Warren: You Can Go To Our Church, Even If You Are Filthy Rotten Sinners!

But We Still Love You!

Rick Warren doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Stupidity is not courage. The website for his church stated this until Friday:

Because membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one’s life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives.

This statement has been pulled. Of course, "at a member at Saddleback Church" is a grammatical error (Warren hasn't fully mastered the English language yet take a look at the rest of the site here), but you can rest assured it wasn't pulled because of that.

The brouhaha over Barack Obama's invitation to Rick Warren to deliver the invocation for the Presidential Inauguration has caused Warren to be on the defensive. Within the space of hours, we've heard Warren say (on what seems like twenty talk shows) that he has "many gay friends". How much of this BS can we stand? Who in his/her right mind would have the Warrens over for dinner knowing what they think of gays? Or do the Warrens accept invitations from gays to make them ex-gays?

Warren is going from Elmer Gantry to Elmer Fudd again.

He may have expunged the comment about homosexuals and acceptance at Saddleback from his website, but the nitwit still left in a LOT of things to cause animosity. Like Fudd would say, "wook cwoswy vewy vewy cwoswy": this is what Saddleback has to say about the possibility of homosexuality being innate or genetic:

...even if some physical difference were discovered, it would be no excuse for sin.

In fact, there are a great many discrepancies and oddities strewn about the site. Warren's blind belief in the Bible is really ludicrous:

The Bible is God´s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

Spoken like a true Christofascist: "it is truth without any mixture of error" MIXTURE?? Now that's a bit confusing. Sounds nice, but what the hell does it mean? Is the Bible like some cocktail? Whatever mixture it is will still be liquor? BTW, ANYTHING that's written by human authors is bound to be screwed up sooner or later. Take a look at this translation:

"Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin." (Lev. 18:22 TLB).

The term "homosexuality" was definitely NOT in the lexicon of the Hebrews who were in exile in Babylon at the time Leviticus was written. And "enormous sin" is not quite the same as all of the "abominations" we've been hearing about for the last fifty years!

And the ultimate of "Pick and Choose" rests in the fact that to put forth his talking points, Warren's minion, Tom Holladay (who looks vaguely like John Waters) uses THREE DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS for quotes! TLB, NIV, NLT (and possibly BLT - the famous MacDonald's translation).

The moral of this post: if you're going to be a bigoted Christofascist, don't be a stupid Christofascist.

Just a thought.

Intense Irrationalism: The Power Of The Christofascists

O.K., here I go again, describing Christofascism for the umpteenth time! But the new PEW report shows us some alarming evidence. What the Christofascists tell people about our "Christian Nation" and about our "Faith" is not quite true.

Where's the 90% we've been hearing about?

It's somewhere in the attic of the Christofascist mind along with "marriage has been defined as one man, one woman for five thousand years!" Again, the Christofascist is defined in two groups: Elmer Gantrys and Elmer Fudds. The Gantrys are the ones with the slickest, loudest, Bible-tinged rhetoric. The Fudds are "vewy, vewy quiet" but carry guns. The PEW report, however, shows us just how misrepresented the country is when it comes to "Faith."

The Breakdown:

American Public:

Protestant – 51.3%
Catholic – 23.9%
Jewish – 1.7%
Mormon – 1.7%
Other Faiths – 4.5%
Unafilliated – 16.1% Unspecified - .8%

Congress:

Protestant – 54.7%
Catholic – 30.1%
Jewish – 8.4%
Mormon – 2.6%
Other Faiths – 3.3%
Unafilliated – 0
Unspecified - .9%

Where did that 16% go to?

It's very clear that no member of Congress will state that he/she is "unaffiliated." That's the first indication of Christofascism at work. It is also indicated in the fact that Jewish representation is four times higher than its population. In reality, the country identifies itself as only 75% Christian. And if you break down denominations, the Warrens, Wrights, Parsleys, Robertsons, Hagees, Osteens, Kopelands, Dobsons are in a very small minority. So why do these Gantrys and Fudds, who probably number about 15% of the country seem to control at least 55%? (we're not counting Pope Ratzinger).

Again, they are the most political, they shout the loudest and longest (through the media) and they depend upon the public's fear of religion (God). They use that fear to create group that feeds on hatred of "the other." They also confuse obedience to God with patriotism.

Of course, there's truth in the old axiom: "God does not love a flag. He loves us all!" but the Christofascists will never use it: nationalism is a chief factor in all fascism and Christofascists will always use it and isolationism to sustain their "flocks".

Just a thought.

The Freudian Slip Of Politico.com: What Most Of Us REALLY Feel

It's not just wishful thinking anymore!

I did the same thing in my last post, but this one was unintentional:
(Politico.com - Breaking News)

Saturday - 2:38 PM

President Obama has now upped his goal to creating nearly 3 million jobs over the next two years, up from 2.5 million just a month ago, Democratic officials said Saturday.

(Politico.com - Breaking News)

Saturday - 2:47 PM

CORRECTED: President-elect Obama has now upped his goal to creating nearly 3 million jobs over the next two years, from 2.5 million just a month ago, Democratic officials said Saturday.

This shows how people are chomping at the bit for January 20. How will we ever survive the next 30 days? Will B**h up the number of deregulations up to 300? This is stupid and vengeful! It would have been easier if he'd staged a coup d'etat and declared himself either king or Dictator for Life!

How George Pictured Himself.
By the Grace of God, of Course

One Presidency: $200 million, A Shoe Thrown At The President: $34, Discribing Bush in One Word: Priceless

"The Good Old Days"

NOW We Can Talk Approval Ratings?

Pew Research is always pretty accurate. We have a daily feed to our home page that gives us the latest on Politics and Religion. We've used them before, and the numbers have been real eye-openers!

But when it comes to the last eight years and George W. B**h, the numbers vindicate our resentment, while - frankly- making us laugh at the same time! I wish there were a way for Pew Research representatives to follow around Rove and B**h in his "Legacy Tour" with placards of ratings.

When I saw the below stastics, it made me howl! From "Christian" to "Idiot" (sort of redundant) see what the country REALLY thinks of our diplomatic dimwit. The numbers are NOT percentages, but how many people out of 1000 responded with these words when asked for a one-word description both in 2004 and 1008

Describing Bush in One Word:
	'04	'08	Change
Incompetent	21	56	35
Idiot	12	27	15
Ignorant	2	14	12
Honorable	5	16	11
Selfish	5	13	8
Stupid	12	16	4
Ass	6	9	3
Dedicated	7	8	1
OK	5	5	0
Patriot/Patriotic	6	5	-1
Sincere	5	4	-1
Arrogant	25	23	-2
Determined	10	7	-3
Great	7	3	-4
Confident	7	3	-4
Honest	35	31	-4
Good	26	20	-6
Integrity	16	9	-7
Dishonest	9	1	-8
Excellent	11	0	-14
Fair	18	5	-13
Christian	14	0	-14
Liar	18	4	-14
Strong	18	4	-14
Leader	30	8	-22

Now Let's Talk LEGACIES!!: (This one in %)


NOW Let's See Percentage Comparisons: Clinton, Jan. 01 Bush, Dec. 08 Accomplishments 60% 24% Failures 27% 64%
These figures are almost completely reversed!

In other words, The feelings about Clinton's failures in 2001 were the same as Bush's accomplishments in 2008! And Republicans castigated Clinton while everyone thought of him as a successful President and backed Bush when everyone thought of him as incompetent!

So it's in black and white: people think Bush is an ass who has ruined the country and the Republican Party.

Just a thought!

"And We Bessech Thee, Oh Lord, To Give This President The Courage to Kill Muslims And Gays For They Are Evildoers. Amen!"

Oh, But Lord, I Personally Am
NOT A Hater Of Muslims Or Gays!
(No one could EVER pin those stupid phobia names on ME!)

I realize that Obama is trying desperately to reach out to everyone in the country. Unfortunately, that includes Christofascists. And the emerging Christofascist of the day is none other than Rick Warren.

(From Box Turtle Bulletin)

The New York Times’ Katharine Seelye is reporting that Rick Warren, the pastor at Saddleback Church, has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to deliver the invocation at the inaugural ceremony.

This is the same Rick Warren who recently said that the relationships of his “many gay friends” are no different from child rape, incest or polygamy. He also jumped on the paranoia bandwagon surrounding same-sex marriage by falsely claiming that Prop 8’s failure somehow would have overturned the Constitution’s First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and religion. (It can’t. No law or state constitution can.).

Warren on gays:

… Most people, you know… I have many gay friends, I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes, no church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church. Kay and I have given millions of dollars out of “A Purpose-Driven Life” helping people who got AIDS through gay relationships. So they can’t accuse me of homophobia. I just don’t believe in the re-definition of marriage.

Hmmm. I think he's lying.

"Shock! Shock! Shock! You just called the country's most influential 'Man of God' a Liar!"

Yeah, so?

Let's look at the statements a little bit closer: "I have many gay friends." After he compares you to a child rapist would YOU be friends with Rick Warren? "...no church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church." It's a pity all the people who can attest to that live in Africa. "...people who got AIDS through gay relationships." Meaning: "gay relationships cause AIDS."

Like the true Christofascist he is, Warren lies like a pro.

Just a thought.

From 4,000 Sqaure Feet of Horse Manure to 12,000 Sqaure Feet of Opulence!

From Luxury and Opulence to Texas Cowboy Down-home AND BACK AGAIN!


$3 Million My Ass!

The exclusive Preston Hollow neighborhood is where former President George W. Bush (sorry, but I can't wait!) will supposedly be residing after his disastrous tenure in office (couldn't wait to say that, either!). I say "supposedly" because I have serious doubts about what functions this "estate" will perform. Will it truly be a home for the Bushes or is it really a rouse?

The first "pictures" of the estate, if they were true, showed a one-level suburban home not quite worth the first estimate of $2 million. The estate shown here looks the opposite: huge to the point of being a steal for the last estimate, $3 million. The main house looks to be at least 10-12,000 square feet. There is a forecourt with a reflecting pool, stables, separate pool area with cabana and what looks like an older (but still very large) house, presumably guest or staff quarters. It sits on 4 acres of prime Dallas real estate and its neighbors are T. Boone Pickens and Ross Perot.


Dallas' Preston Hollow is also newsworthy for a bit of racial discrimination

Wikipedia:

In 2006, Preston Hollow Elementary School achieved notoriety after a lawsuit claiming the school's class-assignment policies violated the 1952 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision. Judge Sam Lindsay ruled in November that the school's practices were not legal because they attempted to keep white students together even if minority students had to be placed in inappropriate courses.

A close look at Preston Hollow real estate makes you wonder how the Bushes could have gotten their 4-acre, 8 bedroom, 12,000 sf. estate for less than $10 million. The top price for a home in Preston Hollow? A mere $45 million.

And remember: it's where the Bushes lived BEFORE he tried to channel Will Rogers! And before he got snubbed by the NAACP!

Something's afoot! And it's not just arrogant stupidity!

Just a thought.

Gays and Christofascists In The Battle Of Newsweek!

Lisa Miller Has A Lot Of Courage
And Now, A Lot Of Enemies

The Christofascists came out of the woodwork last week and are not going to let Lisa Miller, Newsweek's religion editor, keep her job, her integrity, nor her sanity.

SBC's Stith also denounced Hollywood's attempt to make biblical arguments. "Anyone who cares to spend thirty minutes of serious study would see the many flaws in Black’s argument," he said.

Unfortunately, 30 minutes is still 29 minutes too many for most American Christians. And Stith doesn't sound as if he's exactly a biblical textual critical or scholar either:

"On several occasions, sometimes with tears in my own eyes, I’ve said to people about actions in which they were involved, 'You know, this isn’t God’s best for you. He has something better if you’re willing to walk in obedience.' Does this make me a 'hater' or does it mean that I care about that person and genuinely believe that God knows what He’s talking about?" Stith posed.

It may not make him a hater, but it does make him an arrogant, insulting idiot. How dare he insinuate that what I am is sinful? Stith has the mind of a bullhorn-toting street preacher. "...with tears in my own eyes."? Gimme a break! Remember: Stith is part of the glorious Southern Baptist Convention, the same organization that believed AIDS was a disease sent to purge our society of demonspawn.

And it has never apologized for kicking people out of their homes while they were sick and dying. If the Convention's view of homosexuality is anything like its view of slavery, we'll get an apology 150 years from now.

If we're lucky.

Just a thought.

And just for fun, here's another clip from Prop 8 - The Musical