John Hiatt - Have A Little Faith

You Want to See Something Really Scary?

I don't know a lot about the internal workings of the religious right culture, and I do believe it is a separate culture with it's own constitution of sorts being the bibles, or it's interpretation by various nuts. I have been keeping tabs when I can on the Dominionist Movement as it attempts to weedle into what we would consider the status quo of the religious right. And from everything I've learned about them, makes the current godbotherers look like second tate dweebs in the radical religious department. Even folks like the late Jerry Falwell and the remnants of his Moral Majority that lingers on, cannot match their crazy ideology.

These people are truly scary, much more than any Sharia Law taking over being the current right wing hysteria. They are true believers in every sense of that term, and violence is part and parcel to their belief system. And come as close to any, a messianic fervor that is uncompromising and total in it's fundamental view of Christianity and The Bible.

via RWW

C. Peter Wagner is widely regarded as the man responsible for the New Apostolic Reformation which gave rise to the self-proclaimed prophets and apostles like Lou Engle, Cindy Jacobs, Jim Garlow, Lance Wallnau, Rick Joyner, Chuck Pierce, and the other Dominionist/7 Mountain advocates who are slowly working their way into the Religious Right mainstream.

For months, I have been trying to hammer home the point that when these activists refer to themselves as "prophets" and "apostles" on par with Jesus, they mean that literally.

And just to drive home that point, here is audio of Wagner speaking during the Generals International webcast earlier this month as he explains how, through the Holy Spirit, people like himself can perform miracles that outshine even Jesus Christ himself:

They are actually, not only a fanatical believers in God, but take that further of actually being God, or His Apostles of sorts. It is vaguely similar to the Tea Party whackadoos taking over the GOP, and seems to also be southern based. A truly theocratic mindset, possibly being in control of something like 80 millions Evangelicals in this country, who are currently floundering around looking for leadership, with an already proven record of following that suitable leader without much question. It is a distillation of sorts, to the essence of fundamental religious belief, that already ranks The US Constitution running second to The Bible. I don't think it is a far reach to see them merge or meld with the tea party faithful, and become a powerful and frightening political force in this country.

Cool Cats

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

This was a joke, right?

From the Washington Post, an editorial by Tony Perkin, conservative Christian head of the Family Research Council entitled "Christian compassion requires the truth about harms of homosexuality."

Writes the wise Mr. Perkins:

"Where bullying has occurred, the blame should be placed on the bullies themselves--not on organizations within society who clearly oppose bullying. I suspect that few, if any, such bullies are people who regularly attend church, and I would not be surprised if most of the "bullies" did not have the positive benefit of both an active mom and dad in their lives. Religious faith and a return to traditional family values are more likely to be a solution to the problem of bullying than a cause."

Where to begin? First, Tony, you cite no evidence to your claim that bullies do not attend church and do not come from traditional families, with moms and dads. Second, where do children usually get messages about hate and bigotry? Often from listening to their moms and dads rail about "the gays," "the blacks" "the Jews" "the Muslims,"and any other group not to their liking. Just watch any tea party rally, most attended by moms and dads who represent "traditional family values," and especially observe how many bring their children. And, regarding churches, how many Sundays do Ministers preach against gays, single parents, feminists, progressives, and any other group they believe is stealing their converts. No messages of hate are ever preached in churches under the guise of Christian love. Right. I love how Tony sneaks a return to traditional family values in the message.

Then, dear Tony goes on to say:

"However, homosexual activist groups like GLSEN....are exploiting these tragedies to push their agenda of demanding not only tolerance of homosexual individuals, but active affirmation of homosexual conduct and their efforts to redefine the family."

Tony, Tony, Tony. It warms my heart to know that conservative Christian groups NEVER try to exploit tragedies to push their agenda....The fact is that conservative Christian groups will use any circumstance to exploit their agenda...Does anyone remember the non-controversy of store employees wishing people Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? Conservative Christian groups excel at exploiting most circumstances to push their agenda. Conservative Christians as the ultimate "victim" has too commonly become part of the American narrative.

As for GLSEN efforts to redefine the family -- guess what Tony, the family already has been redefined. It started when interracial couples married, against the preaching of many conservative Christian churches, who used the Bible to promote the separation of races. It continues with same-sex families, where parents want to raise their children free from hatred and bigotry. It continues in single parent homes, where mothers and fathers also want to raise their children in loving and tolerant environments.

To assume that "bullies" only are the product of life outside "traditional families" and "traditional family values," to me is one of the worst forms of hatred and bigotry. To assume that children from "non-traditonal" homes cannot learn moral and ethical practices denies how often traditional families have produced children who are violent and intolerant.

Morons

Morons, morons, morons. The Virginia tea party just held its "convention" this past weekend. They really don't know what they are for and what they are against. Having Ginie Thomas a featured speaker -- a woman who will receive government provided health care for life, while her affirmative action husband has his government provided job for life -- railing against big government, entitlements, and the Kenyan President's socialist agenda. And, then giving sweet Ginie money to support her "liberty" foundation, which means she can enjoy a perfectly worry free life, while these morons help pay for it....

And, then cheering for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, an advocate of using the power of government and tax payer funds to attack scholars, whose scholarship he opposes. Mr. Cuccinelli believes it is okay to use the power of his office to pursue a personal agenda. Way to go small government. Yes, let's have the government approve all scholarship, and we can then sit back and watch China, India, and other countries move forward with green technology, while we go back to horse drawn wagons, and horse drawn carriages for the rich. Yes, let's use the power of the government to put "creation science" in all science classes, while tossing evolution to the wind. That should surely produce an informed next generation of scientists and doctors ready to prescribe prayer in place of medical science. At that point, we won't have to worry about health care or health insurance, because those with resources will go abroad for sound medical services, and those without resources will just die.

The Littlest Werewolf

Hold On Just One Minute

Democrats Close the Gap

A new Rasmussen survey shows Republicans leading Democrats in the generic congressional ballot by just three points, 45% to 42% -- the smallest gap between parties in roughly a year.

It is a testament to our volatile politics these days, we have Rasmussen, a notorious GOP leaning polster showing democrats doing better, and Gallup still has some likely voter scenarios showing them doing badly.

Rasmussen, in my experience, is a very good polster in the last month or so before an election, when their reputation is on the line for being close to the final outcome. Not so much other times, when they give republicans better and dubious numbers.

So I will take this as a good sign that democrats are deciding in larger numbers to go vote. Probably for several reasons, but I suspect, from all the press and polling claiming the repubs will win back congress. They will still lose seat, no matter, but maybe not a wipeout shifting control of congress, or one chamber to the wingnuts.