The kid is just doing what kids do - learning by imitation.
The sad thing is that woman's voice at the end of video: "Thank you Jeeeesuuuus." What on earth does she think she's been watching? A bloody miracle or something!
Comment by Angie Jackson on April 24, 2009 at 8:39am
That kid is adorable and I'm sad to see that. Also, it shows what a waste of time/money seminary is. Poor kid's gonna grow up in that environment.
If you click around YouTube, you can find many other children aping their minister fathers and mothers. It seems that mimicking preachers is easy to do.
While I agree with people that it's sad that the child has to be brought up like that, many of us were raised in that kind of environment. By "that kind," I mean onstage. And when you're brought up onstage, the ambiance is such that you soak up all of that approval and attention. You end up being a performer. Look at Marjoe, like others have pointed out.
Now, I have to reiterate that I agree with everyone: I was brought up on stage, but the stage was the altar. Sometimes I flashback to that life and I feel hurt and angry, and often full of rage at that church. I can only imagine what Phelps' son feels.
But my stage life was centered around music and theatre, not preaching. This was all mitigated. I wouldn't trade my comfort on the stage for anything, and I can't help thinking that all those hundreds of times in front of congregations, throughout my childhood, wasn't a big part of it.
Or maybe it's why I so badly need approval and attention.
"Emotional child abuse includes acts of commission or omission by the parents and other caregivers that could cause the child to have serious behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders."
The fact that people are cheering and clapping says a lot. Ditto Rev HA about how this style is learned and could definitely be easy to use. Handy, in fact ;)
I think he's ripe for a priesthood with The Church of the Subgenius. He could rant with the best of 'em.
Goes to show how easy the pulpit could actually be. With practice, any of us could do it, saying whatever we want. I've already made some atheist fire-and-brimstone-style rants. I'd love to see others do it on youtube.
Well, Ariel, my heart is actually aching right now, feels like it's in my throat and I have tears welling up as well.
I use to be a Christian. When our son was just about three years old, I heard him one day, standing in the living room, behind a stereo speaker, with his small Bible in hand. He was yelling and preaching. I went into the room and asked him what he was doing. He said, he was practicing to be a minister like Rev. Holy One* (obviously not his real name.) At the time, I thought it was great and cute. I looked at his Bible and he had it upside down, but, he had the rest of the stuff down pat. Watching this now only hurts inside. :-(
Though I typically don't make a point of talking about my kids, I thought in this case I'd make mention. Been there, done that...
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