Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
The Rule And Reign Of The Cross
Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of a 2,000-member mega-church in Maryland spoke earlier this week at "Justice Sunday II" in Nashville. The Justice Sunday II events are designed to whip the average Joe and Jane Christian godbots into a frenzy about the evil, nasty "activist judges". Usually they are pretty slick affairs with choreographed stage shows, video screens, music, etc. The message always plays on people's fears and emotions, pushing the "persecution" meme heavily. The Bishop is a black man who advocates unity with white evangelicals, but that is rather beside the point. It is what Bishop Jackson let come tumbling out of his mouth that is usually only hinted at that concerns me.
[link] "I believe that what God is doing today is calling for the black church to team with the white evangelical church and the Catholic Church and people of moral conscience. And in this season, we need to be able to tell both parties, 'listen, it's our way or the highway.' We're not just going to sit back. You and I can bring the rule and reign of the Cross to America and we can change America on our watch, together."
I ask you again, what the hell happened to my country?
Bookmark/Search this post with:
people
I agree with it.
Nothing Happened
Nothing happened to your country. It's always had a small minority of fundamentalist extremists who would like to impose their religious views on everybody.
Very few people that I know, including Conservatives, Liberals, Atheists, Christians and Jews, agree with people like Harry Jackson. Just keep shining the bright light of scrutiny on people like him and your country will be OK.
I think we should join the Rev.
The good Rev. said that (among others) "people of moral conscience" should "tell both parties, 'listen, it's our way or the highway.'"
I couldn't agree with him more (on that point). In fact I would even offer to join him in demanding that our elected officials follow a moral course. This would include:
Absolute respect for the rule of law.
Absolute respect for the dignity and independence of thought of each individual.
A resolve not to cause unjust harm to others.
A resolve that justice results from honoring the natural rights of the human mind and that societies exist to promote the general welfare of their members.
What do you think Rev, can we agree on these things? We can work out the whole “rule of the cross” thing later or is there something in those above statements you don’t agree with? … I’m just curious… and can you expound on what you are against in them?
Should I send Mr. Jackson a letter?
No Brent, no one has hijacked your country. People with an ideological agenda unhealthy for the republic have always been there. Usually they are harmless squealers, but sometimes, as today they need to be exposed and then deposed.
Re: I think we should join the reverend
Well said.
I'm wondering what standards would be used to judge "unjust harm".
Also, the rule of law is up to interpretation. So, what would the standards be for that interpretation be?
The cross is easily a symbol of Christianity. The Washington Monument must also be removed since this is an Egyptian religious symbol involving sunbeams emanating from Ra. Fuck, I'm just thinking here and we'll need to burn all our money cause it says "In God We Trust". The Declaration of Independence needs some white out cause that invokes the name Creator.
I truly think my sentiments follow yours and I absolutely think we need to be rid of religious symbols on public land. But the Constitution provides us with a Judiciary meant to interpret the Constitution within the context of contemporary social circumstances.
I am concerned less about symbols and more about certain religious trends in government agencies, like the Armed Forces.
It’s an old article but have a look. http://tinyurl.com/hvzje
Many Miles, Many Shoes
BoNo
The interpretation isn't too difficult
The Washignton Monument isn't meant to promote or celebrate Egyptian religion; hence it stays. The Supreme Court building's artwork depicting old laws and lawgivers, including Moses and the Ten Commandments, is not meant to promote or celebrate Judaism, so it stays. "In God We Trust" is a celebration of religion in general that got into the currency in the 1950s as a way of opposing atheism because communism is atheistic; hence it goes. The same applies to "One nation under God." Military chaplains, teacher-led school prayer, mandatory Bible recitations, and so on are clearly meant to promote Christianity (and occasionally other religions, primarily Judaism).
What the hell happened to my country?
The answer is that one of the two major political parties has been hijacked by the f****** born agains. As the Henry Drummond character in Inherit the Wind puts it, "with trumpets blowing, and drums beating, the f****** born agains are marching proudly back to the 14th century and are taking the rest of us with them.