First up from the God Machine this week is an interesting tirade from the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, who last week argued that Satan is behind everything from gay rights to Planned Parenthood to environmentalism, and this week, as Kyle Mantyla reported, went just a little further.
In the clip, the broadcaster, activist, and religious right leader argues that only those who agree with him accept "reason and logic," and that "the average liberal in the United States" has been "duped" by "the prince of lies, the father of lies, and that's why they believe and do what they do."
It's worth noting that Jane Meyer recently reported in the New Yorker that Fischer intends to "control" the Republican Party's approach to the culture war. He's also had a fair amount of success -- during the GOP's presidential primaries, nearly every Republican candidate spent time pandering to Fischer and his audience, and in May, Mitt Romney fired his foreign policy spokesperson at least in part because he feared Fischer's criticism.
This is a man, as we were reminded this week, who believes the average American liberal is the victim of a Satanic scheme of deception.
Also from the God Machine this week:
* An Iowa radio talk-show host, Jan Mickelson, raised a few eyebrows when he said nuns religious riding on the "Nuns on the Bus" tour should be pulled over and "pistol-whipped." Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) was on the show at the time, and said nothing. Fox News, which took an extraordinary interest in the fight over contraception access, ignored the controversy.
* For years, the Air Force Academy developed a reputation for being hostile towards cadets from minority faiths, prompting significant improvements in recent years. Now, however, 66 far-right congressional Republicans are complaining to the Pentagon that the Air Force's commitment to respecting religious diversity has created "a culture that is hostile toward religion."
* And the U.S. Supreme Court turned down an appeal this week on the Mt. Soledad cross in San Diego, which has been working its way through the courts for many years. All things considered, this is probably good news (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).
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I hadn't heard that there was actually much improvement at the Air Force Academy. Everything so far has just been window dressing and the complaints of right wing religious harassment are still coming.
Speaking of the Air Force Academy- (situated in Colorado Springs. along with Focus in the Family)- I would like Fischer to tell us if the current conflagration is the work of that well known stoker of the Fires of Hell, the Prince of Darkness .
Or is it God's Wrath, for serial transgressions of His Commandments?
It's god's wrath. Hopefully the Hair Farce Academy will go up along with the Focus on the Family HQ, as has Michelle Malkin's house (hopefully she will turn out to be under-insured). A bolt of lighting toward that broadcasting studio Fischer operates from would be a good thing, too. Preferably while he's broadcasting.
As far as those 66 Southern traitors in Congress are concerned, your inability to be the vicious, vile curs you are in the name of your crazy so-called religion has nothing to do with "religious liberty." May you all burn in Hell at the 9th level, for eternity.
Sorry about offending any of the easily-offended, but I am sick and tired of these damned SOBs and I now eagerly await the day when they all become "good Republicans" (pushing up daisies).
There can be no legitimate doubt that politics in the US has absolutely, categorically, unequivocally become an us or them situation, and it is those on the right who have made it so.
TCinLA, Give yourself more credit. That rant of yours is curdled enough to offend even those who are hard to offend.
TCinLA, I'm pretty sure Michelle Malkin's house is constructed entirely of asbestos or some other nonflammable substance, since she spends so much time running around with her hair on fire.
Gotta love those wacky republicans that kow tow to false prophets of the anti-christ.
Oooops-the devil made me say that!
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Mathew 7, 15.
Jesus Christ himself was accused by conservative religious authorities of his day of being a blasphemer and heretic, and of doing the work of the devil.
And all Jesus was doing was teaching peace, giving and sharing and caring, loving God, loving ones neighbor as oneself, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, not judging and something (over and over again) about the Spirit of Truth being the Truth of Spirit (as in his statement "God is a Spirit and to worship God one must worship God in Spirit and in Truth").
So, does Bryan Fischer represent Jesus Christ...or something else?
Look here now, we don't need some liberal telling us about Jesus and his followers(who were all male?) traipsing through the garden and talking about hippie communal living!
Religion is bull and causes war and bigotry. As to the bible-it came from scrolls written by outcasts that religious "scholars" cherry picked and re-wrote as they saw fit so as to please the church and the King. After all the church sought power and pleasing the king got them that power.
Now excuse me I need to wish upon a star and rub my rabbits foot while the religious nuts pray to an unseen unheard impotent--uh omnipotent? god.
@Paul, Look here now, we don't need some liberal, conservative, or moderate telling us to erase any cultural messages of love, compassion, social justice, non-judgement, or individual spirituality/enlightenment from any blog at the pleasure of any self-titled "authoritative" faction.
Each their own, Paul. Find your own message, but don't attempt to censor any I may find personally liberating or comforting.
You realize attitudes like yours is what drove the eradication of most Native American spiritual-based cultures? Congratulations to our superior attitude.
Theocrats gotta theocrat.
First, I'm not religious, @sshat.
Second, you're confusing those who would use faith as a weapon to promote theocracy, with the individual right to one's personal faith. You're turning that weapon on individuals for having cultural faith.
I have diminishing interest in a blog that's beginning to cater to honoring the fringe right in hypocritical replicate.
There is a good reason why public trust in media is becoming an anomaly. It's designed for conformists.
I'm sure Fischer finds his religious beliefs personally liberating and comforting, for what that's worth. I'm also sure that he would be very quick to insist on his right to his personal faith. Unctuous platitudes cannot hide the very real and present danger from Militant Reactionary Christianity, a danger that "good Christians" don't seem to be effective in combatting. Perhaps there should either be less criticism of of ordinary Muslims for not doing enough against Theocratic Islam or more criticism of ordinary Christians for not doing enough against Theocratic Christianity. Any "individual right to a personal faith"* cannot automatically justify whatever actions might be taken as a result of religious beliefs.
* This formulation smacks of libertarianism to me. I stopped reading the Usenet news group alt.atheism (years ago) because it was infested with libertarians who gave lip service to the idea that religion was false, but who didn't care in the least about the numerous excesses of Militant Reactionary Christians, such as teaching Creationism or Intelligent Design, and the rabid bigotries of MRCs. One libertarian mental/moral giant professed that he didn't care what religious people did as long as he could be rude to them if they came to his door to preach. WTF?!?!
It is difficult to know what efforts are out there, or to what degree it bears on the citizenry. Polls are probably the best indicators. It is unlikely we are aware of them, as political blogs focus primarily on the radical fringe who have a mic.
As far as progressive efforts that can make a difference, it should swing both ways. After two weeks of linking the Vatican assault on the works of the Catholic Sisters, I was relieved reader RP had enough influence to ensure TRMS followed it.
I appreciate your sample of Libertarian characteristics as an example, instead of just throwing a label at me. It is enough to have me look into it to see where I may identify with their central values.
*I don't follow any atheist groups either. I agree with much of their progressive policy issues, and the separation church and state, but am confused how most are obsessed with centrally defining themselves as saviors who serve to free people of their faith. "Hallelujah!" History repeats itself...
---
A real shame about the free-for-all pillaging and destruction of Egypt's antiquities, huh? =/ oops. I'm definitely on the wrong blog.
@locknpost You'd better take your sarcasm detector in to the shop to have it looked at.
...k
Whatever efforts are being made by ordinary Americans to combat the innumerable excesses of Militant Reactionary Christians obviously are not very serious and/or not very effective. I have a longish lifetime of experience with ordinary Americans (the vast majority of them Christians, of course), and I realized a long time ago that ordinary American Christians are not at all disturbed by overt Christian control of American society as long as it it a sort of condescending "kinder and gentler" control.* A typical attitude of such people goes something like "See how tolerant we are in America...we allow non-Christians to worship their religions!" If Militant Reactionary Christians get rally nasty, "ordinary Christians" may get nervous about it, but in my experience they are seldom willing to do anything or even to have anything done to rein in the excesses of the MRCs. Regardless of what the Constitution says, in practice the US has always been a de facto Christian theocracy. There are many people who will clearly do anything to make the US a de jure Christian theocracy of a brutal nature, and so far there has been little evidence of serious widespread efforts to stop them. Those who are attempting to stop them and who are speaking out against them are so aften dismissed as "angry", a "fringe", or even "God haters" and suchlike. Self-respecting non-religious people in the US have excellent reason to be angry. We live in a country that is increasingly openly and aggressively hostile to our legitimate interests. And we are not remotely amused by avowed non-religious people who overtly or covertly support the MRCs.
Finally, anyone who professes to follow all sorts of blogs and political sites has to be well aware of libertarian attitudes and policies. Libertarians are legion and they are inordinately vocal.
* Consider how many Americans are soft on Creationism/Intelligent Design.
Fischer says that an invisible personality is controlling all his opponents, and that anyone who disagrees is incapable of reason and logic.
in additional "twig' news
Mormon group plans mass resignation
(Reuters) - Troubled by issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage, several dozen Mormons plan to resign this weekend from the church en masse in an unusual public show of defiance in Salt Lake City.
Organizers say participants in Saturday's mass resignation will gather in a public park to sign a "Declaration of Independence from Mormonism," followed by a hike up Ensign Peak, scaled in 1847 by then-church President Brigham Young to survey the spot where his Latter-day Saints would build a city.
The planned rally marks an unusually display of defiance from members of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known for its culture of obedience. But the restive Mormons say they mean no disrespect.
"We're not doing it out of anger, and we're not doing it to poke a finger at the church," said organizer Zilpha Larsen, 36, a lifetime Mormon who has not attended church since 2005. "We're doing it to support each other in this decision that's going to cause pain for our families, which will cause pain for ourselves."
Mormon culture often stigmatizes those who fall away, leaving some without social or business connections.
Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage; doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist; and inconsistencies in the church's explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy.
More than 100 people have contacted the Larsens about joining the resignation event, the couple said.
http://news.yahoo.com/mormon-group-plans-mass-weekend-resignation-church-161846566.html
I saw a documentary on those Mormons. I never knew they worshipped E.T. But it appears they were founded by a fellow who saw aliens and the aliens guided him to a golden book of stupidity.
For the definitive Mormon story see the south park episode . All they do is tell the actual story . Too ridiculous even fort a cartoon - no one would ever believe it.
and in some lighter "twig" news
A new documentary called 'Fight Church' showcases Christians who, according to Gawker, like to "pummel each other in the name of Jesus."
The documentary, which is still in production, focuses on the unusual presence of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) within Evangelical Christianity and explores the inherent tension of such a violent practice inside the church.
The Fight Church Facebook page describes the documentary as "following several pastors and popular fighters in their quest to reconcile their faith with a sport that many consider violent and barbaric."
The film is being directed by Academy Award winner Daniel Junge and Bryan Storkel, and produced by Film Harvest.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/18/fight-church-documentary-_n_1605983.html
Pummel each other? What a bunch of wusses! Now that guns can be carried in church, y'all need to show us what REAL Xtians are made of!
No wonder we have been having such trouble with the extreme right wing that serves the extreme rich. They have been having too many brain concussions that have knocked themselves senseless. Maybe doing some brain scans might find ways to fix those problems.
This is the type of crap they were talking about in separation of church and state, not that we can't say God in public or in school. The teapubs wave the flag and the Constitution around and yet do everything they can to tear the country apart while claiming everyone that disagrees with them are anti-American and anti-Christ. Disgusting party of liars and crooks and traitors.
Funny, I have a friend who went to Katholik school, and he believes all sorts of weird stuff. Really out of touch with reality. Maybe the court of the prince of darkness is the Katholik Kurch?
Heathens! This blog is an Obamanation unto the (tracy?) Lord. Are all liberals damned? Liberals by their very nature are of course damned since, as liberals, they tolerate different lifestyles and opinions. These are unholy beasts as can be witnessed in their "Week in Geek" tribute to the Satanic arts of Science! All good and true Christians must rally together and heal or kill such evil vermin! Voting rights? Ha! Nothing in my constitution says we must allow heathens to vote! Why when..............
Nice satire
Paul, Give me your hand and I will help you down from that soapbox you climbed up on! HAH!
Folks who find the history of Mormonism bizarre and alien weren't around when Christianity was put together, or they'd have an equally hard time with it. Raising from the dead? Virgin births? Immaculate conceptions? Assumptions into heaven? Trinities? Magic undergarments, angels, gold plates, and rocks in a hat aren't that much stranger, just closer in time and in written history.
As for Bryan Fischer's close acquaintance with Satan and his motives, he and his bunch have more in common with Islamic fundamentalists than they do with those brave, socially committed progressive liberal nuns who have more courage in confronting the Vatican than do the whole bunch of Catholic bishops combined. I don't think they are "duped by the Prince of Darkness." They're busy; he's the one who appears to be talking to dark apparitions.
We weren't around when Momonism was put together either, to be fair. Unless you've just aged really well.
But it is a heck of a lot better recorded than the early beginnings of christianity.
These guys are just like the fundamentalist Islamic Mullahs. Scary stuff coming from these hatemongers. Perhaps if they spent a few minutes educating themselves it would not be so embarrassing. Back to the dark ages.
Thank you , I was thinking the same thing , show me the difference between the two
Rachel, you and Amna are to be commended for continuing to provide a look, a true look, at the ravages we are imposing on the rest of the world. You and I both know who is driving this action and why.
Again, thank you and keep up the superior work.
be well; peace...dan
So far, "Fight Church" has my vote for Craziest Crazy Thing of the Weekend.
Acc. to WorldWide Religious News frpm Steve Cannine ("ABC News" June 30 2012) "Australians who describe themselves as jedis now number over 63,000, over 30 times higher than Scientology figures." Yoda said "To be Jedi is to face the truth and choose. Give off light or Darkness" It doesn't sound like they will be pistol whipping any nuns' Maybe Satan missed Australia.
US capitalism is an economic system, not a form of government. Unregulated capitalism promotes property rights in a legal sense. This is how a society finds itself chasing material things, while on the short end of the argument that African American slaves are not "people" and as such these human beings have no rights under the US Constitution. Moral issues, so called, are said to be "secondary."
New, progressive laws like Obamacare, on the other hand, promote human welfare. They help remind us that property rights, the creature of man’s making, must be the servant and not the master of the man who made it. Faith, spirituality and duty will help lead us there.
Yes, it's good to be an ordinary American. Read more at
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2012/06/tr-and-noblesse-oblige-part-one.html
Apparently, this Bryan Fischer hasn't read anything to what Jesus has said. Maybe, Bryan Fischer better go back and reread those statements.
Everyone has a Bryan Fischer in their neighborhood. He's the guy who wanders out of the house in just his socks and underwear and roams around the neighborhood aimlessly, forgetting his name and where he lives. The local police recognize him right away, lure him into the back of the patrol car with Gummy Bears and kindly take him home safely to his worried family.
I think it's wonderful that this nice American Family Association went through the trouble of setting up a sound studio for Bryan allowing him to think he's got his own "radio show", giving him free reign to share with the public the conversations that he has with the voices in his head.
The fact that conservative politicians play along with this ego-boosting charade by going on Fischers “radio show” to interact with Bryan’s cerebral occupants.... completely dispels liberals charge that conservatives have no empathy for those in need.
I'm not sure of any actionable empathy resident in either liberals or conservatives or anybody when 23% of American children live below the poverty line, second only to Romania.
He's talking like a republican, no specifics... Beyond a couple bibble quotes-a-gay-hate'n, what is it satan is trying get us "liberals" to do/believe?
It's always fun to corner these jerks with, whooza gonna go to hell, the protestants or the catholics. And watch them gleefully explain which, while proving the bibble failure to be understood (and this sect that's going to hell has people who've read the bibble 10X more than you)....
In the clip, the broadcaster, activist, and religious right leader argues that only those who agree with him accept "reason and logic," and that "the average liberal in the United States" has been "duped" by "the prince of lies, the father of lies, and that's why they believe and do what they do."
...and they call liberalism a "mental disorder"??
This is just another case of the I'm a rubber, you are glue syndrome, as far as I'm concerned.
Well, isn't that special...
;-)
The crazy just keeps on comin' from the religious right. What terrific advertisements these people are for their faiths (eyes rolling).
When I listen to idiots like Fischer, I'm amazed that we haven't become a nation of athiests by now.
It's too bad that most religions nowadays seem to be designed to tell people what they WANT to hear, instead of what they NEED to hear.
Men rarely (if ever) managed to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child. -Robert A. Heinlein
The cardinal doctrine of a fanatic's creed is that his enemies are the enemies of God. -Andrew Dickson White
add the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, they are the people our founders came to this country to escape. They’re the same people, right? They're trying to say God looks like me and not like you, and to use that politically to make a religious base. And so it is really a kind of rerun." - Gloria Steinem
If God is on the Repubs side and Satan is on the Dems side, why is it Repubs ever lose an election? Is God really that weak that God cannot win a simple election?
"If Christ were here today there is one thing he would not be - a Christian"
Mark Twain
What I want to know is the following
How does one know whether or not he/she is worshiping the politically correct Jesus of the day?
Where would one go to find out?
If I want to be a hateful, selfish, spiteful Christian (like the Christian's of the Regressive Republican Party) which religion should I join?
Frosty,
Keep in mind that it is only a small percentage of "Christians" who fit your specifications - but they are a vocal lot and quite influential and come in different denominational flavors. Google Christian Reconstructionism, Christian Dominionism and Christian Nationalists. Follow Rick Perry or Michele Bachman on Sunday and you will probably end up at the church you are seeking.
Some churches are unknowingly being lead in that direction in incremental steps. The first camel's nose under the tent is frequently the "historical" work of Christian Nationalist, David Barton.
Don't worry about worshiping in a "politically correct" way - if the Theocratic Right comes to power - as they have done in some state governments - they will let you know exactly what to do. It will be a little like Sharia Law - without the good parts - alms to the poor and no interest charges.
All it takes is for the Supreme Court to redefine the First Amendment as applying only to the Federal Government and not to state governments. States will then be free to regulate religion, speech, and the press.
If it means anything, "real" Evangelical Christians are concerned about this too - some of us remember that it was Roger Williams (Baptist) in the 1600's who expressed the need for a wall between church and state. Some of us also know that the purpose of the Danbury letter to Jefferson was to protest not the evil godless government interfering with the religious freedom of the Baptists, but other church denominations in the state using their influence in government to discriminate against the Baptists. In effect, the Baptists were asking Jefferson for protection against other denominations because there was not a separation of church and state in Connecticut.
Good Luck and Good Night (and Good Grief)
Adam_Selene
Huh, who'd have thought "healing the sick" was on Satan's agenda. Or feeding the hungry.