Ok, I respect people's opinions and their right to express them, however I don't respect biggotry or ignorance from ANY group or ANY individual. It's things like this publication that has gotten me beaten and harrassed by people who are sure that kicking the c**p out of some poor kid is going to assure them a place in heaven. I'm sorry if I offend anyone by posting this...if this thread gets too out of hand I'll be more than willing to delete it.

Oh and I'm convinced that a lot of things kids do is a cry for attention and children shouldn't be drinking or doing drugs but a lot of this stuff is just plain assinine. It's great to be concerned about your kids, that's just good parenting, but I don't think it's at all right to say that expressing oneself is evil or satanic. I also don't think its very fair to accuse your own child of being evil. There is a fine line between overparenting and underparenting however...and getting the right balence I would immagine isn't easy. If I noticed something off with my kids, I'd discuss it with them but I sure wouldn't douse them with holy water (I've actually met someone who's parents did this because of the music they listened to) Now, if consenting adults do these things, is it right to judge and prosicute? I don't think so.

And I want to ask...how many of these things apply (or did apply) to you as a youngster...or apply now? Several of them apply to me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is Your Child a Goth? Presented by St. Mary's Church

Was Salem Correct?

Listed below are some warning signs to indicate if your child may have gone
astray from the Lord.

Gothic (or goth) is a very obscure and often dangerous culture that young teenagers are prone to participating in. The gothic culture leads young, susceptible minds into an imagined world of evil,
darkness, and violence. Please seek immediate attention through counselling,
prayer, and parental guidance to rid your child of Satan's temptations if five or more of the following are applicable to your child.


-Frequently wears black clothing.
-Wears band and/or rock t-shirts.
-Wears excessive black eye makeup,lipstick or nail polish.
-Wears any odd silver jewelry or symbols.
-Shows an interest in piercings or tattoos.
-Listens to gothic or any other anti-social genres of music. (Marilyn Manson
claims to be the anti-Christ, and publicly speaks against the Lord. Please
discard any such albums IMMEDIATELY.)
-Associates with other people that dress, act or speak eccentrically.
-Shows a declining interest in wholesome activities, such as: the Bible,
prayer, church or sports.
-Shows an increasing interest in death, vampires, magic, the occult,
witchcraft or anything else that involves Satan.
-Takes drugs.
-Drinks alcohol.
-Is suicidal and/or depressed.
-Cuts, burns or partakes in any other method of self-mutilation.(This is a
Satanic ritual that uses pain to detract from the light of God and His love.
Please seek immediate attention for this at your local mental health
center.)
-Complains of boredom.
-Sleeps too excessively or too little.
-Is excessively awake during the night.
-Demands an unusual amount of privacy.
-Spends large amounts of time alone.
-Requests time alone and quietness. (This is so that your chid may speak to
evil sprits through meditation.)
-Insists on spending time with friends while unaccompanied by an adult.
-Disregards authority figures; teachers, priests, nuns and elders are but a
few examples of this.
-Misbehaves at school.
-Misbehaves at home.
-Eats excessively or too little
-Eats goth-related foods. Count Dracula cereal is an example of this.
-Drinks blood or expresses an interest in drinking blood. (Vampires believe
this is how to attain Satan. This act is very dangerous and should be
stopped immediately.)
-Watches cable television or any other corrupted media
sources. (Ask your local church for proper programs that your child may
watch.)
-Plays videos games that contains violence or role-playing nature.
-Uses the internet excessively and frequently makes time for the computer.
-Makes Satanic symbols and/or violently shakes head to music.
-Dances to music in a provocative or sexual manner.
-Expresses an interest in sex.
-Masturbates.
-Is homosexual and/or bisexual.
-Pursues dangerous cult religions. Such include: Satanism, Scientology,
Philosophy, Paganism, Wicca, Hinduism and Buddhism.
-Wears pins, stickers or anything else that contains these various phrases:
"I'm so gothic, I'm dead", "woe is me", "I'm a goth".
-Claims to be a goth.


If five or more of these apply to your child, please intervene immediately.
The gothic culture is dangerous and Satan thrives within it. If any of these
problems persist, enlist your child into your local mental health center. (This last line really bothers me)