If my family is doing a road trip and we come across a Christian radio station we will listen. Otherwise, no. There is no Christian station in Toronto, and the closest to us WDCX comes in only sometimes, and then with poor reception.

No, I do not.

 

I find that all of the christian radio stations that I have listened to though they have some good music tend to nauseate me after a while.  Truly.   

 

I listen to CBC in Canada and NPR in the US

twitchy finger syndrome strikes again

No.

 

I can hardly get my head around the thought that Toronto doesn't have a Christian radio station.  Even my one horse town has one.  I don't listen to it though  - just to CBC.

 

No  I listen to Talk Radio

Crap. Forgot to change my login.

 

 

Yeah, that's me having a brain fart. 

 

We have a Christian station in London but I haven't listened to it in so long, I've forgotten the call sign and frequency. Like others, I mostly listen to the CBC but I also supplement with the local album-oriented rock (or whatever they call it these days) station.

 

Mendalla

 

Hi blackbelt1961,

 

 

No.

 

I haven't found a station that isn't programmed to be trite or cliche.

 

Grace and peace to you.

John

There was a similar thread not too long ago, some interesting comments in it.

 

Typically no, but every now and then I catch a bit when one city cuts out and I'm searching for the next.

It depends upon what you mean by Christian radio.  We used to have two radio stations that billed themselves as Christian radio.  I didn't listen to the larger one - it played mostly Christian choruses and lots of testimonal stuff that I find quite embarassing.  The other played Gospel music that I usually enjoy listening to and singing along  (I Saw the Light, etc).  I would sometimes run across it while searching the channels, and listen for a bit.

 

On the other hand I find quite a few Christian topics, interviews, discussions, etc. on CBC.  - programs about human rights abuses, climate change, poverty all concern me as a Christian.   Programs about art and literature can touch my soul. 

seeler, what did you find embarrassing about the testimonies? I don't find them embarrassing, just people telling their stories. I also enjoy a good Gospel tune. I agree that many of the kind of issues that the CBC presents should be of interest to Christians, but the CBC puts too liberal a spin on them for my taste.

Hi, XM Radio gets three Christian Music stations - sometimes (not on Sundays) I listen to them.  I like the variety of the music.  Inclusive language isn't one of their strong points.

Seems to me, one of the moderators themes was sharing of our stories – testimonies are one way of doing it – even if we don’t relate to the terminology. 

Perhaps another thread could be – who listens to CBC and why.  Don’t get me wrong – due to travelling in my car a lot I do listen to CBC… I remember when I was in my 20’s we considered it the old people’s radio station….uh oh, guess I am old now.  It does get a certain demographic. 

 

 

No, I don't listen to any Christian radio stations. Just the CBC.

 

I find that a majority of them simply too cliched to be believable. It is like they are given a template and asked to fill in the blanks. IOW, I find that most of it simply does not feel real, it's like bad religious fiction or something. Not sure if that's what seeler finds embarrassing, but it's why I tend to tune it out no matter where I hear it.

 

Mendalla

 

 

Many Christians do seem to have similar testimonies. They were not following Christ, met a Christ-follower, saw something in that individual which they desired for themselves, and then accepted Christ themselves. Maybe that's just the standard way that God chooses to give new life to people.

 

My own testimony is a little different. It involves Bible reading, nightmares, being involved in a Christian church, and then accepting Christ. Ah well. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

It usually goes beyond not following Christ. They are usual in some deep crisis, often involving addiction, crime, or sex, and there is some glorious moment when they are "healed" leading to their conversion. Let's just say that when I guess the ending of a story after the first paragraph, it ceases to be worth listening to.

 

Mendalla

 

I read this and immediately thought, yup, that sounds like me and our society. Jump to the point and cut with all the details. We have no time for what's important to others, so sometimes I do have to stop myself from saying this is the same o, same o and realize that for the person relaying their story, it is important sometimes to say it out loud and for them this moment is unique and life changing. I think it's important to honour story.

In the testimony, I find, that they belittle other people in other religions. Only they are right ( and better, I dare say)

I find "Christian" music to be about as insincere and shallow as TV evangelists. They are not allowed to draw outside of the lines of that odd line somebody made and called "Christian".


Bands like The Moody Blues have a much more in depth message than any of the Christian music I've ever heard.

 

So do I. But these stories have been massaged to the point where they are simply no longer credible as "personal" stories any more than product testimonials on commercials that are delivered by actors from a script. Don't get me wrong. I have heard some very moving, authentic Christian testimonials. But there are, alas, way too many that are blatantly manipulative marketing.

 

Mendalla

"blatantly manipulative marketing" is a good description. Bands like U2 do a much better job of singing about their faith.

Another thing I should have clarified. I am not confining my ire at the use of manipulative marketing to Christianity by any means. There is plenty of it in some other traditions, too. Some more than others. Some of the "New Age" stuff, for instance is no more and no less than shills for gurus books and videos. I've seen some in Islam and Bahai'ism, too.

 

Likewise, I have heard moving, authentic testimony in other traditions, too. Christianity does not have a lock on improving lives.

 

Mendalla

 

That's why I listen to Christian stations when I'm near the border. It's hilarious to listen to them complain about atheists.

 

They are really, really worried about atheists. And ho-mo-sexuals.

 

Edited to say that I wrote this before reading through the thread.  I haven't changed my mind.[

 

 

quote=Dcn. Jae]

seeler, what did you find embarrassing about the testimonies? I don't find them embarrassing, just people telling their stories. [/quote]

 

What did I find embarassing?

I was once in a study group.  One of our assignments was to write a short piece, a paragraph or two, mentioning someone who had had an influence on your life, and thanking them.  Three or four of us in the group did just that.  We wrote our pieces and when the time came, we shared them - half page or so of writing,  We then answered a couple of questions for another minute or so.  I wrote about a woman who had been Sunday School superintentent in the little rural community where I grew up. 

Then one of the men got up to speak.  He hadn't written anything because he found it difficult to express himself so he asked permission to speak without notes, from the heart.  For the next fifteen minutes or so he talked about himself, how low he had fallen, drinking and rough living,  when a street missionary led him to Christ and saved his life for he had been close to suicide. 

Another man asked permission to ignor his writting and also speak from the heart.  He also spoke for fifteen minutes or so.   Then question time, and the two of them thanked each other for their testimonies and compared experiences for another ten minutes or so. 

I felt embarassed for them.  One revealed things about his marriage, his wife and daughter (who were not present) that I felt were very private.  In fact he revealed things about himself that I felt were more appropriate for intimate family or a counsellor.  And each seemed to be trying to outdo the other in bragging about how low they had fallen before God reached down and saved them.  (through the street worker in one case and the long-suffering wife in the other). 

What is more, I heard one of these men give the same testimony, almost word for word, in a different setting the following year.

I understand that testimony is part of some denominations religious practices, and that sometimes people actually have coaches help them write and polish their testimonies, while others speak from the heart.    It is not for me.  My relationship with God is something that I cherish and hold close.  I've only shared it a few times, with a small group of people I trust.  What is more, I find it very difficult to put spiritual experiences into everyday language.

 

I felt that these two men, individually, whether they choose to read or to present their assignmet without notes, should have limited it to a few minutes and concentrated more on the person they wished to acknowledge, and not so much on themselves.  They sounded like bragging.

 

Hi Jae...

Nicely put. Samaritan woman meets Christ and brings 'evangel' to neighbors. Neighbors seek and find.
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For some it is little more than an adopted script recited while being contradicted by lived experience. These are believers but not yet followers. Only followers bear faithful public witness. Quite often refused and resisted by believers.
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The number who follow, in spirit and in truth is daily increased. These will soon be known in the way of Gideon. They will be as David before Goliath.
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Yet a little while, and then the power now at work in the earth will show it's face. Many will be dismayed.
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Let us then follow in the opening way that we may draw others into our common purpose.
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Anyway, again, nicely said.
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George
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