'Samaritan's Purse' is Franklin Graham's charity. He only pays himself a million dollars a year for running it. His mobile field hospital was kicked out of Central Park during the Covid pandemic because they refused to treat gay people. No religious institution should get one cent of pubic money for any reason.
When I was a kid the Catholic nuns ran a clinic that provided the only health care many of my neighbors could access and having earlier seen a neighbor who had his stitches ripped out by local doctor when they didn’t have enough cash to pay, I was initially appreciative of the religious who would care for the poor when no one else would. By the time I was a teenager I recognized the problem as one that could be solved if health were a right not a privilege and argued for single payer before it had a name and long before it came to be rebranded as Medicare for All. Nuns, pastors, etc can absolutely be healthcare providers but as employees of a secular institution where the decisions are not colored by religious beliefs but by what’s medically proven. And if they try to inject religious beliefs into healthcare decisions they should be disciplined by HR and, if necessary fired, for failing to uphold their duty to the patient.
'having earlier seen a neighbor who had his stitches ripped out by local doctor when they didn’t have enough cash to pay"
😲😲😲😲😲
Jesus Fucking Christ onna Harley, I hope that "doctor" was reported to AMA. That is a clear and egregious violation of the Hyppocratic Oath ("First, do no harm") and every medical ethics system I am aware of. That sadistic bastard should have had his license revoked.
Yes, I helped and later organised the Shoebox appeal in my area for some years, filling many 100s of boxes. Then I read that the mission put tracts in them, telling islamic kids in particular to send in the reply form to get more info in how to come-to-jesus. This came from a FOI request and initially the odious FG lied about those tracts. In Wales, we all decided to send our boxes via another mission that didn't add tracts to boxes. And I petitioned our government to ban him from the UK. He was slated to hold big old fashioned gospel rallys in 6 venues. They cancelled his bookings when it was shown he was a horrible homophobe. Covid19 struck at that point so he never came. And yes, the $1m salary was made public around then!
When the Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," I'm pretty sure it also means that Congress shall make no law giving money to any form of religion. This includes Lance Wallnau and his organization. Trump, of course, is quite happy to ignore the Constitution anytime he feels as though it's inconvenient for him.
Trump and Wallnau both need to be reminded that this is not the case.
It’s basically fraud. You and I both know that religion is just a scam to get vulnerable people to accept the fact that the higher-ups (wealthy) will always run the show and they will always be the peons who get to pay for it.
I can't think of a single time Jesus prioritized converting someone. Plenty of times he met the needs of the people he met.
In particular, I'm reminded of the story of the Roman centurion who's slave (or lover) was sick and near death and he sent for Jesus asking to heal him. Jesus never said a word the man about his religion. He just healed the slave (or lover).
These assholes just want money and power. Helping others is a means or a ruse for men like Wallnau to try and acquire both.
For them, helping others is transactional. To get their help, you have to jump through their hoops. None of them will help just because help is needed. That's why the NSGOP is trying to force disabled people to work if they want Medicaid and SNAP.
Even as a young child I questioned the motivation of Christians “good works”. If you are doing it for your God (who is this guy?) or to get yourself into heaven, why should I trust you or your intentions?
All I need to do is walk through the local small-town cemetery, filled with 200 years of my family.
And every grave in competition with EVERY other grave to have the biggest and fanciest headstone, in order to be remembered FOREVER in a place that "supposedly" has no meaning other than as a stepping-stone to Heaven.
Nothing screams "rich white Jesus" much louder than that.
You make great points in your comment. There’s just one glaring flaw, that the story of Jesus is a concocted fairytale. Christianity, just like the Jesus story, was invented by the Council of Nicea from 312-325 CE.
You can find this accurate information on the web.
While using that money for proselytizing instead of helping is part of it, Wallnau gives the game away here. Transfer massive amounts of government money directly to (his) churches. He's not satisfied with the direct donations from people who believe the way he does, he wants a cut of 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 money.
"... Throughout my history leading Samaritan’s Purse, we have always relied on God, not government, for funding. ... "
Well maybe The Donald could personally send them 2 billion dollars from his own personal fortune - no strings attached - rather than it coming from any government funds.
If they want to be a good friend, then conversion is not required. Friendship with ulterior motives is at best being a bad friend, and at worst predatory, but what else can we expect from the original predators?
The mask is off. They don’t have to pretend any longer that they are doing good work for humanity’s sake, but only in order to force desperate people to comply.
What a disgusting excuse for a human being. No one is getting saved or healed by Christians anywhere.
Although USAID probably needed reform and was somewhat (was) imperialistic in its nature, DOES NOT change the fact that the cuts from Elon and Big Balls will lead to MILLIONS and MILLIONS of deaths around the globe thanks to this Pro-death cult!
At this point, Trump is actually doing everyone a favor. Whatever old skeletons in the closet the USA has, from recent history of their empire, is coming right out, especially considering the history of evangelism with US statecraft (much like how deeply intertwined Christianity was in the colonial times! There is a reason people say we live in a post-colonial neo-colonial world even if people are against historical colonization!) in so-called 'developing nations' like in Latin America, India, and elsewhere.....
I would deeply appreciate an analysis of this from a long-term viewpoint from someone who actually knows the subject better than I do. We are truly facing the calm before the storm, especially since the Christian Nationalists are only pushing the goalposts more and more. Suffice to say, if their vision of USA does get fulfilled, I fully expect both domestic and foreign backlash from this......
I am a firm believer in the holiness of money. I am an Alpha Omega kind of a guy not an alpha Beta kind of a guy. And certainly not a palindromic Alpha Beta.
'Samaritan's Purse' is Franklin Graham's charity. He only pays himself a million dollars a year for running it. His mobile field hospital was kicked out of Central Park during the Covid pandemic because they refused to treat gay people. No religious institution should get one cent of pubic money for any reason.
When I was a kid the Catholic nuns ran a clinic that provided the only health care many of my neighbors could access and having earlier seen a neighbor who had his stitches ripped out by local doctor when they didn’t have enough cash to pay, I was initially appreciative of the religious who would care for the poor when no one else would. By the time I was a teenager I recognized the problem as one that could be solved if health were a right not a privilege and argued for single payer before it had a name and long before it came to be rebranded as Medicare for All. Nuns, pastors, etc can absolutely be healthcare providers but as employees of a secular institution where the decisions are not colored by religious beliefs but by what’s medically proven. And if they try to inject religious beliefs into healthcare decisions they should be disciplined by HR and, if necessary fired, for failing to uphold their duty to the patient.
'having earlier seen a neighbor who had his stitches ripped out by local doctor when they didn’t have enough cash to pay"
😲😲😲😲😲
Jesus Fucking Christ onna Harley, I hope that "doctor" was reported to AMA. That is a clear and egregious violation of the Hyppocratic Oath ("First, do no harm") and every medical ethics system I am aware of. That sadistic bastard should have had his license revoked.
Yes, I helped and later organised the Shoebox appeal in my area for some years, filling many 100s of boxes. Then I read that the mission put tracts in them, telling islamic kids in particular to send in the reply form to get more info in how to come-to-jesus. This came from a FOI request and initially the odious FG lied about those tracts. In Wales, we all decided to send our boxes via another mission that didn't add tracts to boxes. And I petitioned our government to ban him from the UK. He was slated to hold big old fashioned gospel rallys in 6 venues. They cancelled his bookings when it was shown he was a horrible homophobe. Covid19 struck at that point so he never came. And yes, the $1m salary was made public around then!
When the Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," I'm pretty sure it also means that Congress shall make no law giving money to any form of religion. This includes Lance Wallnau and his organization. Trump, of course, is quite happy to ignore the Constitution anytime he feels as though it's inconvenient for him.
Trump and Wallnau both need to be reminded that this is not the case.
It’s basically fraud. You and I both know that religion is just a scam to get vulnerable people to accept the fact that the higher-ups (wealthy) will always run the show and they will always be the peons who get to pay for it.
It’s a feudal system at its onset.
I can't think of a single time Jesus prioritized converting someone. Plenty of times he met the needs of the people he met.
In particular, I'm reminded of the story of the Roman centurion who's slave (or lover) was sick and near death and he sent for Jesus asking to heal him. Jesus never said a word the man about his religion. He just healed the slave (or lover).
These assholes just want money and power. Helping others is a means or a ruse for men like Wallnau to try and acquire both.
For them, helping others is transactional. To get their help, you have to jump through their hoops. None of them will help just because help is needed. That's why the NSGOP is trying to force disabled people to work if they want Medicaid and SNAP.
Even as a young child I questioned the motivation of Christians “good works”. If you are doing it for your God (who is this guy?) or to get yourself into heaven, why should I trust you or your intentions?
Yep!
I always wondered what happened when a prayer of mine didn't fit the divine plan. Would that prayer of mine SURPRISE God?
All I need to do is walk through the local small-town cemetery, filled with 200 years of my family.
And every grave in competition with EVERY other grave to have the biggest and fanciest headstone, in order to be remembered FOREVER in a place that "supposedly" has no meaning other than as a stepping-stone to Heaven.
Nothing screams "rich white Jesus" much louder than that.
You make great points in your comment. There’s just one glaring flaw, that the story of Jesus is a concocted fairytale. Christianity, just like the Jesus story, was invented by the Council of Nicea from 312-325 CE.
You can find this accurate information on the web.
God needs a new advertising crew. Millions if not billions are spent every year, but membership is steadily going down.
Which is likely why Wallnau wants to suck on the government tit so badly. He needs to have his paddywhackers slapped and be firmly told, NO!!!"
"𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 $1 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ..."
While using that money for proselytizing instead of helping is part of it, Wallnau gives the game away here. Transfer massive amounts of government money directly to (his) churches. He's not satisfied with the direct donations from people who believe the way he does, he wants a cut of 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 money.
OT: long day of travel ahead. Vancouver to San Fran to DC and then a nearly hour drive home.
And then, for reasons that passeth understanding, I drive my bride to her hair salon for an 8 AM appt tomorrow.
Pray for me!
May your travels be safe. Ramen!
The train trip across is supposed to be spectacular. It’s on my bucket list. More expensive though.
That's a lot of driving for one day.
Let's look at the term "faith based".
"Faith" is a hope, a dream a belief someone chooses to wish to hope for.
"Based" means that it has "some" connection, however tenuous.
So "faith based" means "a hope of a dream with no strong connection to reality."
Tell me I'm WRONG, and then "love me or leave me and let me be lonely, MAGA!"
"... Throughout my history leading Samaritan’s Purse, we have always relied on God, not government, for funding. ... "
Well maybe The Donald could personally send them 2 billion dollars from his own personal fortune - no strings attached - rather than it coming from any government funds.
https://ibb.co/3m47Z0Ln
It's a cult....
Why do I get the feeling Trump is HAPPY that those 18 military personnel died...for HIM!!!
It's a cult.
“You can befriend anyone that you're helping and these people are getting saved by the thousands because of Christians reaching out to help them."
Wallnau is confused about what friendship entails, what befriending means. I mean, when has befriending required religious conversion?
If they want to be a good friend, then conversion is not required. Friendship with ulterior motives is at best being a bad friend, and at worst predatory, but what else can we expect from the original predators?
The mask is off. They don’t have to pretend any longer that they are doing good work for humanity’s sake, but only in order to force desperate people to comply.
From white savior to white supremacist timeline.
"... Throughout my history leading Samaritan’s Purse, we have always relied on God, not government, for funding. ... "
Except for all the times when god provided funding through the government. All those don’t valuing because… reasons.
What a disgusting excuse for a human being. No one is getting saved or healed by Christians anywhere.
Although USAID probably needed reform and was somewhat (was) imperialistic in its nature, DOES NOT change the fact that the cuts from Elon and Big Balls will lead to MILLIONS and MILLIONS of deaths around the globe thanks to this Pro-death cult!
At this point, Trump is actually doing everyone a favor. Whatever old skeletons in the closet the USA has, from recent history of their empire, is coming right out, especially considering the history of evangelism with US statecraft (much like how deeply intertwined Christianity was in the colonial times! There is a reason people say we live in a post-colonial neo-colonial world even if people are against historical colonization!) in so-called 'developing nations' like in Latin America, India, and elsewhere.....
I would deeply appreciate an analysis of this from a long-term viewpoint from someone who actually knows the subject better than I do. We are truly facing the calm before the storm, especially since the Christian Nationalists are only pushing the goalposts more and more. Suffice to say, if their vision of USA does get fulfilled, I fully expect both domestic and foreign backlash from this......
Sung to the tune of the hallelujah chorus from Handel‘s Messiah:
Money, money!
Money, money!
MOney money!
money Money!
Muh-uh-uh-uh-MUNEY!
Abba not good enough for you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0
I am a firm believer in the holiness of money. I am an Alpha Omega kind of a guy not an alpha Beta kind of a guy. And certainly not a palindromic Alpha Beta.
I'm a Upsilon.
Hmph. I guess I'm an Alfa Bravo Charlie Delta kinda guy ... but then, I always liked the NATO phonetic alphabet! 😁
Oscar
Hotel
Foxtrot
Uniform
Charlie
Kilo
Tango
Hotel
Echo
November
Alfa
November
November
Yankee
Bravo
Oscar
Tango
No, it fũcks you.
Funny how a great load of the folks they abandoned in Africa *already are Christians*! 🙄 or are they the ‘wrong kind’ (Catholic? Not culty enough?)
It’s really disgusting, isn’t it?