WEEK IN REVIEW: YouTube finally banned Greg Locke
Oklahoma is now in God’s hands, a Buddhist pilot won’t have to attend AA meetings, Christian Nationalism and corporal punishment, and more!
Thank you for checking out this newsletter! Thank you even more if you become a full subscriber! Consider giving someone a gift subscription! Think of your friends! (Or your enemies.)
It only took several years, but Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke has now lost both of his YouTube channels after spreading right-wing conspiracy theories, putting his congregation in danger during the pandemic, comparing American hospitals to the “death camps of East Germany,” and so much more.
As I told Religion News Service, Locke will find new ways to spread his message, but that doesn’t mean this loss isn’t devastating for him:
Hemant Mehta, an atheist author and activist, said he and other atheists keep a close eye on Locke and other pastors who hold extreme views. Mehta said that losing access to YouTube will hurt Locke. While the Tennessee pastor still has a large Facebook following, YouTube gave him access to a wide audience, one that was outside of conservative echo chambers, said Mehta.
“He lost his biggest megaphone,” he said.
Just a couple days later, he announced that he was getting sued:
As always, I appreciate your support through Patreon and Substack, which allows me to spend far too much time watching Locke’s sermons while working on articles and other projects.
When it comes to climate change, highly religious Americans are the least concerned about the existential threat facing all of us.
That’s one of the major takeaways from a new survey from the Pew Research Center. It acknowledges that religious Americans believe they have a sacred duty to care for the Earth (since they believe God gave it to us), but that duty doesn’t always extend to acknowledging the reality of (much less taking action to prevent) climate change… which is especially problematic given that 90% of U.S. counties have experienced a major climate disaster over the past decade.
One bright spot? 88% of atheists take the climate threat seriously, compared to only 34% of evangelicals.
Unfortunately, we’re not the ones with all the political power.
Candace Cameron Bure, the actress best known for her role in Full House (and, more recently, Fuller House), is leaving her cushy gigs with the Hallmark Channel for a “more sweeping role” at a conservative alternative called Great American Family, where “traditional marriage” will take center stage. She told the Wall Street Journal that the move will allow her to make films that don’t have to acknowledge the romantic lives of gay people.
I don’t see how this works. At some point, even comfort films have to try something different to create tension. If a movie meant to portray real-life situations doesn’t look anything like the real world, what sort of audience will it actually reach? More importantly, why would anyone recommend the blandest, dullest movies to their loved ones if the biggest selling point is the subtle bigotry?
If you’re looking for Christmas movies that downplay same-sex relationships, just keep watching Hallmark.
Caitlin Erickson, a woman who’s been speaking out against Christian Centre Academy (now called Legacy Christian Academy), an abusive Christian school she attended in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had her home vandalized this week.
It came days after she and two other former classmates urged the provincial legislature to crack down on the school’s fundamentalist curriculum.
If you’d like to help her family out through a (verified) GoFundMe launched by her sister, you can do so here.
I have so many questions about this gelato shop in Alabama…
This Christian preacher whose shirt reads "I hate racism" wants you to know he still hates gay people.
And so does Christian hate-monger Tony Perkins, who insisted that the mild protections offered in a recent Senate bill go way too far.
After firing a Buddhist pilot for not going through Alcoholics Anonymous, United Airlines has agreed to award that pilot $305,000 (including back pay) and change their policy for similar situations.
What’s wrong with AA? Only that it’s a religious organization. The famous “Twelve Steps” include giving yourself over to “God” or “a Power greater than ourselves.” His meetings were held in a Christian church.
That doesn’t mean the program doesn’t work, only that it should never be the only option for someone going through substance abuse recovery.
There is plenty to celebrate after last week’s elections, but this isn’t one of them: Jerry Rutherford was elected to the Collier County School Board in Naples, Florida.
The Christian Nationalist says he wants to bring back physical abuse in school, use corporal punishment on kids with disabilities whom he says are “out of control,” and make sure LGBTQ students have fewer rights.
It’s a frightening prospect and the sort of thing happening in more school boards nationwide because too many parents just assume everything’s fine and don’t pay attention to (or vote in) these kinds of races.
Conservative Christians, on the other hand, usually take them very seriously. Naples knows that now. And they’re going to face the consequences after their local schools suffer as a result of conservative Christian leaders who aren’t interested in the minutia of the jobs they were just elected to do.
I love everything about this speech from (newly re-elected) Nebraska State Sen. Megan Hunt but especially this clip:
After winning his re-election campaign, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated with a public prayer in which he said to his God, “We just claim Oklahoma for You. Every square inch, we claim it for You in the name of Jesus.”
It should be concerning to all Oklahomans that the guy they just elected to run their state is handing it off to someone else while admitting he’s incapable of doing the job on his own.
You can imagine the outcry if Stitt said the same words as a non-Christian. It would be appalling. There would be immediate calls for his resignation. But because conservative Christians have such a stranglehold in the political world, Stitt’s comments barely got a mention outside of right-wing watchdog groups.
Democrats: Never underestimate the “Nones” vote:
Speaking of Nones, here’s where our candidates are at:
Conservatives have waged a war on what now?
Remember that Ron DeSantis ad that said he was created on the Eighth Day because the Christian God needed a "fighter"?
I made a video about why none of it made any sense.
Christian Nationalist Tony Perkins seems to think Trump judges imposing their will by ignoring the law will make young people hate… Joe Biden.
Fundamentalist Christian grandmother Lori Alexander, a.k.a. The Transformed Wife, doesn’t like that women are allowed to vote:
And now for your weekly dose of fundie insanity and right-wing preaching:
This week in Atheist Bible Study? Numbers 28: You would think Moses is gonna leave us now. But he won't. Because God has to give us more rules... that sound VERY similar to previous rules.
I spoke with my co-host Jessica Greiff about many of the stories in this newsletter during this week’s podcast:
Finally, “The Bible” video game isn’t having a great launch:
QUICK NOTE: This newsletter will not arrive next weekend because of the holidays! See you in two weeks.
Please become a full subscriber or share this with someone who may enjoy it. It would mean a lot to me :)
Do you consider all of Christiandom a cult, or just certain sects?