Posted on 11/10/2006 5:53:21 AM PST by presidio9
Despite a full century of scientific insights attesting to the antiquity of life and the greater antiquity of the Earth, more than half the American population believes that the entire cosmos was created 6,000 years ago. This is, incidentally, about a thousand years after the Sumerians invented glue. Those with the power to elect presidents and congressmen—and many who themselves get elected—believe that dinosaurs lived two by two upon Noah's Ark, that light from distant galaxies was created en route to the Earth and that the first members of our species were fashioned out of dirt and divine breath, in a garden with a talking snake, by the hand of an invisible God.
This is embarrassing. But add to this comedy of false certainties the fact that 44 percent of Americans are confident that Jesus will return to Earth sometime in the next 50 years, and you will glimpse the terrible liability of this sort of thinking. Given the most common interpretation of Biblical prophecy, it is not an exaggeration to say that nearly half the American population is eagerly anticipating the end of the world. It should be clear that this faith-based nihilism provides its adherents with absolutely no incentive to build a sustainable civilization—economically, environmentally or geopolitically. Some of these people are lunatics, of course, but they are not the lunatic fringe. We are talking about the explicit views of Christian ministers who have congregations numbering in the tens of thousands. These are some of the most influential, politically connected and well-funded people in our society.
It is, of course, taboo to criticize a person's religious beliefs. The problem, however, is that much of what people believe in the name of religion is intrinsically divisive, unreasonable and incompatible with genuine morality. One of the
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
He never got a majority. But your overall point is right on.
"Here, as ever, religious dogmatism impedes genuine wisdom and compassion."
I still maintain that cord blood would provide adequately for the research without compromising anyone's beliefs, religious or atheist.
This guy practically calls religion evil. Like reading Marx's manifesto, "religion is the opiate of the masses."
Notice he NEVER said it didn't work! ;o)
This is the kind of article I see in magazines in doctors offices where I say, "hey, this may be interesting", and read about one ridiculously opinionated and missinformed paragraph and move on to something more interesting.
When I was in high school, I learned one of our jobs on the school newspaper staff was to print things, even if we disagreed with them, to get a "rise" out of people to make them think and want to read the paper. I try not to be so easily manipulated.
btt
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - you always post the good stuff!
Dave sure doesn't think so.
"Those with the power to elect presidents and congressmen—and many who themselves get elected—believe that dinosaurs lived two by two upon Noah's Ark, that light from distant galaxies was created en route to the Earth and that the first members of our species were fashioned out of dirt and divine breath, in a garden with a talking snake, by the hand of an invisible God."
For two hundred years those people have done a pretty good job.
I think a voter that doesn't even speak our language might know even less about voting in America than a minister in Texas.
There have been polls on this. The number is probably less than half, but higher than any other country on earth. Those who live in foreign countries and have noticed this are somewhat bewildered.
***********
LOL!
Unfortunately, one may simply look around to find plenty of others who agree with this poor man.
People joke about being equal-opportunity haters. Why does Harris think it's more enlightened to bash all religion rather than just bash a few sects? Harris is a pathetic little philistine who's also fallen for the ESCR snake oil. I hope he gets a clue soon.
I am simply pointing out that THE EARTH, not man, MAYBE older than we think
Scheech
Their call is already resonating.
Found at: http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/news/usnN09487233.html
Evangelical leaders were also staunch supporters of the unpopular war in Iraq, which they see as part of a broader "clash of civilizations" or unfolding Biblical prophecy."I think if they want to be a viable party in two years the Republicans will need to clean house. The party would have to be purged (of the 'Christian Right')," said Mark Crispin Miller, an author and professor of culture and communication at New York University.
But with almost three-quarters of white evangelicals voting Republican, the party would be hard pressed to dump its most loyal constituency -- one that is also well-organized and controls much of the party at the state level.
And analysts say the Christian Right has no political option but the Republicans because it has demonized Democrats.
SOUTHERN PARTY?
Some analysts also say embracing policies associated with the "Bible Belt" of the South could make the Republicans a marginal regional party.
"Right now the Republican Party is a southern party and if they are going to just be a southern party they are going to be a minority party," said David Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
[Emphasis added.]
The first to issue this call for cutting down the Southern influence in the GOP -- oh, heck, let's just call it what it is: telling the South to get back, get away, get lost! -- was Christopher Caldwell, an editor of the Weekly Standard, who wrote a 1998 article in The Atlantic Monthly entitled, "The Southern Captivity of the GOP." His recommendation? Reformulate, repackage, and remarket the GOP -- without the Southern Goober content and participation.
Okay, wise guy, we'll split; we'll agree to pull up stake and leave you alone; one ONE condition: we of the "Christian Right" get to take the cumulative produce of our exploration and industry with us when we go. Then, Mr. Miller, you and your ilk may freely enjoy your paleolithic hellhole without us to distract you from your newfound hand-to-mouth existence.
Dang, another loon espousing a sectional party???? Where have we heard that before ;o)
And if the South took "its share" of the Armed Forces, it'd be a fair speculation whether what was left -- saddled as it would be by Hollywood, DC, and The New York Times -- would be able or willing to defend itself.
Of course, the prospect of splitting up the United States is something the Chinese would drool over.
Y'know I know how we could cure THAT disease:
Stoke up every evangelical congregation in America with the determination to preach and evangelize like all Hell were comin' in 2008. I mean go at it whole hog; old-style bible-thumpin', gospel singin', hellfire and brimstone preachin', and big tent revival meetings ALL OVER the country; non-stop. Get it drummed up so thick nobody can drive to 7-11 without having to go past a tent meeting. Get the college and university campus ministries all tied in with swarms of outdoor Christian band concerts all with an overtly evangelistic tone.
If people like these two bozo's, Miller and Bositis are going to be all bigoted about a mass secularization of the GOP, then I think the much maligned 'Christian Right' needs to just get back to The Book, crack open a fat ol' can of Holy Ghost baptism and make a real blood-bought, hanky-wavin' an' shoutin' Hallelujah scene of it. These people talk like Chrsitians are all just a pack of pea-patch bumpkins; well I say we get our mojo workin' from coast to coast and show 'em what a ruckus we can stir up when we really intend to. These pikers ain't seen nothin'.
MAN, you want to see a pack of RINOs and their liberal bedfellows squirm? Everywhere they went they'd feel like they were bein' roasted on a spit. You keep that action going solid for the next two full years and an entire generation of leftists will just shut up about Christians from then on out for fear of stirring up another episode. Probably a bunch of 'em 'd get saved in spite of themselves, too.
Now THAT'S a strategy for thinning the ranks of the opposition.
Remember though, it's the Lord, and not politics, first!
ABSOLUTELY!
THAT would be the WHOLE point of the undertaking; to emphasize to uninformed motards like Mr. Miller and Mr. Bositis that we are FIRST Christians, citizens of Another Kingdom, and that our political leanings are simply fallout from that; an expression of our righteous stewardship of this Nation, which The Almighty himself has established; that we could no more legitimately cease to impose our righteous influence upon politics than we could legitimately cease to be Christ's Ambassadors. Indeed, to cease to have influence would be indicative of a very dire, negative spiritual disaster in Christendom.
What these pointy-headed prisoners of politics cannot grasp is that the Christian Right is a political force because our obedience to Christ mandates that we be excellent stewards of all that He blesses us with, and that being citizens of the United States is part and parcel of that blessing. So, we have a spiritual requirement to be the BEST citizens we can be as a simple matter of good stewardship, which means that we engage the political dialog and we VOTE our conscience every chance we get.
Over and above that, we have been commissioned to "be salt and light" to the world in which we live, and inherent in that is the imlpicit directive to impact the politics of our nation, states, and local municipalities. Obviously, all of these entities would do well to have far MORE Christian influence, not less.
I would agree with your condemnation of this person. On the same token, are you saying that because one (or 2, or 20, or EVEN 20%) of so-called Christians are cheats, theives, hucksters, etc -- that therefore ALL Christians are?
If that is your conclusion, couldn't you say that all humans in all organizations fall pray to the same types of temptations? Are there theives in the banking industry? Are there sociopaths in the Libertarian Party? Are there adulterers in the Catholic Priesthood -- or in the American Bar Association?
Fact is, if you call Christians hypocrites, I have to acknowledge that it's true to some degree -- even to a great degree... But you have to acknowledge then that EVERY human being is a hypocrite -- one who holds others accountable to a standard that even they can't keep. And, if that's true, it proves a primary premise of the Christian Religion -- "For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Golry of God" (Romans 3:23).
Blessings.
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