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Laughing with Evangelicals

Joel Kilpatrick of LarkNews.com satirizes only the ones he loves.

Joel Kilpatrick, a 1995 graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, is not as readily recognized as other alumni such as Patrick J. Buchanan, Howard Fineman, or Steve Kroft. But his satirical LarkNews.com has a devoted fan base that includes evangelical and mainline pastors, an editor for the satirical newspaper The Onion, and musical satirist and filmmaker Steve Taylor.

What keeps fans coming back for each month's fresh material is a wit so sharp that, as with The Onion, people sometimes mistake its satirical stories for real news. In February 2003, for example, Kilpatrick made up an item that Zondervan would publish a gay-friendly version of its New International Version of the Bible. Like many gay advocates within churches, the theoretical gNIV assumed that Jonathan and David were lovers. Enough people sent in horrified e-mails that Zondervan issued a statement calling the report "a sick joke."

Meanwhile, homeschooling bloggers fell for "Harvard forcing homeschoolers to 'Fit In,'" which played off of stereotypes that such students need more social skills. And Christian radio stations were duped by "Wal-Mart rejects 'racy' worship cd": "The latest Vineyard Music worship cd, 'Intimacy, vol. 2,' has raced to the top of the Christian sales charts, but Wal-Mart is refusing to stock the album without slapping on a parental warning sticker. The groundbreaking—some say risqué—album includes edgy worship songs such as 'My Lover, My God.'"

Ron Poarch, pastor of Grace Reformation Church in Woodland, California, admits that he too was tricked when he discovered LarkNews, and he quickly became a fan. Poarch says he and about eight church members visit the site together at the end of Bible studies ...

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Comments

Displaying 1–3 of 12 comments

psailhamer

January 16, 2008  1:58pm

pastor john...your grammatical point is well taken...but remember i'm the guy who mispelled "wittenburg".

Rev John

January 16, 2008  9:18am

Paul Sailhammer....I appreciate your correction of the historical record re: the Wittenberg Door. Now I'd like to correct your grammar. In your sentence "Gary and myself" you are not supposed to use reflexive pronoun "myself" rather you are to say "me" ...

Pastor J

January 15, 2008  8:43am

I had not had the opportunity to read any satire web sites until I clicked on the Christianity Today poll and thought "maybe I should see what this is all about". After seeing the poll results, I read The Holy Observer. I wish I hadn't. I am so saddened to see that anyone thinks it is funny to paint a big sign and hold it over Christians heads that says "look how stupid Christians are!" I think it just gives credence to those who already think we are stupid and hurts the chance we have at spreading the Truth. I think it does come across as “mean-spirited”. I am very disappointed in all who think it is funny. With friends like this... who needs enemies? Now, having said that… I also went to Lark News and found it to be funny. I have been trying to put my finger on the difference between the two and fall short of figuring it out. One is mean, the other is funny. I suppose it is a very fine line to travel and it takes real talent to know the difference.

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