Not entirely sure what to think here

Brea · 04-05-2008, 03:42 AM

Check this one out, everybody.

A Little Leaven: Belly Dance Classes at Church?

Mosaic · 04-05-2008, 07:18 AM

LOL! Some of the comments make you laugh, very prudish/ look down nose comments, and quite rude about the dancer in the poster. As for the comment about christians being martyed in Muslim and Hindu countries for belly dancing shows just how totally ignorant they are!

I can't make out if this BD lesson is being held during the service or they are just offereing lessons when the church is not being used for services ... I am picking that it is the latter, so why are they getting their knickers in a knot ... 'sheez' ... Ok back I go to read more comments.

Hmmmm should I stir the pot and join their forum and post my own "in favour of BD anywhere/any place/ anytime" can I say the devil made me do it!!???

~Mosaic

lizaj · 04-05-2008, 08:50 AM

Churches are reasonably fussy about who they loan their premises.
I teach in a Church of England hall and hold haflas in RC halls ( they have bars!)

The website would probably rather the KKK or other right wing nasties held their meeting there instead of a bunch of girls/guys keeping fit and having fun!

maariku · 04-06-2008, 11:25 AM

I loved that comment

Quote:

I don't think there's much women can do that men don't read as "erotic"

However, coming to the topic, I can't really make up my mind about the situation. I am not religious, but I do understand that it may hurt the values of some people to have belly dance classes at a church. It is not about belly dance in specific, but rather about having other kind of activities in general "distracting" from the house of god. It also very much depends on how the whole thing is organised. For example, I believe that if the poster would have designed differently (wiht a different message and a different picture to show the generally "unknown" side of belly dance), the reactions would be somewhat milder.

Shanazel · 04-07-2008, 04:09 AM

I used to attend Jazzercise classes in a church and no one complained about all the skintight leotards. I have also attended needlework meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and Audubon meetings at churches. In September in the local Presbyterian church, several of my students and I presented an afternoon of belly dance to a fine arts club whose members average about 70 years old. It was a great success and I never heard a single word about the appropriateness of belly dance in a church- never occurred to me to think about it until now.

Zorba · 04-07-2008, 06:54 PM

I've done a couple of performances for a senior's group in a church - they were concerned ahead of time about the "appropriateness" of my performance; but once they saw me, they invited me back! Twice!

But the funny thing was that they hadn't raised any questions about the local FEMALE Belly Dancers who had performed for them in the past...

Go figure!

Shanazel · 04-07-2008, 10:18 PM

Well, my dear, they probably were just afraid they'd not be able to control themselves in the presence of such a sterling example of masculine pulchritude.

KuteNurse · 04-09-2008, 12:23 AM

I think "some" Christians are hypocrits when they look down at others. I try to avoid that negative energy and I practice not to judge others. In January, I went to a Hafla that was in a christian church. I brought a bottle of champagne and there was wine and dancing. It was really a fun time. It is a shame that some people think that dancing is beneath their religious beliefs.

Makeda Maysa · 04-09-2008, 06:09 PM

It is very clear in the Bible that the "children of Israel" enjoyed dance as part of their worship and every day lives.

KuteNurse · 04-09-2008, 08:22 PM

Yes it is. Dance and be merry. Drinking is acceptable in the bible also. It always gets me when some religions look down upon drinking. I am not talking about getting drunk, but having one or two social drinks and having a good time. Unless, you have a disease that does not permit alcohol use, such as alcoholism.

04-05-2008, 03:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Not entirely sure what to think here Check this one out, everybody. A Little Leaven: Belly Dance Classes at Church? __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

04-07-2008, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zorba Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 861	I've done a couple of performances for a senior's group in a church - they were concerned ahead of time about the "appropriateness" of my performance; but once they saw me, they invited me back! Twice! But the funny thing was that they hadn't raised any questions about the local FEMALE Belly Dancers who had performed for them in the past... Go figure! __________________ -Zorba "The Veiled Male" http://www.doubleveil.net "There is nothing sadder than a veil, that is for sale."

04-09-2008, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Makeda Maysa Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 238	It is very clear in the Bible that the "children of Israel" enjoyed dance as part of their worship and every day lives. __________________ The Niraja Dance Company www.thendc.net

04-05-2008, 07:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mosaic Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia, but a Kiwi Posts: 874	LOL! Some of the comments make you laugh, very prudish/ look down nose comments, and quite rude about the dancer in the poster. As for the comment about christians being martyed in Muslim and Hindu countries for belly dancing shows just how totally ignorant they are! I can't make out if this BD lesson is being held during the service or they are just offereing lessons when the church is not being used for services ... I am picking that it is the latter, so why are they getting their knickers in a knot ... 'sheez' ... Ok back I go to read more comments. Hmmmm should I stir the pot and join their forum and post my own "in favour of BD anywhere/any place/ anytime" can I say the devil made me do it!!??? ~Mosaic

04-05-2008, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,266	Churches are reasonably fussy about who they loan their premises. I teach in a Church of England hall and hold haflas in RC halls ( they have bars!) The website would probably rather the KKK or other right wing nasties held their meeting there instead of a bunch of girls/guys keeping fit and having fun!

04-07-2008, 04:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	I used to attend Jazzercise classes in a church and no one complained about all the skintight leotards. I have also attended needlework meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and Audubon meetings at churches. In September in the local Presbyterian church, several of my students and I presented an afternoon of belly dance to a fine arts club whose members average about 70 years old. It was a great success and I never heard a single word about the appropriateness of belly dance in a church- never occurred to me to think about it until now.

04-07-2008, 10:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	Well, my dear, they probably were just afraid they'd not be able to control themselves in the presence of such a sterling example of masculine pulchritude.

04-09-2008, 12:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
KuteNurse V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,986	I think "some" Christians are hypocrits when they look down at others. I try to avoid that negative energy and I practice not to judge others. In January, I went to a Hafla that was in a christian church. I brought a bottle of champagne and there was wine and dancing. It was really a fun time. It is a shame that some people think that dancing is beneath their religious beliefs.

04-09-2008, 08:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
KuteNurse V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,986	Yes it is. Dance and be merry. Drinking is acceptable in the bible also. It always gets me when some religions look down upon drinking. I am not talking about getting drunk, but having one or two social drinks and having a good time. Unless, you have a disease that does not permit alcohol use, such as alcoholism.