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Troublesh00ter's avatar

To those who posted that notice about forming a Christian militia, then retracting said post, I have a simple and blunt message:

π—ͺπ—˜ π—›π—˜π—”π—₯𝗗 𝗬𝗒𝗨 π—§π—›π—˜ π—™π—œπ—₯𝗦𝗧 π—§π—œπ— π—˜!

If you're going to be stupid enough to put up something as egregious as that in an environment where OTHER people are watching (some of them [us!] with rapt interest), you should fully expect to be called on your actions. A MILITIA? SERIOUSLY??? As fractious as our society is right now, such an action, indeed, even the SUGGESTION of it, can only be construed as potentially making it far more so.

I will currently admit to being quietly more than a little freaked out at the current political and social state of my homeland. This does NOT help!

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Sean's avatar

Same. Glad I'm not in the US anymore. I feel sorry for the people stuck in the dumpster fire.

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Holytape's avatar

Don't worry, our nuclear powered dumpster fire will now be able to reach every part of the world. As Uncle Sam once said, "Your problems are yours, and our problems are yours, too."

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Matri's avatar

The only thing they regret is being found out.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Bingo.

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cdbunch's avatar

I'm more than freaked out. I'm SCARED. Scared enough I want out now, while it's still possible. I know some think I should stay and fight, but I'm not healthy and my skill set requires a functioning infrastructure which is unlikely in a civil war. The likelihood is I'd be dead before the first week is out.

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Catherine R.'s avatar

Honestly, same here w/ being dead, quickly. I’d immediately lose access to the medical care I need to stay alive. But I’m far too sick to do a dang thing about it. So, I’m stuck. If you’re capable, get out while you still can.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

This militia had no intention of protecting the church in any way whatsoever. ( And why not include women too?) What it was going to do was "protect" trump and "protect"this country from the voters who did NOT vote for trump. Just having a "fake" ad in a church bulletin is giving other magas ideas. If trump doesn't get in-- I DO NOT WANT trump TO GET IN!!!! -- be on the lookout for these types of groups to just appear out of nowhere. That's one scary seed that ad.

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Sko Hayes's avatar

One of the things in Project 2025 is getting rid of "fake Christians", like Catholics, I assume.

So it won't take long for the infighting to begin, if Trump gets in.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Two things I am worried about. If ( hopefully) trump does not get in the magas will not be happy and if trump does get in? He will not want to leave.

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Sko Hayes's avatar

He'll never leave if he gets in.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

It won't be an insurrection then. It would be war. I do not want him in again. Our government is rapidly falling to pieces. How do some of these people like MTG get in?!?!?

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Sko Hayes's avatar

Because MAGAs like stupid assholes?

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Magas follow whoever tells them they are good, decent people. We all need to hear that but some people never hear that.

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Kim Meldahl's avatar

How did Boebert win her primary?

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Maltnothops's avatar

There were lots of candidates. She got 43% and the rest divided the majority Not Boebert vote.

It’s how Trump prevailed in the 2016 primaries. He didn’t crack 40% (going from memory) until near the end. That and the GOP rule that whoever gets more votes than anyone else in a primary gets the most delegates even if they didn’t get the most votes.

Ranked choice voting would make a big difference.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

She moved to the retired Ken Buck's district , the area is redder than a baboons ass, and ran against so many others, that split the vote. She was the best known, so she got enough of a percentage to win.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Video games s/

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Remember those stupid kids, who never paid attention in school? MTG moved to a district full of them.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

But his brain will. The decay from his dementia will continue until he no longer knows who he or anyone is. The one thing he can't stop or get vengeance on.

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Matri's avatar

Trump has already promised he’ll go full dictator on Day One. And dictators never leave office.

So we’ll need to call in a specialist.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2ea038861c1ecd139b8f8d1b8c85dc9b7eb3295f576d76385665e398dc491fd7.png

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

trump is saying that now?!? πŸ‘€

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Matri's avatar

Months ago.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

If any Democrat running for President pulled the sht trumps pulling now the republican'ts wouldn't allow it.

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Jason's avatar

The much better option is that he doesn't get in -- though I agree with you, it will still be very ugly. The unfortunate truth is, as long as Donald Trump draws breath things in America are going to keep getting uglier and uglier...perhaps even tearing down the democracy itself.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Trump wants to re-write the Constitution. trump wants everything his way. Someone has stated on here that he has said that he will be a dictator. Oh no he won't! My vote and yours Must matter more now. trump CAN NOT get in again!

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Jason's avatar

If Trump gets in, he's going to destroy America as we know it. He's going to install young new loyalist SCOTUS justices, flood the government with sycophantic loyalists, and use the military against the people, just to name a few. All of this is laid out in Project 2025.

If we don't stop Trump at the ballot box, America as we know it will be lost.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

It's so obvious to you and me what trump wants to do. Why isn't it obvious to others?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

and the age of the young men cuts off at 30.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

30. Huh yah. Wonder why that is. 30 is still young. Says me slightly older than 30. πŸ˜”

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Hank Long's avatar

So, instead of Opus Dei, this little bunch of local would-be soldiers will be called... Opie Duh?

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Gina's avatar

Just like Jesus taught. Turn the other cheek and grab an AR-15. Love one another as you hate yourself. Do not throw stones, throw insults, judgement and hate.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

They're not throwing stones, they're throwing bullets! Totally different! /s

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Gina's avatar

I thought I covered that with the AR-15 but yeah.

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XJC's avatar

https://Dictatorforadayshow.com

Jesus Was Born January 6!

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Except, the biblical quotes from one of the books, mention lambs in the fields which indicates spring.

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Jason's avatar

"I have not come to bring peace but an assault rifle with a bump stock, capable of killing 57 people without reloading."

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Old Man Shadow's avatar

Aside from what nonsense they rally around, there are no differences between fundamentalists of any religion.

Give them half an inch, and they'll try and take thousands of miles in a holy war.

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Julie Duggan's avatar

100% correct

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clairence's avatar

"there is no militia being formed"

Yet. Wait til later in the Summer, though.

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RegularJoe's avatar

It's not a gang, it's a club.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

A club that clubs you to death!

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Ooooo, a CLUB Club! Super! 😝

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Will they card their members ?

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

If they don't club them first! 😁

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CozmoTheMagician's avatar

Just don't put any mayo on my club. Other than that I look forward to my Club Club Club sandwich.

And hurry up before that army of Brits comes marching here shouting 'Spam'...

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Jason's avatar

Don't fire until you see the whites of their eggs.

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Jim Sanders's avatar

Sorry Joan. I saw your response after I posted mine. We were on same wavelength about the word club.

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

In Soviet Russia, club clubs you!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Clubs you with God's love.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Clubs don't have guns and aren't trained for war.

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xenubarb's avatar

Well... some motorcycle clubs are...

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Yah you're right. We don't have many of them in Massachusetts.

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XJC's avatar

Fight Club for Jesus.

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

First Rule: Never shut up about Jesus

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Hey, you're not supposed to talk about it.

(Wasn't the so-called Fight Club imaginary? Fits right in with almost every character in the bible)

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Jim Sanders's avatar

A club? Silly thought but didn’t primitive humans use clubs as weapons for killing?

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

Haha!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Some still do, with golf clubs.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

FORE!!!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

How should I putt it ? No entiendo, Troublesh00ter-ssi.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Maybe I should drive the point home! 😁

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

November.

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Elena Christian's avatar

My devout family members who attend a wealthy parish (reported on by the Friendly Atheist for different shenanigans) advised me quite casually that parish members are stocking up to be places of refuge (for other Catholics) when "the war comes". What war? They aren't really sure, but they are certain Catholics will be persecuted. I guarantee their priests are encouraging this.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

They're probably right that Catholics will be persecuted... thing is, it'll be by 𝘰𝘡𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳π˜ͺ𝘴𝘡π˜ͺ𝘒𝘯𝘴, if the wingnuts get the theocracy they so clearly want- the only thing a fundamentalist hates more than an atheist is a believer who isn't believing the right way.

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ericc's avatar

Yes exactly. It's bafflingly shortsighted that they work with evangelicals on getting conservatives elected and things like prayer in school, when the moment those evangelicals *get* prayer in school, they'll forbid Catholic prayers.

Alito, in particular, seems blind to this. A full on leopard-eating-faces believer. He passes the sectarian-religion-allowed-by-government laws that will be used to quash his sect.

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Jason's avatar

The Catholics are on the list for subjugation by Christian nationalists-- just a bit further down. Six of the nine Supreme Court justices are Catholic. Catholicism is currently the second-biggest religious group in America (22%), after Protestants (33%).

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Joan the Dork's avatar

"We regret that we let someone say the quiet part out loud."

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Religion of peace, indeed.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

FWIW, Christianity is "The Religion of Love." Islam is "The Religion of Peace."

A hearty guffaw to both those claims.

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xenubarb's avatar

Please, no guffawing over the carpets...

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Some big-time snickering, then?

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Jason's avatar

I thought it said "religion of peas", and I thought "Free food: I'm all for THAT belief system!" Seven years later I clawed myself out of the religious rabbit hole....

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xenubarb's avatar

Is there any reason to believe them when they say, "There is no militia?"

After all, they also say there's no abuse to children from priests, and we know THAT'S a lie!

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Maine Skeptic's avatar

'Is there any reason to believe them when they say, "There is no militia?"'

The fact that they apologized, thereby embarrassing the influential thug who put the ad forward, suggests the congregation will have no relationship with that person's militia. Either that, or there's a power struggle under way still, and the fascists haven't gained enough control to silence those with a conscience.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

That's possible, but I take a much darker view of that congregation. Churches and religion have ruined too many lives already.

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Matri's avatar

Their apologies always come too easily and are always empty. Their actions always run counter to the so-called β€œapologies”.

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Jason's avatar

Though I did notice that they didn't actually mention the culprit's name. Kept that bit of info nice and anonymous, they did. So really, how embarrassing could it have been for...what's his name, anyway...

But what about this: maybe they want us to THINK they want nothing to do with this guy...when in fact nothing could be further from the (awful) truth....

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Maine Skeptic's avatar

"So really, how embarrassing could it have been for...what's his name, anyway..."

Given how thin-skinned fascists are, it would be endlessly embarrassing to him that the church leadership slapped his hand, even if the general public never learns the culprit's name.

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Jason's avatar

"how thin-skinned fascists are"πŸ˜‚

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

With their record of lying for j-dude and protecting actual pedophiles? Not really.

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Whitney's avatar

One of the things my mother did for a number of years at the church she attended was create the newsletters and Sunday bulletin. It's not exactly what I'd call a fun job, but it's not horrendous with a little practice. With that in mind, I say this: Someone at Ascension knew. Sure, it's completely possible that they have most of the work done by a professional printer, but content would be entirely the church's call. Someone at Ascension knew about this ad, knew what it entailed, and had it printed and distributed regardless.

This article is just a reminder that, despite its protests of love and peaceful intentions, most Christians couch their religion in some form of militaristic terms. If I had a nickel for every time I heard a phrase like "put on the full armor of God" or "the sword of righteousness!" I would never need to work again. Open up the hymnals they use, and you'll see titles like "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Throw in an excessive persecution complex and a depressing amount of fearmongering for flavor, and it's honestly more of a surprise most churches don't have militias.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

NO full page ad goes unnoticed. Most are 1/6 page

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wreck's avatar

So that's what Mel Gibson has been up to.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Further Thought: The word, itself: MILITIA. For me, it conjures up all sorts of images, none of them good, certainly not in this day and age, and ESPECIALLY not in the light of January 6th, the Proud Boys and the Oathkeepers. Indeed, I doubt who ever created that ad could have chosen a more loaded word to describe their proposed organization.

Then, too, the choice of that word was likely quite purposeful. Question becomes: just WHAT was their real purpose?

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xenubarb's avatar

They're gonna teach them Latin? Dios mio!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

I learned Latin and Greek as an altar boy. You can see what a big impact that had on me. ;)

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

I took a Latin course my sophomore year in high school. If nothing else, it gave me a deeper appreciation of where MY language came from, which is really pretty neat.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

One year of mandatory Latin in 7th grade. Forgot all of it who wasn't part of modern French 🀣

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

I remember a LITTLE bit of the Latin I learned. I probably have considerably more of the German I took for three years in high school, plus one semester at Case, but then, I actually USED my German on the couple of times I did work in Germany.

Man muss ΓΌben seine Sprache!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

You may remember more Latin than you think. September (7th month), October (8th month), November, December. Ring a bell ? 🀣

Man must super spread ?

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

I do love Latin as it the basic building block of anatomical terms. It is the medical language of terminology.

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ericc's avatar

My immediate thought was that the author wants someone who can help him come up with a latin motto. Seriously, it's that amateurish. It has "one person with a printer" type effort written all over it.

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ericc's avatar

To recruit church members to their own private club.

It really seems ham-handed to me, so I'm guessing one dude with some money and who's friends with the church bulletin publisher.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Ham-handed, thumb-fingered, every metaphor which aims to describe the utter mismanagement of a situation should be brought to bear on this mess.

This was beyond stupid, and that they did it out in the open, even more so.

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Jason's avatar

Ham-handed, thumb-fingered, neck-bearded, block-headed, mouth-breathed, short-sighted, half-assed operation, to carry on your body metaphor theme...

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Lynn Veit's avatar

and who likes guns and power, and the idea of playing drill instructor with a bunch of eager beaver wannabe "soldiers."

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Wannabe Rambo's.

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Jason's avatar

I had a similar thought. Surefire way to strangle your project aborning: label it a "militia". That's arguably the worst word you could choose.

On second thought, wait: "death squad" might be even worse...

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XJC's avatar

Something Something Second Amendment.

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Stephen Brady's avatar

I guess we are to become a nation of private militias. The conservative catholics are in the tank with the talibangelicals but only for abortion. Otherwise there is nothing but pure enmity between the 2 groups - how very christian.

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Jim Sanders's avatar

An American version of the European Thirty Years War. Just think, after butchering each other for years they will probably have some peace talks where the men come together, drink a lot of beer and bourbon and celebrate their peace with each other by having some fun raping some women and killing some atheists, Jews, Buddhists, New Agers,Taoist, Mexicans, Blacks, Asians, Native Americans,Vegans or vegetarians in general, scientists, doctors, teachers, Democrats, homeless, people driving electric cars, anyone caught drinking oat or almond milk or fooβ€”foo French or California wines.

What a glorious way for Catholics and Protestants to bond. But I predict their peace will not last and they will go back to the good ole days of just killing each other. Maybe they will even televise all this so they can stand, wave their American flags and sing God Bless America with a tear in their eyes.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Thirty ? Make that 1500 plutΓ΄t, from Wisigoth Arians to 20th century Ireland.

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RegularJoe's avatar

Gott Mit Uns.

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xenubarb's avatar

Ouch!

I use that one a lot!

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Die Anyway's avatar

Or the earlier: "MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND"

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Richard Wade's avatar

Protect the Holy Eucharist? From what, the Great Replacement Theory of infernal Ritz Crackers?

Protect their congregation and clergy? From what, marauding hordes of the Nation of Nones, armed with the overwhelming power of disinterest and apathy?

Protect their church grounds? From what, the local deputy Sheriff who has to padlock the doors when the ungodly forces of unpaid creditors finally have the whole place foreclosed?

This country is infested with parochial paranoids who live in their fantasy religious version of "Red Dawn."

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Matri's avatar

Except that they’re the Reds. Talk about genre blindness.

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