My name is Gabe Taviano – personal site is over at http://www.taviano.com

Thanks for asking, and I'll definitely listen through more of your podcasts. I don't intend to build a wall between us, just trying to understand why it is you do what you do, or maybe even challenge each other on things that actually matter in life. Have a great weekend!

Tony

The only thing I can say is that you are doing something much different than podcasters who are also followers of Christ are doing. As a follower of Christ it is my desire than people come to know Him and what He did for them as we celebrate that this weekend. Using the relationship we have with God is as serious of a matter in life as their can be.

I strongly believe that followers of Christ can be great comedians, and even joke about things in a clean way. Life is made to be enjoyable, but I just don't think at the expense of using what the Lord has done for us in a joking manner just to get the point across that using a PC is like going to hell.

My walk with the Lord is the most important thing in my life, even above my relationship with my spouse. My first guess would be that those who do not have a relationship with Christ might really find your irony interesting, while those of us that do find it to be maybe sac-religious. You really are walking a very thin line when trying to make light of salvation just to prove the greatness of Apple computers.

Hi. Tony/Dr. Bobby here. I wanted to take a moment to respond to your posts. I feel that some clarification is necessary.

Though it may not seem so, (and though you may not believe me) I actually have great respect for everyone's personal choice in faith, what ever it may be. Before I started “The Church of Mac”, I approached several Christian Mac users and friends to ask them what they thought. Overwhelmingly, they thought that TCOM was funny, but had reservevations but about it's implications. But when I explained what I was trying to do, all were cool with it.

Dennis, when I refer to salvation, I am referring to salvation of your “digital life”, not your spiritual life. When one does not choose Apple as their personal computing platform, the alternative is “Hell”, i.e., Windows. Surely I am not the first person to use the phrase 'being in Windows Hell”.

I know that I walk a fine line in what I do. But, that line is there and I try not to cross it. That is why there are certain words that Dr. Bobby will never use: Jesus, Christ, Bible, Christian (or, for that matter, Jehovah or Mohammed), Holy Spirit (which is why Mac OS X is the “Mighty Spirit”) or anything else that I think might be considered a blaspheme.

I recognize that we live in a Christian country. For comedy to work, there must be a cultural common denominator, something that everyone listening can relate to. That's why, Dennis, I don't make fun of Islam or the Koran. So, TCOM does rely on the religious touch points that my audience can relate to and couches itself in them. Dr. Bobby is an amalgam of many religious leaders, especially those in the media spotlight. If Dr. Bobby is a parody, it is of them, not the personal beliefs of those who follow them.

Not long after I first posted my podcasts, I received an email from a woman in Hawaii. She wrote:

“Looks like great fun! I sincerely do appreciate your invitation. I am as rabid a Mac enthusiast as they come.

I also realize that your “Church of Mac” is as real a church as the jackalope is a real animal, just playing fun with the idea of Mac devotion. In fact, I well understand the Biblical references on your site.

However, even though I know it's all for fun, I prefer to avoid the idea association of being a Mac user to the idea of belonging to a cult or a religion. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses who adheres strictly to the two greatest commandments, especially the first:

Jesus answered: “The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.’
(Mark 22:28-31; Exodus 20:1-6)

I have an acute sense of humor, and I am perfectly capable of understanding the difference between real worship and the parody you are having fun with. There are, however, enough people in the world who take the “cult of Mac” or the religion of Mac a bit more seriously, enough to make sure that you give them no reason for stumbling. I have an acutely Bible-trained conscience, so I personally choose to draw a clear distinction for others between the day-to-day Christian practice of my life and my Mac usage, no matter how delightful it in fact is!

Thank you again for your invitation. Enjoy your fun in the meantime!

With cordial respect,
Melanie”

Dennis and GodsMac, I respect you and your strong convictions to your faith. I thank you for your feedback and hope that you will read this and respond. As I said, I know that I walk a fine line and I would welcome your input in redrawing it if need be.

By the way, GodsMac, I listened to your podcast and greatly enjoyed it. Keep up the good work!

Tony