The Sins of Rick Warren: #2 anti-Semitism Is A Virtue

Rick Warren And (pope) Joseph Ratzinger
Must Have Been Separated At Birth!

By now, many people have heard about Rick Warren's largess to African school children: one million copies of Manga Messiah, a comic book series which more than implies that Jesus was NOT Jewish and that "perfidious" Jews killed him. (I used the word perfidious not because it was in the text - it isn't - but the Roman Catholic Mass used the derogatory term until several years ago.)

Rick Warren has been recently cited for repeatedly, in public appearances and in print, calling on Christians to be as dedicated to Jesus as were Hitler youth in Munich stadium who spelled out in mass formation with their bodies, "Hitler we are yours!" before the leader of the Third Reich, whose movement 'nearly took the world' according to Warren.

(Christopher Hitchens - Slate)

It is a fact that Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., was present at a meeting of the Aspen Institute not long ago and was asked by Lynda Resnick—she of the pomegranate-juice dynasty—if a Jew like herself could expect to be admitted to paradise. Warren publicly told her no. What choice did he have? His own theology says that only those who accept Jesus can hope to be saved.

It is arrogant for anyone to tell you that your religion doesn't quite match up to theirs. That their belief is "true" while yours is false. It is also insulting to tell you that "you're a sinner.We're all sinners." To that I say, "Speak for yourself, buddy." Warren constantly shows his contempt for his neighbors by his sermons filled with negative feelings about his fellow man. To paraphrase another rabid right-winger, Warren wants to "Bless Your Mess."

Perhaps the most appropriate and eloquent reaction to Warren's invocation at President Barack Obama's inauguration came from a Jewish mother in Texas:

As a Jewish woman who watched the invocation with her Jewish son, Pastor Warren had the distinct pleasure of providing us both with the one moment today we felt truly alienated from our country.

It was a reminder that although I'm tolerated, and my vote is courted, when push comes to shove despite all that is outlined regarding Freedom of Religion, I was not truly included in everything today.

When any religious leader purposely excludes people from feeling a part of anything, that leader must suffer the consequences of his/her rhetoric. A quality of Christofascism is the ability to create an "us vs. them" mentality.

Rick Warren seems to be doing just that.

Just a thought.

Rick Warren's Dilemma: Preachers Hate Him Too!

When Preachers Hate Preachers - Watch Out!

Perhaps the most ridiculous of wars are wars of religion. When two preachers hurl theologically insidious remarks at one another, both are made to look as if two thousand years of religious strife were nothing in comparison to their enmity towards each other. And they both seem to enjoy strife immensely:

(From A True Church):

If you are involved with the kind of Christianity that views the "church of Christ", or Billy Graham, or Rick Warren, or Joel Osteen, or James Dobson, or Pat Robertson, or John MacArthur, ...or T. D. Jakes,.. (or any of the likes on "Christian" TV or radio) as godly men, you are not saved. Why? Because, you are on the broad way (Matthew 7:13; 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 4:3). You have not the characteristic of Christ's sheep (John 10:5). And, men such as these are wells without water (2 Peter 2:17).

Let's back up a bit on that statement: the author (unknown) lumps Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen and Rick Warren together. WTF? This is like alligators eating their own young. Yes, it's just that vicious. Can't these guys just learn to get along? Talk about religious intolerance!

O.K., Rick Warren could be the anti-Christ because Christ would never have worn hideous Hawaiian shirts while preaching. Be that as it may, when Christianity was in its infancy, even its worst critics were heard to say, "but see how they love one another." Now it's "see how they mock, scourge, pillory, damn, ridicule and revile one another!" When is Christian America (yes, including Mormons) going to take a step back and see the overall picture of (what looks like) rabid dogs, frothing at the mouth, each one declaring that they alone have "the Truth."

It all looks like plain ole intolerance for each other. Forget the "love one another" maxim of Christ; these people LIVE on hatred. They cut their teeth on loathing someone - anyone.

Jeesus! After two thousand years, these guys just can't get it right!

Just a thought.

Haggard ReDux: Sometimes the Homo-sex Came From Within New Hope Church!

Ted Haggard: From One Comic Scandal To Another!

Hypocrisy is running rampant through America's religious communities these days. And exposing hypocrisy is...fun! At least for those of us who can point it out!

(From the Denver Post, Jan. 23, 2009)

Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the gay sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard — a revelation that comes as Haggard tries to repair his public image.

Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard as senior pastor of New Life, said the church reached a legal settlement to pay the man for counseling and college tuition, with one condition being that none of the parties involved discuss the matter publicly.

We considered it more compassionate assistance — certainly not hush money.

Compassion from a Christofascist? Now that's a new one. If it's anything like the compassionate conservatism we had under George Bush, then it's rather hollow. What about Mike Jones? He's angry. VERY angry. He experienced the hypocrisy of the gay community as well as New Life's hypocritical attempt at a cover-up. He was made a pariah by both sides. And he never received appreciation for his resolve and courage.

A documentary, The Trials of Ted Haggard, is to be aired on HBO within several days. With this new twist, we wonder how this "in depth and insightful" piece will be viewed. Instead of HBO, FOX News should have produced it. They're so good at comedy.

Just a thought.