Clipmarks | graphictruth's 'christianity' clips

Thoughts on Hillary and the Nation

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:20:06 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: a tiny excerpt from an unusually overlong post that is, nonetheless, well worth reading.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

There is a yin and a yang, and from my perspective, Hillary's yang hangs to her knees, and anyone who's yang is shorter, or who's yin is wider is probably more welcome in polite company.

But "Polite Comany" and "world leader" don't usually go hand in hand, so don't think I'm saying this as a put down. I respect Hill enourmously. I'm just not sure she deserves (in either the usual or the ironic sense) to be President.

A big, long, knobby Yang ain't a bad thing for a US President - unless you are betting on her to act according to your particular preconceptions of gender-based solidarity. And I personally think it would be better in some larger and less immediate sense if she were assured enough in her own gender to not try to counter-program her own femininity.

Tags: clinton, ethics, evangelical christianity, politics, religion

They aren't Conservatives, they are Authoritarians

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:37:12 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Which is the point to sociologist Altmeyer's book, who has been researching authoritarianism for thirty years, and can now publish a popular work (for free) because he's about to retire and can't be fired for his temerity.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians"

I'm devouring this book, and the footnotes are as tasty and entertaining (in a dark, horrifying, goddamit, I TOLD you so sort of way) as the text itself. While this is obviously mandatory socio-political ammunition for democrats and leftists, it's far, far more vital for Centrists, Independents, Libertarians and traditional Conservatives to read and understand.

Eight of the “most corrupt” had perfect 100% endorsements from the Family Research
Council. The lowest score was a 64% posted by the Democratic Representative Alan
Mollohan from West Virginia. (Seventeen of the twenty “most corrupt” were

Republicans.)

To be sure, many other lawmakers who got high scores from the Family
Research Council did not get named as most corrupt. But I think I read somewhere
that there’s this interesting connection between being a lying, dishonest, amoral
manipulator and becoming a leader of right-wing political/religious movements.

Tags: christianity, culture, ethics, evangelical christianity, facism, george bush, morality, politics, religion

Bob Altemeyer's The Authoritarians:

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:10:41 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: All I can say about this work is "It's about damn time."

Read it - it's free.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

We shall probably always have individuals lurking among us who yearn to play
tyrant. Some of them will be dumber than two bags of broken hammers, and some will
be very bright. Many will start so far down in society that they have little chance of
amassing power; others will have easy access to money and influence all their lives.
On the national scene some will be frustrated by prosperity, internal tranquility, and
international peace--all of which significantly dim the prospects for a demagogue
-in-waiting. Others will benefit from historical crises that automatically drop increased
power into a leader’s lap. But ultimately, in a democracy, a wannabe tyrant is just a
comical figure on a soapbox unless a huge wave of supporters lifts him to high office.
That’s how Adolf Hitler destroyed the Wiemar Republic and became the Fuhrer. So
we need to understand the people out there doing the wave. Ultimately the problem
lay in the followers.

Tags: christianity, culture, ethics, facism, george bush, liberty, politics, theocracy

It's Feed My Sheep, Not Fleece My Sheep

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:48:27 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: A couple of paragraphs from a rather long post detailing the spiritual, ethical and moral bankruptcy of the "Prosperity Gospel."

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

when Oral Roberts pulled a "prayer cloth" with his holy blessed hand-print upon it, stated that he'd personally prayed over each and every one of these objects, and because of that, they would by some twisted transubstantiation personally connect him to you via the Holy Idiot Box if you placed your hand over his as he prayed with his own hand raised on the Teevee...

Well, this little deacon exploded,

I pointed out that it was idolatry - both of an object and a man, and as graphic an example of a man placing himself before God, as a god-substitute as you would ever see. It still angers me to this day, that a man professing to be a Christian minister could not even get through the FIRST commandment without pissing all over it.

I say that deliberately, as a graphic and visceral illustration of the clear and mindful insult to both his followers and to the God he pretended to serve.

Tags: prosperity gospel, evangelical christianity, culture, ethics, evangelical, theocracy

Huckabee - Theocrat wannabe

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:29:50 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: So, he's lying about his qualifications, and deluding himself that he knows what "this war on terror" is about.

AND he thinks fighting fire with fire is a good idea, too.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

In November, Huckabee tried to claim the mantle of the GOP's leading terror fighter, arguing:

"I think I'm stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. It's a theocratic war. And I don't know if anybody fully understands that. I'm the only guy on that stage with a theology degree."

Apparently, Mike Huckabee knows a theocrat when he sees one.

Well, unfortunately Huck's campaign had to do some backpedaling because the rapist/murderer-releasing Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor doesn't have a theology degree -- he only spent a year in seminary.

Tags: religion, politics, political, christianity, ethics, evangelical, mike huckabee, morality

The Truth In Pornography

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:02:45 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: The more I think about it, the more I realize that the objection is not to it's existence, but to the existence of some of it's direct and implied messages that contradict conventional (and in my humble opinion, dangerous and destructive) moralisms.

Clip Source: erotictruth.blogspot.com

There is really gross stuff out there, no question. Far more is not at all grotesque because (thank ghu) most people do not have the kinks that make the truly grotesque attractive. However, if you are heavily invested in maintain the social sexual status quo, it's the good stuff (in my humble opinion) that will truly screw with your preconceptions and cause you to wonder if the assumptions about yourself and your sexuality imposed by family and culture are, in fact true for you, or even true at all.

Tags: christianity, culture, ethics, liberty, morality, pornography, rape

Not that it's our fault or nothin'

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:39:33 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Let the finger pointing and blame begin! After all, when one pays ten percent or more of one's income to feel superior, finding out that the leadership cleaned and reamed you is a sign that it's all their fault.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Evangelical Repents Paving Road to Hell

Chuck Baldwin, a Florida radio preacher and evangelist, has come out and said the following. And the following is why he's supporting Ron Paul.

Republican candidates have learned how to "talk the language." They know that Christians are basically compassionate and trusting people, and therefore prone to being gullible and easily manipulated. They know that Christians have short memories and are desperate to be accepted at the king's table (largely a result of the church-growth movement and mega-church mentality).

Tags: christianity, christianist, evangelical

Who would Jesus torture

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:06:50 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: Welcome to the new Christianity. Or is it The new BS. Maybe those of you who would condone torture during the week and attend your temples and cathedrals on Sunday truly don't believe in your God. Why else would you make an argument for rather then against. Now it shouldn't bother me I,m a heathen, fortunately I still maintain a since of moral decency, you know, like what is written in some of those dumb ass documents like the CONSTITUTION and THE BILL OF RIGHTS. If all you so called people of faith would get together there would be more then enough voices to effect a change, right? After all yours is the moral outraged, just and family oriented party is it not? Just like to say Thank you for living up to my worst suspicions. The entire lot are self-righteous, blathering hypocrites.

Clip Source: www.progressivedailybeacon.com

The Republican Party is supposed to be home to a lot of Christians and that might be true. Judging by the view of most Republicans, however, the Party doesn't appear to contain very many Christ-like people. It is hard to imagine Jesus Christ waterboarding someone while sermonizing on turning the other cheek, or loving thy neighbor, or doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

And yet, a lot of Republicans, Christian Conservative Republicans, are vocal supporters of torture.

He isn't just any old Christian; Pat's a Christian Pastor ... that's like being Christian-squared. And Robertson supports Rudy Giuliani, who enthusiastically defends the use of torture. Both men are quick to rationalize their bizarre backing of torture by employing the "Terrorists torture so we should too," defense.

Tags: torture, hipocites, mindless turds

One more telling argument against Gay Marriage

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:03:03 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: The sad thing is, this person is allowed to breed, while many Gays have to jump through hoops to adopt. Personally - and I say this as a person who is neither Gay nor Unchristian - christianst boobs like this are a greater threat to society than twice the number of gay people, married or otherwise.

Clip Source: www.signonsandiego.com

I am sharing this for the gay community and the Mayor. I am serving the Almighty God. It is unnatural for man to man and woman to woman to have sexual relations. . . Seem like we are living like in the days of Noah. . . Very Sad that the Mayor just stand for his daughter and GET THIS . . . I just discovered last year that one of my closet member of the family is GAY and has AIDS. . . is dying and struggling to stay alive . . . I am telling you it is horrible to see a loved one going through this and I am not standing for a member of a family but STAND for God as it quotes in the bible. I loved everyone of those kind people but you gotta realize that sins is getting ulgy and turns deadly as it rob a person's lives but once you accept Jesus as your personal savior and it wash away all of your sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. I saw his tears rolling down the cheeks and grab my hands tightly and it breaks my heart. I wish he would not choose this gay lifestyle and it lead destructive.

Tags: christianists, christians, christianity, cultural warfare, stupid christian tricks, stupid

For all the Cultural Christians you know

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:38:40 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: I may have clipped from this article before, but I think I overlooked this quote - and it's the quote itself I'd like you to pass around.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

The bottom line is this: "Sin" is not about what other people do. It's about what YOU do to other people. By the tenants of your OWN faith, you will not be judged on what you prevented others from doing, or what you forced them to do, you will be judged on that which you did to others, and your rationalizations will not matter. For emphasis on the futility of human rationalizations, consult any dour Presbyterian you know.

Tags: christianity, christian, gay marriage

The Nag Hammadi Library - Gnostic Scriptures

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:43:25 GMT

clipped by: invictus
clipper's remarks: Most important scriptures of Gnostics, which were discovered in 1945 in Egypt. The best reference site on Nag Hammadi collection.

Clip Source: www.gnosis.org

THE GNOSTIC SOCIETY LIBRARY

The Nag Hammadi Library

The Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of thirteen ancient codices containing over fifty texts, was discovered in upper Egypt in 1945. This immensely important discovery includes a large number of primary Gnostic scriptures -- texts once thought to have been entirely destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define "orthodoxy" -- scriptures such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth.

The texts discovered at Nag Hammadi available in the Gnostic Society Library are indexed in alphabetical order, and by their location in the original codices. A subject categorized list of the writings is also given, below. You may also search the entire collection of texts for keywords or phrases using the search form. We also have a special collection of resources about the Gospel of Thomas.

Tags: nag hammadi, gnosticism, christianity, religion, history, philosophy, archaeology

Feed My Sheep. Please.

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:50:11 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: So, if you choose to be a shepherd, you take on the responsibility for keeping them out of trouble and the karmic debts they have managed to incur on their way to your flock. Still sure you want that job?

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

When Jesus said "feed my sheep," it was within a culture quite used to tripping over the damn things. Sheep are harmless unless they fall on you, inoffensive and have an amazing capacity for innocently wandering into death traps, stepping on feet and crapping indiscriminately. Furthermore, if not taken to where they are literally up to their ankles in food, they will helplessly starve while bleating pathetically. Jesus was a realist, and he was not complementing the flock, nor conveying power with out duty.

Tags: cultural warfare, blog against theocracy, separation of church and state, theocracy, christianity, ethics