The Father of Christian Predator Josh Duggar is Running for Office on a "Pro-Family" Platform
The scary thing? He could win.
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In unusually good news from the Supreme Court (enjoy these while you can), the justices voted 6-3 last week against blocking Maine’s vaccine mandate for health care workers. It was a sensible decision that could easily have gone the other way, given the reasoning two of the conservatives used to justify their decision. Three of the justices argued that the religious workers had every right to potentially spread the virus while keeping their jobs.
If the thing you’re most famous for is being the father to one of the most famous child molesters in the country, maybe you should rethink running for state legislature on a platform of family values. But since Jim Bob Duggar hasn’t hired me as a consultant, he’s announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate.
The scary thing is he could win. He’s been in office before (in the Arkansas House), no one denies his Trump-y conservatism, and he’ll be able to ride the coattails of Sarah Huckabee Sanders (who could become the next governor) on the same ballot.
So this is what Hell is like.Take a minute and listen to preacher Jerry Savelle brag about how he bought a private plane thanks to seed money he’s been metaphorically been planting for 20 years… by donating to the ministries of his buddies like fellow jet-enthusiast Kenneth Copeland.
Savelle doesn’t mention to the crowd that this is actually his tenth private plane. All this to avoid a long tube with a bunch of demons…
If I ever get profiled by a national news outlet because I’m writing a book about the evolution of flight, and they ask me to pose like a crucified Jesus because I’m also an atheist, please remind me that’s a really dumb idea because I’m not really being persecuted by anyone.
No one gave Richard Dawkins the memo.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Dawkins also insisted there’s a scientific definition of women that excludes trans women, but if you want to redefine the word outside the realm of science, then fine, he’ll go ahead and say trans women are women. As if he’s doing them a favor.
I got plenty of shit on Twitter for criticizing that approach. While I can always work on explaining myself better, my concern here is that Dawkins is basically rationalizing anti-trans bigotry. He’s giving people an out to say See? Trans women aren’t women, and I can say that because I’m a reasonable person who accepts science! Dawkins doesn’t acknowledge that there are nuances even in the “scientific” view explained really well in this piece in Scientific American:
”… the science is clear and conclusive: sex is not binary, transgender people are real. It is time that we acknowledge this. Defining a person’s sex identity using decontextualized ‘facts’ is unscientific and dehumanizing.”
Dawkins also seems blissfully ignorant of how his rhetoric could be latched upon by religious bigots who want to use his argument to push for policies that harm trans people. He just doesn’t care.On a similar note, a hate-preacher is using comedian Dave Chappelle’s latest special, which has come under fire for its lazy anti-trans “humor,” to justify his own bigotry.
I sometimes get asked what atheist organizations even do these days since their work is often outside a spotlight. Here’s a great example: Lawyers representing five different atheist and church/state separation groups helped write three separate amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to uphold a law in Maine that prohibits taxpayer money from funding religious schools. The topic is complicated, but the arguments they use are straightforward and come directly from the Constitution and legal precedents.
Congratulations, Canada: You’re less religious than ever. According to Statistics Canada, the national statistical office for the nation, “it’s the first time that fewer than [70%] of Canadians reported being religiously affiliated since StatCan began tracking the data in 1985.”
I’m all for criticizing the Catholic Church, but this is just lazy…
If a psychic thinks you actually believe the lie they’re selling, they could very well try to hit you up for more cash. And if they’re particularly awful, they could trick you into thinking you suffer from a curse that only they can cure… for over $50,000. At least Andres Pena Meneses (a.k.a. “Carlos”) was arrested for fraud.
On a related note, a Christian radio host was sentenced to 30 years in prison for scamming elderly Christians into giving him millions of dollars for his Ponzi scheme.
The craziest part of the story? William Neil “Doc” Gallagher was handed a separate 25-year sentence last year in a different Texas county. Whatever the case, he’ll likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
I know how much you all enjoy Sunday School:
A new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) finds that white evangelical Christians wish they lived in a Christian-only bubble. And, listen, I wish they did too.
White evangelicals were also found to be anti-immigration, pro-MAGA, more likely to support violence to “save” the country from liberals, and more likely to accept QAnon. This isn’t just about religion. This is about a group of gullible white conservatives, under an umbrella of Christianity, who are united by a variety of conspiracy theories and ways to make life worse for people who don’t share their views.
As I’ve said so many times before, none of this will change unless younger evangelicals walk out of churches that support or are silent about Trumpism… or unless pastors begin speaking out against MAGA cultists in their midst.What do you do if your city council keeps saying Christian prayers at meetings? In Pinal County, AZ, a Satanist decided to say something about it:
Some Christians cannot handle Halloween. Or other human beings.
While we’re at it, I made a video all about how being a white evangelical these days is basically a sign that you worship Trump, not Jesus. The data supports that theory, too.
Listen If you’re arrested for trying to solicit sex from a minor, don’t preach from the pulpit days later as if nothing at all happened. Because that’s gonna be very awkward the next day when your mugshot is all over the place. And if you’re going to do that, you should REALLY HOPE you weren’t accused of sexual assault by your former assistant years earlier — allegations that the church completely ignored. Because that would look very, very bad.
The Wirecutter really needs to publish this piece.
I made a video about how being "evangelical" has basically become synonymous with being a Trump supporter. Check it out!
We lost an atheist icon this week. Bobbie Kirkhart was a longtime activist and mainstay in Los Angeles who dedicated her life to church/state separation and building atheist communities. I wrote more about her here, but if nothing else, please check out the speech she gave at the 2002 “Godless Americans March on Washington.”
“Our secular world belongs to all of humanity. In it, we can make contracts, cure diseases, and settle disputes peacefully. Without a secular arena, none of these things would be possible. And if the gods truly ruled, none of these things would be necessary. While others believe truth is a personal matter, verified by faith and emotion, we understand truth, though sometimes elusive, to be a universal standard, honestly sought by all people of goodwill.”
Texas approved Proposition 3, a move that bans the government from shutting down or restricting attendance at any church… even in a future pandemic. Which is not going to end well since governments wouldn’t do that unless there was an actual emergency…
Alas, they should’ve watched my video.Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a reputation for being a smart guy. So smart that it wasn’t a stretch that he was asked to guest-host Jeopardy! this summer. But it turns out when it comes to vaccinations, he’s not just stupid, he’s a liar.
Rodgers said months ago that he had been immunized… but that’s not true. He apparently “petitioned the NFL to have an alternate, homeopathic treatment.” The NFL rightly rejected that request and said Rodgers was unvaccinated, a move that required him to follow certain rules… which he did not. Now he has tested positive for COVID and is sidelined from playing at least one game. More importantly, the supposed leader of his team just put their lives in danger. The consummate leader screwed over his entire squad.
On a side note, I wrote the above paragraphs yesterday thinking the story was done, but OH MY GOD, this story is SO not over…Please save this for, I’m guessing, a few months from now.
During a mostly forgettable election night for Democrats on Tuesday, there was a bright spot in New Jersey: Atheist and scientist Andrew Zwicker won his bid for the State Senate.
It was a close race, but he pulled it off. Best of all, his atheism was a non-factor in the campaign, a sign of how far we’ve come in this country.
Conservatives are furious over an ad for Twix candy… that wasn’t made by Twix… and isn’t an ad. (But facts never get in the way of right-wing grievances.)
Ahh, memories:
It has been one year since pastor Paula White put on this amazing performance in an effort to secure Trump's reelection. It did not work.Presidential spiritual adviser Paula White is currently leading an impassioned prayer service in an effort to secure Trump's reelection. https://t.co/hCSRh84d6g
Right Wing Watch @RightWingWatch
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He got elected before. All he has to do is say "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus and he will be elected in a landslide.