Although I’m not immune to typos and certainly make my fair share of mistakes, I can be a pedant when it comes to grammar and usage, especially to my students. But really, it matters, as I noted again this morning, while skimming an AP story on a new stream of evangelical Christians taking their religious snakeoil message to the increasingly apathetic Northeast.
Most of it is fine and certainly nothing new: reactionary hatemongers are finding it hard to sell their old-tyme religion, complete with sexism and homophobia, as educated people realize that shitting on their neighbors poisons the environment for everyone. Which is why this excerpt nearly made me choke on my Weetabix (italics mine):
Several groups trying to re-ignite New England’s faith are theologically conservative, such as the Southern Baptists, Presbyterian Church in America and the Conservative Baptists’ Mission Northeast. They say a reason for the region’s hollowed-out faith is a pervasive theology that departs from traditional Biblical interpretation on issues such as the divinity of Jesus, the exclusivity of Christianity as a path to salvation and homosexuality.
I spent entirely too much time getting churched as a minor, and I never remember hearing that theological point.
Jesus is my leather daddy.
It’s weird because I recall my years in Massachusetts as filled with religious folk; usually Unitarians, Anglicans, liberal Catholics, Buddhists and Quakers. There were a lot of atheists too but I found it a very tolerant place to be a religious person.
Ahahahahahahahaha. I’m in a Facebook group called Save the Oxford Comma, so this is quite vindicating.
And, um, I’ll tell my two gay, Jewish uncles (brothers, not partners) that they couldn’t actually be homosexual since they didn’t grow up with Jesus in their lives.
Ha! This is even better than the example I like use (I no longer remember where I found it):
“This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.”
Elle, are you sure that was a typo? Because if the author was an Objectivist, he could have actually meant that!
LOL! Reminds me of the Vampire Weekend song. “Who gives a fuck about an oxford comma?”
That made me laugh out loud. It’s just lousy to be a Jew, isn’t it? You can’t get into any of the “exclusive” clubs…
It’s a crash blossom from the heavens!
http://www.good.is/post/confusion-caused-by-crash-blossoms/?GT1=48001
Awesome…this has definitely become my go-to example for arguing in favor of the Oxford Comma. And baraquiel, I’m finding and joining that group right now!
All hail the Oxford Comma! I’ll be joining that group too, because commas mean something and leaving them out as a particular style convention, as shown so eloquently above, has repercussions.
Elle, I don’t know, that example is pretty awesome. Although probably funnier to Rand skeptics than your average Comp 1 college student.
mkp, that crash blossom article is great. Going to have to track down the book they mention. And I, too, will be joining “Save the Oxford Comma,” if only as a complement to my membership in “I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar.”
I gotta say, I love that you all are with me on the super word geekery. *Adds “Nerdery and Dorkitude” tag to post*
That made my morning! ~he he he~
Will need to send the link to my sister, and tell her she’s doing homosexuality wrong, because she’s not a Christian!
As a fan of the Oxford comma, ESL tutor, and homosexual, I love this!
Why did they get rid of the Oxford comma in the first place? I give a fuck about it, that’s for sure. It should never have gone out of vogue.
This article was insanely frustrating to me, because I am a member of the theologically and socially liberal Methodist church ACROSS THE STREET from the new church that leads off this story. Not only are we not closed, but almost the entire town has access to our building as a home for their community, 12-step, and support groups. We house the town’s food pantry, and a networking group for the unemployed. Literally 7 days a week our building is open to the people in our community who most need a safe space.
Practically every single one of our members disagrees with the beliefs of our new neighbors. We are a very small congregation struggling to remind folks that we are still working together, and the article doesn’t even mention us or the thriving (and theologically liberal) Episcopal church 2 blocks up the street or the Unitarian church around the corner, because we don’t fit into the picture they want to paint of spirituality in New England. (Even if you decide to look at New England the way some conservatives would want you to – vegetarian lesbian Socialists have spiritual needs too!)
If you need proof as to our progressive nature, take a look at our minister’s bio: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/watertown/page7/page7.html
Every four years at the United Methodist Annual Conference, the New England Conference specifically votes FOR full equality for people of every sexuality. Every four years, the rest of the conferences help to vote it down.
Thanks for giving me a chuckle when I was too blinded with rage to see the error in the article. I love the Oxford comma, and will continue to use it even if the powers that be say it is incorrect.
Just stopping in to point out that the Presbyterian Church of America is NOT the same thing as the Presbyterian Church (USA). PCUSA is much, MUCH more liberal. Ugh, I just hate seeing things mentioning PCA and worrying people will take that to reflect on the liberal and welcoming PCUSA communities I know.
[...] blurb, which doesn’t use an Oxford comma: Being a strong, powerful woman doesn’t mean you have to be tough, overworked and [...]
This is actually missing two Oxford commas, unless “Presbyterian Church in America and the Conservative Baptists’ Mission Northeast” is a new – and very wordy!! – denomination…
Nice catch, TJ! You can borrow my “Language Police” badge any time!
Just stopping by as a visitor from TJ’s Blog. I read the article you linked and I noticed the first quote from pastor Chris Bass: “You look at this area and it’s a great area of potential, it’s a great area of need.”
Shouldn’t that be an area of great potential, and an area of great need?
Oh my! I’m a Christian (of sorts) but that whole article is making me chuckle.
“The area’s highly educated population is skeptical and often indifferent to their faith. ‘About once every hour, I give up. It’s tough, man,’ said a half-joking Joe Souza, a Southern Baptist missionary working north of Boston. ‘It’s like, you found a cure for cancer and you want to give it away and nobody wants it.’”
Why did I read Joe’s quote and unconsciously assign him a voice not unlike that of Tommy Chong (of “Cheech & Chong” fame)?
“The area’s highly educated population is skeptical and often indifferent to their faith.” So what the writer is saying is that because the town’s residents are intelligent and educated, they’re not gullible and aren’t taken in by their newly arrived religious neighbors, who, as I’ve already noted, sound not unlike stoners.
Oh, this article is just brilliant! A fine display of journalism if ever I saw one.
“New England’s religious apathy has developed over decades, but it’s striking where the Pilgrims landed seeking religious freedom…”
Now maybe I’m misinterpreting “religious freedom” here but shouldn’t that phrase imply the freedom to, ooh, I don’t know, maybe not practice religion? And maybe not be persecuted for your non-belief? And maybe not have it implied that not being religious means you’re lazy and apathetic? Just thinking out loud.
Haha – as a daytime editor – I use the oxford comma only when absolutely necessary. This was one of those times. Love it – so much. Going to share it with the other editors at work.
[...] points if you locate the sentence in the Lancaster Online story in desperate need of the Oxford comma! Bookmark and share this [...]