And they were left behind. When Jesus appeared at the Values Summit, they stoned him. Am I surprised? No, because these self-righteous, selfish people wouldn’t recognize Jesus if he was standing in front of them. Jesus died for their sins and therefore they can keep on sinning. They worship the cross and disrespect the words of Jesus.
Glenn Beck claims it’s all about the three G’s… God, Gold and Guns.
Let’s take a good look at what is presented in the New Testament.
Using Beck’s logic,
If Jesus had access to gold, he could have bought off the money hungry Pharisees.
If Jesus had access to weapons, he would have been able to kill his opponents and therefore he would not have been crucified.
Without the crucifixion, Glenn Beck and the Fundamentalists wouldn’t have a religion.
So, is it God, Gold and Guns or is it poverty, peace, pacifist Jesus?
Some humor and truth with Lewis Black…
Get this… the more often a person goes to church, the more likely it is that this person will support torture. Yeah, you heard that.
(from CNN)
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey.
More than half of people who attend services at least once a week — 54 percent — said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42 percent of people who “seldom or never” go to services agreed, according to the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified — more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did.
No wonder these folks wear crucifixes around their necks. They believe that Jesus had to be tortured to the point of death so that they could be saved.
The religious group most likely to say torture is never justified was Protestant denominations — such as Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians — categorized as “mainline” Protestants, in contrast to evangelicals. Just over three in 10 of them said torture is never justified. A quarter of the religiously unaffiliated said the same, compared with two in 10 white non-Hispanic Catholics and one in eight evangelicals.
Yes, the Evangelicals are teaching their children to worship former President George W. Bush, the very person whose administration ordered torture.
And Jesus wept.
We can all learn something from someone younger than ourselves. State Senator Gronstal of Iowa had this to say about gay marriage in Iowa.
Transcript below:
One of my daughters was in the workplace one day, and her particular workplace at that moment in time, there were a whole bunch of conservative, older men. And those guys were talking about gay marriage. They were talking about discussions going on across the country.
And my daughter Kate, after listening for about 20 minutes, said to them: You guys dont understand. Youve already lost. My generation doesnt care.
I think I learned something from my daughter that day, when she said that. And Ive talked with other people about it and thats what I see, Senator McKinley. I see a bunch of people that merely want to profess their love for each other, and want state law to recognize that.
Is that so wrong? I dont think thats so wrong. As a matter of fact, last Friday night, I hugged my wife. You know Ive been married for 37 years. I hugged my wife. I felt like our love was just a little more meaningful last Friday night because thousands of other Iowa citizens could hug each other and have the state recognize their love for each other.
No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.
(h/t dedmonds at DailyKos)
Fantasy woman, Michelle Bachmann, is now the leader of the GOP. She is powerful (snark) and she represents Republicans and she is ready to lead.
Michelle Bachman could benefit from a re-education camp because most of the time, she has no clue what she is talking about. Sue Jeffers states that she would not send her children to re-education camp, except maybe “Jesus Camp”.
Michelle Bachmann thinks that Congress needs to be investigated for members that are anti-America.
So if you voted for Barack Obama, then you, too, may be anti-America.
Then there is this…
There is the re-education that happens at Jesus Camp along with the worshiping of a cardboard George W. Bush. Jeffers and Bachmann would deem this re-education appropriate.
This is child abuse.
When it comes to gay rights and abortion rights and refusal of medical treatment based on one’s religion beliefs, it’s the old Government vs Religion issue. My question is “which religion and whose religion” has the most control? The authors of the Constitution knew exactly what they were doing when they kept religion OUT of the Constitution. When our Constitution was going through ratification by the 13 original states, there was a group of delegates to the Massachusetts state convention that complained that the “Constitution did not recognize the existence of God”.
It was a wise group of delegates that attended the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. They were well aware that religion and politics did not mix. Right after the arrival of independence, every state but Rhode Island passed laws depriving Catholics of full civil and religious rights. There were some states that denied Catholics the right to carry their own arms while everyone else was allowed to do so. Even though Catholics were given the same rights of freedom to worship as they believed by the Constitution, it wasn’t until 1960 that a Catholic was elected President of the United States of America. When John F. Kennedy was running for President, the media was filled with questions about his religion and its connection to the Pope in Rome. There was a fear that America would be governed by the Pope if John Kennedy was elected President.
For the last 8 years, we have had to put up with this quest by the fundamentalists to be governed by religion. Do take note that this religion has to be the fundamentalist/evangelical religions as preached by religious leaders such as James Dobson and Rick Warren. The Rev. Wright is NOT included in this because he is black and I’m not even going to go there at this moment. There is no room in this religious governing for Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Agnostics and any other religion that isn’t part of the Dobson/Warren cults.
Let’s not forget our nation’s shameful history of mixing religion and politics. It was during the McCarthy reign of terror in the 1950’s that the statement “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. People didn’t complain because anyone that spoke against including religion in our government, was called a communist and would be blacklisted. In 1692, there were the Salem witch hunts and trials. Even slave owners would quote the Bible as justification for owning slaves.
We were witness to the destruction of religious intolerance on September 11, 2001 and today, the Palestinians are paying with their lives because of the religious intolerance of Israel. There is a place for everything and history has taught us that religion does not have a place in government. Too many people and other creatures have lost their lives in the “name of God”.
Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” group is joyful over John McCain’s choice for vice president, Sarah Palin. She is their dream come true.
Recently, a flyer was sent to Evangelicals that stated that if Barack Obama is elected president, then Armageddon would happen. What the flyer neglects to tell these Evangelicals is that Sarah Palin practices a religion that believes in the “End Times” and that she is hoping for the “Rapture” to happen in her lifetime. Her church in Wasilla, AK, teaches its followers to prepare for the final coming of Jesus and that Alaska is where they need to be for the Rapture. It’s coming soon, if they can help it.
Her minister says that she approaches people with respect… well… she certainly doesn’t show respect when she refuses to admonish hate speech at her rallies.
I don’t believe that Sarah Palin’s religious beliefs reflect those of most Christians. You see, Sarah Palin preaches hate as evidenced by her support of hate speech at her rallies. She smiles when someone in the crowd shouts “kill him” or “terrorist”. A true follower of Jesus Christ would have responded like Barack Obama did when people booed at the mention of John McCain’s name. Obama shook his head and said to the crowd, “Now we don’t need any of that here.” Sarah Palin preaches divisiveness by stating that there are only certain Americans that are proAmerica. Barack Obama speaks of unity by stating that we are all Americans and we all love our country.
Jesus brought us the Gospel of Love and taught us that we are all equal in the eyes of God and that we are all brothers and sisters. Real Christians don’t spread hate and prejudice. Listen to this video posted earlier today. Jesus never told his followers to kill someone nor did he approve of killing. Jesus said, “turn the other cheek” which is something that Barack Obama does all the time. No candidate has received so many hate filled threats as Barack Obama and yet he brushes this hatred off. He follows his Christian faith, something that all these racists and haters should learn to do.
I’m not afraid of having Barack Obama as our next President and Joe Biden as our next Vice President. What truly frightens me is “more wars, less jobs” John McCain as President and one 72 year old heartbeat away, “end times” Sarah Palin waiting in the wings.
For more about the teachings of Jesus, visit
PublicChristian or Matthew 25 Network
It will nourish your spirit.
John McCain would like you to think that Barack Obama is just a tax and spend liberal that hangs out with criminals. Well, that’s wrong, just plain old wrong. John McCain is a desperate man that has nothing to offer the American people except 4 more years of George W. Bush failed policies.
I’ll tell you who Barack Obama is. He is the person that helped a stranger that was stranded at an airport 20 years ago by paying the $103.00 surcharge that was placed on this stranger’s baggage so that she could board a flight to Norway where her husband was waiting for her. (more on this story here)
Barack Obama is the person that gently said to John McCain while he was struggling with the name Ahmadinejag during their first debate “That was a tough one”. Obama could have taken the low road and chuckle at McCain’s difficulty but instead he chose the high road by showing kindness to his rival. (more on this story here)
During one of the primary debates, Barack Obama helped Governor Bill Richardson answer a question. Again, Barack Obama could have taken the low road and chose to take the high road.
Barack Obama doesn’t just mouth his Christian faith. He lives it by showing kindness and generosity to others just like Jesus instructed, “Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me.”
Barack Obama is the person that puts America and people before politics and that is one of many reasons why I am voting for Barack Obama on November 4, 2008.
Pennsylvanians be aware… this DVD is being distributed by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Morning Call, the Reading Eagle, the Patriot and the Pittsburgh Gazette.
I passed this onto TheBruceBlog and he did a great job of posting so I’m just copying his post and placing here for everyone to see.
From Bruce:
I knew the Republicans would stoop low in this election, but this is really vile. The Clarion Fund backs McCain. Why isn’t he denouncing this?… Because McCain would do ANYTHING to win. He’d rather win an election that display moral integrity. Who knows, maybe someone in his campaign even approved of the DVDs being distributed hoping something like this would occur.
UPDATE: I’m now adding in this comment left on this post so to make sure everyone sees it. It’s from a woman named Valerie Curl:
“I already knew about Clarion Fund’s DVD and have been trying to get the national media to pay attention to it. The DVD was distributed to residents of every swing state–and only to swing states– through newspapers and directly into mail boxes.
The Clarion Fund is apparently a Canadian company, registered in NY. NY is suing the company over the DVD. But resolution of the suit will come too late for the election.
Nevertheless, the DVD will be believed by many people in those swing states. It is a hate-mongering DVD — despicable and vile.
If any of you in Swing states have access to your local media, contact them. Tell them of this hateful DVD, ask them to investigate and air/print the story. This 501(c)3 must be stopped. Their hate must be exposed.”
Thank you Valerie. I hope everyone follows your advice.
From Daily Kos:
On Friday, September 26, the end of a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West – the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail — were distributed by mail in Ohio, a “chemical irritant” was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. This, apparently, is what the scare tactic political campaigning of John McCain’s supporters has led to — Americans perpetrating a terrorist attack against innocent children on American soil.
I read the story as reported by the Dayton Daily News, but this was after I had received an email written by a friend of some of the victims of these American terrorists. The matter of fact news report in the Dayton paper didn’t come close to conveying the horrific impact of this unthinkable act like the email I had just read, so I asked the email’s author for permission to share what they had written. The author was with one of the families from the mosque — a mother and two of the small children who were in the room that was gassed — the day after the attack occurred.
“She told me that the gas was sprayed into the room where the babies and children were being kept while their mothers prayed together their Ramadan prayers. Panicked mothers ran for their babies, crying for their children so they could flee from the gas that was burning their eyes and throats and lungs. She grabbed her youngest in her arms and grabbed the hand of her other daughter, moving with the others to exit the building and the irritating substance there.
“The paramedic said the young one was in shock, and gave her oxygen to help her breathe. The child couldn’t stop sobbing.
“This didn’t happen in some far away place — but right here in Dayton, and to my friends. Many of the Iraqi refugees were praying together at the Mosque Friday evening. People that I know and love.
“I am hurt and angry. I tell her this is NOT America. She tells me this is not Heaven or Hell — there are good and bad people everywhere.
“She tells me that her daughters slept with her last night, the little one in her arms and sobbing throughout the night. She tells me she is afraid, and will never return to the mosque, and I wonder what kind of country is this where people have to fear attending their place of worship?
“The children come into the room, and tell me they want to leave America and return to Syria, where they had fled to from Iraq. They say they like me, … , and other American friends — but they are too afraid and want to leave. Should a 6 and 7 year old even have to contemplate the safety of their living situation?
“Did the anti-Muslim video circulating in the area have something to do with this incident, or is that just a bizarre coincidence? Who attacks women and children?
“What am I supposed to say to them? My words can’t keep them safe from what is nothing less than terrorism, American style. Isn’t losing loved ones, their homes, jobs, possessions and homeland enough? Is there no place where they can be safe?
“She didn’t want me to leave her tonight, but it was after midnight, and I needed to get home and write this to my friends. Tell me – tell me – what am I supposed to say to them?”
When acting as a representative of Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), the 501(c)3 non-profit organization that I work for, I cannot engage in political activities. The distribution of Obsession, however, although a political campaign scheme, clearly crosses over into the mission of MRFF. So, I’m going to make two statements here — one in my capacity as MRFF’s Research Director, and another as an individual whose disgust at the vile campaign tactics of John McCain’s supporters completely boiled over when I opened up the email about children being gassed.
My statement as MRFF’s Research Director:
The presidential campaign edition of the Obsession DVD, currently being distributed by the Clarion Fund, carries the endorsement of the chair of the counter-terrorism department of the U.S. Naval War College, using the name and authority of an official U.S. military institution not only to validate an attack the religion of Islam, but to influence a political campaign. For these reasons, this endorsement has been included in MRFF’s second lawsuit against the Department of Defense, which was filed on September 25 in the Federal District Court in Kansas.
My opinion as an individual and thoroughly appalled human being:
John McCain has a moral obligation to publicly censure the Clarion Fund, the organization that produced Obsession and is distributing the DVDs; to denounce the inflammatory, anti-Muslim message of Obsession; and to do everything in his power to stop any further campaign activities by his supporters that have the potential to incite violence.
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PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON SO PEOPLE CAN SEE REPUBLICANS RESORTING TO TERRORIST ACTIONS LIKE THOSE THEY SUPPOSEDLY DENOUNCE.
Organizing for Change 