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Battle Cry Christian Extremist rally at city hall on May 12 at 4pm
This is an essay which goes into detail about the Battlecry Youth gatherings. G.W. Bush is part of this maniacal cult that promotes wars against Muslim countries, with young "christian soldiers" doing the fighting, laws that take away women's rights to make decisions about their bodies, and other anti-sexual and homophobic ideas...
(San Francisco) "I would execute gays only if we catch them indulging in sodomy,” Gary DeMar, popular Christian evangelical minister is quoted in the December, 2005 issue of Mother Jones. DeMar, who casually condemns millions, envisions sinners in line for the death penalty. [1]
Capital Punishment for Sinners
Gary DeMar stated he’d execute gays only if they were caught indulging in sodomy, but others envision sinners in line for the death penalty would include women who commit adultery or lie about their virginity, blasphemers, witches, children who strike their parents, and gay men. Thus, DeMar is considered somewhat of a liberal in this extreme authoritarian movement.
Gary DeMar is not a fringe Christian. He is in the same realm with Mainstream Extremist Christian leaders such as Televangelist Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. DeMar is leader of the Restore America Rally, head of American Vision and one of the most prolific publishers of the movement.
Katherine Yurika writes in The YurikaReport.com "The Despoiling of America"[2] “As Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court explains, the Bible teaches and Christians believe ‘...that Government.....derives its moral authority from God. Government is the ‘minister of God’ with powers to ‘revenge,’ to ‘execute wrath,’ including even wrath by the sword...’”
Observing the NeoCon Christian Crusaders
I’ve scrutinized these NeoCon Christian crusaders very closely since 1999 when I realized for certain G.W. Bush was one of them. Horrified, I decided I would go to their inside circles and debate them on key issues, mainly about Jesus' complete prohibition of violence and how they could justify war.
I accepted an invitation to go with Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministry on a cruise to Alaska [3] to help a friend with her five-year old daughter and so I could have a deeper look inside the mentality of these people who seemed to me to have gotten Jesus’ message all wrong, yet were claiming to be his most dedicated followers.
I discovered many of these people believe the vast majority of Americans, especially anyone disobeying God's laws, earn God’s wrath by their licentious and undisciplined lives. They believe "The government is put in power by God and if you question the government you are questioning God. So don't, in a nutshell." This was their faithful response when questioned about Bush’s ethics, "He is a Believer,” implying immediate allegiance is expected.
I received identical answers from virtually everyone. They were all plugged in and connected to the same belief structure as Dr. Charles Stanley, Rush Limbaugh and others. The media dominance of these fanatical extremist types means they can put out their messages in customized brain washing packages. They utilize all means of modern communication to spread their message. This version of “Pop Christianity” is now sweeping the country with its mind, heart and sex controlling traps.
To answer my question about the war in Iraq and pointing out that "there were some 100,000 casualties in this war led by a self proclaimed Christian,” Stanley and his followers proclaim defensively and somewhat eerily "we are not fighting people, we are fighting Satan and Evildoers," and "George Bush claimed God counseled him to go to war for our country and furthermore, sometimes God favors war.” Charles Stanley boasted repeatedly about G.W Bush being his good friend and intimate prayer partner.
Famous Right Wing Christian stars such as Pat Robertson, Billy and Franklin Graham, Dr. Charles Stanley, Ted Haggard, James Dobson, John Ashcroft, Jerry Falwell, Tom DeLay, Gary DeMar, Tim LeHay, author of the bestselling End Times Apocalypse "fiction" series and others, are moving aggressively into the arena of recruiting youth from pre-teens into early adulthood.
Reconstructionist/Dominionism Thinking at the Root
This group of Christians is aligned with Dominionist [2] [4] ideology. The father of the Christian Reconstructionist/Dominionist movement is Rousas Rushdooney who believed we should “...subdue all things, and all nations to Christ and his law word.” Dominionists believe, according to
Gary DeMar “The reign of Christ...is meant to subdue every enemy of righteousness.” Domininists believe “non-Christians cannot rule themselves and must be excluded from government under God’s law.”
They also believe, according to the Texas GOP, the only legitimate functions of the State are: 1. Restraining evil, 2. Punishing evil, 3. Protecting the law abiding and 4. Defending the nation.
They believe a government controlled and funded welfare system is unbiblical. Scripture makes
it clear; God is provider, not the State.
Wikepedia defines Christian Reconstructionism as follows: In the terminology of Christian Reconstructionism, theonomy is the idea that in the Bible, God provides the basis of both personal and social ethics. In that context, the term is always used in antithesis to autonomy, which is the idea that self provides the basis of ethics. Theonomic ethics asserts that, the Bible has been given as the abiding standard for all human government: individual, family, church and civil; and that, Biblical Law must be incorporated into a Christian theory of Biblical ethics.
Puritan, Calvinist, Protestant, and Catholic theologies are the roots of the umbrella of Dominionist thinking. It is the far Christian right, with the common thread of the belief of the inclusion of the military state with free market corporate influence, which is the type of Christianity in question. Dominionist theory seeks to utilize "justified" violence, including judicial dominance and state sponsored military might, to enforce the perspective of a literal biblical world order.
In addition, Leo Strauss, Jewish philosopher, has brought a neoconservative movement idealizing a Machiavellian model of governance. It is similar to and therefore linked to Dominionism. These models join with the violent, extremist branch of Islam to form a triplet Dominionist world view. Strauss,
Neoconservative guru, requires his disciples to take leadership of religious organizations. For example, Donald Rumsfield, Dick Chency and Paul Wolfowitz are all disciples of Strauss.
The neoconservative dictate utilizes Machiavellian principles to purposely despoil [2] in order to control. To despoil means to render something so fully into disorder or chaos that the “governed” people can do nothing but writhe in misery trying to survive. People in this position offer no resistance to the Despot attempting to rule with, in this case, a biblical iron fist.
These extremists are gaining momentum to further cement their takeover of the separate branches of government: the U.S. House, Senate, judiciary and Executive. Two more anti-choice Christian extremist Justices have just been confirmed to the Supreme Court. Bush said in a fundraising letter in March, 2005 “We need common sense judges who understand that our rights are derived from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench.”
Thirteen states have considered or are considering abortion bans. Two hundred ninety more anti-choice federal candidates are running for office this November. It is the mid-term elections which give rise to the greatest opportunity to gain seats in the government.
Pat Robertson set out with the goal to take control of the Republican Party from the bottom up. With the Christian Coalition in 1994, a watershed year, they distributed 40 million voter guides in 100,000 churches.
These people state from the onset, God's regents should take Dominion of the land and enforce God's Law. They consider themselves God’s freelancers. In Revelations, we learn they believe the annihilation of the earth will force the return of the Messiah. All "believers" will rapture up to heaven. Hence, the drive for the lost lambs because they don’t think there is much time left.
These "Rapturists" are energetically trying to force their angry and murderous God's hand by creating the destructive, life denying conditions on Earth to force their god to act and destroy the world utterly by their promiscuous use of radioactive uranium, [5] [6] It is an orgy of violence as they scatter disease, death and wanton destruction throughout the world in the form of unending imperial wars.
They are working backwards to engineer a gigantic Holocaust killing billions of people and destroying the planet on purpose. The idea is that the sooner the earth is destroyed, the sooner the return of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. [7] Therefore, it makes no difference if we use up all of the resourses of the planet since God is returning. (And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born? Yeats, “The Second Coming.”)
The Holy Land and Mesopotamia Lay in Waste
The Iraqi people are privy to being located in the eye of the “Apocalypse”. In Salam Pax’s, The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi, [8] Salam states in his blog entry of Wednesday, 9 October 2002, “Now this next article is grrrreat. I bet you haven’t read something like it during all this media-on-war block party.”
“But there is one other little-known scenario, based on the American leadership’s theological belief system. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Attorney-General John Ashcroft are all self-professed Evangelical or Born-Again Christians, and like their co-religionists could well believe in the Bible’s end-time prophecies to the letter. Such Messianic prophecies include the stipulation that before the Messiah can return to earth, there will be a major East-West war and the Jews must rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.”[9]
Salam concludes “You see, they are preparing for the return of the Messiah. It’s the end times scenario, stupid! I wonder if anyone has bought the film rights yet”.
Thousands of tons of genocidal weaponized uranium gas was dropped on Iraq in the five week 2003 “Shock and Awe” bombing campaign alone. From Bob Nichols’ Project Censored [6] article we learn: “Civilian populations in Afghanistan and Iraq and occupying troops have been contaminated with astounding levels of radioactive uranium weapons as a result of post-9/11 United States’ use of thousands of tons of uranium munitions. Researchers say surrounding countries have already received the fallout as well.”
“Most American weapons (bullets, land mines, tank shells, dumb bombs, smart bombs, missiles, cruise missiles, etc.) contain high amounts of radioactive uranium. These types of uranium weapons, on detonation, release a radioactive gas and dust which, when inhaled, goes into the body and stays there. It has a life of 45 billion years. Basically, it’s a permanent and deadly radioactive contaminant, distributed in the environment, where dust storms or any water nearby can disperse it. Once ingested, it releases subatomic particles that literally slice through DNA.”
To sum up, radioactive rubble lasts for eternity and now lies permanently over the Middle East and the world. [10]
End Times Ideology
These Dominionist minded "Christians" are contributing to the belief in the End Times of Revelations in the form of unending wars. They are purposely using lies to lead us into these violent missions for “God”. They are encouraging the Revelations symptoms by believing they exist, therefore consciously and unconsciously contributing to them.
Domionists believe that large scale world war, famine, natural disasters, and the view that varying expressions of personal sexuality are perversion and must exist if their version of the bible is true. They are creating a demented circular argument and self-fulfilling prophesy.
I learned through research the trend toward Dominionist thinking has been in motion since the founding of the United States. Its upsurge over the past three decades is largely due to these Christo-fascists fighting the Equal Rights Amendment! This, along with the utilization of television and radio, is what is responsible for the acquisition of the enormous power they now wield.
After having whittled away at women's right to choose, they strive to enforce the relinquishment of the right of sovereignty over our bodies by working to overturn Roe vs. Wade and making it difficult, already, if not impossible, to obtain abortions, especially in the red states. They assert they will deny all women the legal right to reproductive freedom.
I discovered this secretive Christian cult thinking controls the actions of the White House and sets the agenda for the whole nation. This agenda, like a coup, has re-claimed the so-called “original intentions” of the founders of the United States for it to be a "Christian Nation”. [11]
Persecution is a compliment and a sign of following in Jesus’ footsteps
Dissent is a given, persecution is seen as a compliment or confirmation of following in Jesus’ footsteps of crucifixion.
Ever wonder why George Bush looks so proud, smug and arrogant in the face of his current 70% disapproval rating? The bible writes in its own free ticket to be happy if people yell at you. From the bible one is instructed to expect persecution. It is the religious right’s loophole from accountability for the rising tide of distress the public naturally exhibits in response. Justified fingers are pointed at “evildoers”, while military “solutions”, pushing Armageddon, are pursued.
Tom Delay received a standing ovation at the “War on Christians” conference, reports The Washington Post of March 29, 2006. [12] Speaking of DeLay’s forced resignation due to his affiliation with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Rick Scarborough, convener of the conference said “I believe the most damaging thing that
Tom DeLay has done in his life is take his faith seriously into public office, which made him a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ.
When DeLay finished speaking Scarborough said to him,” God always does his best work right after a crucifixion.” DeLay basked in the rapturous ovation that followed. “Keep your eyes on Jesus,” Scarborough called after the fallen leader as he departed the stage. If the left thinks that the right is embarrassed or ashamed for the Abramoff scandal, they are wrong. It is proving to them that God’s “chosen ones” will be persecuted.
Peter Perl writes in his article in the Washingon Post April 9, 2006 titled “DeLay’s Next Mission From God.” “DeLay may be leaving Congress, but he will be back with a vengeance, in a new and potentially more powerful role, because he is a ferociously determined man who believes he is on a politico-religious mission from God.”
Christianity packaged into youth enticing, easy to swallow pills.
As the extremist Muslims recruit their youth, recounted by Salam Pax in his diary, so do the Christians. With the packaging of Christianity into the Pop youth culture of feel good rock concerts [13], they are selling redemption, during and after life, to the impressionable, sexually developing and questioning, fearful youth of our times. This coalition of emotionally crippled Christians creates "Teen Mania” [14] to redirect the natural sexual development of the youth to a militaristic style movement.
Uncertain and impressionable youth are attracted to this psychotic and globally suicidal version of Christianity by its Pop Culture presentation. It’s okay to own the military’s civilian version of the gas guzzler Hummmer. It’s okay to have a gun, but it’s not okay to be sexual. What is this? Selective abstinence? Yes for handling and shooting cold phallic guns! No to the warm intimacy of sex!
When I was on the Christian cruise, I noticed a palatable rigidity among the group. These are people who care a lot about doing the right thing and believe their version of biblical interpretation is correct. They mean well and have convinced themselves they are among the most righteous, perhaps even claiming to be the chosen ones. They are willing to fight to hold onto their version of “truth”.
With that, there is a sense of self-righteousness, there is a fear of doing something wrong, of having the facade crumble. A peculiar tension ensues. Under these dreadful conditions, people seem to develop internal thought police to keep up with the authoritarian rules, which are an integral part of this system. George Orwell would be nauseas, shake his head and say “I told you so.”
My friend who sponsored me on the cruise has a five-year-old daughter. I witnessed her use the reward/punishment, good/bad style of parenting the bible says is required. When I attempted to discuss a mutual respect model of parenting, this is the reply I received "This and like expressions of ‘disobedience’, are proof of our fallen nature, and she is, as all humans are, violent by nature. The belief is that we must discipline with strictness to overcome the inherent evil nature.”
I thought, “spare the rod, spoil the child?” A shiver entered my spine.
I have another friend who is a Fundamentalist Christian. Her teenage son made a serious attempt to commit suicide. She said he claims he is no longer a believer. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps it is likely his fear of his own parents overwhelming disapproval of him if he wasn't a "Christian" likely contributed to his attempted suicide. Or perhaps, the thought of living with this horrific Christian supremacy world view is more than he can bear.
The latest trend these despots are pursuing are Mega youth rally/rock concerts in key cities throughout the United States. The parallels to Hitler’s youth movement and the current day Islamic Madrasahs are disquieting. But this one has a candy coated twist. As the popular movie Matrix asks “Which do you want, the blue pill or the red one?”
To further this trend, a high priority on the Christian agenda is the drive for school vouchers in order to create “Christian” classrooms which teach biblical law. Many of the rallies are staged by faith based initiative sponsored, tax free religious corporations and held in corporate dominated public arenas. Projects of this nature are popping up in many ways, shapes and forms.
The event "Battlecry, Acquire the Fire” [15] is in the disguise of a rock concert. San Francisco's Battlecry event held at Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC) Park drew twenty five thousand youth for two days. These concerts are being held throughout the country all year long with various different promoters and sponsors. Pop Christian magazines are there to advertise, turning Christianity into pop cultural christolatry and a commodity. [16]
At "Battlecry,” I saw the pumping up of extreme nationalism featuring, among others, the Navy Seals, and an Oakland Raider Quarterback, who all gave Christian testimony and talked of how our government is facing Evil Forces just like the youth are in their personal lives. Ron Luce, [17] leader of the “Battlecry” youth movement, claims the phrase “they are building an army for God" is metaphorical. Military rhetoric and paraphernalia, images of automatic weapons abound in the arena, complete with a Hummer on stage displaying a red revolution style flag, Navy Seals, military fatigues and dog tags. I didn’t think to ask them if the government was paying them to be there to recruit for them or if they signed out for the hummer.
After each pounding rock band is a hard sell pitch from someone giving "biblical guidance" and testimony. It's a giant glitzy "Let's get you all charged with juicy music, all open and happy, then let's plug you into some brain programming" kind of gig.
The facilitators warn the youth “Christ is the ONLY way toward salvation” from the ills of a degraded society and the certain End Times [18] in the foreseeable future. The "Battlecry" tag line is utilizing scripture to produce the implied meaning of "there is a war for your heart and your soul”. The End Times are here and only those proclaiming Christ as their savior will be saved.” One musical artist, Hawk Nelson, titled a song "Smile, the end of the world is here”. [19]
The concourse floor is saturated with hanger-on businesses selling books describing End Time Apocalypse. T-shirts, books, bracelets, ATM (abstinence 'til marriage) mock credit cards, fancy bibles, and Christian rock band paraphernalia abound. Youth in military fatigue is a common sight. Young men wearing shirts with the biblical verse Timothy 2:3 is quoted "Therefore endure hardness, as a soldier of Christ."
T-shirts sporting the “Battlecry” theme quoted scripture, Jeremiah 4:19, "My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent, for I have heard the sound of the trumpet, I have heard the Battle Cry.” This is likening the world to the one in which the earth was torn to shreds due to the wrath of God toward his people whose "own conduct and actions have brought this upon them".
Jeremiah 4:10 reads “You have deceived the people of Jerusalem by saying, 'you will have peace, when the sword is at our throats.” This is the announcement of the judgment, by laying waste to the land, against the people for their wickedness. The leaders of this movement then add Revelations apocalyptic metaphors about the End Times, insinuating it is at hand. Now!
Sex phobia and Homophobia
Featured at “Battlecry” was former Miss Black California, Lakita Garth, [20] to speak on bible based abstinance advocacy. Mrs. Garth instructed the youth to not even kiss before marriage and to stay married until death do ye part. Marriage, of course, only being possible between a man and a woman as that is what is deemed appropriate in "God's instruction book.” Divorce is seen as a giant no no.
Mrs. Garth spent a good hour describing the horrors of sexually transmitted diseases, for example: She described advanced untreated herpes in great and gory detail, convincing the youth if they have sex, it is inevitable they will get herpes or another horrific STD. She ostensibly coaches that if they do have sex, they will get an STD, be embarrassed and wish they were dead. Therefore, the “Battlecry” crew proclaims, the youth absolutely must take a vow of abstinence in order to avoid these "plagues".
The dialogue about sexual possibilities is adamantly ignored and shut tight with double-barreled locks. It is a given in this culture to have the attitude "it’s not ok to be gay and if you are, only Christ can fix you.” Millions of dollars are being funneled by the Bush Administration to “faith based organizations” to teach abstinence only based sex education to public middle school students and third world countries.
The April 10, 2006 Los Angeles Times reports: “The religious right aims to overturn a broad range of common tolerance programs: diversity training that promotes acceptance of gays and lesbians, speech codes that ban harsh words against homosexuality and anti-discrimination policies that require college clubs to open their membership to all.” [21]
In Carmichael, California, in April, just three weeks after the Battlecry event in San Francisco, The World Can’t Wait organization was contacted by distressed students at the high school to ask for support in combating a rage of Christian homosexual hatred that has surfaced. The Christian students have begun bringing signs denouncing homosexuality as “sinful”. At the core of Dominionist philosophy is the biblically based belief that homosexuality is unequivocally wrong.
This onslaught of hate directed at diversity of sexual expression on a daily basis is devastating to the cultural climate of society to an extremely dangerous degree. Case in point: In Kansas, the Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church have been picketing services for dead soldiers and the veterans' hospitals.
Members of the Topeka church are picketing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and carrying signs that say, "Thank God for maimed soldiers." "America's doom is now irreversible," the church said in one statement. "All the resources of a Sovereign God are now devoted to cursing this Land of the Sodomite Damned."
Phelps and his followers believe soldiers' deaths and serious injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for the United States tolerating homosexuality, and they're promising to protest outside every Veteran’s Administration hospital.
Phelp's church said the United States faced "the white-hot wrath of God" for tolerating homosexuality and persecuting Westboro Baptist. The church cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2003 striking down a Texas anti-sodomy law as "a fateful line" the nation crossed. Not only do they want sodomy laws, but ultimately what they seek are death penalties. In other words, they want blood.
Pat Robertson claimed on his TV show “The 700 Club,” that Katrina was probably God's way of showing wrath for all the sexual promiscuity going on in New Orleans. Condoleezza Rice stated in a church in Louisiana after Katrina hit, the hurricane was a good thing, “it meant Jesus was coming soon.”
Dr. Condoleezza Rice is the United States National Security Advisor. On January 28, 2005, President Bush attended Dr. Rice's swearing-in ceremony as the 66th Secretary of State.
This is the sort of sadistic, homophobic and religiously fanatic attitude that we see when persons of strict "faith" try to jam their literal biblical views onto the lives of others through means of the judiciary.
In the afternoon before the event began on Friday, March 24, leader of Battlecry, Ron Luce, a Bush appointee to the Anti-drug Task Force [22] called for a special press conference and rally on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall.
The Battle Cry invitation to teenagers, on their website, made plain the symbolism of gathering in San Francisco for a pre-event rally was “on the very same steps where just months ago gay people were married”. Members of the resistance added, “This is the same City Hall in which a right wing Catholic assassinated a mayor and a gay supervisor.” [23]
Luce claims the reason for this action is so the youth may proclaim their taking a stand for “Biblical values” in response to a degraded culture where gangs, violence, drugs and excessive sex are prevalent. Many believe this is code for wanting to entrench Biblical values into the judicial system. Is this behavior not on the road to Kansas Phelps’ land?
Resistance in California
San Mateo Peace Action, San Mateo County Green Party, War Resisters League West , American Atheists, The World Can't Wait, Code Pink members, and many people from the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay community converged in uproarious protest. [24] The World Can’t Wait [25] organization is taking a major lead in the peace activism community to initiate further protest against extremist Christianity, especially among youth.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Tom Ammiano and Californa State Assemblyman Mark Leno proclaimed an official citywide condemnation of “Battlecry” on the basis of the homophobic rhetoric on its website. Their “homosexuality is wrong” stance clearly demonstrates an adamant lack of toleration of sexual diversity and promotes a hate filled public homophobic [26] public response. They are contaminating the commons with hate inducing attitudes. Our society is in extreme danger as a consequence.
Journalist Bob Nichols, Project Censored [6] Award Winner, states in his October. 12, 2005 article
“US Military, President out of Control.”
“In the famous Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, established after World War II to try Nazi War Criminals and assess their guilt and punishment, the Chief Prosecutor said of the German people something that applies directly to Americans today. He speaks knowingly and directly across more than 50 years of time to resolutely instruct American Citizens on exactly what our duty is today, right now:"
"Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience…therefore have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring."
- Nuremberg Tribunal, 1950
Nichols goes on to say, "The statement was affirmed by the Nuremberg Tribunal. It is now international law and by extension, American Law. It is our duty as Americans. The fascist government controlling America and the US Military can no longer be allowed to exist. The world and international law holds us all accountable, and the price is dear ".
Maniacal Cult
On the "Bill O'Reilly" Show, Ron Luce, when debating Sunsara Taylor [27] of The World Can't Wait the day after the protest, claimed the “Battlecry” warrior theme is a metaphor for the spiritual war humanity is facing. Luce is not, at least publicly, admitting the societal consequences of the meanings of this
guns = glory metaphorical mandate.
Pat Robertson sharply criticized the city of San Francisco for condemning "Battlecry" as well and showed the protest on the steps of city hall on his 700 club TV show. Whistleblowers Katherine Yurika, in her Yurika report [2] and Joan Bokaer of Theocracy Watch[4] draw a line from Pat Robertson's televangelical beginnings in the 1970's to the rise of this fascist type of Christianity.
This is the very same bloody artery of Religious tradition that G.W. Bush is connected to. Think of it! The person in charge of our entire country is caught up in a maniacal cult!
[End.]
Debra Schaffer Hubert is a peace and social justice activist. She is exposing and instigating nonviolent direct action confrontation of the right wing Christian extremist movement. She encourages interested potential allies to e-mail her at dshubert [at] gmail.com
Notes:
1. December, 2005 issue of Mother Jones, “A Nation under God.”
2. Katherine Yurika, Yurkia Report, News Intelligence Analysis, “The Despoiling of America, How George W. Bush became the head of the new American Dominionist Church/State. February 11, 2004 YurikaReport.com "The Despoiling of America"
3. Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries http://www.intouch.org/
4. Theocracy Watch, Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy, Cornell University. A must see is http://www.theocracywatch.org for an in-depth analysis and historical perspective of how the Christian Extremists, with the leadership of Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed in the early 90’s, took working control of the Republican Party. A must see is “Are We Becoming a Theocracy?" Joan Bokaer's talk at the New York Open Center, recorded April 29, 2005.
5. Leuren Moret, “The Queens Death Star,” Support the Truth , Dennis Kyne, http://www.Dennis Kyne.com
6. Bob Nichols, August, "US Military, President Out of Control, What does 'Mildly Radioactive' Mean, Anyway?" http://tinyurl.com/lhsxq and http://tinyurl.com/qdasf
Project Censored http://www.projectcensored.org http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/4.html
7. Stephenie Hendricks, Dominionism: 'Wise use,' dominion theology, and the making of American environmental policy.
8. Salam Pax, “The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi”, 2003 Grove Press, NY. The quote on the first page of Salam's Diary reads - "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." Samuel P. Huntington
9. Might Sharon Nuke Iraq? How Things Could Go Bad, Very Bad” (2 October 2002) by Linda S. Heard at http://www.Counterpunch.org.
10. http://www.rense.com/general70/deathmde.htm
11. We Will Pray for Election Day, Thomas Freiling and Michael Klassen, Pg. 111,“Read America’s founding documents.” Go to http://www.WallBuilders.com to see how they claim the United States was meant to be a “Christian” Nation.
12. Washington Post, Dana Milbank, March 29, 2006. “ DeLay a Star at ‘War on Christians’ Conference.”
13. http://www.battlecry.com and http://www.harvest.org/crusades/
14. Teen Mania http://www.teenmania.com
15. The ATF symbol is used on Battlecry merchandise including posters which show youth with automatic weapons. This picture was taken at San Francisco’s Battlecry event on March 24, 2006.
16. Christian Music Planet is published six times per year by Educational Media Foundation, Inc, a nonprofit organization recognized for tax-deductible giving by the federal government. wwwChrisiianMusicPlanet.com
CCM Christian Music Magazine http://www.ccmmagazine.com/
17. Luce is an addict who formerly used cocaine, and now claims to be clean and sober, through Christ.
18. Tim LeHaye, author of the Bestselling series Left Behind Series http://www.leftbehind.com/
19. Hawk Nelson, “Smile, its the end of the world.” ww.hawknelson.com
20. Lakita Garth, http://www.lakitagarth.com Garth is the proprietor of “No Ringy, No Dingy” Abstinance ‘Til Marriage mock credit Cards and educational material.
21. http://www.religiousheadlines.org
22. In March 2003, Ron Luce was recognized as a national voice on teen issues and appointed by George W. Bush to the White House Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities. The eleven-member commission was established in 1989 to provide input and expertise on the Drug-Free Communities Program.
23. Referring to the assassination of San Francisco Board of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in 1978 by Catholic right wing extremist Dan White.
24. San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 27, 2006, “Christian Soldiers throw down in SF”, San Francisco Chronicle Saturday, March 25, 2006, “Evangelical Teens Rally in SF,” San Francisco Bay Times
March 30, 2006 “BattleCry Fundies Invade the City – So What?”
25. http://www.worldcantwait.net/ Read the World Can’t Wait’s call to drive out the Bush regime which talks about the theocracy in the United States.
26. Homophobia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
27. Sunsara Taylor’s blog spot Sunsara’s World. http://www.sunsara.blogspot.com/ Be sure to check out the video of Bill O’Reilly’s interview with Sunsara and shots of the Battlecry protest on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco.
Capital Punishment for Sinners
Gary DeMar stated he’d execute gays only if they were caught indulging in sodomy, but others envision sinners in line for the death penalty would include women who commit adultery or lie about their virginity, blasphemers, witches, children who strike their parents, and gay men. Thus, DeMar is considered somewhat of a liberal in this extreme authoritarian movement.
Gary DeMar is not a fringe Christian. He is in the same realm with Mainstream Extremist Christian leaders such as Televangelist Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. DeMar is leader of the Restore America Rally, head of American Vision and one of the most prolific publishers of the movement.
Katherine Yurika writes in The YurikaReport.com "The Despoiling of America"[2] “As Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court explains, the Bible teaches and Christians believe ‘...that Government.....derives its moral authority from God. Government is the ‘minister of God’ with powers to ‘revenge,’ to ‘execute wrath,’ including even wrath by the sword...’”
Observing the NeoCon Christian Crusaders
I’ve scrutinized these NeoCon Christian crusaders very closely since 1999 when I realized for certain G.W. Bush was one of them. Horrified, I decided I would go to their inside circles and debate them on key issues, mainly about Jesus' complete prohibition of violence and how they could justify war.
I accepted an invitation to go with Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministry on a cruise to Alaska [3] to help a friend with her five-year old daughter and so I could have a deeper look inside the mentality of these people who seemed to me to have gotten Jesus’ message all wrong, yet were claiming to be his most dedicated followers.
I discovered many of these people believe the vast majority of Americans, especially anyone disobeying God's laws, earn God’s wrath by their licentious and undisciplined lives. They believe "The government is put in power by God and if you question the government you are questioning God. So don't, in a nutshell." This was their faithful response when questioned about Bush’s ethics, "He is a Believer,” implying immediate allegiance is expected.
I received identical answers from virtually everyone. They were all plugged in and connected to the same belief structure as Dr. Charles Stanley, Rush Limbaugh and others. The media dominance of these fanatical extremist types means they can put out their messages in customized brain washing packages. They utilize all means of modern communication to spread their message. This version of “Pop Christianity” is now sweeping the country with its mind, heart and sex controlling traps.
To answer my question about the war in Iraq and pointing out that "there were some 100,000 casualties in this war led by a self proclaimed Christian,” Stanley and his followers proclaim defensively and somewhat eerily "we are not fighting people, we are fighting Satan and Evildoers," and "George Bush claimed God counseled him to go to war for our country and furthermore, sometimes God favors war.” Charles Stanley boasted repeatedly about G.W Bush being his good friend and intimate prayer partner.
Famous Right Wing Christian stars such as Pat Robertson, Billy and Franklin Graham, Dr. Charles Stanley, Ted Haggard, James Dobson, John Ashcroft, Jerry Falwell, Tom DeLay, Gary DeMar, Tim LeHay, author of the bestselling End Times Apocalypse "fiction" series and others, are moving aggressively into the arena of recruiting youth from pre-teens into early adulthood.
Reconstructionist/Dominionism Thinking at the Root
This group of Christians is aligned with Dominionist [2] [4] ideology. The father of the Christian Reconstructionist/Dominionist movement is Rousas Rushdooney who believed we should “...subdue all things, and all nations to Christ and his law word.” Dominionists believe, according to
Gary DeMar “The reign of Christ...is meant to subdue every enemy of righteousness.” Domininists believe “non-Christians cannot rule themselves and must be excluded from government under God’s law.”
They also believe, according to the Texas GOP, the only legitimate functions of the State are: 1. Restraining evil, 2. Punishing evil, 3. Protecting the law abiding and 4. Defending the nation.
They believe a government controlled and funded welfare system is unbiblical. Scripture makes
it clear; God is provider, not the State.
Wikepedia defines Christian Reconstructionism as follows: In the terminology of Christian Reconstructionism, theonomy is the idea that in the Bible, God provides the basis of both personal and social ethics. In that context, the term is always used in antithesis to autonomy, which is the idea that self provides the basis of ethics. Theonomic ethics asserts that, the Bible has been given as the abiding standard for all human government: individual, family, church and civil; and that, Biblical Law must be incorporated into a Christian theory of Biblical ethics.
Puritan, Calvinist, Protestant, and Catholic theologies are the roots of the umbrella of Dominionist thinking. It is the far Christian right, with the common thread of the belief of the inclusion of the military state with free market corporate influence, which is the type of Christianity in question. Dominionist theory seeks to utilize "justified" violence, including judicial dominance and state sponsored military might, to enforce the perspective of a literal biblical world order.
In addition, Leo Strauss, Jewish philosopher, has brought a neoconservative movement idealizing a Machiavellian model of governance. It is similar to and therefore linked to Dominionism. These models join with the violent, extremist branch of Islam to form a triplet Dominionist world view. Strauss,
Neoconservative guru, requires his disciples to take leadership of religious organizations. For example, Donald Rumsfield, Dick Chency and Paul Wolfowitz are all disciples of Strauss.
The neoconservative dictate utilizes Machiavellian principles to purposely despoil [2] in order to control. To despoil means to render something so fully into disorder or chaos that the “governed” people can do nothing but writhe in misery trying to survive. People in this position offer no resistance to the Despot attempting to rule with, in this case, a biblical iron fist.
These extremists are gaining momentum to further cement their takeover of the separate branches of government: the U.S. House, Senate, judiciary and Executive. Two more anti-choice Christian extremist Justices have just been confirmed to the Supreme Court. Bush said in a fundraising letter in March, 2005 “We need common sense judges who understand that our rights are derived from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench.”
Thirteen states have considered or are considering abortion bans. Two hundred ninety more anti-choice federal candidates are running for office this November. It is the mid-term elections which give rise to the greatest opportunity to gain seats in the government.
Pat Robertson set out with the goal to take control of the Republican Party from the bottom up. With the Christian Coalition in 1994, a watershed year, they distributed 40 million voter guides in 100,000 churches.
These people state from the onset, God's regents should take Dominion of the land and enforce God's Law. They consider themselves God’s freelancers. In Revelations, we learn they believe the annihilation of the earth will force the return of the Messiah. All "believers" will rapture up to heaven. Hence, the drive for the lost lambs because they don’t think there is much time left.
These "Rapturists" are energetically trying to force their angry and murderous God's hand by creating the destructive, life denying conditions on Earth to force their god to act and destroy the world utterly by their promiscuous use of radioactive uranium, [5] [6] It is an orgy of violence as they scatter disease, death and wanton destruction throughout the world in the form of unending imperial wars.
They are working backwards to engineer a gigantic Holocaust killing billions of people and destroying the planet on purpose. The idea is that the sooner the earth is destroyed, the sooner the return of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. [7] Therefore, it makes no difference if we use up all of the resourses of the planet since God is returning. (And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born? Yeats, “The Second Coming.”)
The Holy Land and Mesopotamia Lay in Waste
The Iraqi people are privy to being located in the eye of the “Apocalypse”. In Salam Pax’s, The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi, [8] Salam states in his blog entry of Wednesday, 9 October 2002, “Now this next article is grrrreat. I bet you haven’t read something like it during all this media-on-war block party.”
“But there is one other little-known scenario, based on the American leadership’s theological belief system. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Attorney-General John Ashcroft are all self-professed Evangelical or Born-Again Christians, and like their co-religionists could well believe in the Bible’s end-time prophecies to the letter. Such Messianic prophecies include the stipulation that before the Messiah can return to earth, there will be a major East-West war and the Jews must rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.”[9]
Salam concludes “You see, they are preparing for the return of the Messiah. It’s the end times scenario, stupid! I wonder if anyone has bought the film rights yet”.
Thousands of tons of genocidal weaponized uranium gas was dropped on Iraq in the five week 2003 “Shock and Awe” bombing campaign alone. From Bob Nichols’ Project Censored [6] article we learn: “Civilian populations in Afghanistan and Iraq and occupying troops have been contaminated with astounding levels of radioactive uranium weapons as a result of post-9/11 United States’ use of thousands of tons of uranium munitions. Researchers say surrounding countries have already received the fallout as well.”
“Most American weapons (bullets, land mines, tank shells, dumb bombs, smart bombs, missiles, cruise missiles, etc.) contain high amounts of radioactive uranium. These types of uranium weapons, on detonation, release a radioactive gas and dust which, when inhaled, goes into the body and stays there. It has a life of 45 billion years. Basically, it’s a permanent and deadly radioactive contaminant, distributed in the environment, where dust storms or any water nearby can disperse it. Once ingested, it releases subatomic particles that literally slice through DNA.”
To sum up, radioactive rubble lasts for eternity and now lies permanently over the Middle East and the world. [10]
End Times Ideology
These Dominionist minded "Christians" are contributing to the belief in the End Times of Revelations in the form of unending wars. They are purposely using lies to lead us into these violent missions for “God”. They are encouraging the Revelations symptoms by believing they exist, therefore consciously and unconsciously contributing to them.
Domionists believe that large scale world war, famine, natural disasters, and the view that varying expressions of personal sexuality are perversion and must exist if their version of the bible is true. They are creating a demented circular argument and self-fulfilling prophesy.
I learned through research the trend toward Dominionist thinking has been in motion since the founding of the United States. Its upsurge over the past three decades is largely due to these Christo-fascists fighting the Equal Rights Amendment! This, along with the utilization of television and radio, is what is responsible for the acquisition of the enormous power they now wield.
After having whittled away at women's right to choose, they strive to enforce the relinquishment of the right of sovereignty over our bodies by working to overturn Roe vs. Wade and making it difficult, already, if not impossible, to obtain abortions, especially in the red states. They assert they will deny all women the legal right to reproductive freedom.
I discovered this secretive Christian cult thinking controls the actions of the White House and sets the agenda for the whole nation. This agenda, like a coup, has re-claimed the so-called “original intentions” of the founders of the United States for it to be a "Christian Nation”. [11]
Persecution is a compliment and a sign of following in Jesus’ footsteps
Dissent is a given, persecution is seen as a compliment or confirmation of following in Jesus’ footsteps of crucifixion.
Ever wonder why George Bush looks so proud, smug and arrogant in the face of his current 70% disapproval rating? The bible writes in its own free ticket to be happy if people yell at you. From the bible one is instructed to expect persecution. It is the religious right’s loophole from accountability for the rising tide of distress the public naturally exhibits in response. Justified fingers are pointed at “evildoers”, while military “solutions”, pushing Armageddon, are pursued.
Tom Delay received a standing ovation at the “War on Christians” conference, reports The Washington Post of March 29, 2006. [12] Speaking of DeLay’s forced resignation due to his affiliation with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Rick Scarborough, convener of the conference said “I believe the most damaging thing that
Tom DeLay has done in his life is take his faith seriously into public office, which made him a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ.
When DeLay finished speaking Scarborough said to him,” God always does his best work right after a crucifixion.” DeLay basked in the rapturous ovation that followed. “Keep your eyes on Jesus,” Scarborough called after the fallen leader as he departed the stage. If the left thinks that the right is embarrassed or ashamed for the Abramoff scandal, they are wrong. It is proving to them that God’s “chosen ones” will be persecuted.
Peter Perl writes in his article in the Washingon Post April 9, 2006 titled “DeLay’s Next Mission From God.” “DeLay may be leaving Congress, but he will be back with a vengeance, in a new and potentially more powerful role, because he is a ferociously determined man who believes he is on a politico-religious mission from God.”
Christianity packaged into youth enticing, easy to swallow pills.
As the extremist Muslims recruit their youth, recounted by Salam Pax in his diary, so do the Christians. With the packaging of Christianity into the Pop youth culture of feel good rock concerts [13], they are selling redemption, during and after life, to the impressionable, sexually developing and questioning, fearful youth of our times. This coalition of emotionally crippled Christians creates "Teen Mania” [14] to redirect the natural sexual development of the youth to a militaristic style movement.
Uncertain and impressionable youth are attracted to this psychotic and globally suicidal version of Christianity by its Pop Culture presentation. It’s okay to own the military’s civilian version of the gas guzzler Hummmer. It’s okay to have a gun, but it’s not okay to be sexual. What is this? Selective abstinence? Yes for handling and shooting cold phallic guns! No to the warm intimacy of sex!
When I was on the Christian cruise, I noticed a palatable rigidity among the group. These are people who care a lot about doing the right thing and believe their version of biblical interpretation is correct. They mean well and have convinced themselves they are among the most righteous, perhaps even claiming to be the chosen ones. They are willing to fight to hold onto their version of “truth”.
With that, there is a sense of self-righteousness, there is a fear of doing something wrong, of having the facade crumble. A peculiar tension ensues. Under these dreadful conditions, people seem to develop internal thought police to keep up with the authoritarian rules, which are an integral part of this system. George Orwell would be nauseas, shake his head and say “I told you so.”
My friend who sponsored me on the cruise has a five-year-old daughter. I witnessed her use the reward/punishment, good/bad style of parenting the bible says is required. When I attempted to discuss a mutual respect model of parenting, this is the reply I received "This and like expressions of ‘disobedience’, are proof of our fallen nature, and she is, as all humans are, violent by nature. The belief is that we must discipline with strictness to overcome the inherent evil nature.”
I thought, “spare the rod, spoil the child?” A shiver entered my spine.
I have another friend who is a Fundamentalist Christian. Her teenage son made a serious attempt to commit suicide. She said he claims he is no longer a believer. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps it is likely his fear of his own parents overwhelming disapproval of him if he wasn't a "Christian" likely contributed to his attempted suicide. Or perhaps, the thought of living with this horrific Christian supremacy world view is more than he can bear.
The latest trend these despots are pursuing are Mega youth rally/rock concerts in key cities throughout the United States. The parallels to Hitler’s youth movement and the current day Islamic Madrasahs are disquieting. But this one has a candy coated twist. As the popular movie Matrix asks “Which do you want, the blue pill or the red one?”
To further this trend, a high priority on the Christian agenda is the drive for school vouchers in order to create “Christian” classrooms which teach biblical law. Many of the rallies are staged by faith based initiative sponsored, tax free religious corporations and held in corporate dominated public arenas. Projects of this nature are popping up in many ways, shapes and forms.
The event "Battlecry, Acquire the Fire” [15] is in the disguise of a rock concert. San Francisco's Battlecry event held at Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC) Park drew twenty five thousand youth for two days. These concerts are being held throughout the country all year long with various different promoters and sponsors. Pop Christian magazines are there to advertise, turning Christianity into pop cultural christolatry and a commodity. [16]
At "Battlecry,” I saw the pumping up of extreme nationalism featuring, among others, the Navy Seals, and an Oakland Raider Quarterback, who all gave Christian testimony and talked of how our government is facing Evil Forces just like the youth are in their personal lives. Ron Luce, [17] leader of the “Battlecry” youth movement, claims the phrase “they are building an army for God" is metaphorical. Military rhetoric and paraphernalia, images of automatic weapons abound in the arena, complete with a Hummer on stage displaying a red revolution style flag, Navy Seals, military fatigues and dog tags. I didn’t think to ask them if the government was paying them to be there to recruit for them or if they signed out for the hummer.
After each pounding rock band is a hard sell pitch from someone giving "biblical guidance" and testimony. It's a giant glitzy "Let's get you all charged with juicy music, all open and happy, then let's plug you into some brain programming" kind of gig.
The facilitators warn the youth “Christ is the ONLY way toward salvation” from the ills of a degraded society and the certain End Times [18] in the foreseeable future. The "Battlecry" tag line is utilizing scripture to produce the implied meaning of "there is a war for your heart and your soul”. The End Times are here and only those proclaiming Christ as their savior will be saved.” One musical artist, Hawk Nelson, titled a song "Smile, the end of the world is here”. [19]
The concourse floor is saturated with hanger-on businesses selling books describing End Time Apocalypse. T-shirts, books, bracelets, ATM (abstinence 'til marriage) mock credit cards, fancy bibles, and Christian rock band paraphernalia abound. Youth in military fatigue is a common sight. Young men wearing shirts with the biblical verse Timothy 2:3 is quoted "Therefore endure hardness, as a soldier of Christ."
T-shirts sporting the “Battlecry” theme quoted scripture, Jeremiah 4:19, "My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent, for I have heard the sound of the trumpet, I have heard the Battle Cry.” This is likening the world to the one in which the earth was torn to shreds due to the wrath of God toward his people whose "own conduct and actions have brought this upon them".
Jeremiah 4:10 reads “You have deceived the people of Jerusalem by saying, 'you will have peace, when the sword is at our throats.” This is the announcement of the judgment, by laying waste to the land, against the people for their wickedness. The leaders of this movement then add Revelations apocalyptic metaphors about the End Times, insinuating it is at hand. Now!
Sex phobia and Homophobia
Featured at “Battlecry” was former Miss Black California, Lakita Garth, [20] to speak on bible based abstinance advocacy. Mrs. Garth instructed the youth to not even kiss before marriage and to stay married until death do ye part. Marriage, of course, only being possible between a man and a woman as that is what is deemed appropriate in "God's instruction book.” Divorce is seen as a giant no no.
Mrs. Garth spent a good hour describing the horrors of sexually transmitted diseases, for example: She described advanced untreated herpes in great and gory detail, convincing the youth if they have sex, it is inevitable they will get herpes or another horrific STD. She ostensibly coaches that if they do have sex, they will get an STD, be embarrassed and wish they were dead. Therefore, the “Battlecry” crew proclaims, the youth absolutely must take a vow of abstinence in order to avoid these "plagues".
The dialogue about sexual possibilities is adamantly ignored and shut tight with double-barreled locks. It is a given in this culture to have the attitude "it’s not ok to be gay and if you are, only Christ can fix you.” Millions of dollars are being funneled by the Bush Administration to “faith based organizations” to teach abstinence only based sex education to public middle school students and third world countries.
The April 10, 2006 Los Angeles Times reports: “The religious right aims to overturn a broad range of common tolerance programs: diversity training that promotes acceptance of gays and lesbians, speech codes that ban harsh words against homosexuality and anti-discrimination policies that require college clubs to open their membership to all.” [21]
In Carmichael, California, in April, just three weeks after the Battlecry event in San Francisco, The World Can’t Wait organization was contacted by distressed students at the high school to ask for support in combating a rage of Christian homosexual hatred that has surfaced. The Christian students have begun bringing signs denouncing homosexuality as “sinful”. At the core of Dominionist philosophy is the biblically based belief that homosexuality is unequivocally wrong.
This onslaught of hate directed at diversity of sexual expression on a daily basis is devastating to the cultural climate of society to an extremely dangerous degree. Case in point: In Kansas, the Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church have been picketing services for dead soldiers and the veterans' hospitals.
Members of the Topeka church are picketing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and carrying signs that say, "Thank God for maimed soldiers." "America's doom is now irreversible," the church said in one statement. "All the resources of a Sovereign God are now devoted to cursing this Land of the Sodomite Damned."
Phelps and his followers believe soldiers' deaths and serious injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for the United States tolerating homosexuality, and they're promising to protest outside every Veteran’s Administration hospital.
Phelp's church said the United States faced "the white-hot wrath of God" for tolerating homosexuality and persecuting Westboro Baptist. The church cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2003 striking down a Texas anti-sodomy law as "a fateful line" the nation crossed. Not only do they want sodomy laws, but ultimately what they seek are death penalties. In other words, they want blood.
Pat Robertson claimed on his TV show “The 700 Club,” that Katrina was probably God's way of showing wrath for all the sexual promiscuity going on in New Orleans. Condoleezza Rice stated in a church in Louisiana after Katrina hit, the hurricane was a good thing, “it meant Jesus was coming soon.”
Dr. Condoleezza Rice is the United States National Security Advisor. On January 28, 2005, President Bush attended Dr. Rice's swearing-in ceremony as the 66th Secretary of State.
This is the sort of sadistic, homophobic and religiously fanatic attitude that we see when persons of strict "faith" try to jam their literal biblical views onto the lives of others through means of the judiciary.
In the afternoon before the event began on Friday, March 24, leader of Battlecry, Ron Luce, a Bush appointee to the Anti-drug Task Force [22] called for a special press conference and rally on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall.
The Battle Cry invitation to teenagers, on their website, made plain the symbolism of gathering in San Francisco for a pre-event rally was “on the very same steps where just months ago gay people were married”. Members of the resistance added, “This is the same City Hall in which a right wing Catholic assassinated a mayor and a gay supervisor.” [23]
Luce claims the reason for this action is so the youth may proclaim their taking a stand for “Biblical values” in response to a degraded culture where gangs, violence, drugs and excessive sex are prevalent. Many believe this is code for wanting to entrench Biblical values into the judicial system. Is this behavior not on the road to Kansas Phelps’ land?
Resistance in California
San Mateo Peace Action, San Mateo County Green Party, War Resisters League West , American Atheists, The World Can't Wait, Code Pink members, and many people from the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay community converged in uproarious protest. [24] The World Can’t Wait [25] organization is taking a major lead in the peace activism community to initiate further protest against extremist Christianity, especially among youth.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Tom Ammiano and Californa State Assemblyman Mark Leno proclaimed an official citywide condemnation of “Battlecry” on the basis of the homophobic rhetoric on its website. Their “homosexuality is wrong” stance clearly demonstrates an adamant lack of toleration of sexual diversity and promotes a hate filled public homophobic [26] public response. They are contaminating the commons with hate inducing attitudes. Our society is in extreme danger as a consequence.
Journalist Bob Nichols, Project Censored [6] Award Winner, states in his October. 12, 2005 article
“US Military, President out of Control.”
“In the famous Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, established after World War II to try Nazi War Criminals and assess their guilt and punishment, the Chief Prosecutor said of the German people something that applies directly to Americans today. He speaks knowingly and directly across more than 50 years of time to resolutely instruct American Citizens on exactly what our duty is today, right now:"
"Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience…therefore have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring."
- Nuremberg Tribunal, 1950
Nichols goes on to say, "The statement was affirmed by the Nuremberg Tribunal. It is now international law and by extension, American Law. It is our duty as Americans. The fascist government controlling America and the US Military can no longer be allowed to exist. The world and international law holds us all accountable, and the price is dear ".
Maniacal Cult
On the "Bill O'Reilly" Show, Ron Luce, when debating Sunsara Taylor [27] of The World Can't Wait the day after the protest, claimed the “Battlecry” warrior theme is a metaphor for the spiritual war humanity is facing. Luce is not, at least publicly, admitting the societal consequences of the meanings of this
guns = glory metaphorical mandate.
Pat Robertson sharply criticized the city of San Francisco for condemning "Battlecry" as well and showed the protest on the steps of city hall on his 700 club TV show. Whistleblowers Katherine Yurika, in her Yurika report [2] and Joan Bokaer of Theocracy Watch[4] draw a line from Pat Robertson's televangelical beginnings in the 1970's to the rise of this fascist type of Christianity.
This is the very same bloody artery of Religious tradition that G.W. Bush is connected to. Think of it! The person in charge of our entire country is caught up in a maniacal cult!
[End.]
Debra Schaffer Hubert is a peace and social justice activist. She is exposing and instigating nonviolent direct action confrontation of the right wing Christian extremist movement. She encourages interested potential allies to e-mail her at dshubert [at] gmail.com
Notes:
1. December, 2005 issue of Mother Jones, “A Nation under God.”
2. Katherine Yurika, Yurkia Report, News Intelligence Analysis, “The Despoiling of America, How George W. Bush became the head of the new American Dominionist Church/State. February 11, 2004 YurikaReport.com "The Despoiling of America"
3. Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries http://www.intouch.org/
4. Theocracy Watch, Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy, Cornell University. A must see is http://www.theocracywatch.org for an in-depth analysis and historical perspective of how the Christian Extremists, with the leadership of Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed in the early 90’s, took working control of the Republican Party. A must see is “Are We Becoming a Theocracy?" Joan Bokaer's talk at the New York Open Center, recorded April 29, 2005.
5. Leuren Moret, “The Queens Death Star,” Support the Truth , Dennis Kyne, http://www.Dennis Kyne.com
6. Bob Nichols, August, "US Military, President Out of Control, What does 'Mildly Radioactive' Mean, Anyway?" http://tinyurl.com/lhsxq and http://tinyurl.com/qdasf
Project Censored http://www.projectcensored.org http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/4.html
7. Stephenie Hendricks, Dominionism: 'Wise use,' dominion theology, and the making of American environmental policy.
8. Salam Pax, “The Clandestine Diary of an Ordinary Iraqi”, 2003 Grove Press, NY. The quote on the first page of Salam's Diary reads - "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." Samuel P. Huntington
9. Might Sharon Nuke Iraq? How Things Could Go Bad, Very Bad” (2 October 2002) by Linda S. Heard at http://www.Counterpunch.org.
10. http://www.rense.com/general70/deathmde.htm
11. We Will Pray for Election Day, Thomas Freiling and Michael Klassen, Pg. 111,“Read America’s founding documents.” Go to http://www.WallBuilders.com to see how they claim the United States was meant to be a “Christian” Nation.
12. Washington Post, Dana Milbank, March 29, 2006. “ DeLay a Star at ‘War on Christians’ Conference.”
13. http://www.battlecry.com and http://www.harvest.org/crusades/
14. Teen Mania http://www.teenmania.com
15. The ATF symbol is used on Battlecry merchandise including posters which show youth with automatic weapons. This picture was taken at San Francisco’s Battlecry event on March 24, 2006.
16. Christian Music Planet is published six times per year by Educational Media Foundation, Inc, a nonprofit organization recognized for tax-deductible giving by the federal government. wwwChrisiianMusicPlanet.com
CCM Christian Music Magazine http://www.ccmmagazine.com/
17. Luce is an addict who formerly used cocaine, and now claims to be clean and sober, through Christ.
18. Tim LeHaye, author of the Bestselling series Left Behind Series http://www.leftbehind.com/
19. Hawk Nelson, “Smile, its the end of the world.” ww.hawknelson.com
20. Lakita Garth, http://www.lakitagarth.com Garth is the proprietor of “No Ringy, No Dingy” Abstinance ‘Til Marriage mock credit Cards and educational material.
21. http://www.religiousheadlines.org
22. In March 2003, Ron Luce was recognized as a national voice on teen issues and appointed by George W. Bush to the White House Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities. The eleven-member commission was established in 1989 to provide input and expertise on the Drug-Free Communities Program.
23. Referring to the assassination of San Francisco Board of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in 1978 by Catholic right wing extremist Dan White.
24. San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 27, 2006, “Christian Soldiers throw down in SF”, San Francisco Chronicle Saturday, March 25, 2006, “Evangelical Teens Rally in SF,” San Francisco Bay Times
March 30, 2006 “BattleCry Fundies Invade the City – So What?”
25. http://www.worldcantwait.net/ Read the World Can’t Wait’s call to drive out the Bush regime which talks about the theocracy in the United States.
26. Homophobia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
27. Sunsara Taylor’s blog spot Sunsara’s World. http://www.sunsara.blogspot.com/ Be sure to check out the video of Bill O’Reilly’s interview with Sunsara and shots of the Battlecry protest on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco.
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It's not like they'd have an AGENDA or anything
http://www.acquiretheevidence.com/
Meanwhile, looking at a HEAVILY DOCUMENTED source...
http://theocracywatch.org/
...we see that Debra Schaffer Hubert makes lots of solid points about the Machiavellian partnership between US fascist politicians and drooling bible loons. It's not really about the spirit of Christianity, whatever that is. It's about politics in all it's ugliness. Luce's Lemmings are so scrambled in the brain as Christians they can't even figure this out. He IS going after totally naive kids, after all
Hitler used to invoke God a lot, too
"Today Christians ... stand at the head of Germany ... I pledge that I never will tie myself to parties who want to destroy Christianity .. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit ... We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during the past ... (few) years."
"Providence withdrew its protection and our people fell, fell as scarcely any other people heretofore. In this deep misery we again learn to pray. . . . The mercy of the Lord slowly returns to us again. And in this hour we sink to our knees and beseech our almighty God that he may bless us, that He may give us the strength to carry on the struggle for the freedom, the future, the honor, and the peace of our people. So help us God."
http://www.acquiretheevidence.com/
Meanwhile, looking at a HEAVILY DOCUMENTED source...
http://theocracywatch.org/
...we see that Debra Schaffer Hubert makes lots of solid points about the Machiavellian partnership between US fascist politicians and drooling bible loons. It's not really about the spirit of Christianity, whatever that is. It's about politics in all it's ugliness. Luce's Lemmings are so scrambled in the brain as Christians they can't even figure this out. He IS going after totally naive kids, after all
Hitler used to invoke God a lot, too
"Today Christians ... stand at the head of Germany ... I pledge that I never will tie myself to parties who want to destroy Christianity .. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit ... We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during the past ... (few) years."
"Providence withdrew its protection and our people fell, fell as scarcely any other people heretofore. In this deep misery we again learn to pray. . . . The mercy of the Lord slowly returns to us again. And in this hour we sink to our knees and beseech our almighty God that he may bless us, that He may give us the strength to carry on the struggle for the freedom, the future, the honor, and the peace of our people. So help us God."
Okay, he's not a Luce lackey, but between "retarded author" and his website there's something very strange and cagey about this guy. A bible nut whose splinter faction opposes Luce?
from wikipedia
" studies have shown that DU ammunition has no measurable detrimental health effects, either in the short or long term. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 that, "based on credible scientific evidence, there is no proven link between DU exposure and increases in human cancers or other significant health or environmental impacts," although "Like other heavy metals, DU is potentially poisonous. In sufficient amounts, if DU is ingested or inhaled it can be harmful because of its chemical toxicity. High concentration could cause kidney damage." [39]
" studies have shown that DU ammunition has no measurable detrimental health effects, either in the short or long term. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2003 that, "based on credible scientific evidence, there is no proven link between DU exposure and increases in human cancers or other significant health or environmental impacts," although "Like other heavy metals, DU is potentially poisonous. In sufficient amounts, if DU is ingested or inhaled it can be harmful because of its chemical toxicity. High concentration could cause kidney damage." [39]
Nice article except for parts with where the author goes on and on about the uber deadly depleted uranium. It's not so black and white
Apart from the laughably asinine concept of making killing materials work safe, lets look at the facts
This stuff is uranium which is has reduced levels of isotope Uranium-235, it other words, not enough to be radioactive. Its nuclear by product, not nuclear waste.
It's only potentially (keep in mind the qualification "potentially"!) poisonous to the respiratory system when stored in mass quantities in a single location. Really, you should be more afraid of being shot with it then inhaling it.
A few technical gaffes, but all in all a good expose of the mounting power of religious psychos and their puppeteers. This is stuff EVERYBODY needs to be alarmed about. Anymore the fundies are getting so insane they shouldn't even be thought of as Christians. Call them what they are: Satan worshippers / apocalyptic death-cult maniacs
Depleted Uranium is definitely radioactive. It has a half life of 4.5 billion years. Even so, about 1/2 gram has the same radioactivity as all of the carbon 14 in your body. Plus when it is inhaled that bit of DU is concentrated all in one tiny bit of lung tissue, not spread out over your whole body. I don't know where Wackipedia got that Whack study from. But other studies such as
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0515/p01s02-woiq.htm
and
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/FLO308B.html
have found that the level of radioactivity near a DU bombed out tank in Iraq is about 300-2000 times the level of the natural background radiation. You want to use DU as fill dirt, do it on some other planet, not mine.
Another study found that radioactivity from DU spread from Iraq to Europe. This article metions it:
http://www.rense.com/general53/dep.htm
and this article gives the whole scoop:
http://nelsonpc.com/bb/messages/8192.html
So much for efforts to grow local organic produce in Europe...
And I guess we should not be amazed that every time a baby is born in Iraq, the question is asked "is it normal?"
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0515/p01s02-woiq.htm
and
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/FLO308B.html
have found that the level of radioactivity near a DU bombed out tank in Iraq is about 300-2000 times the level of the natural background radiation. You want to use DU as fill dirt, do it on some other planet, not mine.
Another study found that radioactivity from DU spread from Iraq to Europe. This article metions it:
http://www.rense.com/general53/dep.htm
and this article gives the whole scoop:
http://nelsonpc.com/bb/messages/8192.html
So much for efforts to grow local organic produce in Europe...
And I guess we should not be amazed that every time a baby is born in Iraq, the question is asked "is it normal?"
For more information:
http://www.pagesincolor.com/depleted_urani...
Maybr I should have said "radioactive as in glowing green". Which is maybe is what you want people to think. Yes it can be poisonous, but so is lead. Come to think of it, arent most earth metals potentially dangerous?
DU, among other things, is used as a radioactive shielding. Why would use a dangerously radiaoctive metal to protect yourself from radioactivity, Doesnt make much sense to me, how about you?
Oh, and were not the only ones who use DU btw. Russia, France, UK, Germaney and Japan all use it.
Oh and that study was from the IAEA, I going to ge ahead and guess they would be an auhtority on nuclear related matters.
DU, among other things, is used as a radioactive shielding. Why would use a dangerously radiaoctive metal to protect yourself from radioactivity, Doesnt make much sense to me, how about you?
Oh, and were not the only ones who use DU btw. Russia, France, UK, Germaney and Japan all use it.
Oh and that study was from the IAEA, I going to ge ahead and guess they would be an auhtority on nuclear related matters.
Maybe I should have said "radioactive as in glowing green". Which is maybe is what you want people to think. Yes it can be poisonous, but so is lead. Come to think of it, arent most earth metals potentially dangerous?
DU, among other things, is used as a radioactive shielding. Why would you use a dangerously radioactive metal to protect yourself from radioactivity, Doesn’t make much sense to me, how about you?
Oh, and were not the only ones who use DU btw. Russia, France, UK, Germany and Japan all use it.
Oh and that study was from the IAEA, I going to go ahead and guess they would be an authority on nuclear related matters.
"studies have shown that DU ammunition has no measurable detrimental health effects, either in the short or long term":
Wrong- Lets try these:
(abstracts available on request)
Teratogenicity of depleted uranium aerosols: a review from an epidemiological perspective.
Environ Health. 2005 Aug 26;4:17. Review.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in the testis of rats instilled with depleted uranium particles
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2005 Sep;11(9):655-7. Chinese.
Short-term hepatic effects of depleted uranium on xenobiotic and bile acid metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes in the rat.
Arch Toxicol. 2005 Oct 18;:1-9
Proteomic analysis of the response of human lung cells to uranium.
Proteomics. 2005 Nov;5(17):4568-80.
Leukemic transformation of hematopoietic cells in mice internally exposed to depleted uranium.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Nov;279(1-2):97-104.
Genotoxic and inflammatory effects of depleted uranium particles inhaled by rats.
Toxicol Sci. 2006 Jan;89(1):287-95. Epub 2005 Oct 12.
In vitro immune toxicity of depleted uranium: effects on murine macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and gene expression profiles.Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jan;114(1):85-91.
Clinical diagnostic indicators of renal and bone damage in rats injected with depleted uranium
Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2006 Jan 25;
Effects of depleted uranium after short-term exposure on vitamin D metabolism in rat.
Arch Toxicol. 2006 Feb 25;
Determination of natural and depleted uranium in urine at the ppt level: an interlaboratory analytical exercise.
Health Phys. 2006 May;90(5):494-9.
Wrong- Lets try these:
(abstracts available on request)
Teratogenicity of depleted uranium aerosols: a review from an epidemiological perspective.
Environ Health. 2005 Aug 26;4:17. Review.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in the testis of rats instilled with depleted uranium particles
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2005 Sep;11(9):655-7. Chinese.
Short-term hepatic effects of depleted uranium on xenobiotic and bile acid metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes in the rat.
Arch Toxicol. 2005 Oct 18;:1-9
Proteomic analysis of the response of human lung cells to uranium.
Proteomics. 2005 Nov;5(17):4568-80.
Leukemic transformation of hematopoietic cells in mice internally exposed to depleted uranium.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Nov;279(1-2):97-104.
Genotoxic and inflammatory effects of depleted uranium particles inhaled by rats.
Toxicol Sci. 2006 Jan;89(1):287-95. Epub 2005 Oct 12.
In vitro immune toxicity of depleted uranium: effects on murine macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and gene expression profiles.Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jan;114(1):85-91.
Clinical diagnostic indicators of renal and bone damage in rats injected with depleted uranium
Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2006 Jan 25;
Effects of depleted uranium after short-term exposure on vitamin D metabolism in rat.
Arch Toxicol. 2006 Feb 25;
Determination of natural and depleted uranium in urine at the ppt level: an interlaboratory analytical exercise.
Health Phys. 2006 May;90(5):494-9.
If you would bother to read the articles I quoted you would know
1) DU radioactivity does not penetrate the thin shielding covering a brand new DU shell. It is only after the shell is fired and exploded that it becomes a radioactive hazard. Tanks use DU for shielding against other anti-tank shells because it is so dense. But the thin steel covering the tank is enough to protect the soldiers from the radioactivity of the tank body itself.
2) These jokers we call scientists are saying that a kid would have to swallow a mouthfull of DU for it to be dangerous. Just because the person is a scientist doesn't mean they aren't capable of denial. Other scientists are saying that DU is chemically toxic as well as radioactive and this compounds any problems it might create.
Remember when we used to x-ray our feet at the shoe store because everyone thought that was safe too. Well the facts on the ground in Iraq just seem to tell the story that DU is in fact dangerous.
1) DU radioactivity does not penetrate the thin shielding covering a brand new DU shell. It is only after the shell is fired and exploded that it becomes a radioactive hazard. Tanks use DU for shielding against other anti-tank shells because it is so dense. But the thin steel covering the tank is enough to protect the soldiers from the radioactivity of the tank body itself.
2) These jokers we call scientists are saying that a kid would have to swallow a mouthfull of DU for it to be dangerous. Just because the person is a scientist doesn't mean they aren't capable of denial. Other scientists are saying that DU is chemically toxic as well as radioactive and this compounds any problems it might create.
Remember when we used to x-ray our feet at the shoe store because everyone thought that was safe too. Well the facts on the ground in Iraq just seem to tell the story that DU is in fact dangerous.
So...some guy. You seem to be of the mind that if other countries are using harmful chemicals and compounds than it's perfectly reasonable for us to use them 100 fold more. Of course! This line of logic is brilliant. I bow to your superior intellect. (Asshole).
So lets line up all the homosexuals and put them in death camps. Let's kill some jews. Let's kill some more brown people. Let's harm the earth...and yes...then all our self fulfilling prophecies will hold true and woo! apocalypse now! Yay democracy!
How's this for democracy, asshole.
We're of the mind that we must push democracy down the throats of the world. A small group of people in the middle east, muslims, with women equal under the law, held free elections. It's called Palestine. I look like jesus. Want to know why I look like jesus? I'm palestinian american.
So these people held their elections. They voted with confidence. And now tens of thousands of them are starving in the streets. Why are they starving? Because America, god's blessed land, decided we didn't like who they voted into office. Because it threatens zionism, you know, the jews the germans slaughtered and kicked out...who took over a nice slice of the middle east, nice ocean front property with biblical symbolism. Kicked all the brown people out and stuffed them in ghettos with barbed wire and concrete fences.
And then told them to hold elections. They did. And of course they voted to get rid of the fascist elitist jews who want nothing more than to see all of palestine dead and buried.
So what did we do? We pulled all international funding. This you see, is how democracy and god work.
Yes...you are brilliant. Japan sent packs of rapist thugs into China in world war two. Should we send packs of rapist thugs into China too?
Russia slaughtered all dissenters for 80 years. Should we slaughter all dissent for 80 years?
Asshole.
So lets line up all the homosexuals and put them in death camps. Let's kill some jews. Let's kill some more brown people. Let's harm the earth...and yes...then all our self fulfilling prophecies will hold true and woo! apocalypse now! Yay democracy!
How's this for democracy, asshole.
We're of the mind that we must push democracy down the throats of the world. A small group of people in the middle east, muslims, with women equal under the law, held free elections. It's called Palestine. I look like jesus. Want to know why I look like jesus? I'm palestinian american.
So these people held their elections. They voted with confidence. And now tens of thousands of them are starving in the streets. Why are they starving? Because America, god's blessed land, decided we didn't like who they voted into office. Because it threatens zionism, you know, the jews the germans slaughtered and kicked out...who took over a nice slice of the middle east, nice ocean front property with biblical symbolism. Kicked all the brown people out and stuffed them in ghettos with barbed wire and concrete fences.
And then told them to hold elections. They did. And of course they voted to get rid of the fascist elitist jews who want nothing more than to see all of palestine dead and buried.
So what did we do? We pulled all international funding. This you see, is how democracy and god work.
Yes...you are brilliant. Japan sent packs of rapist thugs into China in world war two. Should we send packs of rapist thugs into China too?
Russia slaughtered all dissenters for 80 years. Should we slaughter all dissent for 80 years?
Asshole.
This is an extreme article with extreme analogies. Teens who gather together because of their faith cannot be linked to a group such as the Nazis. I've worked with teens for nearly two decades and never once heard (or would condone) someone saying the things pointed out in this opinion piece.
Christianity is a personal faith that has changed many lives. It's a choice that we have in this nation -- to be able to celebrate our faith.
Nations that are stripped of faith are left with with one voice -- a lack of diversity, which is exactly why this nation is so great.
Christianity is a personal faith that has changed many lives. It's a choice that we have in this nation -- to be able to celebrate our faith.
Nations that are stripped of faith are left with with one voice -- a lack of diversity, which is exactly why this nation is so great.
Google "surplus males" Researchers have determined that when a nations young males passes 32% of the population, social chaos will result. In China, tens of millions of surplus males are called "Bare Branches"
The reason there are so many surplus males is that most nations prefer sons to daughters and so female fetuses are being aborted and girls are starved and killed.
The solution to surplus males is obvious.
The reason there are so many surplus males is that most nations prefer sons to daughters and so female fetuses are being aborted and girls are starved and killed.
The solution to surplus males is obvious.
> The solution to surplus males is obvious.
Absolutely obvious- end the practice of selling chinese female babies to rich white American couples who adopt them like cabbage patch brats.
And by the way, in the Chinese countryside, the government gives exceptions to the one child policy and is actually paying couples to have and keep female babies.
So on the one hand, they're bribing couples to have and keep girls, while with the other hand, there's a steady trade going out the airport, complete with entire hotels pretty much dedicated to the babytrade traveler. But hey, it's yet another way to keep those American dollars flowing in, and our trade deficit up.
Besides, the babysellers can always pretend the girl was "abandoned"- it's win/win- the cash comes in, and the American couple doesn't have to worry about some "pesky" birthmother ever showing up looking for her stolen child.
Course it would be nice if we stopped buying and selling babies, but what cha gonna do when you're infertile and have dollars burning a hole in yer pocket?
Absolutely obvious- end the practice of selling chinese female babies to rich white American couples who adopt them like cabbage patch brats.
And by the way, in the Chinese countryside, the government gives exceptions to the one child policy and is actually paying couples to have and keep female babies.
So on the one hand, they're bribing couples to have and keep girls, while with the other hand, there's a steady trade going out the airport, complete with entire hotels pretty much dedicated to the babytrade traveler. But hey, it's yet another way to keep those American dollars flowing in, and our trade deficit up.
Besides, the babysellers can always pretend the girl was "abandoned"- it's win/win- the cash comes in, and the American couple doesn't have to worry about some "pesky" birthmother ever showing up looking for her stolen child.
Course it would be nice if we stopped buying and selling babies, but what cha gonna do when you're infertile and have dollars burning a hole in yer pocket?
BATTLE CRY COALITION SUPPORTERS AND MEMBERS
As the Battle Cry Coalition gains momentum, these notable Christian leaders have already enlisted and are actively lending their support to the Coalition’s efforts. Won’t you join them in helping to reach this generation? Every coalition member is so important in realizing the vision of 100,000 churches and one million individuals. They’ve enlisted. Have you?
JOIN THESE BATTLE CRY PARTNERS:
Jerry Falwell | JERRY FALWELL MINISTRIES
Pat Robertson | CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK
Chuck Colson | PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say: you helped this happen."
JERRY FALWELL (quoted on the responsibility for 9/11):
"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them."
PAT ROBERTSON, The 700 Club, January 14, 1991
"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." PAT ROBERTSON, fundraising letter, 1992
As the Battle Cry Coalition gains momentum, these notable Christian leaders have already enlisted and are actively lending their support to the Coalition’s efforts. Won’t you join them in helping to reach this generation? Every coalition member is so important in realizing the vision of 100,000 churches and one million individuals. They’ve enlisted. Have you?
JOIN THESE BATTLE CRY PARTNERS:
Jerry Falwell | JERRY FALWELL MINISTRIES
Pat Robertson | CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK
Chuck Colson | PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say: you helped this happen."
JERRY FALWELL (quoted on the responsibility for 9/11):
"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them."
PAT ROBERTSON, The 700 Club, January 14, 1991
"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." PAT ROBERTSON, fundraising letter, 1992
Hey, with these evangelical basket cases on their side, the picture becomes much clearer.
The christian woo woos cry over the death of the poor little fetuses. How about the right to life of soldiers mostly poor, who are coerced to join the military to kill other poor soldiers?
The christian agenda is using women to mass produce right wing men. Women are valued primarily for their uteruses. Thats why the christian woo woos also oppose birth control that prevents fertilization (no fetuses, no abortion)
Women are used to manufacture soldiers, cops, and consumers.
The christian agenda is using women to mass produce right wing men. Women are valued primarily for their uteruses. Thats why the christian woo woos also oppose birth control that prevents fertilization (no fetuses, no abortion)
Women are used to manufacture soldiers, cops, and consumers.
No further comment needed, as the title says it all.
Check this website out!!!
These guys actaully fled the United States and are now living in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. They beleive this to be the fourth reich rising in Babylon (The United States). Interesting stuff - check it out.
These guys actaully fled the United States and are now living in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. They beleive this to be the fourth reich rising in Babylon (The United States). Interesting stuff - check it out.
And people say that Christianity is not for a thinking brain... that Christians are brain washed. Well, this is what I have to say.. These arguments are bogus. Anyone who eats up these fallacies...YOU are the brain washed ones. This article is such a shame. Please do your research before you buy any of this.
http://www.BattleCry.com
http://www.BattleCry.com
Jerry Falwell supports them, 'nuff said
I agree with Emily. It is so sad to see how one article such as this can distort the truth so much. I am sorry that you people had to read these lies, and I am even more sorry that you have been sucked in to believing them. Have you seen anything described in this article firsthand? Can you personally vouch for the truth of everything stated in this article. I personally attended a Battlecry event, and it is nothing like the article depicts it as. The article mentions, no, dwells on the "fact" that guns and weapons are a huge theme of this event. In all reality, that is not true. The picture posted above does the event no justice. The actual emblem of Battlecry is a red flag blowing in the wind. Sure the Navy Seals showed up on stage with their gear on. Not a single person in that stadium was focused on the fact that these people were carrying guns. That didn't matter. We only cared about their testimony. The article also treats Ron Luce in a disgusting manner, putting him up on their own pedestal and making it look like he has fallen from his own grace. The fact is that there was not a single instance where Mr.Luce ever stated that he saw himself as important, righteous, all-knowing, or anything else the article might lead you to believe. I could go on, and on, and on....In the end, understand that this article is written in a misleading and demoralizing manner to make you think something other than the truth about these events.
That is enough. Jerry Falwell is a relgious bigoted nutcase.
That's a new one...I've never heard of a "heathen right-wing religious" anything. How can you be heathen and religious at the same time? Makes me sad.....
Honey, it pains me to have to say it, but "these people" (selfish theocratic maniacs) are what America IS and has always been, going right back to the Calvinists of New England. Quit sopping up exceptionalism. the periods of radical/progressive influence on US domestic policy (1880 to 1940, for example) have usually followed huge influxes of immigrants. The more generations a person's family has been here, the more they tend to be dickheads
Native Americans have been here longer than any of us. I think you mispoke on that one...
[Please feel free to share all, or parts, of this letter when dealing with hate mongers, and please read the link.]
This letter is to Fred Phelps and his family at the Westboro Baptist Church. As some know, they are the “ministry” that callously demonstrates at people’s funerals, and jeer at mourning loved ones.
Dear Reverend Fred Phelps,
If you believe that homosexuals deserve death because they cannot change, then for what purpose did your god create them in the first place? [Oops, God’s mistake?] Did your god put them here for your gruesome pleasure to persecute?
If you believe that gays must and can stop being as they are, with your help, but resist being changed, what is to say that they might not change with someone else’s help in the future, if they should really need to change?
How do you know that Matthew Shepard might not have changed, if he needed to change, and what purpose would his being here have served him, you, or your god?
You seem to want to save only those who apparently do not require much change and celebrate the death of those who bear witness to that which either could not change or could changed, but had the opportunity removed.
Your family consists of several lawyers who have enough sense to keep the IRS out of their tax-exempt “charitable ministry”, but they do not seem to have any sense of diplomacy with those who obviously would prefer that your family not show up during their time of grief to defame their loved ones. While I feel that you are just a religion pimp who abides by the sorcery of lawyers, politicians, preachers and the IRS combined; I am not supposed to say these things, lest I face censorship by libel.
Do you care less if people flock to Westboro Baptist Church just for the security of their own souls, or do you love it more that when the taxman cometh you can tell him that you have the infrastructure and the subjects that constitute a tax exempt charity?
You Sir, represent to me abuse of law and the unworthy privileges of organized religion. You also represent to me someone who just laughs about the suckers who are unable to open the assortment of problems that even the government does not wish to address.
You are one to laugh into hell your Government’s troops. Your government is the only source of your tax exemption. Go protest at a gathering that gathers to redress the government as follows.
Separating Church and State:
Fred Phelps hails from Sam Brownback's state of Kansas. If Mr. Brownback wishes to talk about decency, let us ask him to address the Westboro Baptist Church, and watch who will stand in defense of Mr. Phelps and his lawyer family. Let us say, “Mr. Brownback, ‘We the People’ wish to revoke tax exemption of the Westboro Baptist Church”.
This letter is to Fred Phelps and his family at the Westboro Baptist Church. As some know, they are the “ministry” that callously demonstrates at people’s funerals, and jeer at mourning loved ones.
Dear Reverend Fred Phelps,
If you believe that homosexuals deserve death because they cannot change, then for what purpose did your god create them in the first place? [Oops, God’s mistake?] Did your god put them here for your gruesome pleasure to persecute?
If you believe that gays must and can stop being as they are, with your help, but resist being changed, what is to say that they might not change with someone else’s help in the future, if they should really need to change?
How do you know that Matthew Shepard might not have changed, if he needed to change, and what purpose would his being here have served him, you, or your god?
You seem to want to save only those who apparently do not require much change and celebrate the death of those who bear witness to that which either could not change or could changed, but had the opportunity removed.
Your family consists of several lawyers who have enough sense to keep the IRS out of their tax-exempt “charitable ministry”, but they do not seem to have any sense of diplomacy with those who obviously would prefer that your family not show up during their time of grief to defame their loved ones. While I feel that you are just a religion pimp who abides by the sorcery of lawyers, politicians, preachers and the IRS combined; I am not supposed to say these things, lest I face censorship by libel.
Do you care less if people flock to Westboro Baptist Church just for the security of their own souls, or do you love it more that when the taxman cometh you can tell him that you have the infrastructure and the subjects that constitute a tax exempt charity?
You Sir, represent to me abuse of law and the unworthy privileges of organized religion. You also represent to me someone who just laughs about the suckers who are unable to open the assortment of problems that even the government does not wish to address.
You are one to laugh into hell your Government’s troops. Your government is the only source of your tax exemption. Go protest at a gathering that gathers to redress the government as follows.
Separating Church and State:
Fred Phelps hails from Sam Brownback's state of Kansas. If Mr. Brownback wishes to talk about decency, let us ask him to address the Westboro Baptist Church, and watch who will stand in defense of Mr. Phelps and his lawyer family. Let us say, “Mr. Brownback, ‘We the People’ wish to revoke tax exemption of the Westboro Baptist Church”.
For more information:
http://www.okimc.org/newswire.php?story_id...
It hurts me...physicaly. You think that because some Christians are bad and some of them arn't correct christians then all of them are bad. You think that Christians are facists because we follow a set of rules that the almighty God has laid out for us. God sent his son to die... does that not matter! For you, he died for you! You think we are bad because what? MY BOOK TEACHES THAT GOD LOVES ALL AND THAT I SHALL LOVE ALL, AND I DO. I am sorry if this article doesn't have the examples of the people like the others, or the shine that all the other ones have, I'm 14 and I was looking for help with a sin I continuely commit and I saw this and had to write something because I am going to battle cry this year and I love God and I just thought, hey maybe you might want the opinion of the kids that your portraying in this drawing and article. You think it's ok to take away a babie's chance of life, I heard a storie about a kid once. They were having an assembly at high school and the leaders of the assembly asked "who believes that abortion is ok raise your hand," and this guys girlfreind raised her hand and tried to get him to raise his... but he refused, and they picked some people too talk about why they thought that way infront of the assembly, and they picked those two. She said "it's my body" and when they asked him, he was almost in tears and he kinda backed away but then he took the mike and started to tell the story... he said this women he knew was pregnant and she was only 16 and was thinking about abortion, and she debated and debated, she decide ok... she was going to get the abortion, she was in the hospital and the doctor said are you sure, she wasn't, so he stepped out for a seconde to let her think... she stepped out of the hospital room and said "no I'm not doing it"... and then the boy finished his story, tears rolling down his face he said "and becuse that girl said no is why I am here today." Battle is not an extremist rally, Homosexuality doesn't work, you cannot reproduce, and you think that the rise in suicide in teens is just a coincedence to so many people coming out with hate articles about Christianity... no i know it's not. While your dealing with the politics of my religon what are you children doing, not finding loving freinds because they arn't allowed to be christian. If your children were in a church the death rates would be down, not from fear of death but of love and belonging.And the ultimate punishment of sin Is death, but by his stripes we are set free, and our sin is at the bottom of the ocean... but you have to believe in him.
Also God loves homosexuals and you arn't born it... it's not a dissorder it's a choice and if you wish to be homosexual then ok but you WON"T fin salvation... how can you attack a faith that teaches to honor you mather and father, that teaches you always have freinds and love, not to steal, or have permiscues sex, or do drugs but teaches love and compassion
I follow God not Pat Robertson... I am Going to battle Cry because it is a way to show that there is still some God left in the world and that when Jesus returns I will have done my best to spread the good news of the gospel. And when Jesus does return I will not be judge for Pat Robertson's actions...I will be judge alone, and he (pat robertson) is loosing sight of the Lord because of this Political foolishness that he tighs himself in.
ok,ok. you are so sad. i wish you saw the light. Battlecry is not giving out guns and such, as whatever you might think. i went. im a worship leader at my youth group and i have to say. woud you rather have kids shooting up the block, raping innocent girls, working the corner, doing drug, or stealing things? or would you rather have them have the joy of God's son, Jesus in their lives? Battle Cry is giving kids strength to stand up for their generation, to take them back from the grip of satan. It is not a 'maniacal cult'. the guns that are being referenced in this article are lies. it is metiphorical. the guns mean bibles. the Bible is God's word and it is meant to cut down satan, not other people. you are all crazy if you really believe this. You don't even discriminate against muslims as much as you discriminate against christians, and we're not the one's who ran the planes into the twin towers.
what im saying is, Battlecry is wonderful, and God is moving. We're so close to be going home. no one even knows. God will not be stopped. His voice will be heard, let the Nations hear OUR song!!!! this is our BATTLECRY!!!!!
if you're scared of a bunch of kids coming together, then you will definatly be scared when Jesus comes. well, i hope you know see it from our point of view, and if you don't, im sorry.
God bless all of you, and i pray you find the way.
what im saying is, Battlecry is wonderful, and God is moving. We're so close to be going home. no one even knows. God will not be stopped. His voice will be heard, let the Nations hear OUR song!!!! this is our BATTLECRY!!!!!
if you're scared of a bunch of kids coming together, then you will definatly be scared when Jesus comes. well, i hope you know see it from our point of view, and if you don't, im sorry.
God bless all of you, and i pray you find the way.
This is not a manical cult! These are real people who are going against the negative influences of
Pop culture. Most of the people that go to the battlecry event are already christians! Some are introduced to Christ, not put into some religion or cult. ( Following Christ is not a Religion, you can even brush your teeth religiously!) Why are you even poping up with the Bush stuff! There not even adressing it. It's not like their saying, GO BUSH! KILL IN THE NAME OF GOD! No they are not doing that. Bush might say he is a Christian, okay. But don't forget there were some Christians as well that have made good impacts in society, not for their benefit, but the benefit of others. Plus your bringing up Homosextuality and Abortion. If people had higher morals, in which Battlecry is trying to instill, these two issues would not be as strong in our society. Think, Abortion for one is a woman's choice. But as you know sometimes it hurts the mother as well and doesnt just kill the baby. There have also been cases when the doctors said It's the you or the baby. This woman went with it anyway, her and the baby are fine till this day. These morals will also cut down the percent of teens that go and get abortions because they go out and have sex and wont take responsibility for their actions. There are guys who have turned away from the Homosextual life style, and they are living for God. Homosextuality is a decision in most cases today, there are other factors also. I am apart of Battlecry. personally, I am totally against what Bush is doing, he is power hungry and money hungry and I dont like it. I have Bi and Homosextual friends, and that doesnt bother me at all. My friends however, both come from Christian families, so they have made the decision to be that way. In a nutshell Battlecry, is a rising up of teens to be a positive influence in culture. There
that's what it is. Truthfully I dont know what the rallies are really for but the stadium events, I do. Battlecry is not only saving lives but changing lives.
Pop culture. Most of the people that go to the battlecry event are already christians! Some are introduced to Christ, not put into some religion or cult. ( Following Christ is not a Religion, you can even brush your teeth religiously!) Why are you even poping up with the Bush stuff! There not even adressing it. It's not like their saying, GO BUSH! KILL IN THE NAME OF GOD! No they are not doing that. Bush might say he is a Christian, okay. But don't forget there were some Christians as well that have made good impacts in society, not for their benefit, but the benefit of others. Plus your bringing up Homosextuality and Abortion. If people had higher morals, in which Battlecry is trying to instill, these two issues would not be as strong in our society. Think, Abortion for one is a woman's choice. But as you know sometimes it hurts the mother as well and doesnt just kill the baby. There have also been cases when the doctors said It's the you or the baby. This woman went with it anyway, her and the baby are fine till this day. These morals will also cut down the percent of teens that go and get abortions because they go out and have sex and wont take responsibility for their actions. There are guys who have turned away from the Homosextual life style, and they are living for God. Homosextuality is a decision in most cases today, there are other factors also. I am apart of Battlecry. personally, I am totally against what Bush is doing, he is power hungry and money hungry and I dont like it. I have Bi and Homosextual friends, and that doesnt bother me at all. My friends however, both come from Christian families, so they have made the decision to be that way. In a nutshell Battlecry, is a rising up of teens to be a positive influence in culture. There
that's what it is. Truthfully I dont know what the rallies are really for but the stadium events, I do. Battlecry is not only saving lives but changing lives.
I love when people say that Christianity is not for the thinking brain!!! Just so I can prove them wrong. Solomon, the wises man that ever lived, was indeed,(if you know about Solomon) a Christian. I know what your thinking, Christ hadnt even come yet! That didnt mean he didnt know he was. David knew, and so did Solomon. I know plenty of intellegent people who love God. They have PhD's. Plus plenty of street smart and common sense. They also to top it all off they have knowledge of the Truth.
Amazing! Simply amazing how those who espouse "freedom of speech" as pertaining only to same-sex couples, abortion on demand and anything other than christian values just can not abide the free speech of Christians. The demonizations of Christians over the last thirty years has resulted in the inevitable; a closely knit and newly revitalised Christian following that is ready to push back. For years we have been warning the "progressive" left and radical fringe of the leftover communists in this country that if they continue to attempt to dismantle American culture and values, there would be a backlash. Well folks, here it is. You can snivel all you like, but those who beleive are always going to be stronger than those who do not. Theirs is a spiritual and cultural war, not an armed one. You who are among the weak sinners can not retain power for long. There is a tidal wave coming...
This article, though well written and highly enticing, is full of lies and half-truths.
My friends attended the Battlecry event that is spoken of. My friends are teenagers, my age and younger. Yes, they went there for an awesome faith-based event, filled with worship and other life-changing activities. No, there was no outbursts, or threatening coming out of the group. Though I can't speak for some of these other people the article references, I can speak for the Battlecry event, the people there (on the large scale), and Christians - that is, true Followers Of Christ.
My friend who was at the Battlecry event in front of the City Hall told us all when she came back that they were there, shouting into the crowds of angry protesters sayings such as, "I love you!" or the ever popular, "I love you, and so does God!" or the simple, "Jesus Loves you!". There were the few people who became angered by the protesters antics, but only the very few.
As for the speaker, former Miss Black California, that was ridiculously falsified. She did not instruct the kids and teens to not even kiss before marriage... she said that there were some Christian couples who chose to do so. I have listened to this myself. She also stated that there were diseases out there, which are related to having sex with multiple partners (not simultaneously in most cases). I mean, yeah, these diseases are disgusting, and are truthful - you can look right at them - but isn't it also true that if people waited to have sex until after they were married, these diseases wouldn't spread?
And where this article talks about this Battlecry event as an enlistment method against muslims and other religions... it makes me very agitated. Are these people so dense as to think that's all it's about? No... we arm ourselves with the Bible against the true Evil One... Satan. The image at the bottom of the article, and the reference that goes along with it, talking about the ATF logo, and how it shows teens carrying automatic weapons... well, let's see, what stronger message is there than that? I mean... seriously, this is a spiritual war we are in. It's us with Jesus Christ on our side versus Satan. Many, like the author of this article, have been deceived. These aren't anti-Muslim events... they are pro-Jesus Christ events, pro-love events. These events teach kids to love, not to hate... The Bible states that it's wrong to give into a homosexual lifestyle... and you call people who truly follow the Bible and Jesus' teachings extremest, because they aren't complacent? How dense...
As for the rest of it... I'll let others pick it apart.
God bless you, and may he show his love to you,
Thomas, Turisan, the Magicians Blade
My friends attended the Battlecry event that is spoken of. My friends are teenagers, my age and younger. Yes, they went there for an awesome faith-based event, filled with worship and other life-changing activities. No, there was no outbursts, or threatening coming out of the group. Though I can't speak for some of these other people the article references, I can speak for the Battlecry event, the people there (on the large scale), and Christians - that is, true Followers Of Christ.
My friend who was at the Battlecry event in front of the City Hall told us all when she came back that they were there, shouting into the crowds of angry protesters sayings such as, "I love you!" or the ever popular, "I love you, and so does God!" or the simple, "Jesus Loves you!". There were the few people who became angered by the protesters antics, but only the very few.
As for the speaker, former Miss Black California, that was ridiculously falsified. She did not instruct the kids and teens to not even kiss before marriage... she said that there were some Christian couples who chose to do so. I have listened to this myself. She also stated that there were diseases out there, which are related to having sex with multiple partners (not simultaneously in most cases). I mean, yeah, these diseases are disgusting, and are truthful - you can look right at them - but isn't it also true that if people waited to have sex until after they were married, these diseases wouldn't spread?
And where this article talks about this Battlecry event as an enlistment method against muslims and other religions... it makes me very agitated. Are these people so dense as to think that's all it's about? No... we arm ourselves with the Bible against the true Evil One... Satan. The image at the bottom of the article, and the reference that goes along with it, talking about the ATF logo, and how it shows teens carrying automatic weapons... well, let's see, what stronger message is there than that? I mean... seriously, this is a spiritual war we are in. It's us with Jesus Christ on our side versus Satan. Many, like the author of this article, have been deceived. These aren't anti-Muslim events... they are pro-Jesus Christ events, pro-love events. These events teach kids to love, not to hate... The Bible states that it's wrong to give into a homosexual lifestyle... and you call people who truly follow the Bible and Jesus' teachings extremest, because they aren't complacent? How dense...
As for the rest of it... I'll let others pick it apart.
God bless you, and may he show his love to you,
Thomas, Turisan, the Magicians Blade
I agree with you!! great way of putting it!!
God bless!
God bless!
To start with, I have to say that your article was well written, but your arguments are flawed. First off I'll talk about homosexuality. You portrayed the Christian approach to this issue as one of hatred and condemnation. That simply isn't so. I freely admit that I believe homosexuality is wrong, because God says it is wrong. If He created all things, then He owns all things, therefore He can set the rules for all things. The correct Christian/Biblical approach to this is in a nutshell: "love the sinner, hate the sin". Christ taught forgiveness and redemption...not condemnation and hatred.
As to "Christian soldiers" it does not refer to soldiers in the physical sense like Islamic Jihadists or fascists trying to takeover the world by force, no this term refers to the spiritual war for the souls of the world (which you may find even more disturbing if you believe in souls). The Word of God teaches that people end up in one of two places, Heaven or Hell and that once one has arrived it will be too late to change your destination. Now if we are wrong, then this is just a silly superstition that causes people unneeded stress, but....if we are right then wouldn't any person who cares about others at all, try to do their best to make sure that everyone understands the choice? From our point of view humanity is in a sinking ship without even realizing it, we are simply trying to alert them to the fact before it is too late to get into a lifeboat. As far as your idea that we want "capital punishment for sinners" that is untrue, we want sinners to be enlightened and to repent. Of course for any society to function crimes against it must be punished, I believe strong punishment is needed for such crimes as rape or murder, #1 as a deterrent to others, #2 to prevent a repeat crime by the same individual.
Ephesians 6:12:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
In regards to your claim that Christians seek to accelerate the return of Christ by causing the chaos described in Revelations, I have to say that the whole idea is rather flawed. The idea that we want to "get it over with" so we can go to heaven leaving everyone else to be damned is nonsense. Christians anticipate the return of Christ eagerly, but at the same time we wan't to have sufficient time to share the message of Christ with more people.
Concerning abortion. If there is no God and we are all here by random chance then I say abortion is fine as with anything else you want to do. However if there is a God who created everything and exists outside it then we must obey his law. Murder is clearly forbidden in the Bible (but if humans are just advanced animals then survival of the fittest is the governing law). However if humanity is something more than a mass of cells then even a partially formed human has a soul and has the same worth as the mother who bears him/her.
i don't have the time to pick apart your entire essay, but hopefully you can see where I'm going with this. It all depends on your worldview. If you think there is no God then you can do whatever you want, no permanent consequences. However if there is a God then we had better find out what His rules are, but it's more than that. It's not just that there is a God who has certain ideas of what is right and wrong, but a God who designed everything and is pained when He sees us, His creations, perverting all His designs. He created us and loves us, He sent His Son to pay our debts that we might be forgiven and that we might be restored to His favor. I'm sorry if you are so blinded by hatred that this angers you, but think about the cost if I'm right. Isn't it worth at least researching? I don't mean researching Christians to see if they practice what they preach...often they do not (I know because I am one). We don't claim to be better than you, we are sinners, the only difference is that we know it and have accepted God's forgiveness. If you are interested in understanding the argument for the very existence of God then you may want to read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. However if you a person blinded by hate (as I surmised from your article) then you will not want to see logic, only dogma in your favor. An atheist cannot be too careful in their reading if they wish to remain an atheist. If anyone is interested in having an intelligent discussion on Christianity(a.k.a. I have no use for pointless insult trading or hate speech) you can e-mail me at nslbrd08 [at] gmail.com.
I pray that Christ will reveal Himself to you and that you will be able for the first time to experience the true definition of Love and Joy.
May God be with you, constantly revealing Himself to you.
As to "Christian soldiers" it does not refer to soldiers in the physical sense like Islamic Jihadists or fascists trying to takeover the world by force, no this term refers to the spiritual war for the souls of the world (which you may find even more disturbing if you believe in souls). The Word of God teaches that people end up in one of two places, Heaven or Hell and that once one has arrived it will be too late to change your destination. Now if we are wrong, then this is just a silly superstition that causes people unneeded stress, but....if we are right then wouldn't any person who cares about others at all, try to do their best to make sure that everyone understands the choice? From our point of view humanity is in a sinking ship without even realizing it, we are simply trying to alert them to the fact before it is too late to get into a lifeboat. As far as your idea that we want "capital punishment for sinners" that is untrue, we want sinners to be enlightened and to repent. Of course for any society to function crimes against it must be punished, I believe strong punishment is needed for such crimes as rape or murder, #1 as a deterrent to others, #2 to prevent a repeat crime by the same individual.
Ephesians 6:12:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
In regards to your claim that Christians seek to accelerate the return of Christ by causing the chaos described in Revelations, I have to say that the whole idea is rather flawed. The idea that we want to "get it over with" so we can go to heaven leaving everyone else to be damned is nonsense. Christians anticipate the return of Christ eagerly, but at the same time we wan't to have sufficient time to share the message of Christ with more people.
Concerning abortion. If there is no God and we are all here by random chance then I say abortion is fine as with anything else you want to do. However if there is a God who created everything and exists outside it then we must obey his law. Murder is clearly forbidden in the Bible (but if humans are just advanced animals then survival of the fittest is the governing law). However if humanity is something more than a mass of cells then even a partially formed human has a soul and has the same worth as the mother who bears him/her.
i don't have the time to pick apart your entire essay, but hopefully you can see where I'm going with this. It all depends on your worldview. If you think there is no God then you can do whatever you want, no permanent consequences. However if there is a God then we had better find out what His rules are, but it's more than that. It's not just that there is a God who has certain ideas of what is right and wrong, but a God who designed everything and is pained when He sees us, His creations, perverting all His designs. He created us and loves us, He sent His Son to pay our debts that we might be forgiven and that we might be restored to His favor. I'm sorry if you are so blinded by hatred that this angers you, but think about the cost if I'm right. Isn't it worth at least researching? I don't mean researching Christians to see if they practice what they preach...often they do not (I know because I am one). We don't claim to be better than you, we are sinners, the only difference is that we know it and have accepted God's forgiveness. If you are interested in understanding the argument for the very existence of God then you may want to read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. However if you a person blinded by hate (as I surmised from your article) then you will not want to see logic, only dogma in your favor. An atheist cannot be too careful in their reading if they wish to remain an atheist. If anyone is interested in having an intelligent discussion on Christianity(a.k.a. I have no use for pointless insult trading or hate speech) you can e-mail me at nslbrd08 [at] gmail.com.
I pray that Christ will reveal Himself to you and that you will be able for the first time to experience the true definition of Love and Joy.
May God be with you, constantly revealing Himself to you.
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