First up from the God Machine this week is a look at some remarkable comments from a religious right activist named Gary Cass, a former Republican Party official in San Diego who now heads a group called the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.
In this clip, Cass shares his vision at a Texas conference called "Deliver Us From Evil" where he was a featured speaker.
My friend Kyle Mantyla summarized:
Cass, who normally spends most of his time attacking President Obama, Muslims,gays, and Mormons, spent an hour and a half blasting America for having a "broken moral compass" for electing politicians who support things like reproductive choice and marriage equality. Cass went on to declare that the nation's colleges and universities have "now become perverted factories of unfaithfulness," especially Harvard which is now "animated by the spirit of Antichrist," before attacking "progressive Christians" as ones who "have murdered their own souls, destroyed their own churches, and have undermined our nation."
Finally, Cass explained to the audience that "you can't be a Christian if you don't own a gun."
For the record, that last part wasn't a joke. Cass' read on the New Testament leads him to believe Christianity and firearm ownership are inextricably linked.
Also from the God Machine this week:
* As if Florida voters didn't have enough important races to consider, there will also be an initiative on the ballot on whether to change the state constitution to allow public funding of religious ministries. The right considers this critically important to the larger goal of privatizing public education.
* Evangelical author Rachel Held Evans' new book, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, is due to reach shelves this week, detailing her year-long experience trying to closely follow the Bible's rules for women. She's having trouble with some Christian bookstores, however, who refuse to sell a book that includes the word "vagina" (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).
* The Public Religion Research Institute published an interesting report this week on the religious coalitions supporting President Obama and Mitt Romney.
* Following up on an item we recently discussed, Mormon blogger David Twede has resigned his membership in his faith, rather than wait for possible excommunication. Twede was accused of apostasy for writing critical online essays about LDS traditions.
* And the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami was hit this week with a new round of sexual-abuse allegations including Father Rolando Garcia, who was the target of related charges from other alleged victims in 2009.
Leave a Comment:
This was scarier than any Halloween movie, or ghost story!
The Republicans need to stop trying to establish a government sponsored religion.
If you really want scares, this All Hallow's Eve,
Don't worry about what goes bump in the night.
I'd worry about what Republicans believe;
Their plans for this country induce quite the fright!
Mitt Romney believes he rides the White Horse.
To save the country, that "hangs by a thread".
He thinks he's the Messiah to bring us on course,
That Obama would steer us with intent unsaid,
He wants the wealthy, to have all the wealth,
The middle class lives, to serve their success.
The White House belongs to he who has stealth,
The Black Hat deserves to have less and less.
The nation shouldn't go to this masked stranger,
A man masquerading as the Lone Ranger.
Aurelius, "horrifying" would be the word I would use. This Florida constitutional amendment is a radical step towards organized religion infiltrating all public institutions funded by American citizens.
If truth speakers like David Twede could be excommunicated, what do you think they would want to do to you, me, or children for exercising our 1st Amendment rights under an "assumed" state authority?
God comes before my Country. My family comes before my Country. I try to keep and open mind when it comes to the people who will be powerful enough to be our leaders of this country.
My conversation with God are my guide. When God and I compare these two candidates......I do not see Romney following a moral compass. With Obama I do. If my Pastor tried to tell me how I should vote because "He/she" said so. I would be worshiping some other place.
I firmly believe that church and state have no business mixing. Do not use religion as a seword in politics.
Consider the story of David Twede and how it applies to Mitt Romney.
52 years ago, the leaders of the Religious Right, the conservative Protestant establishment (primarily the Southern Baptists) were terrified that John Kennedy would "follow the Pope" as a Catholic and put that above his responsibilities as President. The thought of that was a deal-killer to them for him being elected until he assured them otherwise.
The fact is that there is only one Catholic head of state who has ever been excommunicated (and he was let back in when he crawled on his knees through the snow to be received by the Pope). Excommunication in the Catholic Church is relatively rare.
Excommunication is not an everyday event with the Mormons, but it is not uncommon. And regardless of any political position or other position a Mormon holds, following the commandments of the Prophet and the Council of Apostles in Salt Lake City does take precedence over any of those other responsibilities, on pain of excommunication.
So now we have the descendants of the people who were afraid JFK would follow the Pope over being President now working their hearts out to elect a man who they know in those hardened little hearts of theirs is "not one of us", who belongs to a religion where he HAS to follow the commandments of the religious leaders before his responsibilities to the country, who WILL put the interests of that religion ahead of his country.
Southern Baptists really are crazy.
I remember the controversy over Kennedy. At my Southern Baptist Church (I was a teen) we were told that if Kennedy was elected he would have to do what the Pope told him to do. That was supposed to be a bad thing, according to the SBC.
Now pastors in the SBC are telling us to not vote for Obama, yet they do not see that they are doing the very thing that they were afraid the Pope would do to Kennedy. I'm no longer a Southern Baptist member and ordained minister. I'm now a Progressive Christian who thinks for himself!
What is it the pope would order to be done that the baptists are so against?
TCinLA: Now that one about Excommunication is humorous to me, since I was told I could never leave the Catholic Church because I was baptized there and I would always be considered to be a Catholic. And I wouldn't care if I was Excommunicated or not. For some reason, the Catholic Church thinks I have to be kept as a possession or a piece of property. I look at it that regardless whatever someone would do to me or think I should be owned as a piece of property I will still have my relationship with God, regardless of some church. No one can really take that from you, you still have whatever beliefs you have and still are a child of God's.
If you're Catholic, you have no doubt been inundated with the idea that Pres. Obama is taking away religious freedom. You should know and pass on to others, that requiring insurance to cover contraception for those who can’t afford it, has been proven to be the most effective way to reduce abortion and does nothing to take away religious freedom, but you should also know that if the economy is your major concern, the same Bishops talking about religious freedom are in strong opposition to Paul Ryan's economic plans, supported by Republicans and adopted by Mitt Romney. Every time abortion comes up in a negative way for Republicans they say it's a distraction from the economy, so let's take their advice and first move our focus away from the false religious freedom argument to get to the economy. In a letter to Paul Ryan, the Catholic institution of Georgetown University referred to the strong opposition against the Republican's economic plans by The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (representing 80% of Catholic Nuns) and many others within religious communities. The letter stated, “We would be remiss in our duty to you and our students if we did not challenge your continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest few.”
Now back to the only issue most Catholics have been hearing about. Obama care(s) ensures that insurance companies fully cover preventative care including contraception, in order to reduce the costs for us and the system, while at the same time significantly reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Anyone with a religious objection to contraception are still free not to use contraception. Those who previously couldn't afford contraception are at the greatest risk of having an unwanted pregnancy, so providing contraception directly to them reduces abortions. An article on Fox news.com, originally published by the AP, talked about an independent study released this October that tracked 9,000 largely poor and uninsured women who were given free access to contraception between the years of 2008-2010. The study showed a significantly lower rate of abortion and teen pregnancy. The national average for teen pregnancy is 34 births for every 1000 teens and in the study it was 6.3 births for every 1000 teens. The national average for abortion is 20 for every 1000 women and in this study it was 4.4 to 7.5 for every 1000. Add these results to the 98% of other studies that prove increased access to contraception dramatically reduce pregnancy and abortion. Reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases reduces healthcare costs saving insurance companies money, therefore reducing premiums. So those with religious objections to contraception not only don't have to use it but don't have to pay for others to use it because of increased premiums. If an insurance company ignores how covering contraception reduces their total costs and increases premiums any way, then all of us including religious communities should have a problem with the specific insurance companies that do this, not the government. The law dictates that health insurance companies have to offer the coverage, not the employer, which of course includes religious employers.
It is so destructive for many within the Catholic Church to aggressively oppose Pres. Obama’s policy to increase access to contraception, while completely ignoring that this is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce abortion and also ignoring their own support for Pres. Obama's economic policies during an election that is largely about the economic troubles facing this nation. During this last critical week I hope there are a ton of us that are able to break through this false religious freedom argument and deliver the true message of who has the best policies to reduce abortion and build up our economy. I also hope that because of this reality that in two weeks, “This Week in God...” will be talking about how Catholics surprised everyone and supported Pres. Obama.
Jst1voice, I have two mailings from Catholics for Ohio that have the "Obama is taking away our religious freedom" theme. I hope other Catholics are as turned off by it as I am. There is a separation of church and state for a reason.
People often mistake catholic churches with Roman Catholic. Catholic by definition mean universal and there are thousands of catholic churches across the country that are not afiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4
Psalm 46:9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
Just sayin'
I am a Roman Catholic, and an Obama supporter. My religious freedom seems intact. I've never heard one political word from our priest.
I am pro-life, but support Roe V Wade. No one is forcing us Catholics to have an abortion. As long as it is the law, it is no business of mine. I may not like it, but my religion commands me not to judge others who may have a different idea about what they could or could not do. Many pro-lifers believe in Capitol punishment. I do not. I am also a pacifist, and think war is about 99% of the time an unnecessary evil, and usually, as Jack Reed so aptly put it, about PROFIT. This, too seems to me a contradiction to the pro-life Republicans, who seem to have no problem with profitable wars. After the baby is born, things seem to change for Republicans. I find that amazing. It defies logic.
This man who said rape is God's will did not mean it the way it sounded. I think he meant two wrongs don't make a right. I still think he's an idiot, however, and an extremist.
Why do Republican politicians want to make their religious value our morality? Why does the Religious Right want to impose their rule of conduct as our limitations?
The arguments start when religious values are used to support positions which would impose on other people restrictions they find unacceptable. Some people do object to demands for an end to abortion, seeing it as a violation of the separation of church and state. Is the Religious Right forcing our government to make criminal what they believe to be sinful acts because their Religious leaders have failed their responsibility to teach their parishioners, members, congregation, etc? Why are Religious Leaders wanting politicians to do what they have
failed to do and that is to teach their flock to follow their teaching. That is where Religious Morality should be taught in a place of worship by religious leaders – not imposed on everyone by Politicians.
Pro-life advocates, Religious leaders argue over abortion, the United States infant mortality rate places us sixteenth among the nations of the world. Thousands of infants die each year because of inadequate medical care. Some are born with birth defects that, with proper treatment, could be prevented. Some are stunted in their physical and mental growth because of improper nutrition. Where are you Pro Life advocates and Religious Leaders and zealots after these children are born?
Up to know we have had a tradition of respect for individual conscience and religious freedom. It appears that the Religious Right is trying to usurp both—by imposing their consciences on all and by implying that their religious freedom
should trump everybody else’s.
India LeCarre: To respect life is to not want to wage war on everyone all the time like the GOP neocons want to. To respect life is to support taxes for Food Stamps/SNAP, healthcare for all, and making sure we have an adequate social safety net so people who are poor can get back on their feet. President Obama's Affordable Care Act gives women free health care checks plus access to family planning and birth control programs. A recent survey of women by Ob-GYN doctors in St Louis came up with the astonishing conclusion that the birth control programs in President Obama's ACA can reduce abortion by up to 70%. Unwanted teen pregnancies can be eliminated and become a thing of the past with the birth control and family planning available in the ACA. IUD's and the Patch are the best methods. I strongly support these women's reproductive health care programs. If you hate abortion, support President Obama's ACA and the birth control programs contained in them because what is good for American women and teenage girls is good for the whole country including the men who share their lives.
the man who said rape is god's will did not mean it the way it sounded. i think he meant two wrongs don't make a right...
i agree with you, India, but i feel the need to say, i simply do NOT believe that god has a hand in every pregnancy that occurs here on this earth. IF THERE IS A GOD...
if a woman gets pregnant through intercourse, rape or otherwise, her body must be fertile. pregnancy will occur, PERIOD! wouldn't it be convenient if a released egg could distinguish between friendly and unfriendly sperm? repubs seem to believe that IF A PREGNANCY OCCURS DUE TO RAPE OR INCEST THAT GOD HAS BLESSED THIS HORRIFIC ACT WITH A BABY.
i don't know if he meant "two wrongs don't make a right". i believe there is much more at stake here than just "choice". they seem to want control over EVERYTHING.
when does life start?
that should NOT be up to the repub party.
Lorr and Rex, great post #'s 4.13 and 4.14.
Science trumps religion yet again. The thing that most people don't understand is that if we allow congress to make the decision as to who can or can't have an abortion, they will then legislate who WILL OR WON'T. And the evangelical legislators can't wait for that.
I personally think decisions about abortion should be between a woman, her family, and her God, if she has one. Congress should worry about the economy, the environment, and maintaining the safety net (and let women make their own decisions about their bodies).
jst1voice: I do not follow Catholic church falsehoods. No priest or Pope in any Catholic church tells me what to do, especially when I have spoken up too clearly already to enough of them. Those statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas are far better than what any priest or Pope has ever said and that is more direct and factual. And to deny that women were as Apostles and Disciples of Jesus is outrageous. I am a Christian.
And I also believe in knowledge and science, since we were created with the very thing we can do this with a brain where we can think about things.
LENA 987 banned for comment spamming.
Any anti-choice movement should come with this disclaimer. Every fertilized egg is sacred.' until it is old enough for us to starve to death'. per "The State of the World's Children" 2002 UNICEF 10.9million under 5 yrs old die in developing countries each year. Malnutrition and hunger related diseases cause 60% of the deaths." Anti-choice movements and several churches around the world do not allow family planning and contraception to be included in foreign aid funding packages.
Thats been my question to pro-life people all week about this "Rape is gods will" business here in Indiana.
Who is going to raise these children, feed them, clothe them, educate them? How is this fair to the child or society? It creates a huge underclass of people who are in essence social castaways who will have no sense of stability or any kind of importance to society.
Is that what's going on? Because I've often wondered why we continue to encourage an exasperation of the problem in non-developmental aid.
Well nomoremagicalthinking,
Thats part of the Rights insanity. Or the method behind their madness.
They only care about the zygote till the zygote hits the air then it gives the Right something to make yet another issue of.
About the "save the children" movements, I can't do it. Birth control has to be part of it before I could consider being part of it.
I can't help but think how, if I "feed the children" they'll grow into another baby producer, mayhaps multiple times, which only exacerbates the situation.
Food = Norplant.
.
Amen! According to believers, God gave us free will and if you believe in God you believe in sin and sin is all about going against gods will, so rape is not God's intention, it's the rapists intention. 99% of this country are financially struggling right now and if Republicans are going to insist that every woman who gets pregnant carries it to full term, than they can’t also cut the programs that many of them would need to carry this out. I'm sure their response will be but there are private institutions that provide assistance. Two of the major benefits Republicans would have to cut to give a tax cut for the wealthy are the child income tax credit and charitable deductions. So not only are you cutting tax credits for the child to come but you are going to take away charitable deductions at the same time, therefore reducing the number of charitable contributions to these same private institutions you claim will provide assistance when the government can't do it. If this happens all of us will once again face the results of an inability for a party to engage in critical thinking.
It is not the republican pary (who wants to tell you what the decission you will be forced to make) who will bring this child into the world and raise him. Their responsibility that they want to make law ends at the birth.
They will go into the military, which is going to be expanded year after year whether they like it or not.
They will go into the prisons, which, privatized, will guarantee a 90% capacity.
Cannon fodder and inmates. That is the conservative plan for us: sick, ignorant criminals, and soldiers for god.
Conservatives don't care about people, they care about numbers. We've already quantified ourselves as the 99%, and they're happy to finish grinding us under in their plan for -- what?
You people are 5 lbs of crazy in a 2 lb bag.
Thank you for being you, because it will bring what one person calls an act of political hygiene, a new President and a new administration.
Shooter,
I wondered when you'd show up to make your troll dollar for the day!! But, Shooter, you are a little late - other trolls are stealing your thunder!!!
And yet, you still come here to show us crazies the errors of our ways! How wonderful!!!
Hey Shooter242. Welcome to the troll club! When in doubt, call names...
Sorry. When visiting the echo chamber it's hard not to pick up the resident vibrations.
" an act of political hygiene"
"I tell people don't kill all the liberals."
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,163548,00.html
Scratch a conservative and you'll find a killer.
ROTLMAO!
You mean he believes that if guns were around then, Jesus could have just shot Pontius Pilate and then he wouldn't have been crucified??? Funny, I just never get that as the point to that story when I read the Bible....
Rambo Christ, a turin tied around his forehead, using a large caliber weapon to blast his way out of the crowd at Calgary?
LOLOLOL!!! I can just see it all happening!!!
Jesus could have just shot Pontius Pilate and then he wouldn't have been crucified???
If thats what Cass is saying, he isn't thinking too much.
OOps, thats right, I was going to write one thing then I realized how: The Republican thinks their the only ones with "guns".
Pilate and his guards with sword and speer would be helpless against Christ and His 50 BMG or GE Minigun.
Why stop the masturbatory fantasy there? Why not imagine Christ with His eyeballs housing particle accelerators and/or lasers. Come to think of it, photon emitters and not spit balls would be closer to Christs abilities.
...
The Conservative Republican imagines themselves the only ones armed, and the citing of Christ, the Peace Loving Liberal of All Times, and guns as a qualification or litmus test to be part of Christs Club is ... Glad I waited till after 11 AM to read this cause I hate getting nauseous first thing in the morning.
.
Maybe in order to make the Bible cheaper for the Gideons to print, they just deleted all the parts that had "and make sure your gun is loaded", e.g. "Turn the other cheek - and make sure your gun is loaded" or "Love thy neighbor - and make sure thy gun is loaded."
It'd be sort of a neocon version of the unwritten "in bed" at the end of those fortune cookie sayings.
[and yes, I'm kidding]
Here's a link to the perfect image: "Jesus Get Your Gun " by Shawn Quinlan, an art quilt with a rather notorious reputation!
http://www.shawnquinlan.com/JESUSGETYOURGUN.html
"Finally, Cass explained to the audience that "you can't be a Christian if you don't own a gun."
The same is true with Muslims, In Afghanistan. They are called "The Taliban".
Yeah because you know Christ is commin back and he is gonna be dressed like Rambo
Maybe he already does, and you just didn't know who he was.
Q: What's the difference between an American Christian Fundamentalist and a Taliban?
A: The Taliban guy probably speaks a more understandable dialect of English.
Speaking of dialects of English and lost in translation...
I wondering if Cass thinking of the return of Christ hears "I'll be bak" in Arnolds voice in his head?
Or Ericles? Maybe in tongues?
"...
What a surprise.
And the Florida ballot initiative makes it easier for them to receive state money to expand their work...
How is this NOT a big deal
Taxpayer money going to promote religious teachings? Do we taxpayers get to at least choose which religious teachings our money goes to?
I am guessing that the answer is that If God wanted you to know what your money was being spent on he would tell you
Of course not! Haven't you heard? The only real religion is Christianity.
Dragoon21d: "I am guessing that the answer is that If God wanted you to know what your money was being spent on he would tell you". Was amused by your comment that was good. People should be very concerned where their money is going to, especially when it comes to child abuse. By giving money to such church's that keep promoting child abuse and covering it up is the same as condoning it.
deb It's not just condoning it but in a very real way potentialy making it Worse.
Giving Public money to these groups is in many ways like taxpayers being asked to fund NAMBLA
These rigid requirements imposed by the Catholic Church are ridiculous, falsehoods and very flawed which contain no real answers and/or solutions to really help people, except to keep people in bondage of abuse, misery, despair, and death. Church's like this are full of falsehoods as they created illusions for power, control, and greed with very little truth. Women and men forced to stay in marriages that do not work which leads to abuse, misery, despair and death. Women told by their very parents that they must go back to a man who has been the very threat and abuse of a family because you are forced to stay in a marriage by some ridiculous falsehoods. But the Catholic Church may let you leave that marriage if you prove to them over many years of further abuse that it is really happening. How many women I have heard about and from where they lived in abuse, misery, despair, and risk of death. One women had a brain tumor and was told her chances were slim of survival and she didn’t care if she lived or died. She was just fed with it all from having been worked like a slave in a household and enduring abuse. Well she die during that surgery to which she never cared about the outcome as she only looked at it as really freedom if she did die. Than another woman finally getting fed up with the man of her abuse and taking a crowbar to his head. The woman on a farm and her 16 children being abused daily by some man who was to be the support of the family. But that was the same thing another woman who had 3 boys. My grandmothers who had to endure abuse their whole lives by the hands of men who was suppose to be the support of the family. And my own mother whose eyes were beaten black and blue than told she looked pretty now. And when you met these men on the streets they greeted you with a smile just like it was a typical normal day. But these men did teach their sons and for too many of these sons they just learned to repeat that same abusive behavior.
I agree Dragoon21b.
Good point, Disgusted. If the KKKatholics get state money, does that signify state support for teaching homosexual pedophilic seduction??
Gary Cass is obviously a Psychotic lunatic, and should be regarded as such.
As far as the Florida ballot initiative I have said that for a long time powerful elements withing the religious community were seeking to legislate morality and enforce religion by law. Just the fact of who is supporting these measures should make the public suspicious if not downright terrified. If things like this gain a foothold at the state level then it can only be a short step for them to appear on the national stage.
This will funnel state funding for public schools to nonsecular schools.
It doesn’t take much to understand what Romney would really do if he were in the White House. Romney definitely would continue his attack and war on America for his own personal greed and self-interests. You can notice how Romney’s reply to the closing of Sensata to ship jobs over seas was if you come into this factory we will shut it down faster. Which really means Romney whom owns part in Sensata has no intention of caring about taking anybody’s opinion into consideration. Romney’s money is the only important factor in this issue of making more huge profits at the cost of everybody else, regardless if your making profits already or not. But what did Romney really want to do with the auto industry? Well that is plain and simply ship those jobs overseas, which would really gut America. Why have places to work in America just destroy it says Romney when we can make even more huge profits with much cheaper wages and harsh work conditions. Shove those people into factories and lock them in why waste time with them having to leave and come back they are the factories slaves. Now this the real truth of what Romney will do and already has been doing as he feels justify to justify and have his own personal war against America. People who vote for Romney and the Republicans are really just voting for the enemy of America. Yes America has been at war alright but one that has been longer than Afghanistan and it has been with excessive corporate greed, power craving, corruption, arrogance, hypocrites, and deceiving.
I'm so happy that God informed his son and his daughter not to join this guys' exclusive club. In heaven we have no use for such silly toys like guns. And this venemous poison that is being spewn from his dirty mouth makes God want to throw up blood.
Just once it would be nice to see god checking up on his "spokespeople" every once in a while just to see if they're staying on message.
Don't shoot the messenger. I need more coffee.
polls of possible interest to "twig" readers
Catholic voters divided by race
54 percent of white Catholics prefer Romney, while 70 percent of Hispanic Catholics said they favor Obama.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/american-values-survey-obama-romney_n_1997805.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
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"God Gap" [based on church attendance] Now Smaller Than Gender Gap
http://www.religionnews.com/blogs/mark-silk/state-of-the-god-gap
The Catholic numbers are interesting because I think they might represent broader concerns with social justice and equality over simple orthodoxy.
Strip the varnish off of it and you basicaly have the people who have known ecconomic and social opression and the people who never have.
Hispanics have relied on the church in many of the same ways that African-Americans did during the civil rights movement and whites have in essence used it as a kind of insulation from change.
This is because Latinos understand they can’t engage in religious freedom here in America, if they're forced to self-deport.
Didn't you hear? romney walked back on SELF DEPORTATION , then his spokesman walked that back 15 minutes later , so according to fact check and the msm , he is offically telling the truth
Reminds me of a great song done by Rhonda Vincent and the Rage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMPZ-hvwqwg
Amen.....some evangelicals I know need to hear this message. God help them.
So whom would you say has more love for their neighbor, Obama, or Romney?
Gee,Thankful, I wouldn't presume to know if it is a matter of which person is closer to the teachings of Christ. But as a matter of public policy I think it's pretty clear that President Obama's policies would better protect the poor and the indigent.
Bingo!
"I think it's pretty clear that President Obama's policies would better protect the poor and the indigent."
True, but as the trolls on this site regularly show, protecting the poor and indigent is anathema for too many people.
Entropy, yes unfortunately when zealots get their way they usually try to get the "thou shalt not" beliefs carved into stone rather than "Love thy neighbor".
Not that the man spewing hatred all over those around him has a broken moral compass.
Can we finally admit that US Religion is no longer about men coming under the authority of god, its about men assuming god-like authority.
Totally agree with you there Needmorecoffee.
If you really do get to meet God after you die, then there is going to be a lot of people in for a really big surprise.
Tom51, #14.2
Huh! That is just what my favourite theologian, C.S. Lewis said! I happen to think he was right.
I have a feeling He won't be wearing an NRA button. I'm also pretty sure He won't be carrying a portable radio and listening to Rush Limbaugh.
I see there are a lot of people here who don't care for religion for one reason or another. Some seem to hate it. If you do feel that way, ask yourself why.
If the answer smacks of, "They cause more harm than good." Ask yourself why you care. If there is no Absolute Good in the universe, where did that sense of outrage come from? That sense that "this is wrong and should be different."
I agree Tom51 if people read all the statements Jesus made it would be indeed a very big surprise. Grinning on that one.
This guys "Broken moral Compass" points straight down
These very sick far right wingers who so blantantly use religion to attain an end turn around & use the people they brainwash to keep the cycle producing more of the same. It is outrageous & next to impossible to correct, they pick their victims in areas that are conducive to being led as lambs to slaughter.
in addition "twig" news
the la times has a good piece on the efforts to market rmoney to evangelicals
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-evangelicals-20121026,0,7781678.story
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A 22-year-old man accused his former church of holding him for four months against his will while he was physically and emotionally abused because he is gay.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/22/v-print/172142/nc-man-says-church-confined-him.html
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IRS Suspends Church Audits
The Internal Revenue Service has temporarily suspended tax audits of churches pending final adoption of IRS rule changes to clarify which high level Treasury official has authority to make a determination under IRC Sec. 7611 that there are reasonable grounds to begin a church tax inquiry.
here's a church that doesn't care
http://www.kens5.com/home/Church-marquee-with-political-message-stirs-sentiment-in-Leakey-Texas-174869651.html
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and
Paul Kurtz, a leading U.S. philosopher who devoted his life to fighting prejudice against people who reject belief in a god and promoting a non-religious stance in life, has died at the age of 86, websites reported on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/22/us-religion-kurtz-idUSBRE89L19D20121022
From your first link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-evangelicals-20121026,0,7781678.story
Sorry, but BBB (being born Black) trumps being anything else in these rwn religious minds!! How very "Christian" of them!!! I would have LOVED to see the mental gyrations these guys would have gone through if Romney had been a Communist!!!
in addition to the florida ballot initiative steve mentions concerning public funding of religious ministries, there's one [Amendment 6] on abortion as well...among other things the measure would exempt abortion from a privacy clause in the state constitution
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Abortion,_Amendment_6_%282012%29
no surprise to learn "Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami told Catholics that he urges support on 6 and 8 as they relate to life and religious freedom."
I have read posters from Fl saying there are so many ballot initiatives there that it is just mass confusion on the subjects , it would be interesting to see a sample ballot from Fl at some point , most working stiffs will ignore them I assume , because who has time to bone up on the details? Which will make it ripe for the few who spam elections with this garbage, to pass these things with no one even realizing it , I would hope they have to get a certain % of vote to even pass , but we are talking about the banana republic , no offensive to my Fl dem friends
Thanx Rus
ah, that gun toting jeebus--what a guy!
Yep, I'm betting Cass is busily rewriting the Bible for his followers! Now Luke 6:31 states:
"But I say to you who hear: Shoot your enemies, kill those who hate you, blast those who curse you, and knock off those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, shoot him also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your lead. Give to everyone who asks of you more lead. And from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them back, just shoot him. And just as you want men to do, you also do to them with a Colt 45."
Rambo Jesus:
http://photobucket.com/images/Rambo%20Jesus/
Create your own meme:
http://es.memegenerator.net/Rambo-Jesus
Too funny, oncearepublican.
This is all just too humerous. If you want to insinuate that an endorsement of someone validates a candidates position, how about the Socialist and Communist Parties (are they really parties???? UGH...) of the United States have endorsed obamafor President.
Well considering that Obama has been trying like mad for the last four years to jump start a capitalist free-market economy I would say that it's pretty clear he doesn't support their agenda.
Romney on the other hand has not only endorces Murdoch but has picked Ryan for his Vice President stands on stage at Liberty University and has completely avoided any type discussion of religious extremism here in America.
I would say of the two candidates it's pretty obvious who supports what
Oh and just by way of irony Obama did publicly reject the extremest words of his pastor
Oh and just by way of irony Obama did publicly reject the extremest words of his pastor
Dragoon21b, thank you for reminding me.
Dragoon, It is pretty obvious to me who supports what, also. Romney's religion is not something he discusses for the exact same reason he doesn't let us see his last 10 yrs. of tax returns.
It would lose him the election.
Also, you cannot be a compulsive liar and be a Christian. In fact, the Mormon church condemns lying in a very extreme way. You are "damned" if you lie. I do hope you've noticed that Romney is a pathological liar. That bothers me a lot. How can he be trusted?
Thanks for the daily demonstration of Moron Stupidity Pascoboy. I once thought of being a Republican, but I couldn't pass the IQ test low enough.
you cannot be a compulsive liar and be a Christian.
But you can be a Good Mormon, since "Lyin' for the Lord" is promoted.
It's ok for a white minister to call the U.S. damned but it not ok for a black minister to do the same...?...
Howzabout a black minister telling his congregation to gun up?
I once saw Rev.Wright's "God damn America sermon" on a Bill Moyer's show on PBS a few years ago. I think I saw the whole sermon.
It's one thing to see Fox News showing a snippet of Rev.Wright yelling "God damn America" and another thing to see the whole sermon and understand why he was saying "God damn America."
What goes around, comes around, if you have the wisdom to comprehend.
Such a pretty baby girl, I hope you will fight for her rights!
I have also watche the Full Rev. Wright Sermon, and I found much of what he said to be true. I have yet to find any speaker that I can agree with everything he or she might say. I do, however, find it rude to judge if you have not listen to every word. He was basically warning his congregation to pay close attention to what was going on under gw bush and how America might be damned by God, if we were careful.....do you find him wrong in that?
Tom 51 and Luz Can,
I, too, heard Rev. Wright's speech and totally understand what he meant and why he said it and I am white and I agree with him. 100%!
Racism is this country's greatest sin.
And there is evidence that racism is increasing.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/176075591.html?cmpid=15585797
Gary Cass talks about people being anti-Christ’s when he had better look in a mirror. Gary Cass has yet to follow the teachings of Jesus and all the very statements that Jesus has made. Especially, when Jesus’ very statements of saying Jesus would make a woman a man has very much happened in the world today. How can you ever think guns are in any association with God, when it was with water in baptisms. And King David’s refuge and salvation was in water. Guns and God do not go together because guns are death and not life. Water and God goes together because water really is life and not death. “Cass' read on the New Testament leads him to believe Christianity and firearm ownership are inextricably linked.” Where did Jesus ever say pick up a gun and kill someone or even to own one. Where did Jesus ever say violence was better? Or where did Jesus ever say it was better to oppress people? Or where did Jesus ever say put people under your foot in abuse, misery, despair, and death for greed, corruption, arrogance, deceiving, hypocrites, and craving power? And this list of questioning can go on, because Gary Cass’ and those others with him are the one’s being anti-Christ’s. If you want to check that is easy go to earlychristianwritings.com and look for the Gospel of Thomas and that has all the statements made by Jesus together for your review.
I found a Acts of Thomas, Gospel of Thomas, Book of Thomas the Contender, and Infancy Gospel of Thomas,,, and couldn't find "all the staements made by Jesus together for my review"...
I'd like to find where jebus said "men and women are equals" and "no man shall enslave another"...
Maybe you could list them?
This is to be credited to Scholar1890 statement, it was so good how this person commented I have to re-list it.
The line is Saying 114 from the Gospel of Thomas:
"Simon Peter said to them, 'Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life.'
Jesus said, 'Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the domain of Heaven.'"
The Gospel of Thomas may well be the best-known book from the corpus of Christian writings that did not make it into the Bible itself. Because it is simply a collection of sayings without any biographical material (no birth, no resurrection, no miracles, etc.), scholars speculate that the book might be older than the Biblical Gospels. The complete text was lost until it was discovered in a Coptic translation in Egypt in the 1940s, as part of what is known as the Nag Hammadi Library. It is now available in several English translations; I'm quoting the version created by James Patterson and the Jesus Seminar.
The website that Deb referred to contains no fewer than nine translations of the Gospel, and also includes a compendium of scholarly commentaries on the document as well as comments by users of the site. The commentary page on Saying 114 can be found here:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas/gospelthomas114.html
And here's another one to puzzle over--Saying 7:
"Lucky is the lion that the human will eat, so that the lion becomes human. And foul is the human that the lion will eat, and the lion still will become human."
Personally, I'd choose Plan A. (And what does lion taste like, anyway? Like chicken, I guess.)
Here is another of the Gospel of Thomas' translations - http://users.misericordia.edu//davies/thomas/Trans.htm
No, I think lion tastes like armadillo. Use a lot of hot sauce. Chase it down with scotch. A lot of scotch.
Just kidding. I never ate either one. Scotch is OK, though.
In fact, if Romney wins the election, I'm buying two cases of it.
Ok India, I lived in Texas a large part of my life, and never heard that any one ate armadillo. Rattle snake yes, even possum but never armadillo, and there ar a lot of them. I don't think I ever heard of anyone eating skunk either.
If romney get elected it will take more than two cases, he may last two years before he gets impeached like nixion. There is bound to be a watergate when we discover what he was up to, to get elected.
LOL, if it's on the side of the road, it's time to make Gumbo!
I have been down and around in the Southern states and I have heard of people eating armadillo. Even where people have tried eating skunk, but don't know what one tastes like. Romney gets into the White house I am going to need more 2 cases of scotch.
I wish I could be amused by this nonsense. But it actually scares me. The people that spew this stuff have no connection with ant God I have ever known. Life is sacred from conception through birth, then all bets are off. The death penalty is fine with them, killing others around the world is fine, I guess they aren't made in God's image. This is the mentality that led to the 15 year old Pakistani girl being shot for voicing a differing opinion. The scare me. Romney scares me because with the only core belief that he has being his right to be President we can't know what he will support if he ever gets into office. Why is it so easy for these people to hate?
Sue, you are not alone, they have been scaring me for three decades, and I say this as a Christian from age 12.
I think you can divide Christians into several groups. I once belonged (I grew up in a Baptist family) The the First Baptist Church in Dallas. I absolute though the Minister was superior. (in truth more like a salesman) I lost faith in him once he took a stand to keep Texas schools segregated in the Southern Baptist Convention. I knew that was wrong. I find some fault with all organized religions, but I prefer to have a Church connection. Now I belong to an all inclusive religion. Believing in Jesus Christ makes you a Christian. I believe he was a positive leader. The Old Testament, I see a lot of bad behavior there, so If you ask me if I'm a Bible thumping Christian the answer is No.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKt7ozdKeBk
http://www.bilerico.com/2012/10/lying_for_the_lord.php
TM, See my comment above, #14.3.
The New Testament was written for a purpose.
When Jesus comes back the money changers tables he will be overturning, are the tables at gun shows.
LOL and those who want to throw out all welfare.
He'll find me working at the local food bank. I think I'll be ok.
I find it very strange that none of Romney's FIVE sons are not in the military or at least the national guard. Why hasn't this discussion come up. IF, and I mean IF, God forbid, he becomes president how is he and the Mrs. going to face those families who have lost loved ones. She mentioned, on the View, that they have had "service" as a missionary but that isn't the same thing. Not by a long shot!!! Render to God what is God's and render to Ceaser what is Ceaser's.
Why would they fight for a plutocracy they know so close to home?
It's easier to "saber rattle" against Iran if you have no "skin in the game". I wonder if he'd be such a warmonger if any member of his family had ever been in the military!!
This is just ANOTHER reason Romney should never be President. He doesn't even think enough of our military to encourage his children serving. How much do you really think he cares about those who came back injured or those families who lost soldiers?
Has Mitt or Ann Romney EVER gone to a military hospital and talked with wounded warriors? I have been searching online for months now for a story where he went to talk to them, but so far I can't find any!! Lots of stories about Obama visiting wounded troops though!!
There is the whole of this namoosa with your comment - Render to God what is God's and render to Ceaser what is Ceaser's. Now what did they do in modern days, but try to tie money with the outright abuse, power craving, corruption, greed, arrogance, hypocrites, and deceiving thinking that they could get away with these things. Especially, about Jesus' comment about the coin they twisted that truth so they could continue with their dark desires. But regardless of what excuses they use, no one has the right to oppress people or take someones freewill away given to all of us by God.
Deb,
And I think racism is the perfect example of the sins of the fathers being passed on from generation to generation.
When I heard my grandfather use a racial slur, I was shocked and horrified. I chose not to accept what was being passed to me!
I think it helps that I grew up in Watts, and didn't know I was the only white kid in my preschool! No one in my family could counteract that experience. People are people, and that's how I've always seen it. I can't say I'm "colorblind", because I'm not. I can see just fine, and President Obama's skin is much darker than mine. I voted for him anyway, and I'll do it again, because I agree with his vision and policies. Willard's whiteness is alien to me, and his vision for America is anathema.
I don't want his god in charge of my health care!
I don't like that he thinks business has the right to discriminate against women and pay them less than men for the same work!
I don't like his choice of running mate!
I don't like his snotty, self-entitled wife!
I don't like the fact that he literally can't bend! A man who can't physically bend, won't be able to bend metaphorically, either. There can be no compromise with someone who can't bend.
There's just so much wrong with Willard!
Where are his tax returns?
You got that right India and Peanut.
D'ya think God may be having second thoughts about creating man in his image?
Don't fret God, the god rackets got an app for the fall from perfection.
While Jesus just keeps sayin' "just disconnect fools!"
"In your hands or that of any other person, so much power would, no doubt, be dangerous. I am the only man in the would whom it would be safe to trust with it. Remember I am a prophet.!" Joseph Smith Jr............Maybe he should have started a religion and.....nevermind.
"Mr Smith I have L.Ron Hubbard holding on line one..."
No one should have that much power no matter who you are. We are human with too many flaws.
I hear that tom cruz is no longer under the influence of L.Ron.
So, If I don't own a gun I can't be Christian?
Knowing how many "Christians" are, and how if you don't believe exactly what they believe you're not only not a Christian but some kind of Anti Christ ....
If I don't own the right gun can I still be a Christian??? Is there some kind of litmus test for how I arm myself and family?
I like target shooting but my 22 isn't a "manly" gun, and my deer rifle is short barreled and hell, it holds only 5 rounds. 6 with one in the pipe. Do I need to get a 308 Bushmaster? A 45 Colt? a 357 or what? Do bows count? Do recurves count or do I need a compound, does the compound need to be cam? Do target tips count or do I have to have bladed?
Please tell me, I want to know, because being a Follower of the Preacher of Peace I wouldn't want to not get into Heaven because I wasn't properly armed and thus incapable of enough violence and bloodshed.
.
Honestly, This self Rightious Ideaology is Wrong , its a christian Minority attack on the Community and it is NOT THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST! Let it be Known that these False Preaching and radical views ,do not Make them a Church!
Its time to Make these so called Religious Non-profit Church's pay Property taxes,for promoting Political Agendas! They have Violated their non profit status and need to have consequences for their actions!
evangelicalism be gone.
Fundamentalism be Gone!!
Westboro Baptist Church? Really?
.
Hey, let's get rid of the NRA first! Then work our way down to the evangelicals and fundamentalists.
Ooops, I forgot, there's one Mormon I'd like to see be gone. Let's do that first. I'm thinking November 6th.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are two separate things? That's news to me.
Apparently you also can't tell what sarcasm is. Geeze.
.....nope. Swing and a miss
Nope, but I do love the blissful paradox here. You can't say that the bill of rights is a part of the constitution because the bill of rights is an amendment to the constitution; they're parts of the same document. Sigh.
The "Bill of Rights" doesn't actually exist. This was a messaging title given to the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution as part of compromises that took place during the convention. Many states were concerned that they would not have certain rights- like the right to criticize the federal government- protected and so states were told that if they guaranteed ratification of the US Constitution this would immediately be followed by a bill of rights I.E. a series of amendments to clarify the rights of state's and private citizens. The Bill of Rights isn't actually a bill- it's just a messaging term that was used to refer to the amendments that were passed and today we refer to it a colloquial term to encompass those first 10.
Calling amendments to the US Constitution separate from the US Constitution is very interesting- maybe this is why conservatives feel that they can bash certain amendments like the 14th, the 21st, and so on while simultaneously claiming that they are upholding the US Constitution as it was intended. Ya know, cause the amendments aren't really part of the US Constitution. They're part of some secret constitution that only conservatives know about.
*Eyeroll*
blargh typos
*states
*as a colloquial term
#24.7 Cartoonthenews, Cool post. I like it.
Hey Kahn #24.4....ugly avatar! My insane post got nine hits. Yours got zero.
Any questions? I mean about whose mind is or is not intact?
I keep a copy of the constitution right on the bookcase, here in my library/computer room, in front of where I am sitting. Maybe you should get a copy. A fine document.
BTW, I am not a liberal. I supported Jon Huntsman. I now support my second choice, Obama: a centrist Democrat. I just can't bring myself to want a pathological liar for president or a draft dodger for my commander-in-chief. Call me crazy.....(Oh, you already did! LOL)
I think Jon Huntsman would have been a far better candidate than Romney. He hit it spot on when he likened Romney to a "well-oiled weathervane".
I do wonder how conservatives reconcile Romney's pathological lying with their "values".
Which came first the constitution or the Bible? Both have now been misconstrued and rewritten to accomodate the self-appointed Gods. One thing is for certain you will never hear "I'm sorry" not from the banks not from Wall st. not from Bush and especially not from Romney, the co-author of the book American Greed. Here's another question, what kind of a man would take a picture of himself making love to money. And why wasn't Anne and the fam all invited on stage for that adorable pic?
HyperTyper, their value is to control the rest of us, so I think they're just fine with him lying and saying absolutely anything to get elected. They happily repeat the lies, so I'm guessing they have no problem with them. They avoid fact-checking when- and wherever possible, so they don't have to acknowledge they're repeating lies. god is an expedience for them, just like everything else they say or do.
Religion exists to tell people what to do: how to live their lives. I think it makes religious people crazy that we don't feel obliged to follow the rules they've imposed on themselves. It's a sibling kind of thing: "If I have to do this, so do you! If I can't do this, neither can you!"
Nyah!
I like that Peanut, but I like to break those false rules, especially when I do have a spiritual and religious side. I enjoy my freewill and very much plan on keeping it.
Yes, and put his sign on their lawns.
Easy-12 if you are referring to me, you do not know me at all.
I have more of a question. Since the far-right do not believe in abortion, even
in the case of rape, and a majority of them insist it's their right to own
guns; this is my question: If one of the far-right gun-toting men walked in on
some guy raping his wife, and he thinks it is his right to kill the rapist
since he is in his home, he kills him. Well, if his wife got pregnant, it would
mean she would have to have the baby. So how would his wife explain to her son or daughter that they don't have a Father because he was killed by his Step-Father? And, does that mean it's ok to kill your kid's Father but it's never ok to have an abortion?
Let's not forget that these extreme fundamentalist Christians also believe in Capitol punishment. (But not abortion.) Logic is not their strong point.
Now let's not also forget that the step father will probably resent the child and inflict abuse on the child, since the child was produced by another man, if they kept the child. Don't be fooled these men have no sympathy for anybody, especially when they want to run and kill so fast.
Capitol Punishment and abortion is not the same thing. Logic isn't your strong point either. Capital Punishment is the execution of a criminal for the crime(s) of murder of a human being. Abortion is the willful act of a mother to terminate the life of the baby inside of her even though the child has committed no crime. How can you even begin to compare the two? Unless your actually comparing them as both acts of murder but they are nothing alike in my book. To terminate the life of the child a few weeks after conception is not the same thing. If your talking about partial birth abortion then yes that is murder. You cannot really compare the two.
Here's an interesting additional point: in law, if a woman who is married gets pregnant, the husband is considered legally the father, regardless, and thus liable for child support and everything else.
That has been the law since the creation of mankind. What exactly is your point? The law assumes that to protect the character of the wife, the rights of the child, including survivor and inheritance rights, and protect the marriage. How is that so bad?
You could go one step further. The father impregnated his 11 yr old daughter. It makes even less sense of their twisted logic, yet this happens every day somewhere in this country. This cannot be explained by so called men of God who likely got their certification by questionable means to say the least. It is all sick, sick, sick.
I've seen too many children who came into this world unwanted for reason or another. I didn't discover many until they were in high school with a built in proliferated problems. Hard to help some one that age.
Life begins at birth, until then the fetus is a parasite feeding of the body of the mother. Aren't those parasites what the republicans are calling all living people who are trying to survive. You can't have it both ways. So far I haven't found that the republicans have any strong point except to promote war at any cost to human life.
Strawman: liberals don't like abortion anymore than they do capital punishment, but they do not want to make abortion illegal because it doesn't end up reducing the death rate. Let's look at it this way: if you're trying to reduce the number of deaths the stupidest thing you could do is to outlaw abortion. The death rate in pregnant women skyrockets to about 20% when abortion is outlawed and nations that currently have abortion outlawed or severely restricted do not have a lower abortion rate than that of nations that have abortion legally available. In fact in most nations where abortion is outlawed the abortion rate is higher than in nations where it is legal to obtain an abortion. Although, to be certain, this isn't necessarily because the practice of abortion itself is the driving factor so much as the way the nation approaches issues of sex, sexuality, and in particular contraception.
Yeah, and I'm the Sheik of Araby! Lol!
I don't judge people on the basis of what they do or don't personally believe; I was addressing your argument on the basis of it's intellectual prowess. Saying that because someone approves of the federal government allowing abortions to take place in medical clinics that this necessitates that this someone wants that act to happen is a leap in logic and is a misrepresentation of their position. Postulating it as such, even in sarcasm, is still a strawman. Normally speaking I don't address sarcastic comments seriously (serious troll is serious!), but unless you leave an indicator as to the sarcasm it's impossible to tell via text.
No, no, no, Kahn, #25.13, The problem is, with these darn kids, they remain parasites forever!
Ask me, I have three; all three grown up parasites. :)
I prefer the cat.
Good for you, Kahn. Touche! I was trying to get a laugh out of you.
San Francisco 2......Detroit 0. Oh, yeah!!
I'm going to watch the game. Goodnight folks.
That is the whole point of abortions is that they will never stop, since you do have many factors on why a woman has an abortion. And the fact that these Republicans and outright religious extremists would deny a woman her right to make her own choices is appalling, especially when it comes to the very issue of a womans health. No one will be changing my mind as being Pro-choice. Religious extremists are still as they have always been hypocrites, especially when they would run to start a war just to murder people. Than on top of it even deny people the true teachings of Jesus and if it goes by what Jesus said, he was instrumental in women getting their right to choose what they want to do without these hypocrites that are really causing abuse, misery, despair, and death. To me reading Jesus' statements makes it much too clear on what has really been going on.
A baby is not a parasite. That's just mean and cold. Life is life and I believe it has a right to live but I cannot chose that belief for everyone so I believe that people have a right to decide for themselves. This is the first time I have ever heard anyone call a baby a parasite. That's just disgusting. A baby is blessing. I cannot believe I am reading this. That's really offensive.
A fetus is a parasite. A baby is what's born, baked enough to survive ex-utero. Nothing cold or mean about fact.
A fetus can't survive without full maternal support: it is therefore in a parasitic relationship with it's host. It is not a symbiotic relationship. The mother receives no benefit from the fetus, and may in fact suffer great physical harm as a result of the parasitic relationship.
Not offensive: science.
Go Niners!!
Actually psychologists have said that a lot of bonding goes on between the baby and the mother in the womb. The baby can actually learn in the mother's womb. Studies has shown that a bonding with the baby during gestation is beneficial to the mother and the mother. Listening to stories, talking to the baby and what music you expose it have all shown beneficial to mother and the baby. (The father to but no one here wants to talk about the father.) So therefore it's more than just a parasite.That's an awful term. It's not all about science. Science cannot measure the joy a mother feels when the baby kicks or moves. There is more to a pregnancy than science. Studies have shown the changes a mother goes throw is actually beneficial to mother. Breastfeeding may actually cut cancer risks.http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20070417/breastfeeding-cuts-breast-cancer-risk
Women rarely die giving birth anymore. It's safer now then it has ever been to give birth. Mortality rates have dropped. The extra hormones a women produces is actually beneficial to the mother. Ovarian and Cancer risks decrease with the pregnancies. A pregnant mother confidence actually soars during pregnancy and it makes her want to work out and get healthier. http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/changing/benefits-of-pregnancy/?page=1
I maybe a "stupid guy" but I do know some stuff. I took child psychology in school. So I know there are benefits to getting pregnant.
I didn't know that "Thou Shalt Own a Gun" was in the Bible. Maybe that's just in the Republican bible.
I love my Lord Jesus but I hate how He get used. I'm sure He hates the hate too.
What I find to be particularly annoying is christians preying/hopeing/wishing that Only thru jebus will anyone get to heaven, hopeing for 5 billion souls to burn in hell for an eternity because they guessed wrong at the shell game called faith based religion. You just can't get any more immoral than that.
I'm with you Luz! It's sick and twisted.
But it's a central point of all monotheistic religions, and often a major drawing point.
The idea that you're directly connected to the rules of life prescribed by the one and only supreme deity induces euphoria, which in its intensified form is called rapture. People who are overwhelmed by the world are often drawn to monotheistic religions because they want the rapture that unquestioning prostration to belief in those laws of life(sic) induce. HOWEVER, maintaining that rapture takes work, because it's built on self delusion. THEREFORE, the True Believer (see Eric Hoffer) feels the need to do the following: (1) Constantly proclaim his/her absolute faith in the absolute deity; (2) Condemn everyone who doesn't proclaim the same absolute faith in the same absolute deity in the same way (what Dee Grover, LuzCanN, and newsblof903 all decry); (3) Force their particular theology on everyone else, maintaing they're doing it as an act of love, for the good of the world.
The irony is in the words "particular theology." When similarly overwhelmed people are drawn to similar, but slightly different versions of the same absolutist religions, worshiping similar, but slightly different versions of the same absolute deity, they all hate each other! Jihadists decry Jews and "Crusaders," while TeaHadists and TeaVangelicals hate muslim Jidhadists and sometimes, though not always, Jews, who sometimes fight back, but usually hunker down and turn inward. So, Dee Grover, LuzCanN, & newsblog, while these religions, at their best, can lead to wonderful things, the perversions you bemoan are unavoidable in the real world at large, like annual mutations of the flu virus.
My "faith" is held in my personal relationship with my Higher Power. As such, I cannot condemn any other person's faith. I don't feel it is my place to suggest that anyone else believe as I do. And I must say I see the same intolerance in those who are atheistic or agnostic. Where the "religions" proselytize for their particular stance, the atheist loves to put down others who have a faith as stupid or pathetic.
The human condition is at best fearful and seeks what hope it can find. If what we seek is perfection we are doomed to fail, since we are all human subject to error.
While I cannot inflict my beliefs on others, I can (and do) make decisions about the behaviour of others that violate common decency and courtesy. Until we understand that our only real value in this life is our compassion for our fellow being, we will struggle with our need for power to insulate our vulnerability.
My opinion.
Why can't I find anything about Libya on this site? Four dead Americans and a cover-up by this administration apparently doesn't matter to RM?
Go trick or treat elsewhere little troll
Thanks for the daily demonstration of the kind of Moron Stupidity it takes to pass the IQ test low enough to be one of you idiots. Go drink some more Kool Aid and pee on the fire hydrants in WackoWorld.
Typical genius liberal responses.
Actually this website has dedicated several articles to the issue of Libya. People here are just sick of discussing it since your "cover-up" claim has been debunked to death.
The only people hanging on to the Libya coverup myth are Faux News. Condoleezza Rice called bullpucky on them for it. Heck, even Geraldo Rivera called them out on it.
And whataka...why isn't Faux News calling Romney and Ryan out on their LIES??? Hmm? If you'd like to know which lies I mean, check out the "Chronicling Mitt's Menacities" series on this blog. [Note: Underlined text within that series is usually a link to support the topic of that mendacity.]