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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Your Favorite Band’s Poster Design (circa 1992)…

posted by on March 5 at 10:45 AM

…and Pat Robertson’s theology (circa 1662).

supergeniuswind.jpg

Mars Hill—Mark Discroll’s gay hatin’, woman-dominatin’, rock-n-rollin’ church—is opening a new franchise this month. The poster promoting Mars Hill’s first services at their “downtown campus,” the site of a former a nightclub, are popping up around town. I spotted this one in the window of Super Genius Tattoo… right next door to the Wildrose, Seattle’s only lesbian bar.

Do the folks at Super Genius know what Mars Hill is about? Do they care?

RSS icon Comments

1

I thought Super Genius was Christian owned.

Posted by PGC | March 5, 2008 10:47 AM
2

Wildrose terrifies me.

Posted by Mr. Poe | March 5, 2008 10:49 AM
3

Don't women beaters typically have tatoos? I don't see a contradiction.

Posted by kinaidos | March 5, 2008 10:51 AM
4

I think we should coordinate a Stranger attendance party at Mars Hill. I'd go, I'd even be respectful while I sat there. But I think the presence of 50 or so gay-friendly Stranger types would be an interesting way to start their church.

Posted by Timothy | March 5, 2008 10:57 AM
5

Hey, that reminds me. Any news on the missing guy? (He is a member of Mars Hill)

Posted by Inquiring Minds | March 5, 2008 11:00 AM
6

@4, I am totally there! Bring the gay friendlies and us athiests too!!!

Posted by Andrew | March 5, 2008 11:02 AM
7

@4 Seriously let's do this!

Posted by Johnny | March 5, 2008 11:06 AM
8

some mars hill folks had a weekly bible study at super genius. not sure if it still happens.

Posted by megs | March 5, 2008 11:07 AM
9

@4 ~

I'll even show up without the hangover this time! :D

Posted by Phelix | March 5, 2008 11:08 AM
10

Jebus in sheep's clothing!

Posted by umvue | March 5, 2008 11:08 AM
11

That poster looks like a pack of cigarettes. So 'm gessin' their hawkin' cancer?

Posted by seattle98104 | March 5, 2008 11:16 AM
12

I'd never shop, eat or be tattoo'd in a place displaying a Mars Hill poster.

Posted by DOUG. | March 5, 2008 11:17 AM
13

OK, March 16th! 10 a.m. or 6 p.m.?

Posted by Levislade | March 5, 2008 11:19 AM
14

Maybe Super Genius is less discriminatory than you, Dan.

Posted by Dan Ravaged | March 5, 2008 11:29 AM
15

Super Genius is Christian owned. they close early a day a week to have bible study in the shop. That is not a joke. tattooed people can be religious too.

Posted by rikki | March 5, 2008 11:34 AM
16

makes sense. organized religion is like a big, ugly tattoo of the mind.

Posted by michael strangeways | March 5, 2008 11:41 AM
17

Ow! Fuck, I've gotten two tats from SG in the past three years, and not known that.

Guess, I'll be shopping around for a new inker...

Posted by COMTE | March 5, 2008 11:41 AM
18

I always assume that tattooed people are MORE likely to be Christian nutjobs.

Posted by Fnarf | March 5, 2008 11:42 AM
19

I agree with Fnarf @18.

That said many shop owners put up local events posters in their windows if someone nicely asks them to do it. I doubt they thought about it for longer than about 10 seconds ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 5, 2008 11:44 AM
20

Seriously? You'd stop patronizing a place just because you find out parenthetically that the owners are Christians? That's pretty extreme. If they were giving you good work before, I'm sure that won't change just because you now know they're Christians.

It's shit like that providing fuel for the "Oh, we're persecuted" fire in modern Christianity.

Posted by Katelyn | March 5, 2008 11:48 AM
21

@19 - I hear you. I've put up flyers for rock shows and political events in the past in shops that didn't really care what was on the flyer as long as I asked nicely. But if SG is Christian-owned, I have to assume they know what Mars Hill Church is and at least some of what it stands for.

Posted by Hernandez | March 5, 2008 11:48 AM
22

Why do these Christians hate Leviticus 19:28 so much?

Posted by Postureduck | March 5, 2008 11:48 AM
23

@4, so are we going to the 10 or 6 showing? And guys bring your BF's and MAKE OUT IN THE PEWS!!!!

and remember your rubbers

Posted by Andrew | March 5, 2008 11:59 AM
24

There's a world of difference between your average Joe Christian and the hate-peddling, fundie, American Talibani Mars Hill types. Unfortunately, the fundies taint ALL Christians. Just like the fact that not all Germans were Nazis and not all blacks are lazy crackheads and not all gays are limp wristed hairdressers cruising high school parking lots or airport restrooms, not all Christians are bigoted jerks.

Sadly, the rotten stereotypical apples in ANY demographic group can fuck things up for the majority of the "normal" folks who make up the demographic group.

And, no, I wouldn't willingly or knowingly patronize a store or business that supports a hate-peddling church or any other bigoted organization.

Posted by michael strangeways | March 5, 2008 12:08 PM
25

@20 I think the point isn't as much about them being Christians but more about them being sexist. Most people know not all Christians are sexist bigots.

Posted by Todd | March 5, 2008 12:16 PM
26

@24, are you sure about blacks? I mean really have you read the stuff by Chaz?

Posted by Huh? | March 5, 2008 12:17 PM
27

#20:

It's clearly not about boycotting Christians (an impossible proposal, for the most part). It's more about boycotting proponents of hatred and bigotry, and refusing to accept religion as an excuse for hatred and bigotry.

Posted by Raphael | March 5, 2008 12:31 PM
28

I'm not making any excuses for the bigotry and hatred that comes out of Mars Hill Church... just reminding people to make the distinction in their minds between saying no to the ickiness that is Mars Hill's attitude towards gays and women and saying no to the whole faith of the owners of Super Genius. It sounded to me like some of you were alarmed that the place was owned by Christians, no matter what stripe.

Posted by Katelyn | March 5, 2008 12:39 PM
29

@20:

If SGT tolerates and supports the activities of a church that actively seeks to deny my friends and colleagues basic civil rights, that promotes a belief-system that calls them "sinful" and "evil", and tells them they're going to Hell just because they happen to love someone other than whom that church deems acceptible -

- then you're Goddamned right I'm going to boycott them!

SGT is free to choose - they can either support such activites and beliefs, or, they can forego my patronage. If that makes them feel persecuted, then boo-fucking-hoo for them.

Posted by COMTE | March 5, 2008 12:49 PM
30

Do I hear 6pm???

Posted by Jerod | March 5, 2008 1:36 PM
31

@29. well -- and i am being serious -- you don't really know how SGT feels. maybe you should stop by, or write them a letter. they might remove the sign; maybe they didn't know. or at least do the good of making them aware of your boycott.

if i truly liked a place, and they did something like that which made me want to boycott them, i would let them know.

"hey, i saw a poster for mars hill church in your window. although i've been tattooed at your parlor twice, i cannot continue to frequent an establishment that promotes the type of christianity that discriminates against women and homosexuals. if was a mistake, i'd love to see the sign come down, or at least a counter poster supporting equal rights and treatment for all. otherwise, i feel you are distancing yourself from this community despite having a storefront in the middle of it."

Posted by infrequent | March 5, 2008 1:56 PM
32

@28:

It's not that I really have a problem with Christians believing what they believe. However when they decide that the invisible superhero they worship wants them to come mess with my life, I have no problem treating them poorly in the standard passive-aggressive, Seattlite way.


It's the same as not going back to a store whose proprietor supports KKK rallies. Would you shop at a store that had a Klan rally poster in the window?

Posted by Scalpel | March 5, 2008 2:03 PM
33

@32 Mars Hill has never, ever led a lynching party. Don't exaggerate.

And being passive-aggressive won't help anything change! Go tell the tattoo place how you feel and why, then go to the 6pm service at Mars Hill on whatever date with your boyfriend and make out in the pews during the sermon. At least you won't be sitting in your computer chair, feeling powerless.

Posted by Katelyn | March 5, 2008 2:20 PM
34

@33:

Oh, so verbal harassment of gays is okay, as is inciting violence towards them, as long as we don't actually lynch them. I believe many KKK branches would also claim that they have never been directly implicated in violence towards minorities. In my mind, encouraging bigotry and violence, whether it's towards blacks, women, Jews, men, gays, whites, lesbians, children etc. is wrong. And it's plenty wrong enough for me to shop elsewhere.

Posted by Scalpel | March 5, 2008 3:24 PM
35

It is time to make a band called Mars Hill Haters...or something along those lines.

Posted by wah | March 5, 2008 3:31 PM
36

Infrequent,

I absolutely agree that's a sensible course of action, and I'll probably give it a shot.

Still, given the notariety of Mars Hill, and the press coverage it's received in the past year or so, it seems like a pretty long stretch for anyone, especially within the Capitol Hill neighborhood, to plead ignorance of their beliefs, teachings, or activities.

Posted by COMTE | March 5, 2008 4:27 PM
37

comte, you are probably right about that -- they are likely without excuse. still, i hope you do send a little note.

Posted by infrequent | March 5, 2008 4:54 PM
38

@34 Mars Hill doesn't incite violence against gays and lesbians. They do teach that homosexuality is a sin against God's natural order and that sinners, unless they repent and change their ways, are going to end up in hell when they die. That's NOT the same as saying, "go lynch them." It's absolutely not the same thing.

However, if you have an example of a "go lynch them" kind of comment, or ANY evidence at all of a Mars Hill authority figure inciting violence towards gays, lesbians, or women, I would love to hear it. Their theology is already atrocious -- if they really ARE inciting violence, as you say, then I'll make it my mission to get them shut down.

Posted by Katelyn | March 5, 2008 4:56 PM
39

The mention of the MH Bible study group that gathers at SGT already implies this, but the owner of the place is indeed a member of that church.

Posted by zg | March 5, 2008 6:42 PM
40

@22: You don't seem to understand how to read the Bible. It's all literally true, but the proscription against tattooing in Leviticus 19:28 only applies to OTHER people. All the bad stuff about fags stands. Now don't bother us any more with your silly questions.

Posted by selective | March 5, 2008 6:58 PM
41

Yeah, how does the owner of Super Genius reconcile his views with Leviticus 19:28?

Posted by Paulus | March 5, 2008 7:59 PM
42

Correction for comment 15. I work at supergenius tattoo. we do not close early for bible study. bible study starts after we close. the owner and other friends of his attend. no other members normally attend. occasionally our jewish tattooer, suzy attends however. nobody aside from damon, the owner, is christian. i would say that we are fairly open minded and so is damon. damon attends mars hill, and it is no surprise that that poster would be in the window. we are expected to be open minded toward gay and lesbian culture, but you dan, don't feel you should be open minded toward religious culture. none of us care that damon is christian, or what he believes, and he feels the same toward us. have you ever attend mars hill, dan? if so then i take you all wrong. one thing i do know is that many of my friends attend the church, and they are incredibly open minded. i know this because they are still my friends even though i hate Jesus. and by the way, i make gay jokes all time. its fun.

Posted by Ryan Rogers | March 8, 2008 7:17 PM
43

Correction for comment 15. I work at supergenius tattoo. we do not close early for bible study. bible study starts after we close. the owner and other friends of his attend. no other members normally attend. occasionally our jewish tattooer, suzy attends however. nobody aside from damon, the owner, is christian. i would say that we are fairly open minded and so is damon. damon attends mars hill, and it is no surprise that that poster would be in the window. we are expected to be open minded toward gay and lesbian culture, but you dan, don't feel you should be open minded toward religious culture. none of us care that damon is christian, or what he believes, and he feels the same toward us. have you ever attend mars hill, dan? if so then i take you all wrong. one thing i do know is that many of my friends attend the church, and they are incredibly open minded. i know this because they are still my friends even though i hate Jesus. and by the way, i make gay jokes all time. its fun.

Posted by Ryan Rogers | March 8, 2008 7:18 PM
44

hi I'm the owner of supergenius tattoo. I'm a member of mars hill church. i've been operating this business here for 5 years and I love the diversity of this neighbor hood. I've never assumed that every person here likes me and I've always been too busy being an art geek to loose sleep over it. we provide great tattoos and usually some humorous conversation. it has never bothered me that the stranger hates my church even though I get along very well with the people I know who work there. when I was young I was a very angry christian hater and I have said things very similar to much of what's printed here, so I certainly deserve to be slighted. I can however reassure you that mars hill has never preached any kind of hate. there are many more eminent and dangerous worries than religion threatening capital hill. we can all get along and for the most part we do and a few angry people can't stop the majority of us from getting along. I'm available for questioning at supergenius tattoo mon. through thur. 1 - 7 pm and off and on during the weekend I can answer any questions whenever you like.
thanks

Posted by damon | March 8, 2008 7:59 PM
45

Hey, I'm also an employee and I just wanted to say that the clientele as well as the staff at Supergenius is diverse. A number of the things stated so far in this blog have been false generalizations. Like Damon offered to answer any questions, I also wanted to let anyone know that they can give the shop a call seven days a week from noon-10pm. Someone should always answer the phone, or if by some off chance they don't, go ahead and leave a message with your name and number, or just try again in a few minutes. The shop number can be found on the website; http://www.supergeniustattoo.com.

-Nyx

Posted by Nyx | March 8, 2008 9:41 PM
46

SuperGenius has great tattoo artists that do great work...why would you care about the poster in the window? I mean seriously? Get a grip you guys, they have freedom of speach just as much as you do.

Posted by SeattleChic | March 8, 2008 11:36 PM
47

too the posters on this blog, instead of just assuming, maybe you could have just walked into SGT and asked. It would have saved everyone a lot of typing. Ignorance and assumption are the root of way too much hatred already, aren't you all just doing the same thing by bad mouthing Super Genius before you even know the real story? Come on, get a life, there are far more worse things happening in this world. I would suggest you spend as much energy actually speaking to Damon, the owner, as you spent spewing your unfounded assumptions and get to know him. He is an amazing person and very much worth the time. Maybe you'll even learn something.
Cheers SGT.

Posted by tat2dgurlnj | March 9, 2008 7:55 AM
48

Funny how you Stranger types are so heavy on tolerance and open mindedness just so long as what the people are saying doesnt disagree with what you believe. I bet not a single person talking about how Mars Hill preaches gay hate has actually attended a service there. Does Mark believe homosexuality is a sin? Sure, they believe the bible, and its very clear about the intentions and nature of sexuality. We also dont single it out like the "god hates fags" guys that have recieved so much great press recently. We believe homosexuality is no better or worse than sleeping with your girlfriend outside of marriage or any other type of inversion of God's intentions for us. We believe if a homosexual goes to hell it will be for their rejection of Christ and his love, not because of who they sleep with. I sleep with my girlfriend an am the first to admit that im a total hypocrite. We also dont believe that God and his laws exist to make us feel better all the time. God made us in his image and alot of people spend far too much time trying to make God in theirs. Do I like everything the bible says?Hell no! But I know deep down that its true and if I dont like it the problem is with me, not with what the book says. These days everyone just invents any damn belief system they want to to suit their little safe world and thats not what we do at mars hill. I dont agree with every word that comes out of Mark Driscoll's mouth, or at least the way he says some of the things he says but I think hes bringing alot of people to Jesus in a city where its certainly cool to be just about anything you can imagine except for a Christian.

Posted by Jamie | March 9, 2008 11:31 AM
49

i find it interesting that a group of people would actually take the time and effort to organize a protest against mars hill's supposed ''gay hating'' beliefs and practices. seriously, you guys? going to the church and making out with your significant other during the service? that seems a little hypocritical to me, seeing as though you are all about tolerance and respect for others' beliefs and practices...and that seems pretty disrespectful to me. as far as i know, no mars hill members have ''actively'' persecuted gays or any other minority group- including private persecution as well as showing up at openly gay establishments and verbally harassing patrons, etc. at least, i sure haven't heard of any.

Posted by emma | March 9, 2008 11:50 AM
50

Standing with you!

Your sister at A n t i o c h

Posted by Wow | March 9, 2008 2:11 PM
51

A friend of mine put it really well. The way that the majority of people from Mars Hill are, well it's like.... I'm going to Heaven, you're going to Hell, but whatev, we can kick it til then... Super chill, you know? No persecuting, no lynching, no disrespect, Why worry so much about someone else's life when they've got to worry about they're own?

Posted by OMGJC | March 9, 2008 2:50 PM
52

In response to comments 40 and 41:

1. Leviticus is an Old Testament book of laws and customs written for a group of priests known as the Levites. It was never meant to apply to Christians in general. If it did, Christians wouldn't be able to shave or wear poly-cotton blended clothing either.

2. Romans 10:4 says: "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." Simply put, that means all of the Old Testament Laws no longer applied to anyone (including the Levites) after the birth of Jesus. It also means the only requirement for salvation is faith in him.

Posted by Dean | March 9, 2008 4:47 PM

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