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.
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Religious cults...Don't shoot the messenger! A treasure trove of information!
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Mormons/mormon.htm
Say, xxxooo, Are you saying my father, a freemason, worshipped satan? I don't think so.
I knew him quite well. I saw no evidence of it.
The devil if I know! As you see these things are hidden. If you read it all it also mentions the Catholic church as Satanic.
India....as I am sure you already know......your father was not a devil worshiper.....he was member of a fraternity....I am also a mason....and it is a good fraternity to belong to. If I need help...they will help me....If someone else needs help....I will help them....we take care of each other....and not just masons....we take care of our community. I knew there was a common thread between us. Now I know what it is.....
TAP
I just noticed that the Denver Broncos stadium is emblazon with Sports Authority Bain Capitals business and it has a giant White Horse as its pinnacle!
Well, I guess that means I worship satan, too. LOL
Like father, like daughter.
I must say the Mormon's are extremely strange in what they believe.
Devils daughter huh! Well you'll be more than ready for Halloween! I know your cats possessed!
PS That was an evil sounding LOL!
India...I know you are proud of your father......I'm sure he is proud of you as well.....sleep well India...
Your Friend
TAP
I think God would be Pleased to see SO MANY PEOPLE Talking about Him. As I Catholic I stongly resent when I'm told Obama is taking away my rights As a Catholic , I personally believe in No Abortion.BUT LIKE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN I can't force my believe on my friends who do not share my Catholic faith.Istill practice my faith everyday of my life not always in the best way but I kept on trying to serve those who need help. I wish people would remeber that it is not just going to chruch that makes us who we are it is the way we live our lives among the people around us.
If you believe the bible one of the first things god grants is freedom of choice. Freewill as our Constitution guarantees. Times change and we should use logic as a guide also. Of course many of the founders were Freemasons a cult. And its still here.
xxx....Masonry is not a religion...it is a Fraternity. George Washington was a Freemason. Just a tidbit....FDR was a Freemason here are a few more...Henry Kissinger, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Oh yes....Al Gore....
Here is a list of religious leaders.....
RELIGIOUS LEADERS: Father Francisco Calvo (Jesuit Cat. Priest), Geoffrey Fisher (Canterbury), Billy Graham, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Joseph Fort Newton, Robert Shuller, Oral Roberts, Louise Farrahkan (Nation of Islam), G. Bromley Oxman (friend of Billy Graham), Joseph Smith , Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon (early Mormon), Heber C. Kimball, Spencer Kimball, Aleister Crowley,Gerald B. Gardner (Wiccan), Wynn Westcott (Golden Dawn)
Need info. The Nation--Greg Palast article: "Mitt Romney's Bailout Bonanza" WHAT'S UP!
Just tell me if this MAN can read and write or does everything have to be oral for him?
Here is one that hasn't been put up here and it needs to be. I can shoot down this Gary Cass with one quote from Jesus Christ and prove that Jesus said that we should never take up arms.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Matthew 26:52.
Put that in your craw Gary Cass!
Back to religion - I'm very surprised that Mormonism hasn't been explored more fully during this campaign. I know very little about Mormonism, and I'm sure this lack of knowledge is shared among many. There are two main reasons I see to take a very close look: the first is that we know that Mitt's not only a Mormon, but a highly devout one - he skipped military service to be a missionary and we know he donates lots and lots of money (more than many of us see in a lifetime) every year to the Mormon church. This is something that's very important to him, yet we know next to nothing. More importantly though, to bring back an older image, Romney would have his finger hovering over that button - that button that still exists. I would like to understand how Mormonism views the end of days, or even just death. Is death glorified? Does it elevate those who die to god-like status? These things would be good to know, and his religion should be explored for the very real purpose of understanding. His religion should not be treated as taboo and off-limits.
I do not understand why Mormonism has not been explored more fully during this campaign season. I see three main reasons to dig in:
1. Most of us know little about it.
2. Mitt is not only Mormon, he devout. He's been a missionary for the Mormon church and he donates more money every year to the Mormon church than most of us see in a lifetime. It's clearly very important to him.
3. Most importantly, he will have his finger hovering over that button - that button that still exists - and understanding how Mormons view big issues like death and the end of days would be educational. If Mormons glorify death - if Mormons become god-like after dying - I would like to understand that.
His religion should be explored - and not treated as taboo or off-limits.