what little hope I had, particularly bad at the outset of the week. Counting my blessings in that I do not live in Australia, but still close enough to feel quite concerned.
Interesting to hear that all the Hillsong company senior executives are vaccinated! I guess thats to be expected of an organisation like this, its ok for the management but the customers need to be given the antivaxx message!
Yes, you would think so, but I think that they realise that they need these conspiracy theories and anti government stories to keep members and are willing to take the risk of losing a few.
Thinking about this church vs anti vacc stuff. You probably know the story of "When God sends a Helicopter" (search for it). Isn't it just as reasonable (for those that believe in deities) that a devil sent covid into the world to cause suffering, and a god has sent health workers, scientists and through them, vaccines, to help? Come to think of it, maybe this is the opinion of the majority, and it is a vocal minority out on the streets?
That these mental gymnastics need to be done in the first place is very frustrating. In my church as a kid, UFOs were real, but were little devils sent to fool us. I mean - Jesus H Christ
I had 3 people on my Facebook feed claim lockdown restrictions were now preventing them from worship, suddenly all questioning the “real motives”, enter covid is fake, the devil is real comments. One then attended the anti-lockdown/vax rally. Fuck me it’s tiring. First thing they’ve ever protested against in their life, aside from a brief period of #savethechildren on social media 🙄 surprise surprise.
Gosh I love your writing David. I was baptised and brought up Irish Catholic in South Dunedin. I eventually got an education. We moved down to invercargill when my baby was 3 months. I enrolled my boy at a Catholic primary school even though I am an atheist because I wanted to protect him from evangelism and fundamentalist Christianity. It worked !
I agree- I think the difference is because the latter crowd are fundamentally rooted in the idea of prosperity gospel . They tie themselves in knots trying to link religion with capitalism. Catholicism (especially Irish Catholicism ) is based on faith, ritual and superstition etc but fundamentally is based on a sense of love of neighbour and justice etc.
I think Brian probably felt this message was a big brave step in the right direction, and would argue advocating as you propose would have been too much a change for anyone to follow him. And he may have been right, but he's the one who dug himself into this hole.
I think he was doing it to cover his arse. Just like when he didn't report his father for child abuse. It's all arse covering. Like - this PR just put out for the great BBC doco about Hillsong:
Virtue signalling is great and all. That's why we have PR consultants, to tell us when and how to pretend to care.
But it must never interfere with the bottom line. There's a lot of money in death and grief. We can't be letting that grub™ Farrier interfere with prime revenue streams.
“If you don’t have faith that God can heal me over your stupid ventilator then keep the Hell out of my ICU room, there’s no room in here for fear or lack of faith.”
Why did he go to the hospital in the first place? Shouldn't his 'faith' have kept him out? Maddening how these nutjobs use yet deny science.
I imagine he was in such a terrible state he didn't have much choice. The sad thing is, it was all so preventable. And it's a pity his church didn't help him when he needed it.
We spare a thought for Anna Wilding who isn't even mentioned in this article. Erased and ignored by her own stalker.
Hello.... Anna
Outrageous
😂😂😂
Urgh. It is everywhere. The anti-vaxxers called for NHS staff to be hung in London yesterday, just like doctors and nurses who worked for the Nazis. As a former nurse I wanted to smack that woman into next week, so I think it is fine to challenge them. However, if a young man dying of covid isn't enough to make them rethink and encourage vaccination, what will? Sadder still that the man lost his life listening to someone who really doesn't give a damn about him.
Calling for them to be hung.... totally normal.
Ugh.
It's all based in fear and shame for this lot - logic and facts have nothing to do with it. It's really sad.
I hear these conspiracies about a secret organisation that’s infiltrated our governments and is secretly controlling the decisions made and I’m thinking here in Australia, it’s no secret. They’re called Hillsong. The prime minister is a proud member.
Yeah, he's a piece of work eh: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/03/scott-morrison-confirms-he-sought-white-house-invite-for-hillsong-pastor-brian-houston
It's funny - for all the talk these conspiracy theorists have of cabals of child abusers: it's right in front of them. It's bonkers.
Exactly but addressing that would require actual action. It’s so much more fun when you can fight imaginary enemies right. I myself have a perfect track record as a dragon slayer. See any dragons around? Your welcome.
And don’t forget. Old Scotty from marketing (ScoMo) is a member of this very cult.
We’re doomed.
Fucken hell (I hope they do).
Yeah, it bleak: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/03/scott-morrison-confirms-he-sought-white-house-invite-for-hillsong-pastor-brian-houston
I remember a Hillsong worship leader coming to the Invercargill town hall in the 90s. I was an impressionable evangelical teenager. Afterwards my Dad said, "that's not worship it's entertainment" I didn't get it at the time but he was right, there is nothing truely spiritual or connected about Hillsong. It's all just brand marketing. I don't do the Christian thing anymore but I like to morbidly watch the antics of the capitalist prosperity doctrinites. They do exactly what Jesus hated. He would turn their money tables upsidedown for sure. Not really to do with covid, more just a Hillsong rant.
Bang on, Freddie. The way music is used in modern Christianity - the slow build to back a vapid pastor - is so, so cynical. Hillsong took that and injected it with as much crack as they could and spawned a multi-million dollar music business.
The strange pattern finding ways of the brain: I scanned the first paragraph and somehow saw that the church/cult worshipped Justin Beiber and Chris Pratt. Well, "Justin" has a couple of the same letters as "Jesus", and "Chris" is just one off "Christ" - coincidence? - I THINK NOT.
The Church of Justin Chris?
Look, it would probably be a better version of what currently exists. I don't think either of those men are grifters, for one.
I don’t know whether or not to feel sorry for Harmon since it was his own ignorance that led to his demise. On one hand it’s horrible that he lost his life, but on the other, it was his choice to not get vaccinated and continue to listen to harmful lies. I guess the real evil here is the rhetoric spread by these cult-like weirdos.
I feel sorry that he was surrounded by people - in leadership positions - who were vaccinated, but stayed quiet. He was in a system that was doomed to make him make terrible choices. It sucks.
OK, so here's a thing - one of the members of the Hillsong tribe is Scott Morrison. Scomo to some, Scummo to many. Says it all, really.....
Yeah - and Morrison is also an expert at attempting to cover his arse. He's - not good! https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/03/scott-morrison-confirms-he-sought-white-house-invite-for-hillsong-pastor-brian-houston
Arse wipe off the highest order.
Seriously? That is tragic and has dashed what little hope I had, particularly bad at the outset of the week. Counting my blessings in that I do not live in Australia, but still close enough to feel quite concerned.
Interesting to hear that all the Hillsong company senior executives are vaccinated! I guess thats to be expected of an organisation like this, its ok for the management but the customers need to be given the antivaxx message!
Yeah, of course they don't want to die - but won't go as far as actively encouraging their congregation to do the same.
You’d think they’d advocate staying alive for tithings sake.
Yes, you would think so, but I think that they realise that they need these conspiracy theories and anti government stories to keep members and are willing to take the risk of losing a few.
Oh come on, Houston is a businessman. His nod to ethical concerns or objective reality is no more genuine than Coca-Cola supporting indigenous rights.
Having members die, and getting pious about it, is central to the business model.
Chris - I would not say you're wrong.
Thinking about this church vs anti vacc stuff. You probably know the story of "When God sends a Helicopter" (search for it). Isn't it just as reasonable (for those that believe in deities) that a devil sent covid into the world to cause suffering, and a god has sent health workers, scientists and through them, vaccines, to help? Come to think of it, maybe this is the opinion of the majority, and it is a vocal minority out on the streets?
It appears that some people can find support in the bible for vaccination e.g. https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/would-god-support-vaccines.aspx
News item the other night about the South Auckland church as vaccination centre gave me some hope.
That these mental gymnastics need to be done in the first place is very frustrating. In my church as a kid, UFOs were real, but were little devils sent to fool us. I mean - Jesus H Christ
I had 3 people on my Facebook feed claim lockdown restrictions were now preventing them from worship, suddenly all questioning the “real motives”, enter covid is fake, the devil is real comments. One then attended the anti-lockdown/vax rally. Fuck me it’s tiring. First thing they’ve ever protested against in their life, aside from a brief period of #savethechildren on social media 🙄 surprise surprise.
Gosh I love your writing David. I was baptised and brought up Irish Catholic in South Dunedin. I eventually got an education. We moved down to invercargill when my baby was 3 months. I enrolled my boy at a Catholic primary school even though I am an atheist because I wanted to protect him from evangelism and fundamentalist Christianity. It worked !
Thanks, Judy. Weirdly Catholicism is somehow a lot less unhinged than the Pentecostal and Evangelical crowd. I hope that isn't offensive!
I agree- I think the difference is because the latter crowd are fundamentally rooted in the idea of prosperity gospel . They tie themselves in knots trying to link religion with capitalism. Catholicism (especially Irish Catholicism ) is based on faith, ritual and superstition etc but fundamentally is based on a sense of love of neighbour and justice etc.
Yeah, that prosperity shit has a lot to answer for, eh. It's so weird to have greed masked as "God wants you to have it if u do good!"
I think Brian probably felt this message was a big brave step in the right direction, and would argue advocating as you propose would have been too much a change for anyone to follow him. And he may have been right, but he's the one who dug himself into this hole.
I think he was doing it to cover his arse. Just like when he didn't report his father for child abuse. It's all arse covering. Like - this PR just put out for the great BBC doco about Hillsong:
The doco: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000y2g7/storyville-hillsong-church-god-goes-viral
The PR spin: https://hillsong.com/newsroom/blog/2021/07/hillsong-church-response-to-god-goes-viral-documentary
the blocking action says a bit more than resistance to change though - more like 'how dare thoust question thine divine judgement', lol.
Virtue signalling is great and all. That's why we have PR consultants, to tell us when and how to pretend to care.
But it must never interfere with the bottom line. There's a lot of money in death and grief. We can't be letting that grub™ Farrier interfere with prime revenue streams.
Cripes - what HAPPENED to Brooke Fraser??
She's been there for a long time :(