History Quiz: What Were Really Big Sins Before Abortion and Homosexuality
The article was appropriate here in Iowa because one of the greatest preachers of all time, a leading warrior against sin, was from Iowa. That was the preacher who brought of record crowds at that time, Rev. Billy Sunday. He was from the small city of Nevada, about 30 minutes from where I live.
Sunday made a good living preaching against the most sinful activity of the 1910's to 1920's, dancing. The tango, he said, is "the rottenest, lowest down, vilest, filthiest and most corrupting dance ever invented." He understood why people are moral failures. "Three-fourths of all the fallen women fell as the result of dance."
Dancing was so evil cities and towns passed ordinances against it. The most sinful had names in these prohibition laws, "grizzly bear," "shimmy" and "bunny hug." Sometimes the laws were against more general categories of dancing like the "shimmy" and "wiggle dances." Also in the ordinances were words like "illicit dancing" and the "toddle."
During the decades of the 10's, 20's 30's and 40's other sins came and went. There was the prohibition against alcohol. Card playing, working in the fields on Sunday and movies came and went. I'm so old most of these sins were still preached against in my childhood.
When the shelf life of these sins expired, some kind of sins had to replace them. These replacements are homosexuality and abortion. When these finally expire there will be new ones.
What being a sin? Looks like being from Iowa.
ReplyDeleteThe 2 biggest sins are the sins against the 2 greatest commandments. They always will be and have always been the 2 greatest sins.
ReplyDelete1. Love God.
2. Love Your Neighbor.
Exempting religious organizations from paying taxes. They expect everyone else to pay for the public services like water, sewers, property taxes, streets and roads, and on and on so they can exist.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn’t for sin ... .
ReplyDeleteI try to envision an America where throughout it’s existence the Decalogue was severely enforced. It seems impossible to enforce its tenets without violating them. Doing a gods work gets ungodly. If the enforcers were Christian would America look like Gloriavale, New Zealand by now?
I was on the way when my loving parents were formally married. First born of a wounded warrior and a beautiful woman with auburn hair. Call her fallen and you will get yours. So I’m grateful for automobiles, the Dorsey brothers, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, the Count, the Duke, and dance. In my case Billy Sunday’s example of sin was a blessing. Furthermore the shelf life of the “Original Sin” expired for me as a teen and to the directive “Love God” I can honestly reply “Which one?”.
Arby B--Thanks for that wonderful post.
DeleteFinding a way to sin is harder today than it was back in Billy Sunday's day. People enjoyed sinning then as they do now but trying to locate it is not as easy.
Back then you could just invite friends over, pull down the shades and dance the shimmy. When prohibition came along you could find a speakeasy of buy wine from your priest--he had plenty. Fun from sin was right their in front of you.
All the sins are gone. Now it's down to having an abortion or being gay. Wait, one can still be an atheists--that's a sin and lots of fun. :)
Jon Lindgren March 23, 2020 @ 8:44 AM
Delete“ pull down the shades and dance”
Ah yes, “Silhouettes on the Shade”.
correction: " all THOSE sins are gone." (I was in a hurry. The internet is sluggish--to many people just passing the time.)
ReplyDeletesins? how about mocking your Christian neighbors?
ReplyDeleteFYI. suggested read. Science, 29 August 2019 edition.
ReplyDelete