Charlie the Christian Hamster

[headscratcher4]

http://www.netgeist.com/CTH/CTH_Home.html

It is the rodent revival raido network that give me chills....

[Marquis de Carabas]

Harvey could take 'im.

[headscratcher4]

as could either itchy or scratchy...not to mention those two "gay" Disney chipmucks....

[Gestahl]

Originally posted by Marquis de Carabas
Harvey could take 'im.

The Wonder Hamster owns you all...

[Palimpsest]

This... this is a parody site, right? Please tell me it's a parody.

:eek: :eek:

[jmercer]

Only one thing could improve Charlie the Hamster - becoming ROADKILL!
:D

[Mephisto]

"While Charlie the Hamster’s songs are easily mocked and often ridiculed by smug “sophisticates� and self-impressed “hepcats,� anyone who approaches the material with child-like innocence will reap eternal rewards."

Does anyone use the term "hepcat" anymore?

It's ironic to me that Charlie's material should be approached with child-like innocence . . . much the same as the dogma he espouses. Of course, child-like innocence means that in order to fully appreciate Christian Charlie, one has to sit and gawk at the miracle of a singing hamster. Hmmmm, where else can we find such requirements?

Mephisto
self-confessed hepcat & part-time smug sophisticate

[Ralph]

I don't think you can call yourself a "hepcat' unless you're wearing a zoot suit.

[Mephisto]

Originally posted by Ralph
I don't think you can call yourself a "hepcat' unless you're wearing a zoot suit.

I had one on when I wrote that. I later changed into a tux, which is why I'm only a part-time sophisticate. :)

Mephisto

[MLynn]

Quote:

"Charlie the Hamster records are, to the ears, what Jack T. Chick tracts are to the eyes: funny, innocuous witnessing tools with an unexpectedly powerful soul-saving impact. While Charlie the Hamster’s songs are easily mocked and often ridiculed by smug “sophisticates� and self-impressed “hepcats,� anyone who approaches the material with child-like innocence will reap eternal rewards."

Even I laughed when I read this. Naughty smug sophisticates...I've never heard of Charlie or his songs and I've had hamsters as pets; and, I'm a Xian. I just don't get out much. ;) Note that Chick gets an honorable mention.

[c4ts]

I'm a sophisticate who's hep to pep!

[Nova Land]

Originally posted by Mephisto

Does anyone use the term "hepcat" anymore?Yes. It is, for example, the title of Martin Wagner's excellent series. For those not familiar with it, here is a review and overview (http://www.flowerfire.com/seized/comics/hepcats/). Unfortunately, Hepcats has not come out for several years now, which is a shame. Some of us are still waiting for its continuation.originally posted by Palimpsest

This... this is a parody site, right? Please tell me it's a parody.Parody isn't exactly the word I'd use, but if you want reassurance this is not serious I'm happy to offer it. I'm a little surprised anyone would think otherwise. (The reference to Chick tracts as "funny, innocuous witnessing tools" is one of many tip-offs. I find it hard to imagine anyone, whether they're a fan or foe of Chick's tracts, writing that description with a straight face.)

"Charlie the Hamster" appears to be a genuine (although obscure) bit of 1970s christian children's music (http://www.roctober.com/roctober/chipmunks.html). But "Charlie the Hamster Evangelic Ministry" looks like a put-on by someone with fond childhood memories of the music who decided to write a humorous tribute to it.

The "Statement of Faith", "Call to Repentance", and "Christian Living" sections of the web site are straightforward religious bits. But these are short, easily copied from any number of sources, and called for no great effort to create, so they don't reveal much about the site's creator. In contrast, the bits of original writing on the site -- the Home page, FAQ, and White Paper -- all display a subtle and gentle humor which infuses almost every line.

This is not the same kind of biting humor as Landover Baptist. This looks more like an affectionate tribute to a bit of childhood silliness that "Comet der Geistmeister" enjoyed and still remembers.

But I seriously doubt that this is a serious attempt at a serious ministry. There is no merchandise for sale, the site refuses to accept monetary donations, and the page of links is empty. Getting alarmed over this would be similar to getting alarmed over Tinky-Wink or Spongebob Squarepants.

One additional comment: The "Charlie the Hamster" records are probably more fairly compared to some of the Spire comics (http://www.carpsplace.com/spire/spire.htm) of that same time period (which included christian versions of Archie intended for a similar audience) than to Chick tracts (which are neither light-hearted nor aimed mainly at children).

[Zep]

Spoof! Definitely a spoof! Sorry, but my skeptical red light came on almost immediately on this one.

"geistmeister"? Ghost master? Surely not...

[Palimpsest]

Parody isn't exactly the word I'd use, but if you want reassurance this is not serious I'm happy to offer it. I'm a little surprised anyone would think otherwise. (The reference to Chick tracts as "funny, innocuous witnessing tools" is one of many tip-offs. I find it hard to imagine anyone, whether they're a fan or foe of Chick's tracts, writing that description with a straight face.)


Oh, thank god (as it were). You're right, the Chick tract bit is a definite clue that it's not serious, as was the first FAQ (I mean, "sexually suggestive music of today’s secular rodent artists"?). But sometimes it's hard to tell the spoof sites from the serious ones.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Originally posted by Palimpsest
Oh, thank god (as it were). You're right, the Chick tract bit is a definite clue that it's not serious, as was the first FAQ (I mean, "sexually suggestive music of today’s secular rodent artists"?). But sometimes it's hard to tell the spoof sites from the serious ones.
I wonder if this is due more to the high quality of the spoof sites or the low quality of the serious sites.