Promisekeepers

[Mermaid]

Have we ever discussed this organization here? If not, why the hell not?

It is basically AA for God-fearing men who like to beat it to porn.
There are a few bumper stickers in the parking lot where I work that say



And my first thought was, "aw, sweet". Then I thought "Um. Bumper sticker? Totally necessary"?

So I looked closer and saw Promisekeepers.org in small print and Googled it right in the parking lot. From their website:

Society is crumbling around us. Marriages are collapsing. Pornography is winning the battle for men’s minds. And our children are abandoning the Church. But there is hope.

When a child is the first to attend church, 31â,,2% of the families follow. When a wife/mom is the first to attend church, 17% of the families follow. When a dad/husband is the first to attend church, 93% of the families follow. In the words of Dr. Tony Evans, “As the man goes, so goes the world.” America â€" and the World â€" needs men with a renewed passion for obedience to God, and His Word.

Promisekeepers are teamed up with sponsors that they can call in times of temptation. So basically if you see someone with that bumper sticker, they are advertising to the world that they are addicted to internet porn and are taking the twelve steps to a new, non-wanking, wife-boning lifestyle. Praise be to JEEZUS!

[Mermaid]

I would also like to add that in my Google search for that sticker I found this far more awesome one.


aaaand this one

[aitm]

Yeah, I see those once in a while and wonder how the whole thing went down...
"Hey honey  I have a bumper sticker for you"
"Oh great this is ..............er..........hot dog this is great"
" I knew you would love it, lets put in on"
"right now?..I mean, hell yeah come on love lets do this together"
"right there so everyone can see it"
"great honey, so ya wanna go upstairs and make this official"
" now? It's only May...why are you so horny, you just had some in January".

[Berati]

I'm just guessing but I would think Facebook is more dangerous to marriages than Internet porn.

[stromboli]

I was a Promise Keeper as a Christian. Think of a bunch of men all getting together and gruntin' for Jesus. Bein' all manly and shit, lovin' yer wife an puh-raisin jesus. Meh.

[Poison Tree]

I'm very aware of them. I went to grade school in Boulder Colorado and the Promisekeepers were founded by [former] University of Colorado [Boulder] football coach Bill McCartney and held huge meetings at Mile High Stadium, which the Denver post calls the 5th "greatest nonsporting moments at Mile High Stadium"-- number 1 was Pope John Paul II and 8 Billy Graham 

[AllPurposeAtheist]

Well I don't love my wife so I'm good with porking my palms for JAH-EEEEEEEZ-ASS! 

That really doesn't sound to good does it?

[Aletheia]

A bumpers sticker which advertises to others that a particular individual is more interested in complete strangers fornicating on camera with no real intimacy towards each other than his wife at home? What could possible go wrong with this advertising campaign?

Once again, we see another would be helper for men's PR catching the ball and running a touch down for other team. Doesn't help the faulty perception of men being weak, sex-crazed creatures who cannot be held responsible for their urges and actions. Not one bit.

[Jason78]

Bloody religious types!   Whats wrong with porn!?!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

C'mon, guys, get a grip!

[Mermaid]

I was a Promise Keeper as a Christian. Think of a bunch of men all getting together and gruntin' for Jesus. Bein' all manly and shit, lovin' yer wife an puh-raisin jesus. Meh.

So is the organization as their website would make it seem? That Porn is the biggest problem facing families?

[Mermaid]

Doesn't help the faulty perception of men being weak, sex-crazed creatures who cannot be held responsible for their urges and actions. Not one bit.

Actually the bigger issue I have is their claim that men are the family boss so it's up to them to lead their families in the right direction.

[stromboli]

When I was involved it was about being true to your commitments, i.e. marriage and fatherhood. Like anything to do with a religious organization, the focus will shift to topics that are more in the media like pornography. I don't see these people around here now, it seems to have to do more with one sect than another. Mostly it was centered on Assembly of God worship.

[Poison Tree]

When I first remember hearing about promisekeepers the local talk radio was all abuzz about how "radical feminists" were going to destroy the organization because it was all male and pro-family--we all know that the only thing the "femi-nazis" hate more then men are families, right?--. Apparently there was some concern that the feminists would show up at promisekeeper events scantly dressed--or perhaps even nude--to tempt the men into sinning (and, of course, if the feminists got pregnant they would just murder the baby at planed parenthood. "let us pray for this great nation that the lord will soften the hearts of the wicked justices on this nation's highest court. That they will over turn this great sin and turn away from us the wrath of the almighty."). I  must admit, my pubescent male reaction to the idea of sexual temptresses surrounding Mile High stadium wasn't very "christian".

[SGOS]

When I first remember hearing about promisekeepers the local talk radio was all abuzz about how "radical feminists" were going to destroy the organization

When I first heard about it, it was not just an organization of men.  It was about men taking charge of their women, and promising to always be in control of the family, and making all the important decisions for their wives.  And of course, for every domineering chauvinist, there is the perfect mate willing to put up with him, especially in the context of Christian roles for women.  That alone would warrant feminist intervention.

Then the organization fizzled out, although I never heard a feminist claim that radical feminists caused this.  It was just an incredibly stupid idea that happened to gain traction the way fads tend to do.  Apparently, Promise Keepers is attempting a comeback now, and has given itself a new image.  It's like someone at the top of the organization suddenly realized the original concept was awfully offensive to a whole Hell of a lot of people in modern society.