se7en

Does everything have to be religious? Sheesh. Some days you feel like you're being hit over the head with Christianity.

'Idol' contestant's faith questioned
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070320/...GHDZEKsPSmG78C

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 20, 7:07 PM ET
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Chris Sligh, the "American Idol" contestant who has won fans thanks to his curly mop of hair and soulful voice, has a few people concerned with his departure from strictly Christian music. But for most others in this city of 56,000 about 100 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C., Sligh has become a hometown hero.

Jonathan Pait, a spokesman for fundamentalist Bob Jones University where Sligh attended for several years, said: "We really are somewhat disappointed with the direction he has gone musically."

He nonetheless tunes in each week to monitor Sligh's progress.

Local fans — some wearing fake glasses and curly wigs and calling themselves the "Fro Patro" — gather each week at restaurants and bars to cheer Sligh on. The local newspaper has been tracking his progress on its Web site.

Sligh, a 28-year-old son of missionaries who spent much of his childhood overseas, kept his spot among the 11 remaining finalists last week with a rendition of "Endless Love." He'll try to improve on that performance, deemed "unemotional" and "uninspiring" by judge Simon Cowell, this week. The show will announce results Wednesday evening.

People who know Sligh well say that he may be singing rock 'n' roll on television, but he's always clear about the faith that motivates his music.

"He's not going to back away from the fact that he's a Christian," said Chris Surratt, pastor of Seacoast Church, where Sligh has been music leader for more than two years. "He's going to let that shine through in what he does."

Hundreds of people gather each week to hear Sligh's music at Seacoast, where his electric guitar and vocals have become an integral part of services, Surratt said.

Support for Sligh also is strong at North Greenville University, the small Baptist school he attended for several years after leaving Bob Jones in the late 1990s.

Cheryl Greene, the professor who helped Sligh hone his vocal talents, said just because Sligh may not be singing strictly Christian-themed songs shouldn't reflect on the depth of his faith.

"It would be like me being in a jazz band," Greene said. "You can be a Christian or non-Christian. It's a style of music."

But Greene said she still has worries over Sligh's long-term spiritual journey.

"Is he going to stand strong by his true Christian morals?" Greene said. "Christianity is a lifestyle ... and there are things in your life that you do need to stand for."

John Jeter, the owner of a Greenville nightclub where Sligh has performed with his band, said Sligh's wholesome attitude and his faith come through in his music.

"It speaks well to the fact that it's not all blood, guts and trash," said Jeter. "Music doesn't have to be filthy. You can have a good time in a good environment, and Chris is proof of that."

coyoteshockeyfan

The article title does not seem to match the majority of the article body.

__________________

se7en

I don't know they seem to be concerned that he's losing his way and not adhering to his christian teachings as a singer... They don't seem to pleased that he's singing secular music... It's only a matter of time before he goes to the dark side...

coyoteshockeyfan

Let's see, in the article they talk about how well the contestant is doing, there's the positive quotes from a pastor as well as the nightclub owner, then there's Greene who indicated that "just because Sligh may not be singing strictly Christian-themed songs shouldn't reflect on the depth of his faith." The only thing in there that really indicates much otherwise is the spokesperson who is "somewhat disappointed," but that's quite a stretch to suggest that "somewhat disappointed" means that the guy is questioning his faith. Much ado about nothing article, really.

__________________

azmike74

This article was really strange for me. Does anyone have an example of how "he has let that shine through in what he does"? I had no idea what religion, if any, Sligh chose until reading this. Also, I have never heard a "filthy" song on American Idol. My BS detector tells me this article was written strictly to let it be known that he is a Christian. Unfortunately for him, he is in a singing competition, not the religion edition of Survivor.

40yearfan

I agree. This reporter needed a filler so he reached to get a story. Bad journalism at it's finest.

D-Dogg

I question Americans' faith in American Idol.

Heucrazy

If Sanjaya makes it thru another week my faith in the show (very little to begin with, the wife makes me watch it) will disappear.

As for Sligh, I had no idea he was a christian until I read this article, but who cares I'm voting for Jordin(she's a Cards fan).

__________________
Have fun storming the castle.

DKCards

And a Christian too

__________________
There will never be enough questions answered to eliminate faith

coyoteshockeyfan

And what is this even supposed to mean in the first place? Unless I'm mistaken, you weren't forced to do any of this. You decided to click on a link entitled "Idol contestant's faith questioned," you decided to read the article, and then you decided to further waste your time by posting it here. If you don't want to feel like you've been "hit over the head," then maybe you should re-think your decision making strategy.

For instance, I find the constant news articles on Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, or whatever other Hollywood bimbo to be uninteresting and pointless, and they appear literally all over the place, pretty much daily. But do I feel "hit over the head" by them? No, and you know why? Because I choose not to read/watch/listen to them. Its a pretty simple and effective solution.

For somebody that was whining not too long ago over "fluff" pieces, you sure have an interesting choice in article posting. But hey, any excuse to make a silly swipe at religion, right?

__________________

CardLogic

Great post!

__________________

"...fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please."
-Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain)

Heucrazy

My take on se7en is that he posts some off the wall article, makes a few radical statements about it and then disappears until next time. With only the occasional one-liner mixed in for good measure.

Anybody disagree with me?

__________________
Have fun storming the castle.

FischerKing

what a joke. being a christian is so much more than listening or performing christian music. these are the same type of people who would think you were going to hell if you didn't drink milk from a christian cow. whatever...

shawn

__________________


"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics... Even if
you win, you are still retarded..."

"I can't trust a woman who would marry me." ~ AzCards21

"I don't care what you believe, keep your religion out of my peanut butter!" ~ Assface

40yearfan

FischerKing, glad to see you back posting on a regular basis. I missed your insight.

FischerKing

thanks - hopefully i'll be able to contribute on a more consistent basis.

shawn

__________________


"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics... Even if
you win, you are still retarded..."

"I can't trust a woman who would marry me." ~ AzCards21

"I don't care what you believe, keep your religion out of my peanut butter!" ~ Assface