Heading to Somewhere Else

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

(Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 6)

Eight years ago I started down a road out marked “Out of Here.” Today I’m sitting looking at another sign named “Somewhere Else.” I think it’s better here. Time will tell.

Those eight years since SFL started have brought us 2,075 posts, 12 million visits, and almost 150,000 comments. A lot has happened in that time and we’ve experienced it together.

Yet with all the words written and replied, fundamentalism is not dead — mostly because fundamentalism will never die as long as human beings are what they are. Pride, fear, and greed are the ingredients we all carry with us; fundamentalism just has its own family recipe for the way they mix and serve them.

When Stuff Fundies Like started began to gain popularity about six years ago I told myself that every anniversary I would take stock of my personal motivations and the reasons I kept writing. Today as I sit here I can honestly say that the reasons are all gone.

I haven’t darkened the door of a fundamentalist church (or many other churches) in years. For me, my fundamentalist past has become a fixed point in time, a place I can’t ever really go back to because my personal story has changed and the fundamentalism I knew has changed. The old names and faces have started to fade away even while the methods remain.

The Independent Baptist movement is a shell of its former self. The winds of change are blowing and although you’ll always find IFB churches hiding in the hills and hollers of this land they’re quickly becoming a cultural oddity. Someday they’ll be spoken of in the same breath as the Shakers, Amish, and other breakaway sects who stood still while time marched on.

As for me, I’m continuing my journey to Somewhere Else which means moving on from here. The SFL archives will remain but (unless something unforeseen occurs) this will be my last post here.

The Facebook page and Twitter account will stay live so that I can keep touch with you all if BIG NEWS breaks out in fundyland.

You can also reach me over at darrelldow.com or my writer’s page where I’ve been doing some writing on other topics.

The forum will stay active for as long as I can afford the hosting. If you want to register just drop me a line.

I’m also toying with the idea of compiling a Best Of SFL book with my original pieces in it. If you’d be interested in such a thing let me know.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the time to thank so very many people who have supported, contributed, encouraged, chided, goaded, and otherwise made this blogging experiment one of the best experiences of my life. SFL took me halfway around the world. It reconnected me with faces I’d all but forgotten. It has brought me so many new friends that time would fail to name them all.

I love you all. I wish you joy.

I’ll leave you with this song that I recently fell in love with that gives a wish that seem so very appropriate for those who’s roads are taking them from Back There past my resting spot on the way to Somewhere Else. “I hope life without a chaperon is what you thought it’d be…and that all your favorite bands stay together.”

1,239 thoughts on “Heading to Somewhere Else”

  1. I’d like to thank the other people for posting so many times.

    And now I’m 1001st.

    1. I guess you’ll have to find another thread and resurrect it. Nothing wrong with necromancing on a blog. Just repent of your bitterness first.

    1. Good, better, best –
      Never let it rest,
      Til the good is better
      And the better best.

    2. Leo, you’re just bitter because you didn’t make 1,000th or 1,001st.

      1. No worries. I can wait until 10000. Then I will get me a faster internet connection and stare at the screen for hours, having practiced my fast-posting technique during the preceding weeks… then we’ll see who’s bitter. And who’s better. And who’s better at being bitter.

      1. Do we want to know what Dr Fundystan dreams about? After all, he’s an insanely busy proctologist.

  2. What you ill-advised persons don’t know is that I’m set up for #2,000. So enjoy your feeble glory while you can!

    🙂

    B.R.1

      1. It appears, semp, you are now last.

        And, yes, it must be the latest thing since I personally have nothing else to do with my life.

        B.R.1

  3. P.S.

    Does anyone know how I can get rid of this all blue format in the forum?

    B.R.1

    P.S.S. Lady Semp, you are still last. Congratulations.

      1. Indeed you are. I am happy for you. Speaking of being last, would you happen to know how to restore my forum format?

        1. Did you break it again?

          When nasty Windows 10 does its automatic updates and shuts down my browser, I have to go to the forum page and change the default to my preferred display. If this is the issue you’re talking about, it’s at the bottom of the page on the right. You have a few choices – “Apart 1” or some such thing is the way it used to appear.

          Old paths …

  4. This has been brought up before, but when are we finally going to get an SFL reunion? There are a lot of foreign nationals who are fans of this site, but maybe an event like this would be feasible if the meeting place were reasonably close to the center of the country– I was thinking Fort Worth, Austin, or maybe even San Antonio. Joking aside, if someone with more organizational ability than myself could arrange such a gathering, I’d make an effort to attend.

    1. Thanks for stopping by Bob. No doubt your thoughtful and thought provoking insight will encourage many of us to strive to be better people.

      1. If nothing else it at least boosts the count and we will make 2,000 on this post that much sooner.

        I don’t understand why the fundies don’t separate from us. I mean, we are all the ungidly heathinz now, so just being here is against that verse in Corinthians. Posting is even worse, because that’s like touching us. Then there’s the appearance of evil that they aren’t avoiding by coming here.

        1. Wait a minute! I’m a lurker with a fake name!

          (pours the mid-grade bourbon into a diet Pepsi bottle so as to conceal said adult beverage from prying eyes for future consumption in the linen closet).

          I feel cheap.

        2. Further (as I get closer to my #2,000 goal), I’m still having problems getting back to the original forum format. There are no options on the bottom of the forum page. That disappeared along with the shout out box.

          B.R.1

        3. BRO, you obviously have a secret sin. Though maybe not secret anymore, given that you just outed yourself about your bourbon.

          I can’t help you on the forum format, other than maybe you should go to the old-fashioned altar and confess your sins. Rededicate your life to gid.

          But seriously, what browser do you use? Are you on a phone/tablet/laptop/desktop? I don’t know if any of those things matter but I use a laptop. As bad as Chrome is, it’s the one I use most and I don’t have trouble with it in getting to the holy version of the forum page.

        4. I.L.S,

          I deny any wrong doing. The bourbon analogy was strictly hypothetical meant to garner a red herring response. It looks like I succeeded! Mwaahahahahah!

          Speaking of google chrome,

          Yes, I use chrome on a desktop. I was playing around with the options when, “Wham!” this blue, simpler, format appeared hurling me into a state of deep depression with no apparent way out. No options. I haven’t thought of trying my phone or tablet or laptop or work computer (no, won’t happen).

          Looks like I’m going to have to reformat my computer for this very purpose. Hey, wait! I wonder if I could go back to an earlier backup point?

        5. I would try the earlier backup point. I did something like that once to recover the unrecoverable just using my browser history.

        6. I tried a different browser and it worked. Can’t use chrome anymore it seems if I want to lurk the shoutbox.

        7. Gee whiz, Lady Semp! Now that you put it that way, I guess we’re nothing but an on-line leper colony. The Fundies ought to distance themselves from us for the sake of their own spiritual health.

    2. I’m more of a hemorrhoid. I irritate assholes.

      (I saw that on a meme, and it was so true that I adopted it)

      Oh and I’ve been lurking, too. Or stalking. However you want to look at it.

        1. Good to see you, too, Doll! Actually, I stop in and see you from time to time, but you NEVER know I’m here. *insert maniacal laugh*

        2. They’re all gone. I destroyed them all in a mad outrage. We were out of truffles and Moscato, and I was PMSing.

  5. Allrighty then. I logged in on the other browser and , voila! back to the blue forum page. It seems the setting is forever associated with my account.

    I have so many words I want to proclaim.

    B.R.1

    PS. Getting closer to 2.000

    1. BRO, have you tried deleting your cookies?

      When you get to the right format, don’t shut down your browser if you’re in private mode. Of course, Win 10 will change all your settings with its stupid mandatory updates, so you will deal with this occasionally no matter what.

      Maybe your computer needs the bourbon. Or maybe you’re using the cheap stuff.

      1. I’ll figure this out, I guess. Windows 10 has dismantled 20 years of programming. I can’t find squat. When I first installed Windows 10 I hated it. I reverted back to Windows 7 only to find that within two days Windows had automatically re-installed Windows 10 which made it impossible to go back to Windows 7. So, how to I get back to Windows 95 and who really shot Kennedy?

        B.R.1

    1. I wonder if there’s a limit to the comments? If Darrell ever takes the site down fully, I’m sure we’ll find somewhere else to convene. I hope so. I lurk mostly, but love to stop in and read the comments.

  6. A long time ago this site would have appealed to me because I enjoyed toying with hubris when it appeared. I’ve read some highly entertaining pieces and comments.

    In the end, some wounded people aired out their dirty laundry before the world and left out the vast good that was done. Oh, you were made to feel bad you wore a pink shirt instead of a white shirt? You were shocked that preachers who tried eventually failed because they were made of the same flesh as you?

    The place of healing is at the foot of the cross. You all should be ashamed you aired your grievances, some genuine, before the world. Speaking the truth is nothing if not done in love and you opted to wound the cause of Christ before the world because you were wounded.

    This site reminds me of the preacher who invited a town person to come to church. ” I’ll never go to that church- it’s full of hypocrites!” The preacher responded, “Well, come on by then- we always have room for one more”

    I have seen the hand of God work miraculously too often to let the bitter experiences of some dissuade me from making a difference within.

    When you take your eyes off God and look at man you will wind up jaded like every bitter though albeit funny username on this site.

    1. You should be ashamed for thinking you know if some of our grievances are not genuine. You are not god. You don’t know anything about any of us. You are not in the place to judge anything about our grievances. Doing so places you on the same level as god – making yourself into god – and last I checked, that was verboten.

      Bless your heart, dear one.

    2. Zola, you must be the same guy I knew 20 years ago. I like your post… I have a similar disdain for such shameless airing of dirty laundry, in such contrast to Phil 4:8. Look me up if you want to catch up. – Roman @ MBC

  7. BigRed, I’m going to guess your real friends wouldn’t encourage your obvious alcoholism- ain’ no joke. Lady Semp, I’m going to guess a long time ago you had genuine grievances but since then your bitterness is all your own. Darrell, you are truly hilarious and quick with quill- I pray for you to heal nicely and get back on the firing line. Much love.

    1. Oh, look. There you go playing god. Saying that a long time ago I had “genuine grievances”. You’re so cute! Bless your heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I say that in all genuineness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly, bless your heart.

      When did your god go on vacation and make you the holy spirit version 2.0? You know nothing about me, sweetie. Bless your heart.

      Thanks for showing your genuine concern for me. If you genuinely love me and want to show that, how about you buy me a 2017 vehicle and pay for my health insurance? Again, bless your heart, sweetie. And I do mean it.

    2. Never did get that 2017 vehicle from you, brother. Were you saving up for a 2018 version for me?

      Who knows, showering me with many worldly goods just might bring back into the fold.

      1. It’s almost time for the 2019 automobiles to come out. Bless Zola’s heart, he/she still didn’t get me a new vehicle. I’m offended now, and a person offended is harder to be won than a strong city.

  8. I just found this site when doing research on Jonathan Crosby from SC. May all of you find peace and receive many blessings. I wish you all of the best, and thank you for your posts.

    Tony

    1. Tell me about Jonathan Crosby please. He has done some really good teachings on some historical stuff from the bible. But he has this really bizarre attitude about women. The kind where they are not to speak and to walk 10 feet behind with their heads down. He always talks to and refers to the young men in his sermons, completely leaving women out. ajc

  9. I came here with the intent of posting something witty, but then I couldn’t think of anything.

    Here I sit, all broken-hearted…

    Dangit, I miss this site.

    1. So was it you who just done farted?

      Maybe it wasn’t all that witty, but that’s the company I keep.

  10. The number of comments has been 1066 for a few days now.

    We’ve been studying The Battle of Hastings and feudalism the past week at my house. 1066 is the year that The Battle of Hastings occurred, and feudalism has many similarities to the IFB system IMO.

    So, with that in mind, I figured it was time to move on to 1067.

  11. George is back it seems. I tried to post some observations twice, but with not evidence here they posted. My guess is the duplicate posts will show up and I’ll look like a flaming idiot.

    I’m leaving the room now.

  12. Ok, I’ve figured out a solution to my problem: Post a new thread in the forum since for some unknown reason I cannot post it here. So this is what I’ve done.

    This is post 1,076, which is the last post…until it isn’t.

    B.R.1

  13. I’ve decided not to post again and take the glory from another, since this is a foolhardy venture.

    B.R.1

  14. Kids will be dressing up for Halloween this year and trick-or-treating, for the first time ever. We’re all so excited! And they have the most awesome costumes ever!

      1. Hey Natalie – You forget your bra at my place last night. What do you want me to do with it?

        🙂

    1. A shot of adrenaline in the chest and still no pulse? Does Dr. Fundystan have authorization to call time of death?

  15. Oh, we’re back at this again. I refuse to play along with such nonsense about who’s first and last.

    BTW, I’m last.

    1. That you are, Natalie, that you are.

      And I’m 1,100.

      Since there are some here who have no life, we are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of Darrell’s dearly departing. We should have a posting contest on that day. Let’s pass the word around.

      B.R.1

      1. Oh. I hadn’t thought about that.
        I guess I was too busy trying not to get that creepy song from “Thief in the Night” stuck in my head…

        “It’s too late to change your mind, the son has come and you’ve been left behind.”

  16. (pokes head into room, looks around and , seeing no one, promptly turns out the light and shuts the door)

    -sigh-

        1. Oooohhh, the things that happen behind the white piano. But, we don’t want to alert the authorities, so I won’t digress.

  17. @JTR, please leave. Your comments are counter-productive to the purpose of this site. If there were a website loaded with content bashing realistic-minded, stable, sane individuals I would most likely stay away from it. Do everyone a favor and have that same courtesy for us. Goodbye.

    1. Darrell had his own reasons for starting this site, but for me it almost served the purpose of the pub where everyone knows your fake name. It was a place to listen to intelligent conversation, sometimes engage in friendly arguments, occasionally rant, and generally hang out with friends. All the best to you and yours this Christmas season, BRO.

      1. My comment was a copy and paste from the very beginning when the JTR fellow was trolling. I was bored, so I thought I would do a little throw back trolling of my own.. 😉

  18. I’m glad to see a few old friends are still puttering around at SFL. Merry Christmas all!
    the Admiral

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