Fewer than half of all Americans now claim any kind of religious affiliation, and yet somehow getting religion involved with government is going to fix the country's ills? The people who would break down the barriers between church and state always seem to operate under the assumption it will be their particular tribe calling the shots for everyone else. They should be imagining the tribe they hate most having control over their lives because that will definitely be someone's reality. Conservative religion and authoritarian government are natural allies. It is a symbiotic relationship that has dealt humanity nothing but misery.
What kills me is that believers are constantly saying that Jesus is the answer, yet I doubt they can point to a single instance where that "answer" actually WORKED!
I've long felt the staggering number of Christian denominations should be a far bigger problem for believers than it is. It speaks to a divine being who supposedly willed the universe into existence but when it came to the most important message imaginable, . . . couldn't make himself understood.
I arrived back at a UK airport last year, when there was a strike by some baggage handlers and, on disembarking, some folk were told to go home and their bags would be delivered the next day. Lo and behold, at the very moment of stepping towards the carousel,, my suitcase appeared, first one off my flight. 'Golly gosh,' said my fundy friend who asked about it, 'The lawd was really looking after you that day. I prayed for you.' I said I wished god would turn his attention to answering prayers to end wars and hunger. I'd happily have waited for my suitcase of dirty washing if he could get busy doing that instead. She added she always prayed for a parking space when driving and one that was a double empty slot as her spatial awareness is too bad for tight spaces - and he did that too for her. Hallelujah!
Lol, I knew someone who, when claiming a prayer answer, cos god 'always' found her a parking space, also said that when he didn't, that was still awesome - cos he knew she needed the exercise and, so parking the car a long way away was all part of his awesome care for her body. Yeah, more than once, when fundy, I prayed to find my lost spectacles....a miracle answer happened.....I found them, I'd put them on top of my head and forgotten they were there!
The conservatives have spent decades courting White Christian votes. They went into their churches and slowly replaced their idea of Jesus (whatever that be) with some sort of twisted version of masculinity, hatred, and narcissism that turns out is actually Donald Trump.
Their journey from theological conservatism to today is kinda like yesterday’s story about the young woman’s who went from Bible study to being sexually abused. If people could see only the beginning and the ending of those journeys but not all the intermediate steps, they wouldn’t believe it was really themselves at the end.
Indeed. Thing is, if a new Dark Ages were to befall the US, I would be dubious that such an event wouldn't impact those who think their bucks would insulate them from it.
These idiots can't think past their greed ... and that would COST THEM.
I thinking that the elite members of the Christian fascist movement should read up on the French Revolution, remember what happened to the aristocracy and the monarchy!
I've been thinking that very same thing for a while. The problem may be that too many Americans have been lulled into believing that nothing can be done, that the world proposed by Arthur Jensen of the movie, "Network" has actually come to pass, with "[a]ll necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused."
I don't think that has happened with most if not all of present company, but that brand of apathy does seem to be spreading.
No, I don't think we're there yet ... mostly because of us and people like us, who see what the Trump administration is doing and are actively fighting against their bullshit.
This is terrific news. It may also make up (somewhat) for Mitch McConnell's utter gaffe in putting Tony Perkins on that same commission! It is long past time that a strong advocate for State / Church separation was a part of it, especially considering the presence of people like Vicky Hartzler.
I fully expect the fur to fly in some of their meetings. Probably about time it did!
Republicans pander to the preachers while viewing human decency as a character flaw and something to be ashamed of. They do not want their religion in government because it is actually going to make the country better, but because of the authoritarianism of the institutional churches.
Ever see "The Comic?" Co-written, co-produced and directed by Carl Reiner. It a was a comedy-drama where DVD got to showcase his versitility by playing a hyper-talented schmuck.
A fave of mine with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl based on a children's novel by, of all people, Ian Fleming (Bond producer Cubby Broccoli was CCBBs producer. And Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe turns up).
I am proud of Chuck standing up for his principles in a situation that has little to no consequences, and nominating the correct person to a committee with little actual responsibilities.
A separate governmental commission re: international religious freedom isn't really necessary (that should be the purview of The State Department), but if there is going to be one, it's nice to see church-state supporters like Laser on it to balance out Christian Nationalist weirdos like Hartzler.
"Nearly 20,000 scientists with Chinese origins (judged by their names) departed America between 2010 and 2021, according to research by Yu Xie, a sociologist at Princeton University in New Jersey. They have been leaving for China at a faster rate since 2018 (see chart). That is the year that the Trump administration launched its China Initiative. This aimed to crack down on alleged technology theft by targeting researchers for suspected fraud, conspiracy or espionage. Nine in ten of the defendants were ethnically Chinese. Two-thirds of Chinese scientists leaving America went to China in 2021, compared with less than half in 2010. It is increasingly clear why. China’s spending on research and development has increased 16-fold, in real terms, since the start of the century. And the country has long-established programmes that shower returnee scientists with goodies."
They really do think that a potential rise in the national level of epidermal melanin is a graver national security threat than brain drain is- specifically, loss of access to, and influence over, promising young minds from abroad (and in particular those hailing from adversarial powers like China). Their thinking truly goes no deeper than "𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘳 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘦."
And, in the pursuit of creating their ideal white ethnostate, they've all but guaranteed that the future of global power rests with the very countries whose people they're so brick-shittingly afraid of diluting our precious bodily fluids or whatever.
"why not allow one man and two women or three women to marry?" Why not indeed?
"Why not allow a 50-year-old man to marry a 12-year-old girl if they love each other and they’re committed?" Er... isn't that legal in some conservative states? :)
Eta: From the article: "“The Department hosted a voluntary, nondenominational service. Employee participation was entirely optional, and work was not impacted. Those who weren’t interested simply continued their day as usual,” said spokesperson Courtney Parella."
How about the attendees time away from doing their actual jobs?
Fewer than half of all Americans now claim any kind of religious affiliation, and yet somehow getting religion involved with government is going to fix the country's ills? The people who would break down the barriers between church and state always seem to operate under the assumption it will be their particular tribe calling the shots for everyone else. They should be imagining the tribe they hate most having control over their lives because that will definitely be someone's reality. Conservative religion and authoritarian government are natural allies. It is a symbiotic relationship that has dealt humanity nothing but misery.
What kills me is that believers are constantly saying that Jesus is the answer, yet I doubt they can point to a single instance where that "answer" actually WORKED!
Come now, just the other day I pointed out that Jesus was the answer to the question about why I had so little sex as a teen. Bastard!
All those begats kinda turned me on. : )
"Get over yourself" got to love the apologetic dogma from all sides.
In God We Trust?
Lousy answer!
"What kills me is that believers are constantly saying that Jesus is the answer"
Nope, "Jesus" is the question, the answer is, "No".
Stupid question!
To say nothing of the fact Christianity is the most factionalized religion on the planet.
And that’s a fact.
I've long felt the staggering number of Christian denominations should be a far bigger problem for believers than it is. It speaks to a divine being who supposedly willed the universe into existence but when it came to the most important message imaginable, . . . couldn't make himself understood.
I arrived back at a UK airport last year, when there was a strike by some baggage handlers and, on disembarking, some folk were told to go home and their bags would be delivered the next day. Lo and behold, at the very moment of stepping towards the carousel,, my suitcase appeared, first one off my flight. 'Golly gosh,' said my fundy friend who asked about it, 'The lawd was really looking after you that day. I prayed for you.' I said I wished god would turn his attention to answering prayers to end wars and hunger. I'd happily have waited for my suitcase of dirty washing if he could get busy doing that instead. She added she always prayed for a parking space when driving and one that was a double empty slot as her spatial awareness is too bad for tight spaces - and he did that too for her. Hallelujah!
Amazing how god can look after luggage and find parking, but not starving children.
Holy shit! Before I even finished reading about your luggage, I was thinking about the parking problem. Lo & behold! I'm a prophet.
Send me £19.95 for your very own polyester praAAAAaayer handkerchief.
Lol, I knew someone who, when claiming a prayer answer, cos god 'always' found her a parking space, also said that when he didn't, that was still awesome - cos he knew she needed the exercise and, so parking the car a long way away was all part of his awesome care for her body. Yeah, more than once, when fundy, I prayed to find my lost spectacles....a miracle answer happened.....I found them, I'd put them on top of my head and forgotten they were there!
lol!
I just park where there is no charge and walk. I spend the money on a latte instead and I get exercise.
"Who does your lawn?"
The conservatives have spent decades courting White Christian votes. They went into their churches and slowly replaced their idea of Jesus (whatever that be) with some sort of twisted version of masculinity, hatred, and narcissism that turns out is actually Donald Trump.
Their journey from theological conservatism to today is kinda like yesterday’s story about the young woman’s who went from Bible study to being sexually abused. If people could see only the beginning and the ending of those journeys but not all the intermediate steps, they wouldn’t believe it was really themselves at the end.
Maybe a flip book of the transformation would be helpful.
Reagan married the republican party to the christian right.
Tribalism and primitive, backwards, thinking may be the death of us all.
Being a christian is like* being in an abusive relationship, there's comfort to be found in the familiar. Those "ills" are familiar.
I agree they should imagine other christians in charge of the gov't, but your thought experiment fails, because they have no thought.
* Okay, there is no "like" about it, it's the same as.
"half of all Americans" In the United states one of 35 American countries in a land mass named America, all are Americans.
God Bless America?
Indeed. Thing is, if a new Dark Ages were to befall the US, I would be dubious that such an event wouldn't impact those who think their bucks would insulate them from it.
These idiots can't think past their greed ... and that would COST THEM.
I thinking that the elite members of the Christian fascist movement should read up on the French Revolution, remember what happened to the aristocracy and the monarchy!
I've been thinking that very same thing for a while. The problem may be that too many Americans have been lulled into believing that nothing can be done, that the world proposed by Arthur Jensen of the movie, "Network" has actually come to pass, with "[a]ll necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused."
I don't think that has happened with most if not all of present company, but that brand of apathy does seem to be spreading.
Excellent film. I think we’re at the, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it” part.
If? We're not there?
No, I don't think we're there yet ... mostly because of us and people like us, who see what the Trump administration is doing and are actively fighting against their bullshit.
This is terrific news. It may also make up (somewhat) for Mitch McConnell's utter gaffe in putting Tony Perkins on that same commission! It is long past time that a strong advocate for State / Church separation was a part of it, especially considering the presence of people like Vicky Hartzler.
I fully expect the fur to fly in some of their meetings. Probably about time it did!
Republicans pander to the preachers while viewing human decency as a character flaw and something to be ashamed of. They do not want their religion in government because it is actually going to make the country better, but because of the authoritarianism of the institutional churches.
<---
"Why not allow a 50-year-old man to marry a 12-year-old girl if they love each other and they’re committed?"
Ahem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriage_in_the_United_States
"Why not allow an uncle to marry his niece?"
If they are not blood related, is it really a problem ? One of my sperm donor's cousin dated his aunt. Both were widowed and around the same age.
I am now waiting for nase* johnsans and drumpster to have a tantrum and trying, illegally, to have her fired.
*Shitty/good for nothing.
My parents was cousins, as in dad's father and mama's mother was siblings. Both of them had heart and blood clough problems. As do my brother and me.
https://ibb.co/rr1ZnMD
That's the reason why churches don't understand it. The word written on the other side of the fence is "noitarapes".
Hartzler: "...Jesus loves them, and has a plan and purpose for their life."
Years ago I realized that Jesus had a plan and purpose for my life.... to be a radical atheist who opposed religion, especially Christianity.
Thank you, Jesus.
OT
Dick Van Dyke turns a spry 100 today.
Dick is just astonishing in his energy, his vitality, and especially his attitude. I wish him very well, indeed!
Ever see "The Comic?" Co-written, co-produced and directed by Carl Reiner. It a was a comedy-drama where DVD got to showcase his versitility by playing a hyper-talented schmuck.
Eva Marie Saint is 101.
If you appear in television and movies and have three words in your name, you get to make it to at least 100. It's just a fact, man.
🎆Chitty Chitty Bang Bang🎆
A fave of mine with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl based on a children's novel by, of all people, Ian Fleming (Bond producer Cubby Broccoli was CCBBs producer. And Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe turns up).
I used that factoid to win a trivia contest. They couldn't believe that Fleming, Ian Fleming, wrote 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝐵𝑎𝑛𝑔.
I am proud of Chuck standing up for his principles in a situation that has little to no consequences, and nominating the correct person to a committee with little actual responsibilities.
Don’t hide your light under a basket.
A simple solution to simple problems:
Don't like chocolate? Then don't YOU eat it.
Don't like Bavarian Creme doughnuts? Then don't YOU eat them.
Don't like abortion? Then don't YOU have any.
Don't like gay marriage? Then don't YOU marry a gay person.
You cannot & shouldn't even try to tell others what to do.
You see how easy it is? The key word is YOU. YOU don't. And leave EVERYONE ELSE alone.
Mind YOUR own business, not other's.
They need to follow Matthew 18:9
OT
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f9bbcb644930458585481a3f5ca82d903a514a9988a6788169c59682a77100d6.png
Trump didn't marry her for her dazzling intellect, that's for sure.
If not intellect and not body, what else is left?
The second wife had aged out.
Does she come from a wealthy family? If so that is the reason!
A separate governmental commission re: international religious freedom isn't really necessary (that should be the purview of The State Department), but if there is going to be one, it's nice to see church-state supporters like Laser on it to balance out Christian Nationalist weirdos like Hartzler.
OT
"Nearly 20,000 scientists with Chinese origins (judged by their names) departed America between 2010 and 2021, according to research by Yu Xie, a sociologist at Princeton University in New Jersey. They have been leaving for China at a faster rate since 2018 (see chart). That is the year that the Trump administration launched its China Initiative. This aimed to crack down on alleged technology theft by targeting researchers for suspected fraud, conspiracy or espionage. Nine in ten of the defendants were ethnically Chinese. Two-thirds of Chinese scientists leaving America went to China in 2021, compared with less than half in 2010. It is increasingly clear why. China’s spending on research and development has increased 16-fold, in real terms, since the start of the century. And the country has long-established programmes that shower returnee scientists with goodies."
They really do think that a potential rise in the national level of epidermal melanin is a graver national security threat than brain drain is- specifically, loss of access to, and influence over, promising young minds from abroad (and in particular those hailing from adversarial powers like China). Their thinking truly goes no deeper than "𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘳 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘳 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘦."
And, in the pursuit of creating their ideal white ethnostate, they've all but guaranteed that the future of global power rests with the very countries whose people they're so brick-shittingly afraid of diluting our precious bodily fluids or whatever.
Jina
Just what Trump’s boss wanted!
"why not allow one man and two women or three women to marry?" Why not indeed?
"Why not allow a 50-year-old man to marry a 12-year-old girl if they love each other and they’re committed?" Er... isn't that legal in some conservative states? :)
And they spare no effort keeping it that way, whenever an attempt is made to end the hideous practice.
Meanwhile, in another part of Washington DC;
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/department-of-labor-hosts-first-ever-prayer-service-including-a-message-from-a-right-wing-rabbi/ar-AA1SfqVM?
Eta: From the article: "“The Department hosted a voluntary, nondenominational service. Employee participation was entirely optional, and work was not impacted. Those who weren’t interested simply continued their day as usual,” said spokesperson Courtney Parella."
How about the attendees time away from doing their actual jobs?
That caught my eye too. That tells me those employees might not be DOL’s best.
Best liars. Nope, I take that back. They're not even good ay lying.
"Church-state sep-a-whatnow?"
The USA should be on the "countries of particular concern" list.
OT: Tomorrows high -1F (-17.2C). I think I might skip my regular Sunday morning trip to McDonalds.
Eta; Insert where needed. ' , '
I appreciate the double F and C numbers, Thankyou.
Tomorrow's high is 77°/25° and a low of 53°/12°.
Thankyou to you, too, for using both F and C, it is appreciated.
only the best people Trump says.
https://www.citybeat.com/news/cincinnati-ice-leader-accused-of-strangling-woman-held-on-400k-bond/
His boss killed a dog.
Oh dear – so many jokes fighting to get out.
you are not wrong. Kristi Noem killed her 14th month old wirehair pointer wirehair Cricket
I deleted my idiocy. This day has not gone well.
Boebert was accused of shooting a dog. Turns out she didn't do it.
https://www.denverpost.com/2022/10/18/lauren-boebert-shoot-dog-fact-check-goats/
I was talking about head of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. She killed her own dog.
I know mugshots aren't designed to make people look good, but Jesus Christ!
I don't think it looks like JC at all. ; )
Maybe that’s why ICE goons wear masks.