Will James David Manning Be Tried As A Martyr ... Or As An Idiot?

We have finally been given the most incredibly powerful example of blind faith ever seen in this country: James David Manning, "Ph.D." and his ATLAH Worldwide Ministries.

Yes, blind faith: as in willing to believe anything, as in naive, as in ignorant of the facts. I've long said that there are people who are willing to believe anyone who says the magic words: "God" "Bible" "Man of God" "Savior" "Holy" "Sacred." And if someone says those words to them loud enough, with enough emotion, long enough and clutching "Scripture" he or she can also add "send money" and then ...OMG! It's a miracle! People will actually send money!

Yep, that's blind faith. "Blind" being the operative word in this case.

James David Manning has been operating and bloviating about his ATLAH Worldwide "ministries" for over 25 years in Harlem (which he calls ATLAH - All The Land Anointed Holy).

Wikipedia:

Manning is fiercely opposed to the gentrification of Harlem and calls for its residents to boycott its shops, restaurants, doctors, banks and churches. That action, combined with a general rent strike, would force all property owners out of Harlem, he said, leaving the neighborhood to its rightful inheritors: black people. Manning calls his plan "No Dew, Nor Rain," after Elijah's warning to Ahab, king of Israel, of a coming drought. "When there's no dew, no rain, there's a drought - there's all kinds of suffering," said Manning. The whole of Harlem, he said, is to be a "drought zone."

Manning, on his radio show, The Manning Report, has been Obama's most virulent critic, even before the Presidential campaign, calling him a pimp ("Mac Daddy") and has called not only for his removal from office, but his death.

Viewing his "Reports" is like watching a passionate eighth grader read his notes about his love of all the Star Wars episodes (yes, even Jar Jar Binks!). He contradicts himself in statement after statement and doesn't seem to know he's doing it. His reasoning is so faulty that you wonder how he ever made it through high school, much less Union Theological Seminary. His assault never seems to come up for air, droning on and on about how EVERYONE in politics, Republicans, Democrats, Independents have tried to lead America down into the lowest caverns of hell.

And he does more than imply that people will have to perform acts of violence and give of themselves to the point of becoming martyrs. If a suicide bomber were to have pastor Manning's words on his lips before the explosion, Manning would simply say that there are casualties in every war. His war, however, seems to be with reason itself, but to call him insane would be useless: he and his small congregation (400?) have heard all the arguments against his sanity and they expect them. Calling him for what he is, however - a puffed up, fraudulent idiot - would make them stone you. To his congregation, Manning is a "man of God" who offers stern, spiritual guidance, even as he leads them into a separatist, illusary world where they are the only ones battling the forces of darkness.

There are different reasons why people come under the spell of such a "Man of God": some are terrified of spirituality, some are woefully ignorant, some are spiritually "lazy," wanting an authority figure to think things out for them, and then some are simply - stupid. His thoughtless polemics are treated as manna from heaven by his people. They don't know him as a man who's spun a cacoon of fraudulent claims and fraudulent hope. We should feel sorry for them.

But not for him.

With as much theatricality as he could muster, his latest video depicts him as a martyr for the cause of freedom, martyred by Obama and his corrupt administration.

It's hilarious.

It's assinine.

It's horrific in its stupidity.

Pray for this man's congregation. But in the meanwhile, pray for him to be tried as an idiot. That, my friends, would be true justice.

The Bestseller That Isn't: Going Rogue Hits Bestsellerdom With A Wimper!

Will New Book Help Her Run For Office?
Or Run FROM Office?

In 1936, when Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind was published, the population of the country was approx, 128 million people (about 42% of what it is now) and the "average Joe" (to use the sexist terminology of the times) put out a whopping $3.00 (roughly 15% of his weekly salary) to read about the exploits of Scarlett O'Hara. Whole city blocks would chip in between five and ten cents a neighbor to have a turn at reading it. It came out in May 30th with a print run of 5,000 and then a rushed print run in June of 50,000 copies. By Christmas, one million copies were in print.

There was no New York Times Bestseller List at the time, but the nation viewed it as #1 for a over 2 years. That, however, was a time when books were popular because their authors were, at the very least, captivating. In 1984, for example, Erma Bombeck's Motherhood, The Second Oldest Profession was on the top of the charts for several months. People read it for its wit, humor and professionalism.

Times have changed, haven't they?

What constitutes a bestseller these days? The number of copies sold is still the criteria, but there is something else, or rather, there are things which don't "pal around with" good writing. Notoriety of the author or subject sells. Even negative publicity sells. Booksellers are still banking on brisk sales for Carrie Prejean's book Still Standing, but perhaps that's because people sometimes buy books for "camp" value. One truly funny "five star" review:

Although the writing in Miss Prejean's book caused me to throw up a little in my mouth, the spirit moves me to give it five stars. I know some might find that a little strange, but a book is more than simply words, sentences, and chapters; it's also cover art, spine glue, and the little blurbs the publisher commands its other authors to write. In sum, all these pieces must come together to make a book. If I love the smell of the book's spine glue, shouldn't I be allowed to reward the publisher with a few extra stars? I certainly think so.

Now the erstwhile Governor-of-Alaska-for-eighteen-months has penned an autobiography of sorts: Going Rogue will sell in the millions, to be sure, and will (briefly) be on the New York Times bestseller list simply because it had so many pre-orders. And die-hard Sarah Palin fans will brace themselves for a culture war skermish against any liberal MSM onslaught.

Harper Collins' description of the book:

Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen's extraordinary journey and imparts Palin's vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.

Certainly the making of a literary megastar! Not! Harper Collins may be trumpeting the pre-publishing sales, but in the end, it's the bookseller who knows what's happening to the book.

At Amazon the list price of $28.99 has been marked down to --$9.oo! That's a 60% markdown! In other words, damn the pre-pub sales - let's remainder it before we get stuck with it!

A tongue-in-cheek five star review:

All I know is this means she wont be running for President in 2012...she will make so much money from her book deal that she can shop at Wal-Mart for 1,212 days spending $3,000 each day. This will take her way past electioneering season.

Under "Tags Customers Associate with This Product" the tag with the most customers is Keeping America Stupid. The book is also paired in sales with a right wing polemical book about the Obama administration with the prescient title: Catastrophy!

I've been in books and publishing long enough to know that a book ala Ann Coulter is only read because of who the author is trashing no matter whether it's truth or "fibrication." Of course, even Ann Coulter can lie more convincely than Sarah Palin, but that won't stop some people from determining the book as the gospel truth. And Going Rogue: An American Life will proudly rest in their bookcases along with the conspiracy theories of Pat Robertson (A New World Order) and My Pet Goat.

And yet another commenter put the relationship between writer and reader beautifully:

When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, your mind becomes powerfully concentrated. You begin to understand that writing/reading is, above all, a transaction. The reader donates his time and attention, which are supremely valuable commodities. In return, you the writer, must give him something worthy of his gift to you.

*The other two titles are Marvel Comic Books - not really that much of a stretch when you come to think of it. But their cover art has hoisted their prices (collector items) to $45 each making them better investments.

Islamophobia: An Irrational Rage Among People Who Can Barely Spell Islamophobia

From Islamophobia Watch:

Muslims know what materials are being taught in their mosques and they know many of the materials instruct young Muslims to kill innocent people who do not adhere to Sharia law. If Muslims do not want a backlash, then I would recommend a 'house cleaning'. Stack every Saudi, al Qaeda, Pakistani, Taliban, Hamas, and Muslim Brotherhood piece of material from their mosque and have a bonfire. Tell the American, Jewish, and Muslim community this hatred will no longer be allowed in their mosques."

- Dave Gaubatz, author of Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that's Conspiring to Islamize America,

All of this might be dismissed as the ranting of a fringe lunatic, but for the fact that Gaubatz's work has been circulated and endorsed by prominent Republican officials.

From Christian Newswire, Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, Elijah Ministries,:

Islam is God's reality check for America. Can we continue to survive rejecting God and our Christian heritage for a "bowl of humanistic pottage?" We are selling our birthright as Americans so we can be just as sophisticated and enlightened as the Socialistic European nations that are in the midst of being conquered by Islam. Is this the heritage we desire to leave our children and grandchildren? I pray not in Jesus' name!

The website for Elijah ministries is Christofascist beyond belief and complete with flames and military metaphors.

From Right Wing Watch:
The American Family Association's Bryan Fischer:

The problem is that the more devout a Muslim is, the greater a threat he represents to our national security. And until we have a way of identifying which Muslims are the ones we have to worry about, we just cannot afford to take the chance.

Of course there's our friend "Rev." James David Manning (video below) who says that President Obama will, in exchange for Osama Bin Laden, turn over Israel to Islam. You thought that Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons were incendiary. Manning beats him by a mile. The jury is still out when it comes to investigating Manning and his intentions: maybe he's just a bumbling idiot who took advantage of Harlem's poor schools and huge drop-out rate to hammer hatred and ignorance into its residents.

Here is a prime example of Islamophobia as a result of some preachers' ignorant rants:

Alexios Marakis, a Greek Orthodox priest visiting the U.S., got lost in Tampa and tried to stop and ask directions from Marine reservist Jasen D. Bruce. But instead of offering help, “Bruce struck the priest on the head with a tire iron.” The reservist believed Marakis, who spoke limited English, was an Arab terrorist. Bruce chased the priest for three blocks, “and even called 911 to say that an Arabic man tried to rob him.”

Last but certainly not least, Pat Robertson has chimed in with his opinion of the Fort Hood shooting, Islam and Muslims: "Islam is not a religion" but "a violent political system" created for world domination. The problem with Robertson is that he also eyes world domination by making Christianity the ONLY religion and the base for a one-world theocracy ala R.J. Rushdooney and Reconstructionism.

The argument against hate crimes legislation is that these people are not responsible for any violence that occurs beyond their church.

Bullsh*t.

Someone is going to get killed.

Boehner's Bonafide Blooper

Thomas Jefferson Could Have Authored
The Entire Constitution - But He Didn't

From Crooks and Liars

How is that the House Minority Leader can mix up the U.S. Constitution with the Declaration of Independence in front of a Tea Party crowd at the Capitol? Who knows..but he did it, pulling out his pocket copy of the Constitution he's pledged to uphold, today pledging to "stand here with our Founding Fathers, who wrote in the preamble: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident ..."

Supposedly Representatives Michele Bachmann and Virginia Foxx were behind Boehner at the time looking, as usual, totally clueless.

Stupidity in the Republican Party does not discriminate: from junior reps to senior senators and beyond pundits, it hits them all. And when it hits, it hits BIG.

Laura Ingraham (not only stupid, but tacky):

Nancy Pelosi basically did everything except sell her own body to get this bill passed. OK. [laughter] She did everything!

Ann Coulter:

If we're so cruel to minorities, why do they keep coming here? Why aren't they sneaking across the Mexican border to make their way to the Taliban?

Michele Bachmann:

I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president Jimmy Carter. And I'm not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it's an interesting coincidence.

And the always astute Eric Cantor:

When Violent People Come Out Of The Woodwork

“If we’re going to ask why did he do it, knowing full well that he’s in the same mosque in 2001 with the radical preacher going nuts, we’re going to also [laughter] have to believe that the guy was just like Obama, and didn’t hear Rev. Wright’s words when he was in his church.”

-Rush Limbaugh on the shooting at Fort Hood

Inflammatory rhetoric is bad even in the best of times. But when let loose on the general populace during a time of religious and racial tension, it can be catastrophic.

From The Daily Beast

A year after President Obama's election, hate groups are feeling bolder than they have in over a decade, and their usually insular anger is beginning to spill into the public realm. This weekend, the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, held rallies in Arizona and Minnesota. Those demonstrations came on the heels of similar actions in Southern California, where epithet-spewing white supremacists were forced to disband by rock-throwing counter-protesters.

So, who fuels the hate groups? Rush Limbaugh certainly. Glenn Beck definitely. Christofascists? No brainer. Yesterday, I mentioned the event to take place in Washington led by "Pastor" Gary Cass:

Right Wing Watch

The legislation explicitly protects religious freedom and freedom of speech, but "does not protect speech, conduct or activities consisting of planning for, conspiring to commit, or committing an act of violence." So if they intend to preach that homosexuality is sinful, that is not much of a challenge, as that sort of speech is clearly protected.

But since they obviously intend for this protest to be a direct challenge to hate crimes protections, that really only leaves them one option: demanding death for gays.

Of course, there's "Rev." "Dr." James David Manning, whose tirades of late smack of outright treason. No matter that he has fewer people in his congregation than he can promote without embarrassment, but he's hoping that more than several of them pull the trigger on Obama. "If Obama lives, America dies." Yes, an outrageous and stupid statement for a pastor to make, then again, it's no less stupid than some of his "seminary" courses (the one on Aliens, I hear, is the most hysterical)

Our dear, dear conspiracy theorist, Pat Robertson, recently stated:

You know, there’s a law – what about a law that says it’s a federal crime to attack somebody because of his religious beliefs? Not a chance!

Robertson's senility is REALLY out of control:

“IN GENERAL.—Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B) or paragraph (3), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person—

From The Rally For Religious Freedom:

A letter from Matt Staver of Liberty Council will be presented to Attorney General Eric Holder that expresses our concerns about the many unconstitutional aspects of the hate crime bill. Specific legal challenges also may be announced then.

Remember Mat Staver? He's the one who came up with a looooong list of fantasies about the Healthcare Bill.

And with what happened in Fort Hood, Muslims will become the "sinners du jour"
So what can we deduce from all of this? People who want to inflict harm on other people will be multiplying and gathering steam, like the villagers in Frankenstein, goaded by the likes of Manning, Robertson, Staver, Beck, Cass and Limbaugh. Gary Cass better make sure that not too many swastikas are photographed behind him when he calls for blood.

James David Manning's Sermons Are Growing More Violent By The Minute

"Allah Ain't Akbar, But Jesus Is"

Listen/watch the rants of "Rev." James David Manning and you'll realize that the Matthew Shepard Act (hate crimes legislation) was passed none too soon. Watch his video and decide if this is intended to incite violence. I wish I could have posted it, but Manning and ATLAH have been banned from YouTube (I wonder why?)

Since my last article on Manning, I have attempted to contact Manning via email provided on his website. I have even subscribed to an email newsletter. To reiterate, I have asked him:

Please provide the following documents:

• Certificate of Graduation from The New Rochelle College
• Award Certificate for Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary
• Letters from probation officers in the State of New York and the State of Florida stating dates of incarceration and the crimes for which both stays were meted out
• Proof of employment from Proctor and Gamble
• Proof of employment from Ford Motor Company
• Passport with dated stamp showing entry into the United Kingdom for the year 2004

So in the comment box for this video I wrote:

These comments are astounding proof of Pastor Manning's influence. So many of them are filled with such hatred (most of which is unfounded) not only for Obama, but for humanity itself. The latest video practically tells everyone to go out and kill Muslims and as many as possible. For example:

November 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm

Right on, Dr. Manning! All Muslims should immediately be kicked out of the armed forces, especially the ones “in the rear with the gear,” like that fake psychiatrist who killed 13 at Ford Hood. And all GAYS should be kicked out too!*

What's with the "fake psychiatrist"?? Does this commentor have knowledge that no one else has? Nidal Malik Hasan was a licensed psychiatrist who dealt with some very serious issues in dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Sydrome of all the men stationed at Fort Hood:
Colorado Springs Gazette:

Hasan, it appears, was dealing with a number of stressful issues. For one, he counseled soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, one of the most challenging and emotionally draining tasks for a mental health care provider.

I posted a counter argument concerning the latest video:

Getting to the subject of "fake", however, I am now going to unleash a torrent of bad language, faulty reasoning, hatred, and all around foul feelings directed primarily at me. But here goes anyway: Has anyone actually checked the documents of "Rev." Manning? Just because he has that "Rev." in front of his name, because he's on cable TV, just because he says "God," "Bible" "Jesus" so many times does not mean he is who he claims to be. Oh yes, you've heard about his life of crime before and that he found Jesus while serving time. That shouldn't bother anyone. It is very commendable that he deals so honestly (up to a point) with his congregation. But the various biographies don't add up.

I then reiterated everything I stated in the previous article and added this:

Why am I being such a jerk about all this? Spirituality in any form is a wonderful, personal and deeply complex thing. Every being on earth has a right to it. Spirituality is an essence within us. (And yes, even atheists can be spiritual in their own way). There are, however, so many people to whom spirituality is too complex, too frightful (because they've been led to fear the unknown) they naturally turn to others for help. Ministers, preachers, priests, imams, rabbis, monks, holy men are supposed to help them. And some do. While some have their agenda for power.

One of the gravest sins a human being can perform is the sin of fraud to a community of believers. They have questions and concerns and he tells them that he has the answers - through God, of course.

I think "Rev." Manning may be a fraud. He certainly owes his congregation explanations as to why there are discrepancies in his biographies. If he is not a fraud, he will be perfectly willing to come up with the above documents. Enquiring minds want to know. Thank you. And God bless you.

Manning and his ATLAH are on Facebook and Twitter. The tweets he posts are a tribute to birther zealotry. ATLAH has been banned from YouTube.

Today is DAY 3 of challenging Manning. No response yet. Neither have I been shot at or struck by lightning.
We'll see.

* It seems this guy is an aficionado of haters because here was his response on Facebook:

Dr. Manning, you and Michael Savage are the two greatest living entities on the face of the Earth and should both be added to Mount Rushmore. When you and Savage are gone this country is doomed. Live long and prosper. God bless you and here's to hoping you have lots of security nearby to keep you safe and sound.

Pastor Gary Cass: Let's Get Together For A Good Ole Christian Hatefest!

Cause Every Pastor Has The Right To Say
"Kill A Queer For Christ!"

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. – Matthew 15:19 (NIV)

Yes, as Jesus opined, murder comes from the heart. And we could say that hatred and hypocrisy also evolve from the heart, taking a horrible toll on innocent people. Foul deeds - like bashing gays - emanate from people with evil hearts and feeble minds.

Possibly the worst (and most idiotic) way to bash gays is to announce that you're going to intentionally incite people to...bash gays. Being stupid, however, never stopped Pastor Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission from taking his views to the streets.

From Pam's House Blend:

Cass and crew are headed to DC on November 16th to protest the Hate Crimes Act in front of the Department of Justice. Their tactic?

...The "Rally for Religious Freedom" in front of the Department of Justice in Washington is intended to force Attorney General Eric Holder either to address the issues or be put in a position of ignoring those who say they are violating the provisions of the federal law, Cass said. "We're basically going to defy the law, and challenge it," Cass told WND. "We're going to declare the whole counsel of God, including those parts that some may consider 'inciting a hate crime' to see if the attorney general is going to come down and arrest a group of peaceful clergy exercising their First Amendment rights

And if you think that's scary, here's what Cass had to say in promoting guns to be carried in church:

(Right Wing Watch)

Self-defense is not just a right, but a Christian duty. Jesus told his followers, “If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” Jesus did not send his disciples out unprotected into a hostile world. In a world filled with gun violence, Christians must be prepared to respond with appropriate force to defend their family, neighbors and themselves.

But Cass neglects the rest of the passage:

"Lord, here are two swords!"

"That is enough, Jesus replied."

Of course, if Pastor Cass is in any way like Pastor Rick Warren, he could quote another version to suit his ideology: "Enough of that!"

BTW, Luke 22 comes 12 verses after Mathew's and John's admonition: "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword." Another instance of a pastor's intuition: people who don't really READ the Bible will prefer him to do the reading for them.

Kill A Queer For Christ is not new.

And if you think that Cass's form of evangelism is new in its violence, here's a TIME magazine article about the Anita Bryant fracas in Florida, 1977:

In the heat of the campaign, emotions have got out of hand. A gay worker was hospitalized after a beating; others have received crank calls. Urges a bumper sticker: KILL A QUEER FOR CHRIST. After receiving many telephone threats, Jack Campbell, a gay-rights leader, has installed guards around his house. Bryant has also hired security men because of phone warnings.

So, when Cass marches with his fellow "Religious Freedom Fighters", think of these words truncated from the bones of A Thanksgiving Prayer by William S. Burroughs:

Thanks for the American dream,
To vulgarize and to falsify
until the bare lies shine through.
Thanks for the KKK.
For nigger-killin' lawmen,
feelin' their notches.
For decent church-goin' women,
with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces.
Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers.
Thanks for laboratory AIDS.
Thanks for Prohibition and the war against drugs.
Thanks for a country where
nobody's allowed to mind the own business.
Thanks for a nation of finks.
Yes, thanks for all the memories--
all right let's see your arms!
You always were a headache
and you always were a bore.
Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of
the last and greatest of human dreams.

-William Burroughs

Actual results of KILL A QUEER FOR CHRIST on Facebook:

Load your shotgun !...I'd kill a queer for even less...f*ck fags god hates em and so do i...GOD HATES US ALL, deal with it...kill a queer for sport

And some people have been carrying that kind of hatred around for over 30 years.