In 1997, Huckabee claimed that Jesus would have agreed with him on supporting the death penalty. Shortly before a triple execution in Arkansas in Jan. 1997, a caller called into Huckabeeâs show on Arkansas Educational Television Network and asking how he squared his Christian teachings with his support for the death penalty. As the Arkansas Times reported on Jan. 22, 1997:
âInterestingly enough,â Huckabee allowed, âif there was ever an occasion for someone to have argued against the death penalty, I think Jesus could have done so on the cross and said, âThis is an unjust punishment and I deserve clemencyâ.â
(Think Progress) Jesus, though, did not ask for clemency. Therefore, according to Huckabeeâs logic, Jesus must have been in favor of capital punishment.
Posted by Al Swearengen as Politics, Religion at 2:33 AM MST
No Comments »
Here’s the link.  h/t The Antagonist
1. Main Pageâ [1,897,388]
2. Homosexualityâ [1,488,013]
3. Homosexuality and Hepatitisâ [516,193]
4. Homosexuality and Promiscuityâ [416,767]
5. Homosexuality and Parasitesâ [387,438]
6. Homosexuality and Gonorrheaâ [328,045]
7. Homosexuality and Domestic Violenceâ [325,547]
8. Gay Bowel Syndromeâ [314,076]
9. Homosexuality and Syphilisâ [262,015]
10. Homosexuality and Mental Healthâ [249,14]
Posted by Al Swearengen as Politics, Religion at 6:50 PM MST
1 Comment »
This is one of my own creations, cliped out of what I consider to be far and away the best episode of Real Time w/ Bill Maher this season. Rahm Emanuel was also scheduled, but he didn’t show up. What a blessing! As the result was was honest, brilliant, alive and often hillarious. The video is all of the panel discussion, without any of the interviews or Bill’s solo segments at the beginning or end. Enjoy!
Posted by Al Swearengen as Video, Politics, History, Religion at 2:23 AM MST
1 Comment »
Max Blumenthal at the Value Voters Summit 2007 (at the end they honor James Dobson)
Posted by Al Swearengen as Video, Politics, Religion at 12:22 AM MST
1 Comment »
He was a Spainard who made the voyage to North America in the 1500s. The following work is a portion of his ‘Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies’, published in 1542. The first reading of this a while back was shocking, but the reason it came to mind recently was the “phony soldiers” episode. Casas had written this and sent it back to Spain for the kingdom’s own purposes, but it was leaked, translated and used by other countries to point out his country’s sins in America. Especially Protestant nations like England and The Netherlands, whose Spanish adversaries were Catholic (along those lines, if anyone hasn’t studied The Hundred Years War, you’re missing out). So Casas was accused of treason and heresy for telling the truth. Patriotism warranted such charges, as those who subscribe to the “phony soldiers” mantra today believe also. You’ve got to read below the fold to get even a taste of what Casas exposed:
“The Indies were discovered in the year one thousand four hundred and ninety-two. In the following year a great many Spaniards went there with the intention of settling the land. Thus, forty-nine years have passed since the first settlers penetrated the land, the first so claimed being the large and most happy isle called Hispaniola, which is six hundred leagues in circumference. Around it in all directions are many other islands, some very big, others very small, and all of them were, as we saw with our own eyes, densely populated with native peoples called Indians. This large island was perhaps the most densely populated place in the world. There must be close to two hundred leagues of land on this island, and the seacoast has been explored for more than ten thousand leagues, and each day more of it is being explored. And all the land so far discovered is a beehive of people; it is as though God had crowded into these lands the great majority of mankind.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Al Swearengen as Al Swearengen, Politics, History, Religion at 11:56 PM MDT
No Comments »
(AHN) The twin blasts that marred former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto return to Pakistan was the deadliest terror attack in the country’s history, with a death toll of 132 and more than 200 wounded. The figures are likely to rise, authorities said.
I’m really disappointed by the condition of humanity. These thoughts are sad ones. Plenty of distractions work to bury all that, but the notion of jihad equaling something so heinous, this perversion of Islam, how it is surging in Pakistan and other places, speaks volumes. People are not acting for the sake of this life here on earth. Ironically, they kill innocent people because of a hunger for power here on earth that cannot be satisfied through the spreading of their ideas alone.
No - very much like the United States, the pretend-jihadists foolishly believe that violence is their golden ticket.
(Pakistan Daily Times - Written prior to the attacks) That Bhutto remains a crowd-puller is evident from her reception. But leaving aside the rhetoric, the symbolism, the dramaturgy and even the poetry of the moment, the plunge she has taken is probably the most challenging decision of her life. Ms Benazir Bhutto is back; she has replicated her 1986 reception. Once again, she is five-star material. But 2007 is not 1986. The difference offers both challenges and opportunities.Writing in the Times of London, Bhutto says she is carrying a manuscript of a book and describes it as a treatise on the reconciliation of the values of Islam and the West and a prescription for a moderate, modern Islam that marginalises extremists, returns the military from politics to their barracks, treats all citizens and especially women equally and selects its leaders by free and fair elections. This is a tall order. Reality is that this manifesto, if it can be called that, may be more of a wish-list.
(CNN) The blasts confirmed fears of instability linked to her return, which came after she reached a controversial agreement with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that will allow her to seek re-election as prime minister. Many were bitterly opposed to that deal. “This is what everyone feared,” Rivers said.
Ahmed said Musharraf, who is waiting to see if the Supreme Court confirm his eligibility as president, will most likely take this opportunity to strengthen his position. “He will say, ‘I told you so, He will tell Washington I told you so. He will tell Benazir Bhutto I told you so. This is not the time for you to come back, stay out let me handle the administration, let me be the strong man,’ ” Ahmed said.
(Bloomberg) Credit-default swaps on Pakistan’s debt rose 25 basis points to 300 basis points, according to ABN Amro Holding NV. Each basis point on a contract protecting $10 million of debt from default for five years adds $1,000 to the annual cost. Pakistan’s benchmark stock index may fall from a record after the attacks targeted the convoy of Benazir Bhutto, who returned to the nation seeking to be elected prime minister.
The “thug bubble”…
Posted by Al Swearengen as Religion at 1:44 AM MDT
No Comments »
Posted by Al Swearengen as Religion, Military at 10:37 AM MDT
1 Comment »
This is great - “how to order a hit using the Bible”. karl sent this over today:
MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 14 /Christian Newswire/ — In light of the recent attack from the enemies of God I ask the children of God to go into action with Imprecatory Prayer. Especially against Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I made an attempt to go to them via Matt 18:15 but they refused to talk to me. Specifically target Joe Conn or Jeremy Learing. They are those who lead the attack. (You can see their press release attack at www.au.org )
Imprecatory prayer, is now our duty
Now that all efforts have been exhausted, we must begin our Imprecatory Prayer, at the key points of the parliamentary role in the earth where we live. John Calvin gave the church its marching orders from Scripture. The righteous have dominion, but only through imprecatory prayer against the ungodly. David as our Old Testament shepherd gives us many Imprecatory prayers, and can be found to be in best focus in Psalm 109. Also chapters 55, 58, 68, 69, and 83
Pray these back to God and He will answer. Jesus in Matthew 23: 13, 15, 16, 23, 24, 27, and 29 gave us our New Testament marching orders as well.
Let us join Paul and declare anathema upon anyone” who loves not the Lord Jesus.” I Cor 16:22. Church father Martin Luther, led us by saying
”If any of the enemies of God’s people belong to God’s election, the church’s prayer against them giveth way to their conversion, and seeketh no more than that the judgment should follow them, only until they acknowledge their sin, turn, and seek God.”
How to pray
Please join us, with Bible in hand, and let us do battle against the enemies of God.
Posted by Al Swearengen as Religion at 1:15 PM MDT
No Comments »
This is pretty funny. karl emailed it yesterday.
KAMIAH, Idaho — Do you envision a dream home that shields you from nuclear holocaust? Marauding outlaws? Agents of Satan? You’re in luck. A $230,000, two-story, three-bedroom beauty nestled amid rolling pastures eight miles north of here is on the market. The “Survivalist Home,” as advertised in north central Idaho newspapers, was built in 1998 on 21/2 acres and designed as a haven from nuclear fallout and roving bands of outlaws, said owner Mike (Big Mike) Molesworth, 62.”You won’t find another one like this up here,” he said.
His self-sufficient home is in part of Idaho that has drawn many people seeking havens from the world, such as those who came 13 years ago with constitutionalist Bo Gritz to form the Christian covenant communities, Almost Heaven and Shenandoah, which are on 600 acres nearby in the Woodland area.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Al Swearengen as Comedy, Religion at 3:18 AM MDT
1 Comment »
Either in school or on TV (or maybe I read about it), there was a study performed where 50 or so people were in a room and given a horoscope that was color-coded based on what the person’s sign was. This one pager was packed with text, meaning the horoscopes were more detailed than even the ones found in certain magazines. At the end of the reading period, a high percentage (I want to say over 90%) thought that it accurately described their situation in life. The whole point of the experiment was to determine whether people will bend their perceptions to accommodate what they are reading, and the answer turned out to be ‘yes’. They determined that this was true, because everyone in the room had the exact same horoscope, just on a specific color of paper based on their birthday.
I include this disclaimer because for the most part I think the concept is bullshit, but at the same time useful if it causes human beings to look inward and get to know themselves. That’s always a good thing. Then there are moments like tonight when I get to feeling like there might be something to it. I think of these moments as instances where God is telling me to stop doubting its own existence. If that is the case, then I want to thank God for not getting this point across with an Old Testament type of injury, like one meant to scare me into believing. And as far as that goes, I don’t think a God that does exist would be doing any of those horrible things to anyone in the first place. Meaning, if I have any faith at all in regards to ‘God’, it’s that he or she is not as much of a maniac as the holy books tell it.
This is more God’s style right here - Chinese food tonight for the family is house special fried rice, beef teriyaki and sesame chicken. Our cat Cleo will eat some of the beef and a few of the shrimp in the rice, and this combination is one that both of the boys can enjoy. With twins this can be a tricky thing come dinner time. Anyways…there are four fortune cookies, which I distribute. They are spot on for each of us, and if one had ended up in a different hand, they wouldn’t have made any sense.
Sam - Your reputation is your wealth.
Max - Your emotions are right on the surface, but that’s okay.
Heather - A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.
Papa - Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.
Posted by Al Swearengen as Al Swearengen, Religion at 1:02 AM MDT
1 Comment »
Outstanding find, Thank God For YouTube!!! Part 2 is below the fold. (H/T Andrew Sullivan, hockey assist Your Daily Awesome)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Al Swearengen as Video, Religion at 1:48 AM MDT
3 Comments »
I did see the movie “Borat” and yes, I am stealing that joke for the title of this piece. Our ‘War of Terror’ is defined by the applause that backs it up during an event like the Republican primary debate in South Carolina, where the notion of feeling righteous because you are terrified of terrorists is the tie that binds everyone together as a team (minus Ron Paul of course, who is cruising for a trip behind the woodshed). Someone like me is then terrified, not of terrorists, but of my fellow citizens being terrified by terrorists. The genesis of this terror for me resides in the fact that anyone is terrified of anything in the first place.
Eager to be terrified, for the portion of our republic represented by folks who expect the rapture to take place soon, getting on board the 9/11 train and remaining in their seat forever is a piece of cake. Not to pick on the Revelations-enthusiasts out there, but to make a connection between the strategy employed by Republicans in securing the fear of their base, it is quite easy to identify the wisdom behind their strategy. Because just as a belief in the ‘end of days’ goes along nicely with the idea of ’something much worse than 9/11′, so does the militaristic, no holds barred defiance of these abstract evils partner up exceptionally well with the ’spiritual warrior’ persona that understands how strong of a grip Satan or al-Qaeda has on the majority of others, who will therefore never truly ‘get it’.
To perceive the world in those terms to begin with, you have to be driven by faith. When that is the fuel that powers your motor, it is much easier to accept things like torture, Guantanamo and the notion that we’re “making progress” in Iraq. The collateral damage that is rung up along the way is only pointed out and dwelt upon by those who don’t ‘get it’. And so the graphic mutilated fetus posters are co-opted and employed by the movement for the sake of terrifying those who do not ‘get it’ into feeling ashamed for simply disagreeing. How can that shame be forced to grow, so that the harvesting of it benefits the movement? Who or what can be used as an adequate lever to force this issue?
Democrats in Congress proved today that the military is a lever, and the war of terror waged against them centered around the notion that to cut off funding for the occupation of Iraq would mean that the military somehow suffers. Lest the Democratic Party have to take off the gloves and point the finger directly back at the President who remains responsible for the suffering of our military up till this point, I suppose the fear of being incapable of prevailing in that argument tells us all we need to know. Besides John Murtha scaring the Republicans right back by doing just that, who else within the leadership of either house is willing to get angry, point the finger right back at this President and get dirty on behalf of these same troops that everyone is supposedly so concerned about? Can the Republicans manage to terrify these Democrats into believing that it is only the party that sends the troops off to die in a lost war, shorts them on armor, equipment, recovery time, benefits and a strategy, that can then prevail in a battle over who really had their best interests at heart?
Besides a small contingent of loud and ignorant Republicans, most of whom never fought in a war, who will tell you that we could have won the war in Vietnam if we’d stayed longer, the vast majority of Americans aren’t second-guessing the wisdom of our withdrawal. Besides the millions of Americans who rightly protested for it to have happened years earlier than it eventually did, I don’t think you’re going to find many people today who are willing to pretend that the outcome wasn’t inevitable. Just as the specter of communism drove the faithful into a posture of righteous terrorization towards whoever doubted what the stated “cost of failure” in Vietnam would be, the specter of al-Qaeda is now the preferred catalyst of righteous terrorization agents bearing similar “cost of failure” warnings. That a Democratic member of congress would fall victim to either of these lazy and predictable constructs, is the only thing that has managed to terrify me since the day after the towers fell.
The very idea of this happening once the power to end the war was finally in our hands, had never entered my mind in such a way that my hope was entirely trounced. I’d doubted Harry Reid’s game for a while, and didn’t honestly know whether he was up to the historic challenge facing him. Even so, it wasn’t until today that I finally managed to ‘get the fear’ for the first time since the towers fell. Not until today did I officially fall victim to this war of terror.
Posted by Al Swearengen as Al Swearengen, Politics, History, Religion, Military at 1:22 AM MDT
4 Comments »
You wont get any better advice from someone you pay to have listen to all the weepy nonsense running through that head of yours…and not only is this free, it’s your’s truly:
Posted by Al Swearengen as Video, Religion at 8:52 PM MDT
2 Comments »
Reverend James Dobson (5/14/07): I was invited to go to Washington DC to meet with President Bush in the White House along with 12 or 13 other leaders of the pro-family movement. And the topic of the discussion that day was Iraq, Iran and international terrorism. And we were together for 90 minutes and it was very enlightening and in some ways disturbing too. I heard about this danger [from Iran] not only at the White House but from other pro-family leaders that I met during that week in Washington. Many people in a position to know are talking about the possibility of losing a city to nuclear or biological or chemical attack. And if we can lose one we can lose ten.
This makes perfect sense of course, as every day we’re seeing another report of Iran planing to do just this to one of our cities. Just like Saddam was going to, before we stopped him just in the nick of time.
Dobson: “If we can lose ten we can lose a hundred, especially if North Korea and Russia and China pile on.
Dobson’s influence over millions is undeniable. While they buy into ‘T-Rex on the Ark’ and ‘You can Pray the Gay Away (we’ll show you how for $5,000)’, they can’t be stupid enough to buy this story again, right? From a business perspective it seems counterintuitive to on the one hand desire an influx of customers to your faith, yet on the other, to advocate for the prevention of some disaster that would send them running into your arms. Or is this simply another example of an evangelical willing to say anything for a sensual ego-stroking? (H/T Raw Story)
Posted by Al Swearengen as Al Swearengen, Politics, Religion, Military at 2:53 AM MDT
15 Comments »
1. On Sunday, Paul Barnes, founding pastor of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel in this Denver suburb, told his evangelical congregation in a videotaped message he had had sexual relations with other men and was stepping down. “I have struggled with homosexuality since I was a 5-year-old boy…I can’t tell you the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away.” Barnes, 54, led Grace Chapel for 28 years. He and his wife have two adult children.
deadissue: The church is reaching out to John Ashcroft for advice on what to do about this, and he’s suggested covering the crucified Christ in loincloth statue or start making updated ones where he’s dressed business casual. Limit the temptation for his body and the “kinky desires” that naturally get tied up together from years and years and years of getting down on his knees in front of this snuff statue and feeling happy, safe, warm, loved…
2. Phillip Carter - What about the Grunts?: “For all of the time they spent learning about America’s war in Iraq, the Iraq Study Group failed to study the war at its most critical level: that of the grunts. Nothing makes this clearer than the report’s appendix, which lists scores of men and women interviewed for the report, but none below the rank of lieutenant colonel…Forget about its technological sophistication or vaunted all-volunteer forcetoday’s American military is the largest and most lethargic bureaucracy in world history. Its job in Iraq has been made tougher by the grafting of numerous civilian headquarters onto its existing Hydra-headed commandfirst the Pentagon’s Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, then the Coalition Provisional Authority, then a U.S. Embassy, and now a U.S. diplomatic mission and a nascent Iraqi government. The Iraq Study Group, the Pentagon, and the U.S. headquarters in Baghdad have all displayed an almost pathological inability to listen to and learn from their own people.”
3. Robert Tait in Tehran - Students protest against Ahmadinejad: “Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, faced an unprecedented outburst of public opposition yesterday from student demonstrators who burned his picture and chanted “Death to the dictator”…This year, Mr Ahmadinejad demanded a purge of “secular and liberal” lecturers, whom he accused of having been a fifth column for western values and colonialism in Iran for the past 150 years. Under his presidency, a hardline cleric was appointed chancellor of Tehran university for the first time.”
Posted by Al Swearengen as Religion, Military, Words at 1:51 AM MST
2 Comments »
