Found floating in the sea off an unnamed west coast bible camp … it’s so tasteful. (For those who think I’m not being fair … here, happy?)
Click to enlarge the photo – it really is beautiful.
Floating Bible pic sent by a friend.
Monthly Archive for July, 2008
I just saw the movie, Jesus Camp. The movie tracks a preacher and a few youngsters out of about a hundred that attend an Evangelical summer camp. It shows kids becoming indoctrinated and some of the tactics used, the kids speaking in tongues, and being emotionally charged. If this was really widespread, I'd be severely alarmed, but the movie presents a Pentecostal fringe of Evangelicalism working to out-radicalize radical Islam. The evangelicals that I know and how I was raised is not quite so extreme. Still, there was certainly some overlap with my evangelical upbringing. For example, I'd long forgotten that pledges of allegiance to the Bible and the Christian flag. There are several discussions about so many parts of the film, now two years old. I want to make one observation.
What is it about extreme fundamentalists that would allow themselves to be filmed like this? I don't think they got paid, and to the outside world, they look like brainwashers and fearmongers to the innocent. What it is, I think, is that they believe themselves so righteous that anybody seeing their lifestyle and tactics would not in any way see anything wrong with what they were doing, and in fact, they believe that outsiders would condone it and want to join forces. When you know your beliefs are unsubstantiated, you have to convince yourself in so many ways that they are correct. It's disconcerting that one way to seek validation is through the coercion of children to also believe your craziness.
I just saw the movie, Jesus Camp. The movie tracks a preacher and a few youngsters out of about a hundred that attend an Evangelical summer camp. It shows kids becoming indoctrinated and some of the tactics used, the kids speaking in tongues, and being emotionally charged. If this was really widespread, I'd be severely alarmed, but the movie presents a Pentecostal fringe of Evangelicalism working to out-radicalize radical Islam. The evangelicals that I know and how I was raised is not quite so extreme. Still, there was certainly some overlap with my evangelical upbringing. For example, I'd long forgotten that pledges of allegiance to the Bible and the Christian flag. There are several discussions about so many parts of the film, now two years old. I want to make one observation.
What is it about extreme fundamentalists that would allow themselves to be filmed like this? I don't think they got paid, and to the outside world, they look like brainwashers and fearmongers to the innocent. What it is, I think, is that they believe themselves so righteous that anybody seeing their lifestyle and tactics would not in any way see anything wrong with what they were doing, and in fact, they believe that outsiders would condone it and want to join forces. When you know your beliefs are unsubstantiated, you have to convince yourself in so many ways that they are correct. It's disconcerting that one way to seek validation is through the coercion of children to also believe your craziness.
"What if our republic were now shattered?" wrote the Rev. M. R. Watkinson to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Portland Chase on Nov. 13, 1861. "Would not antiquaries of succeeding centuries reason from our past that we were heathen nation?"
Apparently that is what convinced Mr. Chase to order the printing of "In God We Trust" on all of our nation's currency...Today, July 30th, we celebrate the adoption of "In God We Trust" as our national motto! Hooray!
Quivering in fear from the Red Menace and Sen. Joe McCarthy's kill all the commies campaign, President Dwight Eisenhower decided to simultaneously spit on the constitution, much like Chase, and declare God-fearing Americans as apparently being better than the Soviet Atheists (because Jesus likes to beat up lousy, godless pinko bastards).
Don't get me wrong, I much prefer democracy to oppressive dictatorship but, pulling some magical deity out of the sky and placing him on "our" side is just kind of weird. The idea that the US could claim God as it's own is just as ridiculous as the idea that the US can claim The Borg as a legitimate threat to our national security.
July 30th should be a day of mourning to all of us who claim to love freedom, the Constitution and our country. Does everyone remember the original national motto?
E pluribus unum...Out of many, one. Much more civilized isn't it? Even though it's in a heathen language and predates the "In God We Trust" bullshit and it's what the founding fathers chose and it's secular (like the constitution) and it includes EVERYONE!
Shit! It's enough to drive me nuts...it should be driving everyone nuts...I will say it again:
The United States of America Was Not Founded As a Christian Nation.Atheist Ethicist has a good essay about this.
"What if our republic were now shattered?" wrote the Rev. M. R. Watkinson to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Portland Chase on Nov. 13, 1861. "Would not antiquaries of succeeding centuries reason from our past that we were heathen nation?"
Apparently that is what convinced Mr. Chase to order the printing of "In God We Trust" on all of our nation's currency...Today, July 30th, we celebrate the adoption of "In God We Trust" as our national motto! Hooray!
Quivering in fear from the Red Menace and Sen. Joe McCarthy's kill all the commies campaign, President Dwight Eisenhower decided to simultaneously spit on the constitution, much like Chase, and declare God-fearing Americans as apparently being better than the Soviet Atheists (because Jesus likes to beat up lousy, godless pinko bastards).
Don't get me wrong, I much prefer democracy to oppressive dictatorship but, pulling some magical deity out of the sky and placing him on "our" side is just kind of weird. The idea that the US could claim God as it's own is just as ridiculous as the idea that the US can claim The Borg as a legitimate threat to our national security.
July 30th should be a day of mourning to all of us who claim to love freedom, the Constitution and our country. Does everyone remember the original national motto?
E pluribus unum...Out of many, one. Much more civilized isn't it? Even though it's in a heathen language and predates the "In God We Trust" bullshit and it's what the founding fathers chose and it's secular (like the constitution) and it includes EVERYONE!
Shit! It's enough to drive me nuts...it should be driving everyone nuts...I will say it again:
The United States of America Was Not Founded As a Christian Nation.Atheist Ethicist has a good essay about this.
TORONTO: JULY 28, 2008 -- An airplane tows a banner that reads "JESUS SUCKS!" over Toronto on Monday, July 28, 2008. Kenny Hotz, of Kenny vs Spenny fame, arranged the prank as part of their new show about who can "piss off more people". (source: Tracy Cohen, Associate Producer )
I love Kenny vs. Spenny – classiest show on TV. This week’s challenge is who can piss off the most people. Sounds cool – I’d recommend standing on a corner giving cigarettes to people’s kids; or wait till about 5:30, go to Union Station, stand at the Subway booth and start counting out pennies.
Anyhow, you can see from the caption what Kenny did. The reaction though! Three articles (1, 2, 3) in today’s National Post because people are so pissed off.
But that’s not the thing, get this – the veiled threats, they’re coming from Christians now. From Gail Reid of the Evangelical Fellowship of the rings:
“I’m sure some people will find it humorous,” she said, “but I think we’re perhaps throwing a match in a tinderbox. We do need to be very, very careful of one another and be respectful.”
From Gail Shabazz, or Gail Mustafa Ali, I could see that. But Reid? I thought it was just the Sunni and the Scientologists. Are all the religions going to get in on this now?
‘Pray tell’, why do we need to be careful?
Noah would be scared...
I promised that I would write about my Mother's faith yesterday...well, the house decided to flood instead. Right now there are 16 really, really, incredibly noisy fans running. Floors are being ripped up and it's generally just a bad time to be in this house. It's beyond annoying.
So, I promise that, as soon as I can hear myself think again, I will bring you some more of my gold-plated writing.
Thanks for your patience dear reader(s)(?)...
I promised that I would write about my Mother's faith yesterday...well, the house decided to flood instead. Right now there are 16 really, really, incredibly noisy fans running. Floors are being ripped up and it's generally just a bad time to be in this house. It's beyond annoying.
So, I promise that, as soon as I can hear myself think again, I will bring you some more of my gold-plated writing.
Thanks for your patience dear reader(s)(?)...
Noah would be scared...
I promised that I would write about my Mother's faith yesterday...well, the house decided to flood instead. Right now there are 16 really, really, incredibly noisy fans running. Floors are being ripped up and it's generally just a bad time to be in this house. It's beyond annoying.
So, I promise that, as soon as I can hear myself think again, I will bring you some more of my gold-plated writing.
Thanks for your patience dear reader(s)(?)...
I promised that I would write about my Mother's faith yesterday...well, the house decided to flood instead. Right now there are 16 really, really, incredibly noisy fans running. Floors are being ripped up and it's generally just a bad time to be in this house. It's beyond annoying.
So, I promise that, as soon as I can hear myself think again, I will bring you some more of my gold-plated writing.
Thanks for your patience dear reader(s)(?)...
The (Catholic and atheist) world has waited with bated breath since, in the wake of the University of Central Florida theological "scandal" involving a student making off with a consecrated Eucharist host, godless liberal P.Z. Myers promised to complete the sacrilege of which the student was accused, and desecrate "a goddamned cracker." It seems that he is now a man of his word.
It should be noted that although normally soft-spoken, Dr. Myers regularly takes superstitious claims (and those that dogmatically hold them) to task with alacrity and relish on his blog, but I would wager that his recent anti-wafer provocation wouldn't have been made manifest without the vocal condemnation of the original student by that paragon of ecumenical graciousness, the Catholic Leaugue's own Bill Donohue.
Donohue, as a faithful Catholic, is well-versed in the rhetorical value of martyrdom, and often shoves the crucified Jesus out of the way so that he can take his own place of honor on the old rugged cross, where he can weather the slings and arrows of those who, like Dr. Myers, do not reflexively nod their heads to his dogmatic veneration of an institution that has ably destroyed as many lives as it would claim to have saved for divine glorification (human glorification from its adherents notwithstanding).
In keeping with his record of pompous gasbaggery, Donohue is sure to revel in the opportunity afforded him by one more 'Jesus-hater' whose eternal soul will be basted in brimstone for the satanic spoiling of a sacred Saltine. I doubt that someone so thoroughly god-deluded will be able to appreciate the damage he does to his rational reputation by insisting upon universal deference to his particular sect's worship of a holy biscuit.
And yet, is it such a triumph over the superstition-driven life to abuse the illusion of a god-cracker, even if it is held by someone so obtuse and grating? Alonzo Fyfe has waxed ethically on this matter, and has landed favorably on Dr. Myers' side (even if critical of the methods implied by Dr. Myers to obtain a Holy Cracker), but I wonder if it isn't a denigration of our own collective reputations to even acknowledge such a self-serving simpleton (although South Park did take a few seconds to allow Jesus to execute his apoplectic animated avatar).
Still, when there's a point to be made, I'm generally favor of making it, but with good taste, if possible. Extraordinarily good taste, I might add, which is why I (in my own humble opinion) did Dr. Myers one better and concocted a true gastronomic delight: the Jesus Waffle.
You see, whatever their supernatural particulars, Eucharist hosts have the unwavering natural characteristics of being made of flour and water. As such, a collection of them can be ground into powder, mixed with butter, milk, egg, and a bit of sugar and salt, to make a scrumptuous breakfast pastry guaranteed to captivate your palate (even if it doesn't illuminate your spirit). The final product is surprisingly fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside (as will be, I presume, my damned corpse in Hell), and if your priest is health-conscious enough to procure whole-wheat wafers, may even lower your cholesterol (Hallelujah!). Topped with vanilla yogurt and garnished with the transubstutated flesh of Our Sweet Lord, it's the perfect way to start any apostate's day.
Now, why would I assemble this Unholiest of recipes? Does Bill Donohue's nose really need another tweaking? Am I trying to suck up to P.Z. and gain a dispensation of his cephalopodic grace? Neither, really. If I truly believe that religious symbols aren't special, then there shouldn't be any particular merit to venerating them OR desecrating them, right? In all honesty, it just seemed like something interesting to do. It's the same reason that I keep a Buddha statue in my garden: I use it for quirky aesthetic appeal, not spiritual inspiration. The same is true for the large crucifix displayed outside my home office, the Lakshmi coin I keep next to my D&D dice, and the driedel I put out on my coffee table every December. One man's god is another man's lawn ornament, and the sooner we are able to arrive at that understanding, the sooner we'll be able to experience reality as humans together.
The (Catholic and atheist) world has waited with bated breath since, in the wake of the University of Central Florida theological "scandal" involving a student making off with a consecrated Eucharist host, godless liberal P.Z. Myers promised to complete the sacrilege of which the student was accused, and desecrate "a goddamned cracker." It seems that he is now a man of his word.
It should be noted that although normally soft-spoken, Dr. Myers regularly takes superstitious claims (and those that dogmatically hold them) to task with alacrity and relish on his blog, but I would wager that his recent anti-wafer provocation wouldn't have been made manifest without the vocal condemnation of the original student by that paragon of ecumenical graciousness, the Catholic Leaugue's own Bill Donohue.
Donohue, as a faithful Catholic, is well-versed in the rhetorical value of martyrdom, and often shoves the crucified Jesus out of the way so that he can take his own place of honor on the old rugged cross, where he can weather the slings and arrows of those who, like Dr. Myers, do not reflexively nod their heads to his dogmatic veneration of an institution that has ably destroyed as many lives as it would claim to have saved for divine glorification (human glorification from its adherents notwithstanding).
In keeping with his record of pompous gasbaggery, Donohue is sure to revel in the opportunity afforded him by one more 'Jesus-hater' whose eternal soul will be basted in brimstone for the satanic spoiling of a sacred Saltine. I doubt that someone so thoroughly god-deluded will be able to appreciate the damage he does to his rational reputation by insisting upon universal deference to his particular sect's worship of a holy biscuit.
And yet, is it such a triumph over the superstition-driven life to abuse the illusion of a god-cracker, even if it is held by someone so obtuse and grating? Alonzo Fyfe has waxed ethically on this matter, and has landed favorably on Dr. Myers' side (even if critical of the methods implied by Dr. Myers to obtain a Holy Cracker), but I wonder if it isn't a denigration of our own collective reputations to even acknowledge such a self-serving simpleton (although South Park did take a few seconds to allow Jesus to execute his apoplectic animated avatar).
Still, when there's a point to be made, I'm generally favor of making it, but with good taste, if possible. Extraordinarily good taste, I might add, which is why I (in my own humble opinion) did Dr. Myers one better and concocted a true gastronomic delight: the Jesus Waffle.
You see, whatever their supernatural particulars, Eucharist hosts have the unwavering natural characteristics of being made of flour and water. As such, a collection of them can be ground into powder, mixed with butter, milk, egg, and a bit of sugar and salt, to make a scrumptuous breakfast pastry guaranteed to captivate your palate (even if it doesn't illuminate your spirit). The final product is surprisingly fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside (as will be, I presume, my damned corpse in Hell), and if your priest is health-conscious enough to procure whole-wheat wafers, may even lower your cholesterol (Hallelujah!). Topped with vanilla yogurt and garnished with the transubstutated flesh of Our Sweet Lord, it's the perfect way to start any apostate's day.
Now, why would I assemble this Unholiest of recipes? Does Bill Donohue's nose really need another tweaking? Am I trying to suck up to P.Z. and gain a dispensation of his cephalopodic grace? Neither, really. If I truly believe that religious symbols aren't special, then there shouldn't be any particular merit to venerating them OR desecrating them, right? In all honesty, it just seemed like something interesting to do. It's the same reason that I keep a Buddha statue in my garden: I use it for quirky aesthetic appeal, not spiritual inspiration. The same is true for the large crucifix displayed outside my home office, the Lakshmi coin I keep next to my D&D dice, and the driedel I put out on my coffee table every December. One man's god is another man's lawn ornament, and the sooner we are able to arrive at that understanding, the sooner we'll be able to experience reality as humans together.
What...A...Douche!
Cute...Asshole
I don't even have anything to say.
Cute...Asshole
I don't even have anything to say.
What...A...Douche!
Cute...Asshole
I don't even have anything to say.
Cute...Asshole
I don't even have anything to say.
Dad
At last a look behind the curtain...My parents and their beliefs at least, how I see them. I was inspired to write this post after reading a Christian's response to the "Atheist 13" from The Atheist Blogger. One question in particular, in answering the question about the one person you wish you could convert. He answered, "My Dad." That got me thinking.
My immediate family is pretty darn close. There was a time in the 90's where we really weren't...at least I wasn't...and I do feel a little guilty about that. But, since then we have come back together and just two weekends ago had an enormous crab feast where my sister and I played my parents' wedding song for them and a good time was had by all. There was also the formal introduction (if you could call it formal) and welcome of those who will be the newest additions to our family, the Heretincess's Parents and brother. All in all, it was a pretty sweet weekend, went to a Phillies game, did some tailgating, and we were able to see my Great-Grandmother, who was as charming and graceful as ever...She also happened to be the one that decided to pass off her 76 year old engagement ring to my bride-to-be (it always makes her cry to think about it...Heretincess, not Great-Grandmother.)
On to the meat of this post. My Dad and I have had our chats about Christianity, Spirituality and the like and I feel pretty comfortable in my understanding of his world view. A designer of sprawling and intricate chemical engineering facilities, the man has never been short on logic. He instantly casts doubt on all things supernatural although, the two of us do still enjoy all of the crappy Sci-Fi junk we can get our hands on...that and The Simpsons.
Growing up we never really talked about religion. We just kind of went to church for more of a social networking group than to be with like minded believers. My parents did not baptize me as a baby, they waited until me and my siblings were old enough, in their eyes, to have made the decision on our own...A philosophy that still today, I hold up as one of my parents best decisions...even if it may have been a bit of a premature decision on the part of my brother and sister...more to come on that in a later post. We did get "dragged" to church on some Sundays, as I am sure most kids in this country have been. I don't resent my parents for this...They simply did not know any better. Since we have all been separated by miles, mountains, rivers, and streams, my Dad has told me of some regrets he feels. "Forcing" us to go to church being one of them.
My Dad will not identify himself as a Christian, anymore. He doesn't identify with any religion. He seems to be the happiest man in the world. When we talk about afterlife, it is in less tangible terms than Heaven and Hell, God and Satan. We talk about the viability of a soul (another post in the working) and the possibility of an afterlife or the less glamorous rotting in the ground.
Given what he has had to do for his family, it's no surprise that at this point, he is the happiest man alive...again, more on that later.
When my brother was younger, about 7 years old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. My Dad was floored and desperate. Like many others in his predicament have in the past and most assuredly will in the future, he offered up a little prayer...something along these lines:
"God, I don't know what to do. My son has just been given a horrible diagnosis for a horrible disease. I don't know what kind of being you are but, if you will spare my son of this disease, I will give to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the rest of my life."
The second batch of test results came back revealing a really bad case of asthma coupled with some pretty serious allergies to airborne particles and a few other, not-so-terminal, problems...Which, coupled together I suppose gave a false positive, I'm a bit sketchy on the actual details of the tests. To this day, my Father still gives to that foundation, every year, and refuses to take the tax write-off that comes with it.
He won't come out and acknowledge that there was a mysterious man in the sky that instead of one horrific disease decided to give my brother a series of lesser afflictions. Deep down I believe that my Dad does not credit any of this to God. He jokes about it now saying things like, "Well I just have to hedge my bets."
I have a really hard time believing that my logical, reasonable, smart Father would believe in all of that junk. He likes doing all kinds of stuff with his church friends. He volunteers at a homeless shelter whenever he can. He mows the old ladies' grass. It seems that his least favorite thing about church is, well church. More than once he's told me how uncomfortable it makes him. Especially when the pastor starts talking about hell and how horrible it's punishments are just for not believing in Jesus.
Finally, he seems to be one of the very few people on this Earth who can put the religion question completely out of his mind. It's a trait that I envy. It seems that I am always thinking about religions and things of that nature. I say good for him. The man has never bought a single thing just for himself. He is the embodiment of selflessness.
It would be a far better world if their were more of him in it than people like me or James Dobson.
Tomorrow, hopefully, Mom's side!
P.S. Take your kids fishing. While we were up visiting, my lady went out doing wedding stuff and Dad and I sat on a pier and fished for five hours. We didn't catch anything but, it was another one of those father-son bonding moments that continue throughout our lives. It brought back floods of forgotten memories of all of the old fishing spots we would frequent. We weren't the only father-son team, either. Take Me Fishing
Dad
At last a look behind the curtain...My parents and their beliefs at least, how I see them. I was inspired to write this post after reading a Christian's response to the "Atheist 13" from The Atheist Blogger. One question in particular, in answering the question about the one person you wish you could convert. He answered, "My Dad." That got me thinking.
My immediate family is pretty darn close. There was a time in the 90's where we really weren't...at least I wasn't...and I do feel a little guilty about that. But, since then we have come back together and just two weekends ago had an enormous crab feast where my sister and I played my parents' wedding song for them and a good time was had by all. There was also the formal introduction (if you could call it formal) and welcome of those who will be the newest additions to our family, the Heretincess's Parents and brother. All in all, it was a pretty sweet weekend, went to a Phillies game, did some tailgating, and we were able to see my Great-Grandmother, who was as charming and graceful as ever...She also happened to be the one that decided to pass off her 76 year old engagement ring to my bride-to-be (it always makes her cry to think about it...Heretincess, not Great-Grandmother.)
On to the meat of this post. My Dad and I have had our chats about Christianity, Spirituality and the like and I feel pretty comfortable in my understanding of his world view. A designer of sprawling and intricate chemical engineering facilities, the man has never been short on logic. He instantly casts doubt on all things supernatural although, the two of us do still enjoy all of the crappy Sci-Fi junk we can get our hands on...that and The Simpsons.
Growing up we never really talked about religion. We just kind of went to church for more of a social networking group than to be with like minded believers. My parents did not baptize me as a baby, they waited until me and my siblings were old enough, in their eyes, to have made the decision on our own...A philosophy that still today, I hold up as one of my parents best decisions...even if it may have been a bit of a premature decision on the part of my brother and sister...more to come on that in a later post. We did get "dragged" to church on some Sundays, as I am sure most kids in this country have been. I don't resent my parents for this...They simply did not know any better. Since we have all been separated by miles, mountains, rivers, and streams, my Dad has told me of some regrets he feels. "Forcing" us to go to church being one of them.
My Dad will not identify himself as a Christian, anymore. He doesn't identify with any religion. He seems to be the happiest man in the world. When we talk about afterlife, it is in less tangible terms than Heaven and Hell, God and Satan. We talk about the viability of a soul (another post in the working) and the possibility of an afterlife or the less glamorous rotting in the ground.
Given what he has had to do for his family, it's no surprise that at this point, he is the happiest man alive...again, more on that later.
When my brother was younger, about 7 years old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. My Dad was floored and desperate. Like many others in his predicament have in the past and most assuredly will in the future, he offered up a little prayer...something along these lines:
"God, I don't know what to do. My son has just been given a horrible diagnosis for a horrible disease. I don't know what kind of being you are but, if you will spare my son of this disease, I will give to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the rest of my life."
The second batch of test results came back revealing a really bad case of asthma coupled with some pretty serious allergies to airborne particles and a few other, not-so-terminal, problems...Which, coupled together I suppose gave a false positive, I'm a bit sketchy on the actual details of the tests. To this day, my Father still gives to that foundation, every year, and refuses to take the tax write-off that comes with it.
He won't come out and acknowledge that there was a mysterious man in the sky that instead of one horrific disease decided to give my brother a series of lesser afflictions. Deep down I believe that my Dad does not credit any of this to God. He jokes about it now saying things like, "Well I just have to hedge my bets."
I have a really hard time believing that my logical, reasonable, smart Father would believe in all of that junk. He likes doing all kinds of stuff with his church friends. He volunteers at a homeless shelter whenever he can. He mows the old ladies' grass. It seems that his least favorite thing about church is, well church. More than once he's told me how uncomfortable it makes him. Especially when the pastor starts talking about hell and how horrible it's punishments are just for not believing in Jesus.
Finally, he seems to be one of the very few people on this Earth who can put the religion question completely out of his mind. It's a trait that I envy. It seems that I am always thinking about religions and things of that nature. I say good for him. The man has never bought a single thing just for himself. He is the embodiment of selflessness.
It would be a far better world if their were more of him in it than people like me or James Dobson.
Tomorrow, hopefully, Mom's side!
P.S. Take your kids fishing. While we were up visiting, my lady went out doing wedding stuff and Dad and I sat on a pier and fished for five hours. We didn't catch anything but, it was another one of those father-son bonding moments that continue throughout our lives. It brought back floods of forgotten memories of all of the old fishing spots we would frequent. We weren't the only father-son team, either. Take Me Fishing
Yeah...bullshit. From that venerated news source OneNewsNow.com:
How cute. An evangelical saying that other evangelicals aren't doing anything wrong! It's about time those guys all banded together...a little solidarity is just what they needed.
The anti-Christian organization? It just so happens to be the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which I suppose is also anti-Jew, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-Wiccan, anti-Scientologist, anti-Pastafarian, anti-Zoroastrian, etc...They are the evil bastards representing Jeremy Hall.
The Chaplin is Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley and this guy is a piece of work. One measly week ago he appeared in another One News Now article lamenting the idea that US Army Officers can't speak freely about their faith which, to me, suggests that they try to proselytize...or at least, really, really want to. Chaplin Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley...I suppose he feels "muzzled" as well?
Lt. Tom explains claims of Army evangelism:
Now don't you all feel better?
No Proselytizing Seen In Military Leaders
An evangelical Army chaplain says he has seen no evidence to support the claims brought by an anti-Christian organization of a pattern of discrimination against non-Christians in the military.
How cute. An evangelical saying that other evangelicals aren't doing anything wrong! It's about time those guys all banded together...a little solidarity is just what they needed.
The anti-Christian organization? It just so happens to be the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which I suppose is also anti-Jew, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-Wiccan, anti-Scientologist, anti-Pastafarian, anti-Zoroastrian, etc...They are the evil bastards representing Jeremy Hall.
The Chaplin is Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley and this guy is a piece of work. One measly week ago he appeared in another One News Now article lamenting the idea that US Army Officers can't speak freely about their faith which, to me, suggests that they try to proselytize...or at least, really, really want to. Chaplin Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley...I suppose he feels "muzzled" as well?
Lt. Tom explains claims of Army evangelism:
"Say you have a fellow soldier who is a strong Christian -- they might give a fellow soldier a hard time who professes to be atheist or maybe a different faith group."
Now don't you all feel better?
Yeah...bullshit. From that venerated news source OneNewsNow.com:
How cute. An evangelical saying that other evangelicals aren't doing anything wrong! It's about time those guys all banded together...a little solidarity is just what they needed.
The anti-Christian organization? It just so happens to be the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which I suppose is also anti-Jew, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-Wiccan, anti-Scientologist, anti-Pastafarian, anti-Zoroastrian, etc...They are the evil bastards representing Jeremy Hall.
The Chaplin is Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley and this guy is a piece of work. One measly week ago he appeared in another One News Now article lamenting the idea that US Army Officers can't speak freely about their faith which, to me, suggests that they try to proselytize...or at least, really, really want to. Chaplin Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley...I suppose he feels "muzzled" as well?
Lt. Tom explains claims of Army evangelism:
Now don't you all feel better?
No Proselytizing Seen In Military Leaders
An evangelical Army chaplain says he has seen no evidence to support the claims brought by an anti-Christian organization of a pattern of discrimination against non-Christians in the military.
How cute. An evangelical saying that other evangelicals aren't doing anything wrong! It's about time those guys all banded together...a little solidarity is just what they needed.
The anti-Christian organization? It just so happens to be the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which I suppose is also anti-Jew, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-Wiccan, anti-Scientologist, anti-Pastafarian, anti-Zoroastrian, etc...They are the evil bastards representing Jeremy Hall.
The Chaplin is Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley and this guy is a piece of work. One measly week ago he appeared in another One News Now article lamenting the idea that US Army Officers can't speak freely about their faith which, to me, suggests that they try to proselytize...or at least, really, really want to. Chaplin Lt. Colonel Tom Wheatley...I suppose he feels "muzzled" as well?
Lt. Tom explains claims of Army evangelism:
"Say you have a fellow soldier who is a strong Christian -- they might give a fellow soldier a hard time who professes to be atheist or maybe a different faith group."
Now don't you all feel better?
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