Saturday, December 26, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Meanwhile in the USA: Preacher Jealous of a Real and Successful Entertainer



Rev. Fred Phelps, hungry for any press vis-a-vis attention has yet again made another outlandish statement .
I guess they all want to be the next Falwell or Robertson or Olsteen.
I kind of equate them to famous rock stars.
It's just that Robertson, Olsteen and the late (not late enough) Falwell come across as wanna be rock stars in the religious entertainment industry.
They have their TV shows, they have their big audiences, they have their big stages and their big productions.
Aren't their "Mega" churches meant for that? High end religious entertainment productions?

The makeup artists! The production staff! The control room! The show director! The lights! The cameras! ACTION!
Well it seems that Rev. Freddy Phelps is off attacking the latest female "thing" in sexy outfits in the world of Rock.
Why?
I think because this entertainer is in the press, on the air ways, and has some commercials.
And she does this wearing all those neat, suggestive, sexy outfits.
That only someone of a certain age and figure can wear.

Not me.
Nope.
Sorry.
I know my limits.
No Italian fashions for me.
And no Speedo swim suits either.
I really don't want to go through my life with the memory of men, women and children gazing upon me in a Speedo, then throwing their hands up to cover their eyes and hear their shrill screams of, "MY EYES MY EYES I'M BLIND!
There's enough horror in the world as it is.
Enough about me....

This young female entertainer who is meeting with success has now become his target.
Oh come on. You know as well as I do these clowns need someone to "hate" to give their sad little lives some "meaning."
His target is Lady Gaga.
It's a true piety that Lady Gaga must now have this leach attempt to gain some notoriety through her hard earned success.

The entertainment business is exceedingly competitive.
For those who succeed off their hard work, sacrifice and effort there are countless scores who don't.

Enter Rev. Fred Phelps hoping to ride in the slip stream of Lady Gaga's success.

Here's the story:

Rev. Fred Phelps: 'God Hates Lady Gaga'
http://www.popeater.com/2009/12/23/fred-phelps-god-hates-lady-gaga/#addcomments
Dec 23, by Marc Schneider

Fans have a new reason to love Lady Gaga now that the notorious Westboro Baptist Church officially hates the singer.

The Kansas-based congregation, helmed by Rev. Fred Phelps and consisting largely of his offspring, announced plans Wednesday to picket Gaga's Jan. 7 show in St. Louis, calling the 'Bad Romance' star a "hussy" and a heathen for "seducing a generation."

A press release for the 'God Hates Lady Gaga' protest contains no mention of the church's signature issue, hatin' gays and such, but one can assume they don't approve of Gaga's bisexual leanings and tolerance of homosexuality.

Instead, the folks who shamefully protest funerals of fallen servicemen focus on Gaga's artistic merit. "There's nothing new or different about this particular hussy's pretentious prancing," the statement reads.

Further, Westboro implores Gaga's fans not to be seduced by her charms.

"Even as she gives lip-service to 'liberating' her young fans, Lady Gaga brings them into slavery to their own corruption, teaching them to glory in their shame. She hates you!"

In case you're itching to join the protest or any counter-protests, here's the info: Thursday, Jan. 7 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm outside the (fabulous!) Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis MO.


So what's your take on this?
I didn't know God hated Lady Gaga. I didn't know "God" had a " hate list ." Silly old atheist me. When I hear all these Bible or Koran or what ever religious book they have to pound on, say that "God loves you..." I thought that was all inclusive.
I guess some exceptions do apply

Monday, December 14, 2009

Catholicism: The “Because We Say So” Religion unless you've got a lot of money...






I came across this article while surfing. Here in the United States the Catholic Church used it’s followers to push a “No Abortion Funding” through the Congress. In most places, if a politician wants to be elected, they must, in most cases, become “Pro Life.”
I know of only one openly Atheist congressmen.
Back in the mid 1980’s the Christian Coalition showed up at the Republican Party. They wanted to do the following:
1. Stop abortion. 2. Take away Gay rights. 3. Put prayer back in school.
We fought them back. But looking back, we should have hunted them down and killed them.
They look at kindness as a “weakness.” The same for:
Fairness
Justice
The Constitution
The Bill of Rights
Personal Freedom’s
Freedom of Choice
The right of a person, both Male and Female to have control over their body.
The list can go on and on…
By all rights the acts of the Catholic Church here in America for this last transgression should in it self put it’s priests, bishops, nuns, all it’s buildings, and it’s property on the tax rolls.
It’s time for them to pay their fair share of taxes since they want to use their followers as their “Agents” to promote their agenda.
They have been crossing the line of Separation of Church and State for some time now.
This article is from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It was published on December 9th of this year.
It deals with three women from Ireland who wanted to have abortions.
Some of us on here are Pro Choice and others are Pro Life.
That is fine.
I myself believe that a person, male or female have the right to have control over their body.
No government. No elected official. No Priest, Preacher, Bishop, Minister, Pope, Arch Bishop, Rabbi, Imam, Mullah, Ayatollah, no any religion of any sort can tell me what I can or cannot do concerning the medical needs of my body.
I am an American.
I am a Free Person.
If you choose to have an abortion that is a personal and private matter between you and your physician.
If you don’t that is a personal and private matter between you and your physician.
Plain and simple.
As I have posted before:
It’s no bodies business but your own.
It’s never been anyone else’s business.
Those who think it is need to mind their own business and in short, BUTT OUT.
If they have an issue with that then they can move to some other country where it is expected of your to spy on your neighbor and their personal and private business.
I suggest the following countries for starters: Communist North Korea Communist Cuba Communist Mainland China Iran Saudi Arabia

That aside, it’s an interesting article.
But what I want to point out is the futility of stopping abortion.
You cannot legislate “morality.”
We tried that in the United States in the late 1920’s.
It was called Prohibition.
If failed miserably.
It lead to the creation of large organized crime families.
Countless murders.
Countless crimes.
And people still drank alcohol.
Eventually those who wanted Prohibition went public and asked for it to be overturned.
The same applies with abortion.
If a women wants one, she will find a way to have one.
Science, medicine and technology have progressed to the point where we have such things as:
The Morning After Pill
The Abortion Pill
Birth Control Pills
And others
But you still have those individuals who honest believe that:
Sex education will only lead to people having sex.
Condoms will only lead to people having sex.
Birth Control Pills will only lead to people having sex.
And so on…
I have some bad news for these people.
Sex is part of our makeup.
Now I could go on and give a list of sayings for and against abortion.
But the simple fact remains. If a women wants to have an abortion she will have one.
The same applies to Drugs and Alcohol. If a person wants them, they can get them. They’ll even pay a lot of money to have them.
So this article talks about a suit brought by these three women who had to travel to England to have an abortion.
In Ireland it’s against the law save for certain situations. Yes, the life of the mother is in danger.
And yes, the Catholic Church had a hand in these laws.
But what the Catholic Church won’t tell you is the South American country where all abortions are outlawed and what the affect of that has been.
Sad.
And to prove just how bad the law in Ireland has failed, about 140,000 Irish women have gone to England to have abortions.
It’s the same everywhere.
If a person is inhibited from having one, they will go where they can.

Here’s the story.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009
BBC
Ireland's abortion law challenged in European court The Irish Republic's strict abortion law is being challenged in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8403013.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/

The legal action has been brought by three Irish women who say the effective ban on abortion in Ireland violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
All three have traveled to Britain to have abortions.
The Irish government has engaged two leading lawyers to argue its case that the country has a sovereign right to protect the life of the unborn.
The three Irish women will be identified only as A, B, and C during the Strasbourg court hearings.
They argue that being forced to travel abroad for abortions endangered their "health and well-being" as safeguarded by the European Convention on Human Rights.
The two constitutional lawyers representing the government of Ireland argue that the convention's safeguards cannot be interpreted as endorsing the right to abortion.
'Draconian'
Abortion is illegal in Ireland, a deeply Catholic country, unless the life of the woman is in danger.
The Irish constitution was amended in 1983 to include the "Pro-Life Amendment", which asserted that the unborn child had an explicit right to life from conception.
The case is the first challenge to Ireland's abortion laws in more than 15 years, the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond says.
Almost 140,000 Irish women have traveled to Britain over the past 30 years to have abortions, our correspondent adds.
The Irish Family Planning Association welcomed the challenge to the laws, which it described as "draconian".
It said they violated international human rights norms "because they inflict such grievous harm to women's health and well-being".
But Johanna Higgins, co-founder of the Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland, told the BBC's World Today programme that a ruling against Ireland would be an infringement of its ability to decide its own laws.
"Whatever the human rights aspects are of this, abortion is illegal in Ireland because it is a criminal offence," she said.
"If I were in any country and this were to go against Ireland, I would be very concerned that the Europeans feel they can step into domestic law."

What' your take on this subject?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

CRYBABY CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL.... CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR INTERCEPTIONS


CRYBABY
This guy has been around for a while.
But he just came up on my “radar.” I guess because I’m not a sports fan that’s the reason I’ve never heard of the kid.
Okay so this kid plays football. He plays currently on the college level. Like I said, I’m not a sports fan.
So it came to my attention a few weeks ago that this kids, is well, a “bible thumper” in pads.
On his cheeks where you place the black paint to reduce glare (how much light is needed to produce glare off your cheeks?) he paints some reference in the bible.



Now, he doesn’t have much space to paint this stuff on. I assume he has someone write it on there for him. I mean, he’d have to know how to write backwards if he looked in the mirror to write it.
Well how he came to my attention was a sports comment I saw on line. They said that the announcers seems to cut this kid a lot of slack when he screws up. The reason they assumed was that he had those biblical references printed on his cheeks.
Personally, I think it’s a really childish thing to do. BUT…and you have to remember this, I’M A GOD DAMN ATHEIST.
To me, if I was playing on the opposing team, I’d make it a point to target this guy and take him out of the game.

But that’s just me.

So when I saw this online I just had to share it with you.
Seems “Bible Boy” has a “sensitive” side to him.
In other words, he cries. He cries especially if he screws up. I’m surprised he just doesn’t come out when he does that and say, “I want to be held….boo hooo hooo…
American football is such a manly sport… well, use to be….

Can…can I get a hug here?…..

Here’s the article and the clip.
The Crying Game: Tim Tebow and the 10 Biggest Crybabies in Sports

"Tebow might get the record for the longest cry in sports.

While the game was still going you could see him on the bench in tears, and a teammate gingerly held his head in support.

But then on the field after the game, Tebow was still visibly crying as the sideline reporter asked him the stupid non-question of "How disappointing is this for you?"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j855wVu_UGY&feature=player_embedded


Suck it up Tim. If you cry when you win it's a little more understandable, but when you lose you just seem like a crybaby."


So what’s your opinion on this? Unless you need to be held first…..

ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT BIBLE POUNDER!.......sigh....again......


Well they usually come on Saturday morning.
Usually before 10.
AND THEY ARE HERE TO SAVE YOU!!!!!
Unless they are Mormons and come during the week.
And I must say, they, at least in my case, come at REASONABLE HOURS.

But this one...started on Friday evening.....

Ok.
So I've got a Facebook page. Yes I'm there as "Goddamnathiest."
If you want to check it out, go head. I don't get any points. I don't get any revenue from any advertisements. I wish I did....but I don't. Oh well...

I guess there are those out there who just scan those sites looking for us non-believers or agnostics.
Maybe they think they'll get brownie points with "God" if they do.
Personally, I don't know of any atheists or agnostics who comb those sites looking to convert people to being an atheist or agnostic.
I do recall a couple of guys making a video and going door to door promoting atheism.
It was a HOOT.
Oh how sweet it was to watch it.
Anyway.....

So this all started last night. I even checked out the guys Facebook page.
Bible Pounder.
100% believer.
I'll even bet the guys never even been laid.
So anyway, here's what's been sent so far....




WHATZ HIS FACES SENDS A MESSAGE TO ME Ded. 11

"Why do they call u the amazing athiest?
Are u really an athiest??"

MY REPLY DEC 11

"Yes I am an atheist.
As for amazing, no I don't nor do I know anyone who does. However, if someone does, I'd like to know who."
(JUST FYI...I included the picture you see in the upper right hand corner to this reply)

WHATZ HIS FACES SENDS ME A REPLY Dec 12

"Jesus was Amazing and he is the only one who is going to be amazing.
And there's no one else that amazing."

MY REPLY DEC 12

"Well ya know...
That gosh darn Easter Bunny is pretty amazing too.
Coloring all those eggs, delivering them around the world. Gezz he even has to raise the chickens that lay them, take care of those chickens, then collect the eggs, screen them to make sure they're good enough to use or don't have chicks in them
Then there is Santa Clause.
That guy busts his buns year round. He has all those elves working for him making toys.
Then he has to keep a list to see whose been naughty or nice.
Wow... and to think he did that for centuries without a computer....
Then he has to go down chimneys.
Then lay out the toys.
All the while having to fly around the world in an open sleigh.
Then there's the Tooth Fairy.
The tooth fairy has to know whose lost a tooth, where they sleep, where they live.
Then they have to not only go to where they live but also carry money that they place under their pillow or on their night stand.
And like the Easter Bunny, and Santa not make any noise to wake anyone up....
Then there's the Boogie Man who lives under your bed..and the MONSTERS that live there, or in your closet.
Those guys have a pretty amazing job too.
So that Jewish guy, the one that may or may not have lived about two thousand years ago.... the one who got all the press. Not the other ones who'd been around before, during and after him....
Well, wait a minute....then there's the Prophet Mohammad. He too like this Jewish guy may or may not have actually lived. He's got a pretty good track record also.
Unfortunately, both his Jesus guy and this Mohammad guy, well, all the stuff that they may or may not have done was not written down until at least 100 years after the Jewish guy died...
The Mohammad buy didn't get his stuff written down until 400 years after he may or may not have lived.
Then there's that Buddha guy. He also may or may not have lived. But he's got a record of also doing some amazing things as well.
Of course, just as real as those mentioned above...this Superman guy...he's got his own comic book. He also has done some really really amazing things.
Like go faster then a speeding bullet.
I honestly don't know just how many times that guy has saved the world.
He can also travel in time.
He can travel in space without a ship or a space suit.
He's also had his on TV show and been in many movies.
Bullets bounce right off his chest.
That’s pretty amazing.
And I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THAT'S REAL CAUSE I SAW IN ON TV AND...AND...IN THE MOVIES!
But ya see...I actually believe in Superman.
Why?
Simple.
Unlike this Jesus guy (is he Latin? With a name like Jezuz I figured he would be...) in the movies and on TV...he doesn't get killed.
I mean come on.
Superman can fly and have bullets bounce off his chest.
That Jesus guy got killed by just being nailed to some wooden cross.
The use to kill a lot of people like that back 2000 years ago.
If he was real or had any magic powers, or had any followers who actually cared about him, they'd have over powered the guards and taken him off that cross.

Ya see...it's all made up...."


Now you all know WHATZ HIS FACE AIN’T GONNA JUST STOP NOW……
So I’ll keep ya posted on this…..
I’ll take any suggestions on rebuttals to him….
So who wants to help me have some fun with him?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The "We Say So" factor of Religions and Beliefs


I’m constantly amazed by the “flexibility” of “religion.”
If you’re a homosexual then certain charity or faith based charity medical will deny you medical help.
I’m sure “Christ” asked before he laid his hands on people what their sexual persuasion was.
And that “Gays” and “Lesbians” can’t go to heaven. I was under the impression that there was some guy with a book at the front of heaven that directed you where to go.
Silly me.
I guess those pedophile priests, sexual predator preachers, lesbian nuns, and gay priests and ministers are just screwed now.
Or their thinking, “Hey, I’m going to Hell, might as well make the most of it!”
And then there is Christ.
Does it ever mention in the bible (any version) mention that he got married?
I mean, back then you had to marry early in life. During the time that the play Romeo and Juliet takes place they would be about 13 or 14 years of age.
Due to better nutrition in our modern world, women begin having their menstrual cycle earlier starting as early in some cases as 9.
During the time that Romeo and Juliet takes place they began around age 16 or 17.
So by doing basic math, Christ should have gotten married around the age of 14 or say 15?
But by the time of his death around age 30 there’s no mention of children or a wife.
Now, ok, so the guys Jewish. And his mother Mary, being a Jewish mother would never ever think any girl is good enough for her son. Especially since he’s the son of “God.”
Now I don’t care who you are, but the idea of you or your family marrying “up” to the “Son of God”…come on. There must have been tons of girls and women willing to marry him.
But I guess that’s why Mary Magdalene is considered a “whore” in the bible.
Christ’s mother Mary must have had a hand in writing it.

What are your thoughts on this?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

How are we preceived?

I just finished reading an article about how one of the characters from the cartoon show, "Family Guy" is going to reveal himself as an atheist.
It's Brian.
Brian is telling the world this coming episode that he's an atheist.
I find it interesting that for the most part, we're a distrusted lot.
Why?
I have no idea.
But one thing I do know, and I just realized this, is that we are the one thing that will UNIFY all religions.
How?
Simple.
They all hate us....
Now
That said...take a step back and think about that.
We, being atheists, have to power to unify all the worlds great, and not so great religions. I mean all their followers too.
It might be a good thing.
It might be a bad thing.
But ya gotta admit it, we're the only ones who could pull that off.
Not though war.
Not though intimidation.
Just by being ourselves.
Now... let us all GLOAT in our GLORY!

What are your thoughts on this?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Do As We Say Or We'll Send You To Hell...... You're Local Catholic Bishop



Well it seems that some “religious” organizations still think that they can control people and rule the world.
I don’t hate to break this to them but it is the year 2009.
That poor Jewish guy that got nailed to a cross, or so we are told, died well over 2009 years ago.
He’s dead.
Deal with it.


The Catholic Church has decided that they, not the American people are going to decide the issue of abortion in the United States of America.
Let me tell you something, my ancestors came to this country a few hundred years ago when it was still a colony of the English.
Around 1776 they told the King of England, who also happened to be the head of the Church of England, and a few other Kings, Queens and religious leaders, including the “Pope” that they, or rather, “We the People….” are going to decide our own fiat.
No King. No Queen. No Pope. No Mullah. No Rabbi. No Monk. No Preacher. Nor Priest, are going to tell us what we can or cannot do.
Throughout the history of Western Civilization the Catholic Church and it’s leaders have really pulled some fast ones.
The French finally had enough of the Catholic Church during their revolution. Up to the revolution the Catholic Church controlled between 80 to 90% on the land in France.
That ended real quick like.
To this day the French have real set rules about religion and religions.
And they have reason too.


We’ve seen in the past few months that the Catholic Church has decided to use it’s members to shove their “morality” down the American people’s throat.
There are a couple of members of Congress who are working to stop that. Not many. Just two.
Here is a link to a story on what the Catholic Church is doing to certain members.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091122/ap_on_re_us/us_ri_bishop_kennedy

This one happens to be a member of the Kennedy family. Yes the man is a Catholic. And they are trying to influence this work in Congress.
Since they want to “influence” an ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE US GOVERNMENT, what say they start paying TAXES like the rest of us.

Now let’s bump this up a bit.
What if this had been a Mullah?
Oh, you know the answer to that one. The Bible Pounders and religious crazies would be coming out of the wood work. The Talking Heads would be screaming about on their TV and radio talk shows.
Talking points would be flying.
FLYING!
They’d be calling the Mullah that tried that a “Radical” Islamic Terrorist. Heck, if he was lucky they’d just call him a “terrorist.”
There is a reason why Henry VIII and people like Martin Luther had had enough. They’d had enough of the little old men sitting on their throne in Rome.

One day, hopefully soon, these fools will realize that we now know where babies come from.
That the earth is NOT the center of the universe.
That if you masturbate you WON’T go to hell.
That the earth is NOT FLAT.
That food that grows beneath the earth is not from HELL.
And that you CANNOT LEGISLATE MORALITY.

What’s your take on this?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

GUESS WHOSE COMING TO DINNER



The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has added Frank Schaeffer as a board member.
Interesting.
I've read his book, "Crazy for God." For what it's worth I have mixed feelings about this appointment.
But, reading his book I have mixed feelings about him and his family. They run from pure sympathy to confusion to well, hate.
Now, that all said and done, Mr. Schaeffer left the so called "Christian Coalition" and is very open about his distaste for the group.
He receive hate mail from some of his former fans.
I've been a life long atheist. I guess you could say that officially did not believe in God when I was 6. I didn't know I was an "atheist" but did later.
Back in high school during a discussion in class mentioned that I did not believe in God. A couple of people just got mad as hell at me. Why? Because I didn't believe in an invisible guy in the sky. These people were just down right PO'd.
In college I found two others who were atheists. They were two of my fraternity brothers. Those are the only two I ever met in college.
So, I can understand how it must feel for Mr. Schaeffer to receive hate mail from his former fans.
But I have had to watch how today's so called "Republican Party" came to what it is. Thanks to Mr. Schaeffer and his family.
Maybe he is paying his "penance" for what he and his family help bring about on our country.
The first time I ever heard of Mr. Schaeffer was when he was on Rachael Maddow's show this past summer when the late term abortion doctor was assassinated.
His statement of, "You don't change the village to fit the village idiot" was very profound.
Having attended the Texas Freethinkers Convention this past weekend in San Antonio, Texas, several of the speakers new of Mr. Schaeffer and his late father.
This should be interesting to see what Mr. Schaeffer brings to this organization.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Some atheist sites I belong too and thought I'd share.

Here are some other web sites I go too...thought I'd share them with you....it's not a total listing of atheist groups on line...just some

http://www.atheistnexus.org/
http://www.infidelrevolution.com/
http://www.thinkatheist.com/
http://atheistpenpals.ning.com/
http://www.gather.com/
http://www.vox.com/
http://www.livejournal.com/
http://goddamnatheist.blogspot.com/
http://www.examiner.com/
http://www.tumblr.com
http://loljesus.com/
http://www.atheist-community.org/
http://www.plurk.com/goddamnathiest/invite
http://everysaturdaymorning.wordpress.com/
http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html
http://www.myspace.com/goddamnatheist
http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/

Monday, November 16, 2009

Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party


At one time I was an active member of the Republican Party, when it was still the Republican Party. Now it’s filled with crack pots, loons and religious crazies. But it wasn’t always that way. At one time the Republican Party wanted a balanced budget. As we saw under Georgie Bush #43, the United States National Debt more then doubled in under 6 years of his leadership. We also invaded a country that had nothing to do with the attacks on September 11, 2001, and did not have any Weapons of Mass Destruction. They also let Osama bin Laudin escape. That in itself should be labeled “treason.”
I came across a review of this book by Frank Schaeffer. Schaeffer is a religious man a former evangelical who became a member of the Easter Orthodox Church who turned his back on the so called “Christian Coalition.” It’s an interesting review and I’m planning to purchase the book myself.
Here is Schaeffer’s review. Enjoy.

Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party
By Max Blumenthal


Max Told The Truth About Me, My Father and My Evangelical World, September 7, 2009
By Frank Schaeffer

For me reading Max Blumenthal's Republican Gomorrah is a look into a mirror. That might be because Blumenthal extensively interviewed me and drew rather heavily on my book "Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back" as a reference for his in-depth exposé of what has gone so very wrong with the Republican Party. He's on my turf so I happen to know he's telling the truth as its not been told before. But there's more.

Republican Gomorrah is the first book that actually "gets" what's happened to the Republican Party and in turn what the Republicans have done to our country. The usual Democratic Party and/or progressive "take" on the Republican Party is that it's been taken over by a far right lunatic fringe of hate and hypocrisy, combining as it does, sexual and other scandals with moralistic finger wagging. But Blumenthal explains a far deeper pathology: it isn't so much religion as the psychosis and sadomasochism of the losers now called "Republicans" that drives the party. And the "Christianity" that shapes so much "conservative" thinking now is anything but Christian. It's a series of deranged personality cults.

The Religious Right/Republicans have perfected the method of capturing people in personal crisis and turning them into far right evangelical/far right foot soldiers. This explains a great deal that otherwise, to outsiders, seems almost inexplicable--the why and wherefore of "Deathers" "Birthers" et al. Blumanthal brilliantly sums up this pathology as:

"...a culture of personal crisis lurking behind the histrionics and expressions of social resentment. This culture is the mortar that bonds leaders and followers together."

Tracing the thinking of the fathers of the Republican Party, including my dad, the late Francis Schaeffer, who I teamed up with when I was a young man to help launch the Protestant wing of the "pro-life" movement, along with other such as Rousas John Rushdoony and the philanthropist Howard Ahmanson -- who used to donate generously to my far right work -- Blumenthal explains where the current Republican Party came from. He also details who it's foundational thinkers were, and just why it's still so dangerous. (A threat proved again this summer as the gun-toting fringe derailed the health care reform debate.)

He has their number. For one thing this book -- at last! -- will forever put James Dobson where he belongs: onto the top of the list of the American national rogue's gallery of mean-spirited, even sadistic, cranks.

Blumenthal first came to my attention when he was doing his in-depth reporting on Sarah Palin. He was a guest on a TV program I was on too. There was something accomplished and in depth about the quality of his reporting on religion that I hadn't seen from other progressive sources. I've been following his work since. Blumenthal understands the philosophy, psychology and religion of Religious Right figures like Palin, Dobson, Robertson et al in a way that no other reporter (with the exception of the always amazingly perceptive Jeff Sharlet author of The Family does.

Now, having read Blumenthal's book I know why he seems to really understand the nuances of far right religion. No one else has ever investigated this subject with as much insight into the psychological sickness that is the basis of the Religious right's power to delude other people who are also needy and unstable.

In another time and place the despicable (and sometimes tragic figures) Blumenthal describes would be the leaders of, or the participants in, local lynch mobs, or the followers of the Ku Klux Klan. But today figures such as James Dobson, Pat Robertson, (the late) Jerry Falwell, Newt Gingrich, and Sarah Palin have led a resentment-driven second American revolution, not just against Democrats and progressives but against the United States of America itself. And this group of outsiders (in every sense of that word ) now control one of our major political parties.

As I explained to Blumanthal when he interviewed me, one of the reasons I left the far right movement in the 1980s was because I perceived it becoming the bedrock of anti-Americanism. The worst things got the better we right wing activists liked it. We loved crisis. We manufactured crisis! Crisis (public or personal) would force the country to embrace our radical solution: a radical turn to Old Testament law that would put homosexuals to death, see adulterers stoned at the city gates and so forth.

There were exceptions to the hard edge, my late father Francis Schaeffer was one. And Blumenthal (in his chapter on Dad and I) describes how my father was a compassionate man who opened his ministry to all before something "snapped" after the Roe v. Wade decision when he became a leader in the pro-life movement.

But with a few exceptions (like my late father) most of the people described in Blumenthal's book have no "other side" to them. They are the sick bedrock of what, at any moment, may become a full-blown American fascism. (Sharlet has done great work on showing how these Religious Right folks have also invaded the US Military, especially the chaplaincy ranks.)

My one -- very slight -- criticism of Republican Gomorrah is that Blumenthal neglected to do something that would have bolstered his arguments and given them deeper credibility: introduce a bi t of paradox and nuance into his book. He could have made a better case for the left by frankly looking at some of the extremism on the left that has played into the hands of the cynics who control the Religious Right: for instance the way Roe v. Wade was (in the view of many liberal pro-choice advocates) a tactical mistake preempting what was already happening in states including California and New York, in terms of legalizing abortion, and thereby galvanizing the culture war as we know it. And in the same vein perhaps when it comes to the current ethics of abortion and porn Blumenthal's case would be stronger if he had pointed out that there are many progressives, who have serious moral qualms on these issues as well.

That said Blumentha's case against the Religious Right is breathtakingly damning. What these folks want -- to destroy our pluralistic democracy and replace it with theocracy -- appears so far-fetched to most Americans that unfortunately their agenda is not taken seriously. The great service Blumenthal performs is to not only enlighten those who didn't grow up in the movement (as I did, sad to say) but to offer a genuine warning as to the seriousness of what these people will unleash if not stopped, then stopped again and again--because they are here to stay. And they just happen to control the republican Party!

Why should Blumenthal's book to be taken seriously? Take it from this former "insider" he knows what he's talking about. His thesis is less about politics than about the deviant psychology that people like Dobson have cashed in on by feeding delusion, victimhood and failure as a means through which to build a political movement. What Blumenthal reveals is the heart of the most dysfunctional and truly dangerous -- not to mention armed -- darkest reaches of our country.

What should we "do"? Read the book! Then fight like hell to keep Republicans out of power come what may. And maybe (note to progressives!) be a little less critical of President Obama and a little more grateful that he's in the White House!

Once in a while a book comes along about which one can say: If you love our country read this! Republican Gomorrah is one such book. One other thing: if you know any sane Republicans that would like to save what's left of their party beg them to read this book. If you have to beg them in the name of Jesus!


So what are your thoughts on this?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WANT'S TO GOVERN AMERICA AND GOVERN YOUR BODY

I came across this news item today and thought I'd share it with you. But first.......


Let me clear the air here for anyone who just does not get my stand on this issue.
I don’t need no god damn priest or bishop sticking their nose in my personal business.
I don’t need no god damn pope sitting on a throne in Rome Italy telling me what I can or cannot do.
If I do, then I’ll become a Catholic.
What happens between me and my doctor is none of their God Damn Business so
BUTT THE HELL OUT!
This is how I feel about abortion.
1. It is a PRIVATE matter.
2. It is between a women and her doctor.
3. It’s no bodies business and that includes any man, women, child, Nun, Sister, Novice, Monk, Priest, Bishop,
Minister, Preacher, Cleric, Mulla, Iatolla, Imam, or Rabbi or any other religious “leader.”
4. It’s never been any of their “business” and never will be.
5. So, MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS.
6. No where in the Bible or Koran or any other “religious” book does it say you can stick your nose in other peoples
business and that INCLUDES THEIR PERSONAL MEDICAL ISSUES.
7. Where these religious idiot get off thinking they have the “right” to stick their noses in other people’s personal and
private affairs, I have no idea.
8. I don’t see these so called “Pro Life” clowns offering any child support AFTER the baby is born.
I don’t see them offering any financial support.
I don’t see them offering any medical support.
I don’t see them offering anything.

WHY IS THAT? Can someone please tell me? I’d like to know. Others would too.
9. They don’t want:
Birth Control
Sex Education or
Condoms

10. They don’t want their “Tax Dollars” to be spent on abortions. Well guess what,
I DON’T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON FAITH BASED INITIATIVES.
We’ll cut that right off at the bat. I’m sure they won’t complain at all….And I’m sure the religious leaders won’t mind giving up free money from the government.
If they don’t like it then here is what they can do:
MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE IT IS EXPECTED THAT YOU SPY ON YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PRY INTO THEIR PERSONAL AND PRIVATE BUSINESS.
I might suggest the following countries:
Saudi Arabia (The most sexually repressed country in the WORLD)
Iran (Now there’s a fundamentalist country if there ever was one…)
Communist North Korea
Communist Main Land China
Communist Cuba
Vatican City (you can worship the Pope all day long..)
Any Country with a DICTATOR. They'll feel right at home.




THE INFLUENCE GAME: Bishops shape health care bill
AP Associated Press

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091111/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_overhaul_catholic_lobby


By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago
WASHINGTON – Catholic bishops have emerged as a formidable force in the health care overhaul fight, using their clout with millions of Catholics and working behind the scenes in Congress to get strong abortion restrictions into the House bill.
They don't spend a dime on what is legally defined as lobbying, but lawmakers and insiders recognize that the bishops' voices matter — and they move votes. Representatives for the bishops were in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Capitol suite negotiating with top officials last Friday evening as they reached final terms of the agreement. Earlier in the day, Pelosi, a Catholic and an abortion rights supporter, had been on the phone to Rome with Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Washington's former archbishop, on the subject.
It wasn't the first time a high-ranking Catholic had weighed in with a key player on writing strict abortion curbs into the health measure. Boston's Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley personally appealed to President Barack Obama about it near the church altar at the early September funeral for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. Bishops quietly called their congressmen and senators to weigh in.
"The Catholic Church used their power — their clout, if you will — to influence this issue. They had to. It's a basic teaching of the religion," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., a leading abortion foe and architect of the health measure's restrictions.
It was Stupak who told Pelosi last Friday that if she wanted a deal on the health bill, she'd be well advised to invite the bishops' staff, who were already in his office, to her table. "I said, 'Well, they're here, and they're one of the key groups you want to have on your side, so why don't we just bring them in and work this out," Stupak said.
Pelosi did, and the result was a final measure that — much to the outrage of abortion rights supporters — bars a new government-run insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger, and prohibits any health plan that receives federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. If women wanted to purchase abortion coverage through such plans, they'd have to buy it separately, as a so-called rider on their insurance policies.
The outcome has put Obama and Democratic leaders — already struggling for consensus on the complex and politically tricky health measure — in a tough spot. Democratic abortion foes in the Senate vow they won't support health legislation that omits the strict restrictions approved by the House, while abortion rights champions say they can't possibly vote for a bill that contains them.
Obama suggested Monday that he wants to strike a balance that doesn't allow backdoor federal funding of abortions but preserves women's insurance choices. For now, however, no such middle ground has been identified, and the bishops have served their notice that they will be a player — perhaps the dominant one — in the final outcome.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the church's Washington-based advocacy organization, which is staffed by more than 350 lay people, derives its power in large part from the sheer number of Catholics in this country — 68 million — but also from the special moral and religious standing of its members. Many of them are in regular contact with lawmakers, weighing in on issues from immigration policy to benefits for low-income people.
The group distributed fliers to every parish in the nation asking people to pray for abortion restrictions and to call their congressmen and senators asking them to "fix these bills with pro-life amendments."
And in recent days, the conference staff got elbow-deep in the legislative machinations on the health measure, even having bishops intervene with Republicans — who were loath to help Democrats pass their bill — to make sure they supported the abortion provisions.
Kathy Saile of the conference said Democratic leaders were willing to listen to the group because it has been in favor of Democrats' broader push for a health overhaul.
"We stayed in the conversation until the end, because the bishops have always been adamant about the need for genuine health care reform and want to see health care reform happen," Saile said.
Another factor that undoubtedly helped: Democrats are keenly aware of the power of Catholic voters, more than 50 percent of whom embraced Obama in the 2008 election. That was a substantial swing after Catholics had eschewed the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is Catholic.
Said Saile, "This was a lot of members of Congress listening to their constituents."
The outcome left abortion-rights supporters, who couldn't muster enough votes in the House to head off Catholic abortion foes' intervention, fuming.
The bishops "essentially got signoff. They dictated this, and it's totally inappropriate — it's blatant interference between church and state," said Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority. "The women's movement and the pro-choice forces feel like they were had."
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., a leading liberal, suggested Tuesday that the IRS should investigate the conference's tax-exempt status, given its intense lobbying on the health measure.
And Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a prominent abortion rights supporter who has gathered the signatures of more than 40 representatives who refuse to back a health bill that contains the restrictions, said the bishops had been allowed to overstep their bounds.
"No one group should get to dictate the outcome of legislation in Congress," DeGette said. "Every group should be listened to, but I don't think one group should be given veto authority over what we do."



What are your thoughts on this matter?

Monday, November 9, 2009



Bus Driver Forces Passengers to Pray

WSBTV in Atlanta reported that MARTA bus driver, Leroy Matthews, was suspended for five days after forcing passengers to pray with him.

Passenger Christopher James was trying to exit the bus, but Matthews wouldn't let him. Instead the driver asked him to join hands with him and three other passengers to pray. James was so taken aback by the request that he agreed to the four minute prayer session.

A MARTA spokesman told reporters that it was unclear what they prayed about, but that it was clear that his behavior violated MARTA policy.

Mathews, a six-year MARTA veteran, returned to work as usual. Passenger James, however, remains skeptical, "I don't want to pray to get off MARTA, you know."



http://jobs.aol.com/articles/photos/funny-business/2436532/


Now, if this is reversed and an atheist asked a passenger NOT TO PRAY........


What are your thoughts on this?

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Sam Kinison...a former preacher

Sam Kinison was a former preacher who became a comic.
He died having just remarried and whose career was going strong.
He had some cutting and pointed stuff...



Love his comments on Jesus...but hey, I'm the Goddamnatheist