Letters to the Editor
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These extremists show self-contempt
Having read yet another great article by Michelle Goldberg about gay-baiting Christian extremists, I have come to a conclusion. One of the primary reasons they religious rightwingers hate gays is because because they loathe their own bodily functions. They loathe the fact that they defecate, urinate, and menustrate, and gay sex reminds them of that. They think of human products -- specifically feces and semen -- intermixing and they are reminded of their own humanity, and they are sickened by it. They want a world that is not of the flesh, where people don't sweat or salivate, and pregnancy is immaculate. Gay sex reminds them of everything they hate about themselves, and they cannot forgive homosexuals for reminding them of it.
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A "receptive partner" in "anal sex?"
Where do you suppose LaBarbera got his info about anal sex--his wife?
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Pathetic, But Powerful
Another excellent article from Michelle Goldberg.
I have to admit that I was smirking while reading this article, but I realize that although these people are morons, they are idolized by millions of right wing fanatics.
My husband got snookered into buying one of Rod Parsley's videos, mistaking Mr. Parsley for a civil rights crusader and not for the political extremist posing as a pastor that he really is. I've watched Parsley and other TBN "pastors" enough not to be fooled. They are simply Republican partisans pretending to be Christians, while exhorting their parishioners to vote against their economic interests and for conservatives. Mr. Parsley apparently was successful in convincing many Black Ohioans to vote for Bush in 2004, which pushed him over the top for that state and ultimately for the nation.
My only question is why are religious leaders such as Parsley allowed to stump for the Republican party everyday without losing their tax-exempt status? Wasn't a church in California placed under scrutiny and threatened with losing its tax-exempt status because a pastor questioned the Iraq war?
There is no war on Christians. I am a Christian, and have never felt any pressure not to fully exercise my beliefs. What DeLay and his ilk are upset about is that they are unable to force their brand of Christianity down everyone else's throat. They are upset that their views on homosexuality, reproduction rights, civil rights and church-state cooperation are not universally accepted.
Although pathetic and un-Christlike, unfortunately the extreme right wing religious mafioso appears to be prevailing (for example anti-abortion laws in S.D., bans on gay adoptions in several states, etc.), non-extremist Christians, in addition to well-intentioned people of all faiths (or no faith), must keep reminding Americans that we are a land of diversity. America is not a theocracy; it is a democracy made up of people of diverse religious beliefs. We should never feel that we have to kowtow to anyone else's religious interpretations. That is the beauty of this nation and once we lose religious freedom, we will be no different than the Muslim regimes where religious freedom is only a dream.
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Which God is God?
Having on occasion watched some of these holyrollers do their thing before thousands in what seems to be a football stadiums I cannot help to get the impression that"the love thy neighbour" teachings of Christ got lost somewhere. Money seems to be more important to these bringers of Joy(?). Tom Delay is a prime example. The theme for these guys is: Do as I say not as I do. Fundamentalists are the same , no matter in whatever religion they preach. Love thy neighbour and kill him if he does not agree with your mantra. I am glad that I missed being baptized and am quite contended to call myself agnostic.
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A name for these Nutjobs
How about Christaholics?
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MIA in the War on Christians
When a Muslim extremist does something wacky, mainstream western journalists ask, Where are the voices of moderate Islam? Why is there no reasoned condemnation of extremism by moderate Muslims? Now we read about the antic goings-on at the so-called "War on Christians" conference in Michelle Goldberg's excellent article and I gotta ask: Where are the voices of moderate Christianity in condemning such hate blathering? Could it be that American church hierarchies are at least tacitly complicit with the goals and strategies of the religious extremists? Does it seem to anyone else out there that our institutions (intellectual, scientific, religious, you name it) are strangely ineffectual coping with the provocations of religious nuts and opportunists like the attendees and speakers at this conference? The tone of Ms. Goldberg's article seems to be that these swine are desperate and beginning to suck wind as their movement to run everybody else's business loses steam. Let's hope so, because our cultural leaders aren't doing much for us.
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persecution
"Real persecution, like what the average Catholic martyr went through, would cause them to renounce their beliefs mighty quick."
No it wouldn't. People with a persecution complex need persection -- it validates them, it feeds their pathology, give them the excuse for an "I told you so." That's why they invent persecution where none exists. Actual persecution might backfire by fulfilling their dearest wishes.
I speak as a former fundamentalist.
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Hey everybody, let's put on a show!
As of late, if able to eavesdrop on the Republican Party behind-the-scenes action it must be akin to watching the movie “What’s up Doc”; so much scrambling and scurrying to get the Burberry bag. Unfortunately there are to many Burberry bags in the mix to get it right.
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RE: Christaholic
DUDE! I love this! I want to use it copiously!
Except, actually, knowing what I do about these folks, they'd probably see it as a positive term and co-opt it. Shoot.
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A Call to Arms?
It is not without irony that the conference is titled the "War on Christians". Wars are usually avoided by diplomacy, compromise, or a simple decision to co-exist. It is clear from the article that none of these are viable options for the radical religious right. A sort of religious genocide does not seem out of place in thier minds and this is what was is said in public; imagine what might be said behind closed doors!
Though they bandy terms like "patriot pastors" they are, in fact, advocating the eviceration, or complete elimination of, the Constitution. As an American I'm sworn to defend and protect the Constitution and as an evil "apostate" it is clear I would be granted no quarter personally in their biblical state. Guess I better prepare to defend my country and myself.
One final note to those zealots: if you do gain enough political might and start this war, pack a lunch. I don't think any God will be on your side.