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oraxx's avatar

It wasn't adultery so that makes what he did okay? As disgusting as they are, these things have lost their ability to shock. It's now more of an expectation. If people weren't so willing to delegate an important part of their thinking to the clergy, there would far fewer of these events to report on. People have been conditioned for centuries to believe organized religion is essential to their lives. It isn't, and it's hard to see how organized religion has contributed much of anything to human well-being.

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Runfastandwin's avatar

Impossible to see...

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Fred Mertz's avatar

Organized religion destroys lives.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

He delegated his 'thinking' to his little head.

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Jack Heresy's avatar

Colleges and hospitals. They don’t really build those anymore the past few centuries tho 🥴

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oraxx's avatar

Religious hospitals are for-profit.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Christopher Hitchens said it a long time ago, how astonishing the things that could be done by a person, were he only to add the title "Reverend" to his name. That sums up what has happened here with Johnny Hunt and his sexual depredations against the victim referred to in this article. What I continue to boggle at is the fact that the victim's husband didn't go to the police forthwith and file charges! Yes, of course, that would put both of them on the outs with Hunt's congregation, and it's almost certainly why they didn't. Then, naturally, Hunt goes through this "secret restoration process" and supposedly is in the clear until the SBC had the unmitigated nerve to mention his name in a report regarding sexual abuse in their organization. And of course, madness follows.

The fox continues to guard the chicken coop, as far as yours truly is concerned. It's long since been demonstrated that churches cannot effectively discipline their own personnel as it comes to issues such as this. Local and/or state law enforcement authorities must and should be engaged, indictments issued and trials conducted, if this aberrant behavior is to be stopped.

Do NOT hold your breath.

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Jane in NC's avatar

'Secret restoration' reminds of all the pedophile catholic priests who were sent 'on retreat for counseling' and then moved to another parish with a clean slate - and a new set of victims to exploit.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Pre-CISE-ly!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

There is mention of "counselling" between the aggressor, his victim and her husband. I guess third parties knew and pressured them into keeping silent or facing shunning or expulsion.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Under those circumstances, what thinking person would want to stay in such a rat-bag organization?

Yeah, I know, wrong phrase: "thinking person."

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Support system, the husband was a pastor himself. I can guess he didn't have a valuable diploma to rely onto, and his wife neither.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

That's the problem with theological degrees. They're worthless outside the organization.

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Julie Duggan's avatar

Correct. I just got done reading The Clergy Project. An anonymous platform for any clergy from any religion that no longer believe.....agnostic and atheist. Many stay preaching at the pulpit because there's nothing else they're qualified for..... starting a brand new secular career is too scary...... it's hard enough to admit to themselves that they no longer believe in god, but to admit that to family & friends and leave their entire congregation, many of them don't have the fortitude to follow thru, so they continue with the lie.

For those that did follow thru, they went back to college and moved into the secular world. And lived happily ever after.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

That's as it should be, though.

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Jack Heresy's avatar

I can’t imagine doing “”counseling”” with a man who assaulted my wife, or not immediately going to the police. Bro is cooked in the head.

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cdbunch's avatar

Given the bubble they were both likely raised in, it's possible they didn't recognize a crime had been committed. Just a sin.

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Shauna Voigt's avatar

I guarantee they placed majority of the blame on her for causing his actions.

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oraxx's avatar

My guess is, the husband was too brainwashed by religion to do the right thing for his wife.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I don't think so, otherwise he wouldn't have believed and supported her.

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Joanna Chen's avatar

I can think of multiple reasons why he didn't report it.

1. His wife was hurt, confused, and ashamed, and didn't want him to make the issue public due to the slut shaming that would most definitely occur afterwards.

2. The couple has a church of their own and could do without negative publicity.

3. Johnny Hurt is extremely powerful in the industry and is someone they don't want to cross.

4. The report would ruin SBC and therefore ruin "god's good work".

5. Everything happens for a reason, they're just not praying hard enough.

Fear of social retribution was probably the biggest pressure that kept them from saying anything. I was SA'd once, and the first thing that went through my mind was that nobody can know about it, because I was deathly afraid to be branded for the rest of my life, knowing how my very patriarchal and traditional community would react to a SA: it's always the woman's fault. It's not enough she ruined her own life, she had to ruin everyone else's.

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Psittacus Ebrius's avatar

Or was secretly watching.

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Psittacus Ebrius's avatar

Nothing short of castration for these predators. The authorities should have checked his computer during the investigation. I can only imagine what might have been found.

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Shauna Voigt's avatar

I don’t see how her husband didn’t put him 6ft under. My husband would have smiled in his mug shot afterwards.

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Old Man Shadow's avatar

I think everyone would be a lot safer if they went to drag shows instead of churches.

For what it's worth, I think their "souls" would be a lot better off too.

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Bill Wilson's avatar

Plus try those moves on a drag queen and the pastor will find their face undergoing a secret reorganization in the back alley.

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xenubarb's avatar

Death by stiletto heel...

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Bill Wilson's avatar

From one heel to another.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

That nearly worked in Colorado, to stop the crazy shooter.

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xenubarb's avatar

Only, drag shows are attracting a lot of crazy these days. Rabble outside the library doors, waving crucifixes and offensive signage.

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Straw's avatar

Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth. Again and again and again people who claim they are the watchers of morality seems to believe it does not count when the do the assaulting and raping. And they wonder why people stop being xian? It is astonishing.

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wreck's avatar

"Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt"

Was the breast fondling and kissing an "official act"? If so, he's in the clear, right?

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xenubarb's avatar

"At least it wasn't adultery."

At least it wasn't a little girl.

At least it wasn't a little boy.

Oh, well, that's alright then. Carry on...

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Once A Person's avatar

Exactly. I’m sure the current Supreme Court would also apply “presidential immunity” to this case. 🙄🤬

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Did nobody bring up that bit about Jesus telling people if you even think about a woman like that it's adultery? I mean, it's right out of their book!

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

There's also that 10th commandment about not coveting thy neighbor's wife, so Hunt's got problems with BOTH testaments!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Thank gawd his neighbor didn't have a donkey whose ass Hunt coveted.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

I think the donkey was still hanging with that gal from Ezekiel 23:20!

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xenubarb's avatar

Then again, it might just be having a nice conversation over hay with Balaam...

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Yeah ... pillow talk!

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

MyPillow talk?

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NOGODZ20's avatar

The one with thrusts like a stallion?

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

You can buy one of those at the Adam & Eve store. ;)

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NOGODZ20's avatar

I've seen those big, very realistic-looking appendages in some adult book stores locally. Ouch!

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

You mean there's ANOTHER one? 🤣

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Well, 23:20 does refer to multiple lovers, so... :)

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

That we know of...

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Ever hear of Pastor David Lloyd Walther? Last year he plead guilty to downloading/possessing not only SMBD porn, but also bestiality-themed child porn on his various electronics devices (one of which was a computer belonging to his church).

He got 6 years in prison and will get another 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Hunt DID say something about wanting to jump the victim three times a day. As a thought-crime, I'd say that qualifies!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Gives new meaning to "spray and pray."

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Ewwwww!

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NOGODZ20's avatar

A book they have little to no knowledge of. They should ask atheists.

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Tinker's avatar

"He was effectively blaming the SBC, which he led, for not doing enough to stop guys like him. "

This is Maga Christian in a nutshell. These nuts are flawed individuals who believe that everyone is just as flawed as they are and need to be reigned in by draconian laws. They know they can't force the rest of us to go to church but they can force their laws on us. But they don't really need to follow our laws because they go to church.

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ericc's avatar

Absolutely they want to impose their social rules on everyone. At the same time, they want deregulation of industry, no government oversight over businesses, and have Trump's "it's okay I didn't pay taxes because i used legal loopholes" attitude.

So it's not "want draconian laws", it's more "want draconian laws for you; complete freedom from law for me."

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Lynn Veit's avatar

And they think going to church excuses everything.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

🎯Which says a lot about their lack of critical thinking.

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Kay-El's avatar

The “secret restoration process” phrase makes me barf. There’s no such thing. It’s akin to a crystal waving loon saying “you’re cured” from disease.

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cdbunch's avatar

There's no restoration process, save the legal system, when you've committed a crime.

If it's not a crime, but you feel guilty about it, you need professional counseling, not some jackass shaman who may or may not be half-ass trained.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

NO crystals. Those are "pagan." Wooden crosses are what they use. Those are "holy."

/s

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Kay-El's avatar

I actually like crystals as an ornament, but I’m under no illusion they do anything other than look pretty

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

I once had a guy tell me he was a third level crystal wizard, and he was not referring to D & D.

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Jane in NC's avatar

Sexual assault is sexual assault regardless of whether it was adultery into the bargain. I don't give a damn about his transgressions against his wife, but sexual assault is a crime, and it should have been reported as such.

It's sad that women in patriarchal organizations like his feel so powerless they remain silent. But it's also possible this woman and her husband wanted to keep their own ministry, and any claim against a senior church leader would damage their reputation, not his.

Religion creates its own bizarro world.

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ericc's avatar

Yep. In fact I believe in most places nowadays adultery is not a crime, it's considered more a personal matter. So he's admitting to a crime to protect himself from the accusation of a non-crime.

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Jane in NC's avatar

Like I said, bizarro world....

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Which they want to inflict on the rest of us.

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Stephen Brady's avatar

Rapey old Christian men - and some others - consider women to be nothing but objects for their pleasure - chattel. And they wonder why they have an image problem. Taking advantage of someone over whom you have authority status is awful. In his bible, they stoned people to death for less...

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Honestly, I can't wait for the day when some twit like Hunt tries this on a woman, only to find himself on the floor on his face, her holding his arm in a hammerlock and calling to her husband, "Hon? CALL THE POLICE! This schmuck just tried to grope me!"

That's a pay-per-view event I'd sign up for in a New York Second!

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

It reminds a comic in an English textbook from the 90's. A thug try to steal an old woman's handbag. She threw him on the ground and left. Later, we saw her entering her elderly judo's club 😁

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

OR ... it could be like an incident between Tyrone and Gladys [gad, I hope this is available to you!]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGtR9t4_nS8

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

J'ai rien compris, except for "Of course, I do".

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Lynn Veit's avatar

The Tyrone character is a mumbler, so he doesn't enunciate his words very clearly, and he is the archetypal Dirty Old Man.

It's a play on words. "the hereafter" = the afterlife, heaven, etc.

"then you know what I'm here after" = then you know what I want (from you)"

As he approaches, he is saying, "Can I have a serious moment with you, please?" As Gladys moves further and further down the bench, he is saying "no...no...no..no...I just want to ask a question." and then sits next to her, much closer than she would like ,and says "Do you believe in the hereafter?"

Gladys replies: "Of course I do!"

Tyrone: "Then you know what I'm here after."

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Lynn Veit's avatar

I'd be right there with you. These smug asswipes who think they rule the roost and ought to rule the world because....they're CHRISTIAN, which automatically makes them better than everybody else....to see one of them getting a comeuppance like that....oh, that would do my heart a world of good.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

More like Christ stains.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Like the douchebag guy, who ever so casually grabs the waittreses ass as he walks by her standing, and counting reciepts or whatever. She put him on the floor. The restaurant cheered.

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xenubarb's avatar

This reads like a tv show, specifically, Netflix' Greenleaf.

The Greenleaf family runs a megachurch; and under the pious trappings seen by the public, there are things from the past hidden, a family member who has molested young girls for decades, and other things that would be called 'spoilers' if I wrote them out.

Daddy Bishop really, really wants his own jet, even though there's an audit looming. He claims gawd directs his every move and word, so he does what he wants because hey, who's gonna argue with gawd?

Crimes, infidelity, internal family problems are all hidden from the congregation. These are not good, godly people; it's all about the Benjamins with this bunch and they live fat; lovely antique furniture, a big mansion, tastefully expensive clothes and lotsa bling.

I'm at the point in the series where everything starts to slide sideways, the lord is about to yank the rug out from under them. (I hope!)

So I watch this show, and the next morning log in to find Friendly Atheist is basically telling the same damn story fo realz. Seems there has been a cluster of bad preachers being busted lately, to the point where two or three whole churches have shut down! Wild stuff, on tv and online! Same story, different venue. Wash, rinse, repeat.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Just had a look at a couple trailers for Greenleaf on YouTube. Looks like it's got some promise there. Might check out an episode, see if it works for me.

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Maltnothops's avatar

Maybe -- and I'm just speculating -- what seemed like consensual sex to him seemed that way because it's what his own marital sex was like with his wife. No resistance and a blank stare and hoping it ends ASAP.

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Jack Heresy's avatar

That’s exactly what I thought, on the tiiiiiny off chance this guy actually didn’t realize he was assaulting her, it’s because he’s literally never seen a woman have sexual agency

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Many so-called "christians" and or republicans, have this same issue, women are chattel to them so...that is why so many of the excoriated Bill Clinton for his consensual affairs. They don't 'do' consent.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

So what if Johnny Hunt has gone through a secret restorative process. What he did was criminal. Ain't no way in hell you're touching me like that ahole. Remove him. If he's doing that to women he will do it to minors.

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Runfastandwin's avatar

And there's always others. Always.

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EllenThatEllen's avatar

"Oh but I didn't have intercourse!" It's still assault punishable by prison.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Can you say, "Gross Sexual Imposition," boys and girls? I knew that you could! 😁

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Runfastandwin's avatar

yes

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Who are equally afraid to come out of the woodwork, at least until several others do. Many will simply block it from their minds.

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Runfastandwin's avatar

sadly and happily I guess

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ericc's avatar

Yep. Justice /= revenge and also /= victim restitution. What he did sounds like he was trying some sort of off the books restitution with the victim. That might work in Saudi, not so much here. I mean sure, he's allowed to pursue that on his own time. But it does not substitute for or prevent the state prosecutor from throwing the book at him.

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xenubarb's avatar

He'd be gargling his own eyeballs. I ain't touching those southern ball-shaped things. Not without pruning shears!

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Penny Briscoe's avatar

More "churchy" hypocrisy!! This is the number one reason I left, never to return. I'm a rape/dv survivor. Keep your churches!! Not interested in your lies, depravity and massively bloated hypocrisy.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

*hugs* if you want them.

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Penny Briscoe's avatar

Now I'm just a barefoot pagan. Lol ✨️🫶😎🤷‍♀️🙃💕

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Throw nudism into the mix and I’d sign up. (Nudist of a couple of decades here.

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Once A Person's avatar

I’m so thankful my parents raised me as a “heathen,” as my dad often called it. They were protecting me in more ways than one, and THIS is the biggest one. Please raise your children to just be kind to other human beings. That’s all the morality we need.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Fellow heathen here. Secular humanism seems like a good way to go, as well.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

Next up on the SBC Sex-Pest Shitshow: "No, really, it's okay! I have the receipt right here- see? Thirty shekels! I'm off the hook now!"

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