Christian extremism is a poorly understood and often neglected phenomenon. Although we are constantly hearing about Muslim extremists, America is plagued with a Christian extremist movement which we ignore at our peril. Christian...
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Christian extremism is a poorly understood and often neglected phenomenon. Although we are constantly hearing about Muslim extremists, America is plagued with a Christian extremist movement which we ignore at our peril. Christian extremism includes the components of Christian fundamentalism (i.e., biblical inerrancy, evangelism, premillenialism, separatism/sense of persecution, and biblical literalism with regard to creation) and adds some additional components (e.g., exclusivity, anti-intellectualism, social conservatism/anti-liberalism, intolerance, theocratic strivings, and militant opposition to modernism).
DURING CHINA'S INFAMOUS "CULTURAL REVOLUTION" (1966-1976), untold millions of teenagers and young adults were forcibly removed from the cities and sent wholesale to rural areas to "learn from the peasants!" (to use an official slogan of the period as would end with Mao Zedong's death in the fall of 1976)--in other words, "revolutionary instruction" with little or no practical purpose replacing "decadent bougeoise" classroom instruction.
Could the Pseudoreligiopolitical Right have similar... Read Full Story
Even if it wasn't necessarily " the year of the atheist ," 2007 was a good year for American atheism. Of course, this does not mean that we can afford to rest anytime soon. Many American Christians are determined to return us to the Dark Ages by undoing the Enlightenment values that weaken their religion. A small but politically influential group of them even seek to promote the extinction of our species to fulfill their end-times theology ! As if to remind us that now is not the time for... Read Full Story
REV. JOHN HAGEE, CO-"SPIRITUAL ADVISOR" TO THE TERRIBLE-TEMPERED MR. BANG OF INDECISION 2008, otherwise known as John McCain, takes that fine art of conservative propaganda of the post hoc, ergo propter hoc school to a new and exciting low with these remarks in video form (hat tip to Brave New Films and Right Wing Watch):
Which, interestingly enough, raises the question of whether the "economic reasons" angle (as in defending and maintaining a labour-intensive, Luddite-model... Read Full Story
RIGHT WING WATCH AND BRAVE NEW FILMS WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING VIDEO of recent remarks from the "spiritual advisor" to The Terrible-Tempered Mr. Bang of Indecision 2008 (otherwise known as John McCain) as invoke His Name to discredit those on welfare, as well as imply that "no Good Christian would go on welfare," let alone put themselves @ risk of moral lapse if they went on welfare:
Which, methinks, is up there with a popular illogical fallacy of... Read Full Story
Jehovah's Witnesses preach to others with the objective of starting and conducting Bible studies with interested persons. They are well versed in the scriptures and can quote numerous verses to support their contentions. At first blush this sounds like an innocent arrangement: you allow them to visit your home and they help you to grow in scriptural knowledge; however, here's the rub: in the final analysis, you are expected to agree with the Society's interpretation of the Bible. Is this an... Read Full Story
Linked from http://cyclops686.blogspot.com/2007/01/beware-dominionists.html --- They are a very small portion of the American population, approximately seven percent. They are well organized. They are fanatical in their objectives and equally fanatical in their tactics. They believe that the only ways to express their Christianity are by converting others or by exterminating those who refuse to convert. They are doggedly anti female; they believe in violence as a means to an end; and they... Read Full Story
There is incredibly sad news out of Wisconsin involving the unnecessary death of Madeline Neumann, an 11-year-old girl, after her mother refused medical treatment for diabetes, instead preferring to pray. According to MSNBC , "The family believes in the Bible, and it says healing comes from God, but they are not crazy, religious people, she [the mother] said." Indeed. What exactly would she call them then? It appears that Ms. Neumann has learned nothing at all from her daughter's tragic death... Read Full Story
This is the man who won the Republican vote in Iowa. He is willing to ignore the science on homosexuality when it conflicts with his faith. He intends to ban abortion and punish medical professionals involved in them. In 2008, many Americans actually agree with the bigotry he espouses. Tags: Republican , Iowa , homosexuality , science , faith , abortion , Huckabee Read Full Story
Imagine that your 11-year-old daughter returned from school one day and told you that she was tormented on the playground during recess. No, it wasn't the school bully. In fact, it was her two closest friends. These friends informed your daughter that the rapture was coming and that she was headed for hell because that is where non-Christians go. In June of 2007, I wrote a post called Prayer Circles on the Playground . It generated a fair bit of interest at the time, but it is not a topic I... Read Full Story
Despite this being an excellent year for atheism , it would be a mistake to overlook the continued influence of the so-called Religious Right. Lest there be any doubt, I encourage you to check out this evidence that they are setting new funding records. In fact, Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State warns that the Christian extremist movement may be more powerful than ever in 2008. This means that it is even more important for those of us in the growing... Read Full Story
