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Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview
huffingtonpost.com — Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.
- 2119 diggs
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- huntress58, on 09/02/2008, -51/+213How about some of the same scrutiny and outrage about Obama's pastor, or is it going to be overlooked because she seems like a nice white suburban hockey Mom??
- ZenMojo, on 09/02/2008, -12/+40White people aren't dangerous, huntress. Where you been?
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -2/+6Someone should take the passage, replace "God" with "Allah", "Jesus" with "Mohammed", and show it with a picture of anyone darker than a latte and see how quickly the words are condemned by the same people who would champion this guy.
- JavanSClark, on 09/02/2008, -5/+30Meh, she's a "hockey mom", so obviously she's ok.
- DreKor, on 09/02/2008, -2/+13Then I guess she and Putin will have something to talk about when she goes on the diplomatic circuit.
- QuadZeroRoute, on 09/02/2008, -18/+3My mom was a hockey mom too. Two hockey players in my family. We didn't play soccer. Pussies play soccer. What can I say.
- TimDigg, on 09/02/2008, -4/+19"Pussies play soccer. What can I say."
Yea and real men wear ice skates.... - Charlotte_Web, on 09/02/2008, -11/+6NO NO NO NO... Not "God Bless America"... "God DAMN America"!
...whose pastor of 20 years said that one? - archiesteel, on 09/03/2008, -4/+10Charlotte_Web: sorry, you can no longer use the Reverend Wright as a ways to attack America. We have proof that Palin was in Church when the leader of Jews for Jesus (who says that attacks on Israel are God's punishment of Jews for not embracing Christianity).
McCain really fumbled with his choice, basically forfeiting two of his main line of attacks (inexperience and Obama's former church).
Also, Sarah Palin once wanted to ban certain books from the Wasila public library (when she was mayor of the minuscule town). Or how about the fact she was once member of a party that wants Alaska to separate from the US? Is this *really* the candidate you want to support?
Any smart Republican right now would immediately tell McCain to reverse his choice and pick another candidate - otherwise, he's certain to lose the election. - culbeda, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2Now she's going to be a "hockey grandmom"
- DavidBGie, on 09/03/2008, -4/+6@archiesteel
"Or how about the fact she was once member of a party that wants Alaska to separate from the US?" - Hey retard, that story was shot down about 6 hours ago. She's been a republican since 1982. But you Democrats don't worry about little "details" like that! - CryRightardCry, on 09/03/2008, -3/+2LOL
Look at the sad little rightard losers like charlotte and quad and davidbgie.
It's astounding what honorless ***** you are.
Hey, you just keep cheering for the nutjobs. That just makes November all the easier.
The more you rightards open your mouths, the more you hurt your cause.
Frankly it's delicious. - archiesteel, on 09/03/2008, -2/+2DavidBGie, she was listed as a registered Republican, but the members of the party affirm she was a member - which would indicate, at the very least, that she was a sympathizer. She might have been a member of both parties, even though I'm pretty sure Republican membership rules would preclude that.
The link remains worrisome.
Douche. - DreadPirate, on 09/03/2008, -1/+2CRC - What would you know about honor? You lack anything resembling the way of honor in your behavior here on digg. You have yet to return to a single thread to actually discuss an issue - instead all you have the courage to do is leave invective and insult-laden posts with little to no factual content. And then you can't even return to that thread to actually discuss an issue.
Doesn't sound like honor to me - more like rampant, glaring hypocrisy. That I will admit you are a master of.
- ftx437, on 09/02/2008, -27/+9what out rage..haven't heard much about it since his holliness said he didn't know about his comments
- TheOther1, on 09/02/2008, -2/+7WTF are you babbling about?!
- kigcoopa84, on 09/02/2008, -40/+44I think you are overlooking a couple big differences.
1. She is the one giving the speech, not a pastor.
2. She is telling people to praise the troops not damn America or that white people invented aids and crack to keep the black man down.
2. The oil pipeline mentioned is something far from the interests of oil companies.
Poor huffinton, even they are having trouble making stuff up about her- PartyLess, on 09/02/2008, -20/+29Your an idiot she is attributing the war to be a religious war. A theocracy is what our country is not.
- Ricemanstm, on 09/02/2008, -23/+20In a way it is a religious war. We are in a war against MUSLIM radicals you dunce.
- alkoquad, on 09/02/2008, -17/+10Thank you Ricemanstm you got to it before i did, and what she or the pastor said are not the same as yelling United States of KKK and F America.
- PabloMac, on 09/02/2008, -14/+6"Your an idiot..."
HA! - cyberprunes, on 09/02/2008, -7/+29I'm sorry but this is lunacy. I'm sick of ultra right wing born again bat ***** crazy fruit cakes trying to steal my country!
Any politician that aligns their political agenda with God's will is a person that should be looked at with
severe skepticism. - parithes, on 09/03/2008, -13/+7Hey Cyberprunes- Ever read a little thing called the Declaration of Independence? GOD is specifically mentioned as the being who has granted us our rights. The people of the time were believers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Christian God. The following link shows a table of the percentage of founding fathers and their faiths. http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Reli ...
Any politician who aligns himself/herself with God is positive. Your just spewing hatred and insults which reflects what is on the inside.. HATE. - rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -2/+7@parithes - I think you are misunderstanding the point of the founding fathers in the first amendment: while most of them had some connection to the Judeo/Christian religion, they made no bones about the concept of religious freedom for the populous, because they saw how destructive a theocracy was in Europe. You can still see how destructive theocracy is today by looking at which countries have a secular government and how they are doing relative to countries with a religious government. That is not to say the populous cannot be religious, just that the government is blind to religion.
What most complaining Christians in the US don't understand is that nobody would have a problem with you if you didn't try to keep stuffing religion down other people's throats. Almost any example I hear of Christians being oppressed is in fact a case of people refusing to let Christians oppress them.
I am an atheist, but I have an extensive family of Christians whom I respect and love. I support your right, and their right to do anything they want with _their_lives_. It is interference with my life that bothers me. And all government institutions should be neutral. I'm guessing you don't have a clear understanding of neutrality. Let me know if you want my help in navigating such terrain.
Cheers. - parithes, on 09/03/2008, -6/+5@Rotundo --> Sorry pal but Jesus never preached Neutrality. In fact Neutrality would be "Luke Warm", of those God said he will spit them out of his mouth. I am not commanded by God to sit idly by and be "neutral", but to go unto ALL the world. As for Christians being oppressed; Every Arabic nation oppresses Christianity, China oppresses Christianity, in Burma Christians are slaughtered and tortured, in Sudan and other African nations Christians are slaughtered, raped, and tortured. Those are just to name a few and it goes far beyond oppression.
So let me know if YOU want some help navigating out of neutrality... I know a great book which can help guide you. God Bless and have a nice day. - bobbi21, on 09/03/2008, -1/+6Jesus taught us to love our neighbors though and not condemn anyone on their sins since all have sinned. And he never forced belief in him. He let everyone who believed in him come to that decision on their own. He gave his talks on being nice to ppl and obeying the lord etc etc, he did his miracles, and then he let people decide on their own to follow him. He preached a personal relationship with god that can not be forced by anyone. He hated how the pharisees enforced blind faith in their rules and regulations.
Notably, he respected the established government. Give to caesar what is caesar's. Like it or not the government respects religious freedom and was designed to keep religion out of the government. Sure they used religious language since that's how everything was written back then (atheism wasn't very popular back then and they were all generally religious) but as was said, they did not want religion to interfere with politics. Jesus would have respected the laws of the nation and let people decide to follow him based on the strength of his teachings. - turkoftheplains, on 09/03/2008, -2/+4@Parithes: "Any politician who aligns himself/herself with God is positive."
Oh, you mean like the Taliban, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oliver Cromwell, and those nice folks in 17th century Salem?
----
Noting here, in anticipation of inevitable anti-Islamic bile, that you referred to the "God of Abraham," who would also be Allah in Islam.
- daschupa, on 09/02/2008, -9/+25Not to play old white devil's advocate, but this pastor's comments are a lot less sensationalistic than Obama's pastor. At the most he is using his influence to sway the political vote of his congregation which deserves its spot in the Huffington Post, but it's not as good of a headline as Rev. Wrights "all blacks should sing "God Damn America"" comments which the media humped to death.
- cyberprunes, on 09/02/2008, -8/+13Listen to the lunacy SHE is spewing. Forget that dopey pastor.
- barc0001, on 09/02/2008, -3/+7I thought that churches in the US were forbidden from directing their congregations to vote for one candidate or another, lest they lose their tax-exempt status? And the pastor of your church, who is your alleged 'condut to God' telling you "I'm not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I'm sorry." sounds an awful lot like your pastor is telling you there's only one way to vote. And before you think "well that's just a pastor who cares", with people who go to a church like this, that kind of opinion carries as much weight as hearing your doctor say "Look, if you don't give up the cigarettes, you're going to die, I'm sorry"
- peheimbach, on 09/02/2008, -2/+1First, props to barc0001 -- what HAVE you been through?
Second, @ daschupa and huntress58 -- we just need to take something short enough for the Rethugs to remember as badly out of context as Rove took the GDA comment. We just have to MAKE the sensationalism -- oh, right - that's what surrogates are for ...
- EatSleepJeep, on 09/02/2008, -16/+24A vast majority of the "Hockey Moms" I encounter are insufferable, sanctimonious, self-righteous bitches.
If the shoe fits, eh Sarah? - Ricemanstm, on 09/02/2008, -11/+4Now that wouldn't be because you're a cantankerous shiite-head now, would it?
- QuadZeroRoute, on 09/02/2008, -19/+9Thank you for the video. For sure now I will be very happy to cast my vote for Palin. She rocks. Christians are generally great people.
McCain/Palin 08!- cyberprunes, on 09/02/2008, -4/+14Yea they're great if you're a fellow Christian. The evangelical / born again crowd are insufferable bible thumping fools.
I DO NOT WANT religious zealot in my white house.
I do not want public policy shaped by crazy ultra right wing evangelical ideas.
I do not want anyone in a VP position who will defer critical thinking on important issues to "God's will"
I do not want anyone who believes that creationism should be taught in public school to be shaping public policy.
I do not want anyone who is an advocate for "Abstinence until marriage" while having an unwed pregnant teenage daughter to be my Vice President.
I do not want a VP who considered Alaskan Independence to be a good idea.
No thank you. Buh bye now. - haydesigner, on 09/02/2008, -3/+8Let's just ignore all the hateful, vile, warmongering and all around intolerance that all those other Christians espouse.
THE key foundation of Christ's teaching is TOLERANCE. - jj101, on 09/02/2008, -3/+12You would vote for her because she is a christian? That's a great example of how strongly religious people differ from normal people. Normal people would never vote for someone because they shared a belief. Would you vote for someone because they like the same flavour ice cream as you do?
Anyway be honest. Nothing in the known universe would make you vote different. You are a fundamentalist. If god himself magicked himself into existence, appeared in front of your sofa right where the tv is and declared to you that the Mcain/Palin was a combination of senility, incompetence and blind religious fervor, you would dismiss it as a "libtard" trick. - FanofFilm, on 09/02/2008, -5/+3jj101
"Normal people would never vote for someone because they shared a belief."
So...normal people vote for someone they disagree with? - FanofFilm, on 09/02/2008, -2/+2and you're right, normal people wouldn't vote republican simply because the candidate was republican. or democrat simply because they're democrat for that matter.
- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -1/+3@Fanoffilm first comment:
Fair enough - I wasn't very eloquent - I meant "just because they share an unrelated belief". I would have thought the remainder of the paragraph made that clear though.
Second comment - No I don't think they would. I think they would vote for a democrat because they believed in democratic policies and in the policies of the specific candidate. That is very different than voting for any old republican that takes office, especially one who has moved so far from typical republican values. - FanofFilm, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1jj101
but surely you do understand that many very normal people will vote party line regardless of the candidate's individual merits. i mean that whether democrat or republican. - jj101, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2@Fan - I think your right in a typical election year to be honest. But then there is a distiction between voting on party lines and voting on a religious affiliation basis. Obama is a christian too.
I don't consider this election to be typical though. This is a particularly important time in terms of global economics and foreign politics. The life of the average American has not impacted well by the last eight years of government. At times like this typically people vote issues.
In the UK last time we had a recession (similar to what is happening now) we had just had a long period of conservative government. Blair got in on a landslide. That could not happen if people always vote along party lines.
Besides I have more faith in people than that. To vote for one party, regardless of any change in policy or their candidate, is clearly stupid. I have not yet become arrogant enough to assume most people are stupid.
- cyberprunes, on 09/02/2008, -4/+14Yea they're great if you're a fellow Christian. The evangelical / born again crowd are insufferable bible thumping fools.
- danconia, on 09/02/2008, -3/+10I'm still waiting to meet her future son-in-law. Must be an outstanding guy and in love with his life partner Bristol! (I wonder just what kind of threats they were throwing at him).
- Todalion, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1you sure arent one to judge are ya buddy?
- allisonaxe, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Todalion, he never said he was better than that. its when these people preach abstinence-only, and then end up with a knocked-up teenage daughter that we get to say "see, told you so," because they apparently expect a "do as I say, not as I do" to be ok. these are like the kinds of people that think the line at the grocery store, where it says "10 items or less," mean all those normal people, and they take their 11 items and go anyway. they think the rules don't apply to them, so its perfectly fine for them to say one thing while doing the opposite.
on our side, we generally don't say to not do what it is that they're saying, so we should be able to reserve the right to take it out on their asses when they get caught.
- Todalion, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1you sure arent one to judge are ya buddy?
- thcobbs, on 09/02/2008, -7/+11Got a clip of her screaming "God damn America"?
- Codee, on 09/02/2008, -3/+4No, but it is quite possible she will do the damning via his will.
- thcobbs, on 09/03/2008, -1/+2oh, wait.. you're serious?
- rogue780, on 09/02/2008, -10/+7As far as I can tell she or her pastor never said "God damn America," or purported that white people created AIDS to kill off all the black people. Think before you...well on second thought, just don't ever share your opinion or questions again.
- ldkronos, on 09/03/2008, -0/+4Nope, he just said that critics of bush (which appear to be about 2/3 of Americans, based on his approval rating) are going to hell, and possibly anyone who voted for Kerry too (though that's probably nearly 100% overlap), and also that 9/11 and the Iraq war are not a war on terror but a war of faith. Yep, that's SO much better.
- archiesteel, on 09/03/2008, -3/+4She's a Creationist, which is a *lot* more loony than believing the government created AIDS. She's also in favor of censoring ideas she disagrees with (i.e. banning books from public libraries) and once belonged to a secessionist party. Oh, and abused her power in Troopergate.
- Frumbler, on 09/03/2008, -2/+5No, they just think God created AIDS to kill gays and sinners. You know, like Falwell said.
- rex84, on 09/02/2008, -2/+3Why ya gotta bring race into this?
- deleo, on 09/02/2008, -4/+15Anyone see Jesus Camp lately? They are closer than ever to realizing their dreams with Sarah Palin. The White House is finally within their grasp. When Sarah gives an address to the nation will she speak in tongues?
- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2You mean she wasn't in the video? Didn't make a whole load of sense to me!
- Todalion, on 09/03/2008, -1/+1well, i think there is a pretty significant item in the constitution separating church and state....unfortunatley, the state will become huge if we elect the elitists of the left. government programs for everyone!
- TheInformer, on 09/02/2008, -9/+3You forget. Obama cannot be questioned or scrutinized.
Template:
McCain=eeeeevil, stupid, senile, etc etc. National news media must question every word, every action.
Obama=perfect, media never challenges him, never asks him hard questions, never looks into his background, etc - solboldi, on 09/02/2008, -6/+4"God Damn America!!!!"
- archiesteel, on 09/03/2008, -1/+3Weak use of the "Changing the Subject" logical fallacy.
- ruthkle1n, on 09/02/2008, -1/+2I thought that was already done and beaten to death. It's old news.
- peheimbach, on 09/03/2008, -1/+2@ daschupa and huntress58 -- we just need to take something short enough for the Rethugs to remember (for more than 11 seconds) as badly out of context as Rove took the GDA comment.
Then, we just have to MAKE the sensationalism -- the trick will be finding anyone in the MSM who isn't busy covering for McPain ...- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+4Yeah, the GDA comment was no worse than the Jerry Falwell comments about gays causing 9/11. Yet he's still revered as a holy icon by most of the religious right. The hypocrisy is staggering.
- flannerus, on 09/03/2008, -3/+8Palin is herself. Obama is not his pastor. End of comparison.
- whodoes, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Did you miss the non-stop coverage of Obama's pastor ? Im not sure what rock you think remained to be looked under .
- MadOgre, on 09/03/2008, -4/+3Sarah Palin and Barack Obama are more or less the same age, but Governor Palin has run a state and a town and a commercial fishing operation, whereas (to reprise a famous line on the Rev Jackson) Senator Obama ain’t run nothin’ but his mouth.
- turkoftheplains, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3And a grateful state consisting of ice, oil, and 12 people thanks her.
- Bartboy919, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3I dont think being a senator is anything to sneeze at.
- ZenMojo, on 09/02/2008, -12/+40White people aren't dangerous, huntress. Where you been?
- SheilaNoya, on 09/02/2008, -26/+248We certainly don't need another religious extremist in the White House. Palin thinks Iraq is part of "God's plan" and we were sent there to do His work?
What other religious wars is she willing to start so "God's Army" can fulfill their interpretation of some 2000 year old prophecies? This woman scares the crap out of me.- ssn697, on 09/02/2008, -2/+55I think you underestimate how deep this idea of the "holy war" goes, Sheila. MANY evangelicals are on the "this is the end times, and we are brining back Jesus" bandwagon:
"After September 11, James Merritt, then-president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Bush that he had been chosen by God. Bush nodded. (Fred Barnes reported this encounter in The Weekly Standard, concluding, "The stage was set for Bush to be God's agent of wrath.") As Time reported, "Privately, Bush even talked of being chosen by the grace of God to lead at that moment." Claiming you've been chosen by God to lead the world in a titanic clash of good versus evil is pretty much the definition of messianic."
That is just a little piece of the whole "we have to bring war, to get Jesus back" thinking.- stretta, on 09/02/2008, -0/+31The rapture is NOT an exit strategy.
- drlha, on 09/02/2008, -0/+22Christians always believe that we're at the end of days. If you had polled Christians 1000 years ago and polled them today, you'd find that about the same number believe that the rapture will happen in the next few years.
- Veretax, on 09/02/2008, -18/+2I think some of you are taking "end times doctrine" as presented in Fiction like the Left Behind Series as facts. Many Christians, myself included see signs in the world that the time of the end is near. (Russia using its military in Georgia for example.) However, such signs have been available for a long time. "There shall be wars, and rumors of wars." that was the response Christ gave to the disciples as the sign of the end of the age. So in one sense yes the Age is coming to an end, but it would be foolish to assume it is happening quickly, or to assume that it is far far off. Hope that helps
Secondly, she's talking about God being present in the affairs of men. A lot of Christians believe that, but it doesn't mean the everything that happens is of God either. Test the Spirits folks ;) - haydesigner, on 09/02/2008, -1/+8@ Veretax: "So in one sense yes the Age is coming to an end, but it would be foolish to assume it is happening quickly, or to assume that it is far far off."
Do you always talk out of both sides of your ass? - jj101, on 09/02/2008, -0/+11@Veretx - that was the most terrifying comment I have ever read. You see "signs that the end is near". Dude we make the future. Every action we take decides what happens in the world. The end is only near if we make that happen!
- mikesoba, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3@Vertex - Like the poster said, Christians have thought the end was near for nearly 2 millenia. In fact, the earliest Christians lived celibate lives for many reasons, including their belief that the Christ would return in their life time. Biblically, it says no one know. Not even you and certainly not Palin.
Her "church" is a wacko cult that in better days would have led her to the stake. - Gemfinder, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2@Veretax:
Tim LaHaye was one of the people who backed Palin as McCain's running mate.
This nation wasn't conceived as and CANNOT become a theocracy. Justice — hell yeah, justice is good, but we can't go around pulling Jihads for Jesus.
These Dominionist freaks are the Christian equivalent of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, who we're supposed to be opposing.
- AlaskaLoneWolf, on 09/02/2008, -24/+4Well, I guess you'll jus' have to vote for Hillary then, in 2012. She's a lot safer, right? She should scare you, she scares a lot of people, and I think that's a good thing.
- neodorian, on 09/02/2008, -0/+23Perhaps, but while I can find faults with her policies, at least she doesn't claim to receive them from the voices in her head. I can disagree with Clinton on plenty of things but I'd take a rational but slimy career politician over a telegenic schizophrenic any day.
- AlaskaLoneWolf, on 09/02/2008, -11/+1...and that is exactly why things get worse. If we had it your way, another dude that heard this voice in his head wouldn't have gotten anywhere either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln
You'd rather accept the status quo, than take a leap of faith. Oh, that's right, you probably don't believe in that either. I guess we ought to get that pesky "In God We Trust" inscription off of the money before it 'offends' anyone else.
- Kohaxx, on 09/02/2008, -5/+32Both McCain and Bush have mentioned God talking to them and advising their decisions. Most places that would lead you to a mental institution, in the US it leads you to the presidency.
- drlha, on 09/02/2008, -2/+14Difference between religious people and crazy people: Religious people talk to God, crazy people believe God talks to them.
- ssn697, on 09/02/2008, -0/+9"Difference between religious people and crazy people: Religious people talk to God, crazy people believe God talks to them."
So you agree then that Palin's minister is crazy?
"He also claims to have received direct "words of knowledge" from God, providing him information about past events in other people's lives." - mikesoba, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2Of course he's crazy.
- drlha, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3ssn697: He's either crazy or a liar. I'm guessing the latter, but I can't rule out the former.
- Frustian, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1If you are seeing invisible people talking to you, telling you to murder many innocent people you are crazy.
However, I think that is not the case, and they do not believe in the literal sense that god is talking to them. It's more like they think they have the mental capacity of lemmings, so any thought that comes into their head must have been one from god. If they has a dream of burning witches at the stake, they interpret that as god telling them to burn withes at the stake. Which is not the correct interpretation of that dream, which is that you should immediately check into a mental hospital because you are a sociopath dreaming about burning people.
- a2fan, on 09/02/2008, -21/+5I don't think I've ever read something so paranoid, ignorant and completely untrue as this... well, not since 2 minutes ago while reading yet another HuffPuff Palin hitjob piece.
I'd consider voting for Obama, but then I'd have to put up with all the kool-aid swigging, bitter, hateful asshats.- heiroglyph, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9I'm not a fan of Obama either, but couldn't the Republicans have picked ONE sane candidate?
Nobody on the ballot really seems like presidential material. - alphaterminus, on 09/02/2008, -11/+1I'm voting for Obama but I agree. The liberals are acting like a bunch of hate filled ***** retards for the past week. They seem like they are trying to loose the election again. I really don't think they realize how much their hatred and lack of class turn off middle America.
/Registered Republican voting for a Democrat for the first time since 1992, solely because of foreign policy and energy, but refusing to associate myself with abortion worshiping hate filled liberals - alphaterminus, on 09/02/2008, -1/+12OK, I wrote that last statement before I read this. I don't give a crap about her pregnant daughter, but I think all
book burners are = to Nazis.
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837918,0 ...
Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs
into her policy at times. "She asked the library how she could go about
banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had
inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast." That woman,
Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from
the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving
"full support" to the mayor.
- heiroglyph, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9I'm not a fan of Obama either, but couldn't the Republicans have picked ONE sane candidate?
- kigcoopa84, on 09/02/2008, -11/+6I am not sure, but a speech being given to a graduating high school class about praying for the troops may not be the most accurate indicator of Foreign policy. Wow huffinton is really trying hard with her...
- kahrytan, on 09/02/2008, -12/+5SheilaNoya, You are a moron. She never said Iraq was God's plan.
- iBahl, on 09/02/2008, -2/+14God's will is that we kill the brown people in Iraq and build a gas pipeline in Alaska?
- boombye, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3Yup.
- 7Mystery, on 09/02/2008, -0/+6And John "Bomb-Bomb-Bomb-Iran" McCain said "Iran doesn't share our Christian values".
- deleo, on 09/02/2008, -0/+6Hopefully Gwen Ifill's first question to Sarah in the VP debate will be:
"Sarah you said that the war in Iraq is part of God's plan. Do you still believe that today, and if so, what do you mean by that?"- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+4And as long as she sticks with that view, she'll garner a guaranteed 30% of the vote, probably more. I have otherwise intelligent, compassionate people in my family who would vote to lay waste to entire nations if someone stood up, claimed to be a good Christian, and said it must be done. Very sad indeed.
- thereisnostate, on 09/03/2008, -1/+3Generally the more religious someone is the worse they are as a person.
- postermmxvicom, on 09/03/2008, -2/+2oh really, nice to know there are still bigots on the internet.
- ssn697, on 09/02/2008, -2/+55I think you underestimate how deep this idea of the "holy war" goes, Sheila. MANY evangelicals are on the "this is the end times, and we are brining back Jesus" bandwagon:
- Muzikal203, on 09/02/2008, -30/+220This woman is CRAZY, and her pastor is waaaaaaaaaaaay worse than Rev. Wright "What you see in a terrorist -- that's called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what's going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. ... We need to think like Jesus thinks. We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say "war mode." Now you say, wait a minute Ed, he's like the good shepherd, he's loving all the time and he's kind all the time. Oh yes he is -- but I also believe that he had a part of his thoughts that knew that he was in a war."
Isn't that the same thing the suicide bombers are saying? We need to be willing to DIE for religious reasons?- tjhawkin, on 09/02/2008, -32/+4wrong
- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9Whats that? Did you mean,
Error! Does not compute. Facts contradict indoctirnated opinions. Cannot respond.
? - kaskarn, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3jj you're bloody brilliant. Too bad comments like yours are often replies of replies.
- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2Why thank you kind sir. Just telling it like I see it but with worse spelling.
- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9Whats that? Did you mean,
- Kohaxx, on 09/02/2008, -16/+6Well they always said the anti-Christ would be a Christian.
- XandraX, on 09/02/2008, -4/+7ummmm...who did?
- fuze44, on 09/02/2008, -1/+4You don't know what you're talking about.
- diggit83, on 09/02/2008, -3/+31Dont forget
"...but Pastor Kalnins has also preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven; charged that the 9/11 terrorist attacks and war in Iraq were part of a war "contending for your faith;" and said that Jesus "operated from that position of war mode." - daschupa, on 09/02/2008, -13/+6Ummm, that makes no sense. He is saying that Christians should be prepared to die for their faith, not kill for their faith. One word; big difference.
- Muzikal203, on 09/02/2008, -0/+11He's saying go to war and be prepared to die, not "let them kill you" so if they DON'T want to die, they'll have to do the killing.
- daschupa, on 09/02/2008, -4/+2Leme read the quote again. We are at war with terrorists, check. Don't worry about death, check. Go out and kill...wait is that on page 2? When a president says "war mode" it means killing the opposition, when a pastor says it, it means not watching those horrible R-rated films and selling a bit more at the next bake sale.
- godspeed843, on 09/02/2008, -1/+8Everyone get ready for a 100 year war, just like McCain joked about.
- evilgourmet, on 09/02/2008, -2/+8you mean the UNENDING war of religion.
- Gemfinder, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2War of religion?
Hey, we Pagans have been at it longer than those Christian shills have.
Where are those bloody lions when ya need 'em!?
- xaogypsie, on 09/02/2008, -2/+16Or, we could just see what Jesus said:
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
hrm, there seems to be a disconnect....- jj101, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5As an atheist I have to say that that is exactly the attitude I wish people would adopt. I don't believe in god, but I believe that is a truly important message.
- xaogypsie, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5That's always so frustrating, too. Jesus actually taught radical non-violence, not nuking enemies. This disconnect is very strange, to be honest. I can understand why so many people are repulsed by Christians, especially in America, but when they are just ignoring the teachings of Jesus....
And this isn't isolated. A large body of his teachings are pretty widely accepted, even by atheists. But then again, loving your enemies, forgiveness, compassion, etc, are all pretty hard to hate..... - kaluzak, on 09/03/2008, -0/+0The above quote from the pastor and your quote don't contradict one another. The pastor was obviously taking the time to use current situations in the 'real' world to illustrate how we are supposed to live in the 'spirit' world. Jesus, the disciples and many of the early Christian leaders all looked at suffering, sickness, and the like through the lenses of Warfare.
This does not mean we are called to make war, fight in war, and provoke any war (in the natural), but that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities." The war then--quite literally--is a spiritual war against...drum roll please...Satan and his fallen angels. Hopefully this will bring a bit of context to the pastor's talk about Jesus being in constant war.
The whole message of laying down your life for another, preferring your enemy, going the extra mile, etc all underscore this idea of spiritual warfare. By doing all of the above in the natural, you begin to deconstruct from the base all the evil Satan and his henchmen are trying to build up. - rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3That's what's so amazing: if you read the teachings of Jesus (even I as an atheist have done so) he was an amazingly progressive, compassionate, and peaceful guy for his time. The fact that his church is the source of so much backwards, hateful, vengeance today just shows that people will ***** up absolutely anything they get their hands on.
Poor Jesus would be rolling in his grave if he hadn't already risen from the dead. - seddyei, on 09/18/2008, -0/+1Most religions have some form of the "Golden Rule"... ie treat others as you would like to be treated. I believe that it is such an ubiquitous saying for a reason and can only wish that people would follow it, but reality begs to differ. As it is the people that take God's word and try to skew it to justify their own agenda that cause the hate to become widespread, and they are truly the worst of the worst people.
It's these lunatics that are running our country right now... a scary thought without a doubt.
- kahrytan, on 09/02/2008, -12/+3 Because Christians are at war with Islamic Extremist. Learn the Koran ( Qur'an ) to understand why Islamic extremist hate Christians.
- boombye, on 09/02/2008, -1/+3You Evangelists are so gullible.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Kv7XRaKw8
- kaskarn, on 09/02/2008, -1/+5Christians are not at war with anyone. You are preaching the exact opposite of what was taught by jesus. You cannot go around priding yourself in being a true christian and then spit on one of the greatest philosophical teaching recorded by man. Men are at war against other men, and those men shamelessly use religion as a way to shield themselves from opposing thoughts.
- Gemfinder, on 09/03/2008, -1/+1Fine, they're welcome to each other.
We'll build dolmens and plant trees on the rubble of the churches that stole our sacred ground, and take back the marble the mosques stole to re-cover the pyramids.
Medu Neteru, Ogham and Futhark FTW!
- EndouOuto, on 09/02/2008, -5/+0LOL, subby is retaahhhded
- Hartman27, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3My pastor could beat up your pastor. ;)
- veggiemoore, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Or was that a different Jesus? - xNarrowSoulx, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Try telling this to a single living being in my home town.
- Neiby, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2That type of thinking and preaching is quite common among American fundamentalists, particularly the pentecostal churches like the Assemby of God. They're absolute nutballs that think more war is a good thing and that Armageddon is an even better thing. Why? Because, according to them, Jesus will come after that. So, the more war we have, the closer we are to Jesus' return.
You can't get more ***** up than that. - worldnick, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2um this is not a safe line of thinking
- tjhawkin, on 09/02/2008, -32/+4wrong
- writerswrite, on 09/02/2008, -16/+111This woman is unqualified to be vice president, and it's a joke that McCain thought he could just select a woman and have all of the strong, proud feminists who supported Hillary Clinton vote for him as a result. She gives new meaning to the word "wingnut."
- Emelius, on 09/02/2008, -11/+4But.. shes hot, and so are her daughters :(
- drewedman, on 09/02/2008, -2/+10seriously? I don't understand you people that think her and her daughters are "hot"
more like hot because everyone else is ugly in the town they live in...
- drewedman, on 09/02/2008, -2/+10seriously? I don't understand you people that think her and her daughters are "hot"
- kigcoopa84, on 09/02/2008, -14/+5If you think she is unqualified to be vice president then it doesn't sat much about Obama, someone with much less piratical/ real world experience
- homercles337, on 09/02/2008, -1/+11So thats the current *****, crazy, rightwing talking point now?
BTW, piratical? Is that at all related to pirates? - kigcoopa84, on 09/02/2008, -8/+3Talking points? no facts buddy. She has done a lot to reform Alaska on all fronts and she did it from the highest executive position in the state. What has Obama done that is even comparable to this?
- haydesigner, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5@kigcoopa84: "She has done a lot to reform Alaska on all fronts"
Wow, she completely transformed Alaska to a model government in only a year and a half? She may indeed be the messiah then.
- homercles337, on 09/02/2008, -1/+11So thats the current *****, crazy, rightwing talking point now?
- kigcoopa84, on 09/02/2008, -15/+3If you think she is unqualified to be vice president then it doesn't say much about Obama, someone with much less practical/ real world experience
- djangst, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1President?
She's unqualified to be Dog Catcher. - andibarnes, on 09/05/2008, -0/+1Actually, I can't see that she should appeal to most women - given she is so anti-abortion, and the vast majority (more than 2/3rds) of women in the US are pro-choice - surely her election would guarantee the overturning of Roe v Wade (someone in the Supreme Court will be appointed in the next administration) I know, looking at the article, that that's probably the LEAST scary thing about Palin though!
- Emelius, on 09/02/2008, -11/+4But.. shes hot, and so are her daughters :(
- GoneGreen, on 09/02/2008, -13/+177Just say "No" to religious extremists who want to start "Holy Wars".
- diggit83, on 09/02/2008, -0/+17The pastor even uses his religion to cheat in GOLF!
FTA
He also claims to have received direct "words of knowledge" from God, providing him information about past events in other people's lives. During one sermon, he described being paired with a complete stranger during a golf outing. "I said, I'm a minister from Alaska and I want you to know that your wife left you -- you know that your wife left you and that the Lord is gonna defend you in a very short time, and it wasn't your fault. And the man drops his clubs, he literally was about to tee off and he dropped his clubs, and he says, 'Who the blank are you?' And I says, 'well, I'm a minister.' He says, 'how do you know about my life? What do you know?' And I started giving him more of the word of knowledge to his life and he was freaked out." - FutureGuy, on 09/02/2008, -1/+11I struggle to understand this concept of "Holy Wars", how could wars be holy? Assuming there is a God, I for one hope there is, I know that's uncool and all, why would he ever want his creations to kill each other? Think!! God who, created this universe of which we are just a tiny speck, can incinerate this planet by just thinking about it, why would he want a man made army for that? Morons, fing Morons.
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3Just FYI as an atheist: I don't think hoping for a God is uncool. I wish there were a God too -- it's just that looking around and seeing how the world operates looks _exactly_ like nobody is in control. But I agree with you, if there was any God worth respecting, he would be absolutely ashamed of the people who most loudly shout his name these days.
- KiminCA, on 09/04/2008, -0/+1I cannot tell you how much I agree with the sentiments expressed by you in this post.
- winnestow, on 09/03/2008, -5/+2Many on digg speak of their love of country but fail to respect that which made it great - very limited government. They also struggle to see that the current drive to dependence on the state is socialism, the very thing that reduces our freedom. If you support obama, you support socialism. If you are a socialist, you are unamerican.
- Evilena, on 09/03/2008, -2/+4I have heard lots of people say that, but never anyone backing it up with any evidence or logic.
- 0011002, on 09/03/2008, -1/+3Winnestow, from all the things I have seen i don;t see it so would you please enlighten me as to where you have come upon the information? I am not tring to be rude or mean just curious as to where that view came from.
- KiminCA, on 09/04/2008, -0/+1So the party that brought us a doubled federal bureaucracy, incompetent (often corrupt) governance, doubled our national debt, trashed our Constitution and incompetently set out to nation build is the party I should give my vote?
No way. This erstwhile Republican will not only vote for Senator Obama, I will work my heart out to make certain he is elected. Why? Among other reasons, our Constitution is at stake-- and that is what protects our freedoms. AND I cannot trust the Republicans after the last 7 1/2 years of an Imperial Presidency and most of the GOP in Congress lock-stepping right along with it.
- diggit83, on 09/02/2008, -0/+17The pastor even uses his religion to cheat in GOLF!
- JekJob, on 09/02/2008, -11/+129"Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say "war mode." Now you say, wait a minute Ed, he's like the good shepherd, he's loving all the time and he's kind all the time. Oh yes he is -- but I also believe that he had a part of his thoughts that knew that he was in a war."
That's actually the exact opposite of Christian teachings. Where in the bible does it say that God wants the Americans to kill people? Whatever happened to peace and love? They talk about how they're doing "God's work" and how Jesus knew he was in a war, but these people don't realize that if there really is a hell, that's where they are going for killing innocent people.- ZenMojo, on 09/02/2008, -5/+44Hey, you think that's bad? How do you think the sane Christians feel every time one of these evolution-denying, Tribulationist, Crusading imperialist, death penalty-pushing, abstinence-only dominionist ***** opens one of their mouths?
There's a reason the Right Wing has lost the Christian vote and has to pretend it's the party of faith by specifically waving around its "evangelical" numbers. Because they're out of their minds.- secrity, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3Then why aren't "sane Christians" fighting against this *****? It seems that moderate and liberal Christians are either afraid or unwilling to call these crazies out.
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1ZenMojo - it is important for the digg crowd to get that, I think: not all Christians think like this. There is nothing wrong with Christians in general, though there are a group of extremist Christians who give the rest a bad name by trying to force their agenda down everyone else's throat.
But please remember, there are Christians who are kind, compassionate, tolerant, and a good effect on our world. They're just a lot quieter than the people like Palin and her pastor. My only request would be for them to stand up and change the perception by disowning these people.
- geneikillua, on 09/02/2008, -1/+16Dying for one's faith is not the same as killing for one's faith. There are a lot of Christian missionaries who are still being killed and persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world.
- revmouse, on 09/02/2008, -3/+11And Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day." And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
(Luke 9:20-26)
According to the Bible, being willing to die for the cause of Christ is part of what following Jesus is. This isn't talking about going to war and killing people, its simply talking about being willing to do anything God instructs us to do. Love God and love your neighbor, and be willing to die in the process of doing so. Like the parent post said, there are plenty of people that are dying by carrying out this simple mission in countries that are hostile to the Bible. - JekJob, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4I know it's not the same, but the text that I quoted was being used in the context of the war in Iraq and the War on Terror.
Pro-war ideas have no place in a conversation about Christianity, nor most other religions.
- revmouse, on 09/02/2008, -3/+11And Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day." And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
- Kohaxx, on 09/02/2008, -10/+3Well they always said the anti-Christ would be a Christian.
- amoirae, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2But who knew about the Anti-Christ's hypnotic rack?
- cromulent742, on 09/02/2008, -11/+10"Where in the bible does it say that God wants the Americans to kill people?"
Have you ever actually read the Bible? You can find pretty much anything in there. No matter what you believe, no matter what you say or do, I'm pretty sure you can find a Bible verse to justify it.- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3This isn't far from the truth. What is interesting is the stark contrast between the old testament and new testament. The new testament is actually pretty clean for a text of it's day. The old testament is a god awful mess of instructions on when to stone to death your children and neighbors, and how to invade, kill, and take the women for yourselves of any nation that does not believe the same as you.
What is so frustrating is that Christians use the new testament to claim their religion is one of peace, and then the old testament whenever it suits them to incite war and hatred.
Christians: read the whole bible. Pick a testament and live to it. They really can't coexist despite what you've been told. They're completely on opposite ends of the spectrum of human behavior. Even as an atheist, I generally live by the new testament teachings. It's actually a pretty fair guide.
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3This isn't far from the truth. What is interesting is the stark contrast between the old testament and new testament. The new testament is actually pretty clean for a text of it's day. The old testament is a god awful mess of instructions on when to stone to death your children and neighbors, and how to invade, kill, and take the women for yourselves of any nation that does not believe the same as you.
- heiroglyph, on 09/02/2008, -7/+11"Allah called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Allah himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say "war mode." "
Palin and her mosque, um church, need to be on a terrorist watch list and NOT the ballot. - spinchange, on 09/02/2008, -7/+6Where in that message did he say to kill someone? It's not a big, huge secret that Christians talk about "spiritual" warfare in a metaphorical - not literal- sense. I don't expect that to be gleaned from a paragraph excerpted out of a sermon, used in an article designed to further smear someone, but please, just grow up, digg.
- Rippleeffect, on 09/02/2008, -8/+3Ya know, I'm getting pretty sick of people like this that just fly off the handle, and do not even attempt to read things in context. This was not a message about killing. Where does it say kill people? This was about the spiritual war that Christians face.
Context people!- Kaystar87, on 09/02/2008, -2/+4Context is objective. What you see as "figurative" or "metaphorical" is "literal" to another. She/He isn't wrong for thinking that it was literal, it can be read both ways.
- djangst, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1Um. The direct translation of the Arabic word "Jihad" is...wait for it..."Spiritual Warfare."
That means that if Al Jazeera does a news piece on this, the anchor would have to use the best translation possible..."Jihad."
- Kaystar87, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4Well to Christians like her, just like fanatic Muslims, "peace and love" is basically just a good PR saying, when in reality, the only "peace and love" they wish is to people just like them, everything else has to be paid in blood and death. To Christianity and Islam, there is only room in this world for one religion and everyone else needs to exterminated ether literally or they just reassure themselves at night that "everyone else is going to hell" .
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3Yep. And even if they say otherwise, they believe that if you don't believe like them you are going to be punished in a lake of fire for eternity. Think about that. How does it change one's worldview when you believe that everyone who thinks differently from you is going to be justifiably tortured forever by the unimpeachable, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving god?
Growing up that's what my Christian mom used to say about my Atheist dad.
It's extra interesting because in fact Jesus told us not to judge. But I've met precious few Christians who can keep from telling you who's going to burn and who's not. Pretty ***** up, eh?
- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3Yep. And even if they say otherwise, they believe that if you don't believe like them you are going to be punished in a lake of fire for eternity. Think about that. How does it change one's worldview when you believe that everyone who thinks differently from you is going to be justifiably tortured forever by the unimpeachable, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving god?
- ZenMojo, on 09/02/2008, -5/+44Hey, you think that's bad? How do you think the sane Christians feel every time one of these evolution-denying, Tribulationist, Crusading imperialist, death penalty-pushing, abstinence-only dominionist ***** opens one of their mouths?
- johnnr2, on 09/02/2008, -11/+79"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said. rofl
- breadfred, on 09/02/2008, -0/+10You rofl. I cry. For the people who believe this utter crap. I am not a religious person myself, but if I would be, I would kick this person out of my church.
- nopRT, on 09/02/2008, -10/+87I'm going to put "Sarah Palin's gas pipeline" in the prayer requests section of our church bulletin.
- Rippleeffect, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4You go to church and have lots of diggs? who'd you pay off?
=P- rotundo, on 09/03/2008, -0/+4It's just goes to show that people don't hate church or christians. They only hate judgmental, meddlesome, arrogant churches and christians.
- dn11, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2i think the gas pipeline is being routed directly into the mccain camp - and these fools are playing around with matches and firecrackers
- Rippleeffect, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4You go to church and have lots of diggs? who'd you pay off?
- peticsu, on 09/02/2008, -15/+65the point is, she has no world view...she only got a passport 2 years ago...with 1 trip
- DreKor, on 09/02/2008, -1/+11To where? Canada?
- ProUSADigger, on 09/02/2008, -29/+4You do know that one doesn't have to actually physically fly to a place to
understand it, right? We have the internet, TV, radio, and print. That is more than
sufficient.
It is pretty funny: somehow, diggers see Europeans as "worldly" while Americans travel to other
countries/continents much more frequently that Europeans. Oh, and before you say it...traveling from
Spain to Italy doesn't qualify. That is like flying from North to South Dakota. The dumb American is
the wet dream of those that hate America. Sickening, really.- herrferret, on 09/02/2008, -3/+10Its strange, but by far the most uninformed visitors to europe I have met are Americans on thier first trip abroad. They have gained most of their knowledge off TV and seem to treat a trip to Europe as if it is darkest Peru.
Are you saying travelling from the UK to norway, france or german does not count either. They are a lot more different than your homogonised culture, fearful of anyone different.
You are an ass good sir. Yes I called you an ass! - homercles337, on 09/02/2008, -1/+4Just because you typed it out on the intarwebs does not make it true. Given your username and what you typed im going to lump *you* into the "dumb American" category. Mmmmmkay?
- ProUSADigger, on 09/02/2008, -6/+1The numbers of down-diggs only proves that I'm right. I love you, liberal
pieces of *****. :-) - lajaw, on 09/02/2008, -5/+1and you ferret, are the used toilet paper.
- kayala, on 09/02/2008, -1/+5Have you been to Spain and Italy? Sweden, France, England, Hungary, Finland? The countries are so diverse, a mere day trip from England to France is a cultural experience. It's not at all like skipping between states in the US; sure, they have their regional variations, but they're all part of the same country and have very similar cultures. Do you enjoy saying things that are obviously untrue, or are you too stupid to realize that you're lying?
- flannerus, on 09/03/2008, -0/+3ahaha ProUSA, anti-'the other half' of the country.
- Frumbler, on 09/03/2008, -0/+5I learned all about women from on the internets, yet when I'm with a real one it all fails, why isn't that sufficient? Do I need to watch more TV? Help me here ProUSA.
- herrferret, on 09/02/2008, -3/+10Its strange, but by far the most uninformed visitors to europe I have met are Americans on thier first trip abroad. They have gained most of their knowledge off TV and seem to treat a trip to Europe as if it is darkest Peru.
- godspeed843, on 09/02/2008, -1/+6Kuwait, theres pictures to prove her one trip. She's shooting an automatic weapon.
- breadfred, on 09/02/2008, -0/+7I have been there (business trip). It is a dump. They get people from India and other countries to do the ***** jobs for ***** money for them, while they treat them like 4th class citizens. Never look them in the eye, just give orders. Beaches are not open to couples if they are not married. And yes you have to show your passport before going on the beach. She probably liked it.
- postermmxvicom, on 09/03/2008, -3/+1Golly, do you think if you got some time, you could teach us dumb country folk about the world, mister?
- IdigObama, on 09/02/2008, -12/+54Speaks as if he's part of a terrorist organization,using Jesus instead of Allah to make it sound "right" to the congregation!
What the heck are we to do when McCain, who professes to love America, drags something like this up and tries to put it in the White House?
I am dumbfounded!
John McCain's 'Alaska First' Problem
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/John_McCain_s_Al ...- Neiby, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2Go to any pentecostal church in America and you'll hear this kind of stuff regularly. Or just turn on the TV and listen to the pentecostal preachers. This is the type of crap they teach. That's precisely why they're so dangerous.
- anamorphicart, on 09/02/2008, -18/+64Absolutely insane religious freak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- deaftly, on 09/02/2008, -5/+4ITS PANDEMONIUM PEOPLE!!!!!! PANDEMONIUM!!!!!!!
- homah, on 09/02/2008, -3/+4It's in Revelations, people!
- Darksider, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2This chick makes Mike Huckabee look like Richard Darwkins
- SaperKain, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2She doesn’t believe in evolution. That alone is a disqualifier. No more ***** idiots in the white house. I hope Hillary Clinton will soon come down on her like a ton of bricks.
- deaftly, on 09/02/2008, -5/+4ITS PANDEMONIUM PEOPLE!!!!!! PANDEMONIUM!!!!!!!
- firstrays74, on 09/02/2008, -11/+25Can we get this video on YouTube? Not so tech savvy myself, but this needs to be out there
- Meadow113, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4I am wondering the same thing!!!
- macaddct1984, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2It's already there
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vPYbRB7k
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k84m2orSOaM
- cheeseysynapse, on 09/02/2008, -41/+19It is controversial to say God BLESS America instead of God DAMN America to a bunch of marxists.
- Anonchrist, on 09/02/2008, -8/+27Darwinism supports Capitalism. Jesus 'supposedly' denounces the rich and gave to the poor. So, who is your Marxist?
The only thing that I have learned from Bush is that religious extremist are the biggest threat to America. So, why would you defend one?
It sounds to me like you are the marxist, religious extremist sympathizer.- acero47, on 09/02/2008, -4/+6I interpreted it as Jesus criticizing people who put their material goods before God, not just condemning them for being rich.
- QuadZeroRoute, on 09/02/2008, -11/+5Anonchrist you are a God Damn fool. You have never read the Bible. There is a story about a king and his three sons and the only one who makes the grade is the son who turns a small amount of wealth into a great sum.
i.e. do not waste your money buy burying it in the ground and do not squander it, make great wealth from it....it is in the Holy Bible stupid *****.
And....before you run me down for cursing I am an atheist now, I am no longer a Christian that goes to church and all that. I use to read the Bible at times for four hours a day. I am an atheist but a conservative.
I get a kick out of all the ***** morons that dugg you up....Digg is full of illiterate, illread stupid ***** liberals. - Sfenton, on 09/02/2008, -8/+4Anonchrist - do your self a favor and read the bible before you start making interpretations and sounding like a complete dumb ass.
- kayala, on 09/02/2008, -3/+6Quad, it looks like it's naptime. You're getting awfully cranky, snookums - back to the crib with you!
- Anonchrist, on 09/02/2008, -1/+6Fist of all I am very familiar with the bible and it does speak of being a good stuart of your money and making sound investments, but it was very much intended to be a book about selflessness. God does not want you to be rich so that you can live a can live a life of luxury. It repeats over and over that you are a servant. Your rewards are to be in heaven, not earth. It speaks of something along the lines of "it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to inherent the kingdom of heaven. Over and over again it speaks against capitalism and the only times that it seems to support it is normally speaking against wasteful spending.
Capitalism works because of greed and I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that, but it is not biblical.
Capitalism does not work because the baker wants to feed you, Jesus did. (Did he get paid for all the bread and fish he made for his people?)
Jesus lead by example. True or false?
Was Jesus rich or poor?
Come the ***** on people. I made a few quick points and I know you are all going to be dicks and say I do not know what I am talking about, but that is only because you care more about money than your ***** God.
By the way, my father is a preacher in Texas. I may be an atheist, but I know the bible very well and have studied it throughly. That doesn't mean I am going to waste all day typing you a rebuttal. In fact, I am not even going to bother checking my message. -***** off
How is that for turning my other ass cheek? - Anonchrist, on 09/02/2008, -1/+5Well, holy *****. (No pun intended) I just came back to access the damage and saw that QuadZeroRoute had mistranslated the bible, while calling me a dumb ass. The parable was talking about making good investments for their master. Which means, all of your money belongs to God and he grants it to you to make good investments that serve him and not hide or misuse his blessings.
QuadZeroRoute, would Jesus agree with this:
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need
:Golf claps:
- Anonchrist, on 09/02/2008, -8/+27Darwinism supports Capitalism. Jesus 'supposedly' denounces the rich and gave to the poor. So, who is your Marxist?
- gobbstopp, on 09/02/2008, -11/+32she probably thinks god helps NFL players catch perfect spirals in the end zone..
*looks to the sky, points to the heavens*- QuadZeroRoute, on 09/02/2008, -4/+0It seems that most of the NFL players believe in God. Touchdown, looks to the sky, points to the heaven. How about you?
- gobbstopp, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4whooosh!!
*QuadZeroRoute looks around quizzically* - jedcred, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3Don't quote me on this, but spending all day getting smacked around in the head area, along with the tendency to often get concussions due to this behavior, well....I wouldn't usually turn to these people for reasoned, critical thought.
Would you?
- gobbstopp, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4whooosh!!
- QuadZeroRoute, on 09/02/2008, -4/+0It seems that most of the NFL players believe in God. Touchdown, looks to the sky, points to the heaven. How about you?
- savannahcat, on 09/02/2008, -16/+48Oh great....another religious nut job!
- tssent, on 09/02/2008, -16/+88I am repulsed by everything about this woman. She reminds me of Bush -- with a wig. She epitomizes the New Republican approach in which God becomes their reason for doing everything they do. Nothing I can think of in my life is so abhorrent as the frightened minds upon which they exercise fear and pestilence and darkness to instill even more fear in an unassuming American citizenry whose faith and trust they've made a mockery of. I'm finally beyond any ability to hold back my anger and disgust. Many would have Bush and Cheney and others thrown out of office and still others would have them jailed. A handful might wish them worse, still, but not I. My wish is unambiguous, that we could EXILE them from this country, that we could give them their walking papers and tell them, "You've shamed us beyond anything you could pay back to America or Americans in jail time or expulsion from office. We don't want you anymore. You are no longer American to us. Your legacy in American history should be that you were cast out of this country because a sentence any less than this would be less than just. Sign me Unashamedly, Jim Lacey, Austin, Texas
- alkoquad, on 09/02/2008, -13/+0are you for real, 20 diggs in 50 min for some guy that does not give reason to why he hate Bush and Cheney?
Sorry but the Dems use Government to "exercise fear and pestilence and darkness to instill even more fear in an unassuming American citizenry" (ie the Evil Rich, GLOBAL WARMING...o and BIG Oil) and Bush and Cheney time have done me good.- CarolineAttack, on 09/02/2008, -0/+9With a 28% approval rating I wasn't aware that a "reason" was necessary... seems pretty implied.
- sulthernao, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4The only time I approve of Bush is when he is acting as America's Cheerleader.
- jitterbits, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2alko, are you really claiming that democrats instill fear to get their wish? Perhaps you haven't been paying attention over the past 8 years when cries of "Terrorist!" have been yelled at ever corner primarily by...
wait for it...
republicans.
- alkoquad, on 09/02/2008, -13/+0are you for real, 20 diggs in 50 min for some guy that does not give reason to why he hate Bush and Cheney?
- ssn697, on 09/02/2008, -12/+67Let's see if the same people who tried to bury Obama over his church pastor, now give Palin a pass.
Bets, anyone?
"During the 2004 election season, he praised President Bush's performance during a debate with Sen. John Kerry, then offered a not-so-subtle message about his personal candidate preferences. "I'm not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I'm sorry." Kalnins added: "If every Christian will vote righteously, it would be a landslide every time."
"Kalnins bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards the President," he said, "because it's like criticisms towards the pastor -- it's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you."- sousademiami, on 09/02/2008, -3/+14That is some truly scary *****.
And I'm a Christian. - YancyFryJr, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Well, it's only a matter of time until Fox picks this up, right?
- sousademiami, on 09/02/2008, -3/+14That is some truly scary *****.
- mamaboy, on 09/02/2008, -12/+54A disturbing snap shot into the conservative base; and I thought Jesus Camp was disturbing. This Pastor is telling you to go and die. They are doing God's will, and God's agenda is being achieved through the Republican party. Supporting the Democractic party will lead you directly to the gates of Hell. How do you contend with that sort of warped thinking? How do you reason with somebody who believes in invisible things? It's like Jonestown or Heaven's Gate Cult reincarnate, but on disturbingly enormous scale.
Packing bags- shauncorleone, on 09/02/2008, -21/+2See ya! Make sure to burn your passport on the way out of the country.
- mamaboy, on 09/02/2008, -0/+11What are you defending by saying that? Another champion of superficial patriotism! As if waving the flag higher will make you anymore American.
- 471776, on 09/02/2008, -5/+18Last Sunday morning I happened to be walking past a church, and I saw two parents carrying a baby and two children (aged about 5-7) inside. These people are indoctrinated in this ***** since before they can walk, and they just lose all power to reason.
It pisses me off. This open brainwashing and corruption of the minds of children is ***** outrageous. It shouldn't be allowed. The way people force their beliefs on their children years before they have any chance to decide for themselves is practically a human rights violation. It is tantamount to the parents willingly giving their children brain damage. And we let them do it, every week, by the millions.- cromulent742, on 09/02/2008, -2/+14There's still hope, man. I was one of those kids. My parents are still fanatics, but luckily I figured things out.
- spxiii, on 09/02/2008, -3/+9This is beyond ridiculous. Christianity is not evil. Churches are not evil. Men who twist religion to serve their own agenda are evil. There is a very important distinction here!
- bobbi21, on 09/03/2008, -1/+2See, the problem with that logic is that EVERYTHING a parent teaches their kid is brainwashing before they have a chance to decide for themselves. Do you think parents give their kids a choice about taking showers, going to bed, brushing their teeth, going to school. A lot of the stuff parents teach their kids aren't even good for them, or backed up by scientific evidence. How to discipline your kid, what foods to feed them, how much sleep they actually should be getting. Most parents have no idea and just force on their kid whatever they were raised in doing. That's the job of a parent. They teach a kid about santa for goodness sakes. They willingly lie to their kids for YEARS (a lie they are aware of) and for what? to bribe them to be good? to entertain them? I find that confusing at best and reprehensible at worst.
Parents teach kids what they believe is right. That's how parenting works. Until we regulate every choice a parent makes, we have to allow freedom of a parent to teach a kid their religion as well. It's the same idea with teaching a child about your culture. They haven't chosen that culture at all. I personally hate a lot about my chinese heritage. Does that mean we should get rid of all cultural teachings to children? We shouldn't give them any values or ideas til they're 18 or so. They'll have to wear slippers one day, then shoes, then eat mexican food, then chinese food, then greek food. We can't be allowed to only give them 1 world view.
Would it be nice if children were exposed to different cultures and viewpoints early on? of course. Is it feasible to do in todays society? of course not. Is it feasible/desired to only teach kids things that they reason for themselves to do? of course not (at least not until they're like pre-teens or so).
While I'm against any teaching that won't let kids question things, that is what being a kid is. they can't be expected to make rational decisions so parents make those decisions for them. And unless we're willing to put all people who believe in god in a mental institution, we can't tell them it's wrong to teach their kids their religion. (even though a lot of you believe they should be in a mental institution, it's a little thing called freedom of religion.) - shauncorleone, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1I went to church every Sunday for the first 12 years of my life, yet I was no more "indoctrinated" then than now. My best friend was raised Southern Baptist for 18 years and is in the same situation as myself. The only ones who want to learn other things for themselves but do not are weak and were going to use something as a crutch anyway. spxiii has it exactly right.
- web2pointYo, on 09/02/2008, -2/+5When the last president from that party (george bush) didnt know enough not to drop the "crusade" bomb when talking about the middle east, you know your not dealing with the most well thought out or researched people.
- darkciti2, on 09/03/2008, -0/+2***** Packing bags. I'm packing heat.
- winnestow, on 09/03/2008, -5/+1obama - infanticider - baby killer
- shauncorleone, on 09/02/2008, -21/+2See ya! Make sure to burn your passport on the way out of the country.
- borez, on 09/02/2008, -31/+10Palin... again... yawn
- tjhawkin, on 09/02/2008, -31/+12please stop it!!!!!!!! enough of the HUFF
- Goldbricker, on 09/02/2008, -2/+6Hate on the site all you want. They're her words and are there for you to hear and interpret as you will.
- deaftly, on 09/02/2008, -23/+4Yeah the lady comes of as.........
ah ***** it, id do her. - nullvector, on 09/02/2008, -28/+11Getting bored with all the Palin stories....
I think we all know by now that she is Satan incarnate, will sprout horns when she becomes VP, will condemn all atheists to death, put a death penalty on abortion, put Cocaine in poor neighborhoods, call on God to bring hurricanes to New Orleans, destroy the constitution, spay or neuter all teenagers, hand out guns to all white people, make the Bible the new constitution, praise Bush, sentence Obama to jail, kick all Democrats out of the congress, and then declare martial law and make us all nazis.
Seriously, we act as if no human that is going to be elected to government should have any personal lives whatsoever. Sure her family has problems like all of ours do, and she has beliefs that not all Americans share. Gee, we elect HUMANS for a reason. If we wanted all pie in the sky perfection, we'd elect robots, or computers, to run our country.
I'm not a supporter of her....just saying it's getting a little old picking her life apart for every random detail.- sealhands, on 09/02/2008, -4/+6how the hell is this a random detail? this is an acute account of how her policies are informed by her religious zealotry. Reading media reports of elected officials is an integral part of our political process. I might agree with you if you left this post on a story concerning her daughter being pregnant but this story is totally valid.
- Yage2006, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1Then uncheck politics from your digg profile dumbass.
- mugupo, on 09/02/2008, -22/+6The more stuff discover about, the more she is common like average people,yes she is young and may lack political experience, but is wrong to judge her in personal issue like family and what she do off duty, why no question Obama daily life, he goes to gym play basketball daily even during the trip in Europe, yet i guess ain't important for media. But is important about Palin daughter pregnant.
- monkeysama, on 09/02/2008, -1/+10You're listing off those qualities as if they're a GOOD thing for the leader of the free world. I'd prefer to have someone slightly above average, someone who's taken the time to learn specific knowledge, working on my car. Or performing surgery on me. Or LEADING THE COUNTRY.
Jim down the street isn't equipped to balance our economy, be commander in chief, defend the constitution and keep our country safe. He doesn't even get his xmas lights down until April. The President (or Vice President) should be a bit above average... it's actually not a detriment, despite what you knuckle draggers think. - zhimbo, on 09/02/2008, -0/+6OMG - Obama plays basketball!!!!!! What a scandal!!!!!!
- monkeysama, on 09/02/2008, -1/+10You're listing off those qualities as if they're a GOOD thing for the leader of the free world. I'd prefer to have someone slightly above average, someone who's taken the time to learn specific knowledge, working on my car. Or performing surgery on me. Or LEADING THE COUNTRY.
- wwwonka, on 09/02/2008, -7/+13First words I have ever heard her speak now have come straight from this video viewing...
"Like oh mah god! It is sooooo cool to be here!" - harrisbradley, on 09/02/2008, -22/+11But Biden's religion is okay because he's a democrat? He's catholic for pete's sake. You usually jump all over this stuff.
- gobbstopp, on 09/02/2008, -5/+14nice try.
having faith is fine. your faith OWNING you, is not. especially when comes to people who y'know, govern, pass laws, BECOME PRESIDENT...
i have yet to hear about biden's non-secular approach to life...- harrisbradley, on 09/06/2008, -0/+1I'm a catholic, and my faith owns me. If I were president God would speak to me but he would only say three things "check the constitution." I can't really say if that is alright or not, I don't make the rules like you guys do.
- biogears, on 09/02/2008, -4/+6Please re-read the double-standard compendium.
- web2pointYo, on 09/02/2008, -2/+5huh?
- malex, on 09/02/2008, -5/+7Not all Catholics try and shove their dogma down other people's throats, or base their political policies on prophetic visions.
So yeah, Biden's religion is more or less okay because he's a democrat. - radiopayola, on 09/02/2008, -3/+6It's not what you believe that's a problem. It's what your beliefs drive you to do. The things that Catholics are driven to do as a result of their faith are, by and large, much tamer than some of the more extreme Christian denominations like Southern Baptist and the aforementioned Assembly of God. Statements from Palin presuming some unique insight into God's will like the ones quoted in this article illustrate this point quite nicely.
- gobbstopp, on 09/02/2008, -5/+14nice try.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -21/+37Goddamn it you theists are so deluded. Why do you allow yourself to ignore facts and reason in this one place in your life, assuming it is the only one.
Faith isn't a virtue, it is a dangerous attribute that will get you fed to wolves in sheep's clothing. You are called a "flock" and your leader is called a "pastor" for a reason, and it isn't one to take pride in.- biogears, on 09/02/2008, -11/+3HumanDamn it you atheists are so deluded!
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -12/+5Show me ONE ***** SHRED of evidence that there is ANY god. I don't care whose, Hindu, Islam, Christianity, Pastafarianism.
Other wise shut the ***** up and open your eyes to the reality of the world around you.
***** children... all of you theists. ***** cognitive dissonance is so annoying.- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -7/+2Show me ONE ***** SHRED of evidence that there ISN'T a god. Look, I don't give a flying ***** if you believe in a god or not. Seriously, you are an atheist. Awesome, that is 100% ***** cool in my book. But don't be a ***** smarmy bigot. I really wish all of the 'tolerant' militant atheists like you and all the intolerant ***** religious folk would just go screw and leave the rest of us alone.
News ***** Flash .... Obama, Christian
Biden, Christian
Clinton, Christian
Kerry ... a ***** Catholic
Look, if you've got issues with extremist fundamentals, I will side with you. There are a lot of 'Christians' that don't act very Christian if you ask me (myself included), I give you that. - SmpleJohn, on 09/02/2008, -6/+1If there's no God, there's no point to our lives here. We might as well end all this misery and the pain and suffering immediately. There is a God, we DO go somewhere after all this. Some of the greatest minds in history have set out to disprove God and the Bible and have accepted it all as truth. I'd cite a bunch of articles, but just use Google. You apparently know how to research things being that you've disproved the existence of God.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -2/+2@plainOldFool
When your religions aren't making this world a worse place by slowing the advance of science that actually DOES help people, and you theists stop being violent with the belief that you're doing god's will, then I won't have a problem with theists. But regardless of if religion causes YOU specifically to be violent or not is irrelevant, because there are millions other that are motivated by religion to ***** this planet and our species up for no good reason.
@SmpleJohnYour
point to live here is to make the world a better place for your children, not to live forever in paradise you selfish bitch. - plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -1/+5And I'd bet dollars to donuts that if religion NEVER EXISTED people would STILL find a reason to kill each other. Face it, we (human ***** kind) are sick, twisted violent assholes. Religion (or race, or gender, or sexual orientation or even ***** futball clubs) is merely an excuse to lash out.
Do you really think the Bloods and the Crips are shooting each other over their brand of faith? - bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1Of course there are other reasons for people to be fighting. But that doesn't mean that because the bluds and crips are killing each other it gives people of faith license to do the same thing.
People who died from others motivated to kill for religious reasons wouldn't have died for religious reasons if religion never existed.
DOES NOT IMPLY
that the same people would have been killed for other reasons.
And good job ignoring the inquisition. - SmpleJohn, on 09/02/2008, -1/+3Wow, bodisatvah, if you really think the only reason people believe there is a God is to live forever in paradise, you REALLY have this whole thing screwed up. Oh, and thanks for assuming that I'm a selfish bitch just because I believe in God and making a comment on that instead of commenting on the research part. Maybe you haven't done any research then. I don't know, I don't like to speculate someone's intelligence that I don't know.
p.s. I have 1 son right now and I'd endure the worst ***** for him just so he can live a peaceful life so please don't call me a selfish bitch. You have no idea who I am or what I stand for. Stick to a topic, not being an ass. - bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -2/+2Oh yeah, I forgot the other side of the coin. Fear of eternal punishment in hell for not obeying. My bad.
That tingly feeling you get when you're being all religious is just in your head and it is the only evidence you personally have to believe. - plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3Inquisition ... *****, I agree. Totally ***** up ***** done in the name of god.
Trail of Tears .... totally ***** up ***** done by Americans to get rid of all the Red people.
Japanese slaughter of POWs during WW2. Totally ***** up *****.
History is filled with savage examples of how humans can treat each other, both for religious gain and non-religious reasons. - bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1So you're fine with people who believe in what essentially has the same amount of evidence as the tooth fairy and could use this belief to justify heinous actions? It is completely irrational even IF you're not doing ***** up stuff.
Religion is purely about control. Placing a parental figure in your mind from the day you become self aware in order to keep you in line. It is brainwashing and lies. And keep in mind, if you're REALLY brainwashed, how would you know?
All I know is that I actually have empirical evidence for all of my beliefs, and when it is pointed out that my belief contradicts known fact, I change it. - plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -1/+2If anyone uses any religious belief to justify ANY violence or oppression of ANY group or individual, they should be brought to trial and if evidence is sufficient, convicted and be put away. There is no justification or it, none, zero, zip. The same can be said for violence for wearing the wrong color on the wrong city block or the wrong baseball jersey in the wrong town.
While I believe religion can definitely be used as a control device, any Cult of Personality can do that as well. ***** it, I'm an Obama-dude. But I worry about a C.O.P. situation with him as well (not enough to make me vote McCain, though).
My faith is personal to me. It's for me and me alone. If any asks about my beliefs, I am always willing to talk about it respectfully. If you don't like that, then that is really your problem and not mine. - bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+2You moderates make room for the extremists though. You sit idly by and don't criticize the ROOT of their behavior, because when you take away all the *****, their reasons for belief are the EXACT same as yours.
- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3Nope, the reasons for my belief are only mine. I came to my own understanding with my faith without a priest or a book. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I can handle that.
I'm of Irish descent. Am I to blame for the IRA?
Seriously dude, I've grown tired of this conversation. It's really sad that you view the worst-side of people. All I feel from you is such negative intolerance, and you successfully got me worked up ... congrats. I really have no desire for such anger and am quite calm right now. I really hope one day you can find your own calm. - bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1Peace is for those who have no work to do. There is too much ***** ***** up in this world to be content.
- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -7/+2Show me ONE ***** SHRED of evidence that there ISN'T a god. Look, I don't give a flying ***** if you believe in a god or not. Seriously, you are an atheist. Awesome, that is 100% ***** cool in my book. But don't be a ***** smarmy bigot. I really wish all of the 'tolerant' militant atheists like you and all the intolerant ***** religious folk would just go screw and leave the rest of us alone.
- spxiii, on 09/02/2008, -2/+5I agree with biogears...why is theology constantly assaulted for what deranged men do in its name? You're no less deluded than the misguided followers of these maniacs.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -4/+2First off: Theology has been oppressing people for MUCH longer than we've even been able to question their ways, so don't even try to play the victim on this.
Second: People's actions have been clearly and explicitly guided by their belief in gods. Look as recent as Islamic radicals supporting terrorism and as far back as the Crusades. Hell, there are dozens of instances of violence in the name of god in THE BIBLE.
Who is deluded now you ***** idiot.- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -1/+3Sooooo, Mob violence is related to religion? Drug cartels murder in the name of God? Gang violence is directly attributed to the Bible? Soccer Hollagins beat each other with crosses?
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+1(Copied from my response to you above)
Of course there are other reasons for people to be fighting. But that doesn't mean that because the bluds and crips are killing each other it gives people of faith license to do the same thing.
People who died from others motivated to kill for religious reasons wouldn't have died for religious reasons if religion never existed.
DOES NOT IMPLY
that the same people would have been killed for other reasons.
And good job ignoring the inquisition. - spxiii, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1I buried you for calling me a "***** idiot".
I have no problem pointing out hypocrisy in any supposed Christian. I also have no problem being on the receiving end if I deserve it. Oppressive theology serves no good purpose and never has. However, no matter how long it has been going on, it is the error of men and not of any religion when men do evil things. If my belief in God leads me to kill or support killing, then I am a lunatic who knows nothing of God. I'm not sure what violence you're referring to in the Bible, though admittedly I've never studied the old testament all that much. Was it not exercised in defense? - bobbi21, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Old testament had a lot of wars basically to give the jews "their" land. of course they had to take it from someone. So not really defense. Since they had no home to begin with, it was kind of necessary for them to have some land, and back then sharing was never really an option.
for bodisatvah. saying that ppl died for religious reasons is a reason to end religion is just as stupid as saying we should ban video games because a couple of kids used a video game to shoot up a school. Also, most religious wars probably would have happened anyway without religion. Religion was very closely tied to politics and nations back then. Assuming religion wasn't developed, it's very reasonable to assume that cultural pride, or expansion for "the good of the nation" would have still happened. Muhammad was just as much a political leader as a religious figure. The crusades were fought to stop the spread of an opposing nation as well as an opposing religion. And reclaiming jerusalem could have easily been for nationalistic/cultural reasons.
Historically, religion was simply used to control the people and keep everyone listening to the leader (who was god or had a direct link to god) and prevent people from abandoning their country and culture.(otherwise they'd lose their soul or something). You look at communist countries for example and they act exactly the same way. they invade other countries to spread their way of governing and demand loyalty to their leader. They kill all the ppl who question their authority or way of life. Even American's mandate in the past to wipe out communism is just like any religious war. There's a group of ppl who think of things different than you, you think your way is better, so you attack them to try to convert them to your way of thinking. Real communism isn't even that bad (just pretty impossible to do in practice). And if you look at what the states did back then to fight communism, you know it was just to stop communism and had little to do with actually letting the majority of ppl decide what they want to do with their country.
People will find ways to kill each other. If religion did not exist the exact same people wouldn't die but I'm pretty sure an equivalent amount of people would have been killed.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -4/+2Yeah yeah yeah, bury me, ignore the truth. You people disgust me.
- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -2/+3I have not been burying you at all. I'm not digging you, but certainly not burying. However, I do suspect that you are burying me.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -2/+3Of course I'm burying you, you're being an ass. Bury me as much as you want.
- plainOldFool, on 09/02/2008, -2/+1Why am I being an ass? For defending my faith? You're the one acting like a bigot.
- bodisatvah, on 09/02/2008, -1/+3It isn't bigoted to have a logical and self evident reason for finding your beliefs reprehensible. I'm not going to feign liking you.
Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice. - spxiii, on 09/03/2008, -0/+1Intolerance of tolerance is bigotry. You can't possibly have a logical reason for disliking someone if you know next to nothing about them. Don't hide behind logic if you don't subscribe to it.
- SmpleJohn, on 09/03/2008, -1/+1Unfortunately for you the apparent lack of knowledge in what you are talking about shines through in this entire thread. You choose to blatantly insult and push all of your beliefs on any man that believes in God. You say we are the "flock" and our "pastor" leads us to wolves in sheep's clothing, but what you lack the understanding of is our pastor is not a man, he is not a figure in the church or a leader in our nation. Our pastor is God, Jesus Christ, and he gave us brains and a soul to make our own decision.
Unfortunately some use this as an exuse to lead "Holy" wars, some which needed to be lead, many which did not. However, I'm as free to think we shouldn't be in Iraq as you are. Just because we have a Christian in the White House, which we'll have either way, doesn't mean I'm ready to go kill me some Iraqis.
I challenge you to grow a brain and stop being a typical athiest and bashing anyone that believes in something higher than themselves based on centuries of documentation written by many different scholars of their times, which we know as the Bible.
I challenge you to be a little more open minded in listening to other's beliefs and try to figure out more of a purpose on this dying planet than taking up space and doing what you can to make it better for your children who will give birth, die, give birth, die, give birth, die. Just visit some different churches, maybe pick up the Bible and read through it a bit. Just for a few months and actually give it a chance. If at the end of that you still think nothing of it, you've a least read a few decent stories that ha
- biogears, on 09/02/2008, -11/+3HumanDamn it you atheists are so deluded!