A Review of Religious Hypocrisy in 2013

I reported on 122 new cases of religious hypocrisy in 2013. Most of these crimes and misdeeds were committed by pastors, but a few other religious miscreants made the list. Most of the crimes were sexual in nature with sex crimes against children topping the list.

I've listed the Religion/Sect and number of stories below. Unknown Protestant tops the list. In these cases I could not establish a sect, but I do know that the cases do not involve Catholics. For the most part, they were independent churches that fall into either the small independent church category or they were larger nondenominational community churches.

Baptists top the list as the most frequent offenders, but this may be because I do not report many Catholic cases because they are covered by other sources. In any case, there is something wrong in Baptist land.

Unknown Protestant	52
Baptist	37
Catholic	10
Methodist	6
Christian cult	3
Lutheran	2
Vineyard	2
CoG	2
Muslim	1
Romanian Orthodox Church	1
Presbyterian	1
Mennonite	1
Christian Cult - Quiverfull	1
CME	1
Apostolic	1
Fraudulent Pastor	1

The crime summary for the year is consistent with previous years. Sexual crimes top the list with child molestation the most common crime. I'll publish the full list via another post. I'm still working on the categories.

Child Molestation	29
Rape	10
Sexual Assault	9
Child Porn	8
Child Molestation and Rape	7
Child abuse	4
Murder	3
Homicide by abuse and Manslaughter	2
Sexting and Child Porn	2
Fraud	2

This is the full list of new cases. If a name is listed twice, that person committed additional crimes.

Abid, Matthew, Child Molestation - January, 2013: Catholic
Aguilar, Geronimo, Child Molestation and Rape - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Aguilar, Geronimo, Child Molestation and Rape - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Anderle, Zachary, Child Molestation and Cruelty - August, 2013: Vineyard
Barham, Jerry D., Child Porn - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Bell, Margaret, Failure to Report Abuse - March, 2013: Baptist
Bertrand, James P. Jr. , Drugs and Car Theft - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Brennan, Robert L, Sexual Assault - October, 2013: Catholic
Bristol, Louis Joseph, Child Molestation - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Bryant, Michael, Child Molestation - December, 2013: CoG
Burnett, Isaac, Bad Checks and Theft - October, 2013: Baptist
Capranelli, Matthew, Child Molestation and Rape - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Carr, Rodney, Infecting People with HIV - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Carter, Brandon, Child Molestation and Kidnapping - January, 2013: Baptist
Castro, Jorge Juan, Sexual Assault - September, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Chepke, Cynthia, Robbery - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Colon, Nelson Santiago, Child molestation - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Coyle, Arthur , Soliciting sex - August, 2013: Catholic
Crossno, Ryan, Child Molestation - January, 2013: Baptist
Cuthbert, Cedric, Child Porn - May, 2013: Methodist
Dalls, Surrett, Child Molestation - April, 2013: Baptist
Davis, Gregg, DUI - March, 2013: Lutheran
Donaghy, James, Child Molestation - July, 2013: Catholic
Downs, Clyde, Drub Possession and Unlawful Firearms - June, 2013: Baptist
Downs, David, Child Molestation - October, 2013: Baptist
Drainville, Patrick Conrad, Accidental shooting - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Earls. Joshua, Child Molestation - April, 2013: Baptist
Elijah, Nehemiah, Theft and Fraud - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Engle, Charles, Child Molestation - June, 2013: Baptist
Fairley, Edward, Attempted Murder - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Ford, Mack, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Forehand, Gregory, Child Molestation and Rape - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Fortner, Trevor Jacob, Child Porn - August, 2013: Baptist
Fraser, Malcolm, Rape - December, 2013: Christian cult
Frawley, Morgan, Sexting - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Fuhriman, Zachary, Rape - November, 2013: Baptist
Gass. Terru, Family Violence and Drugs - February, 2013: Baptist
Gillum, Scott , Drug Trafficking - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Girouex, Brent, Child Molestation and Rape - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Gray, Brian, Rape - June, 2013: Baptist
Guerrero, James, Sexual Assault - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Hadinger, James Paul, Sexual Abuse - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Hall, Jonathan, Sexting and Child Porn - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Hogue, Jaysen, Child Molestation - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Hooper, Mark, Child Abuse - December, 2013: Baptist
Hudgins, Aaron Kenneth, Child Porn - November, 2013: Baptist
Johnson, Steven Lennard , Sex offender working with Children - November, 2013: Baptist
Jones, Derrik Wayne, Child Abuse - March, 2013: CoG
Jones, Harry Vester, Rape - October, 2013: Baptist
Jung, Donald, Child Molestation and Rape - October, 2013: Baptist
Jung, Donald R., Child Molestation - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Kamkung, Kong Soik, Child Molestation - October, 2013: Methodist
Keith, Kenneth A, Murder - October, 2013: Baptist
Kelleher, Cornelius, Child Molestation - October, 2013: Catholic
Kindred, Jacob, Rape - December, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Lawlor, John K, Prostitution - October, 2013: Baptist
Lewis, Andrea, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Liang, Joseph, Child Molestation - August, 2013: Catholic
Lively, Scott, Crimes Against Humanity - August, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Lyte, Samuel, Sexual Assault - March, 2013: Baptist
MacMoran, Thaddeus, Child Molestation and Crimes Against Nature - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Marini, Patrick, Attempted Kidnapping - July, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Masteller, Jonathan, Sexual Assault - December, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Mehdi, Shahid, Attempted Rape - May, 2013: Muslim
Miles, Melody, Fraud - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Miller, Kenneth, Kidnapping - February, 2013: Mennonite
Mohler, Michael "Mic", Child Molestation - February, 2013: Methodist
Montgomery, Shan, Failure to Register - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Morgan, Torrey, Child Molestation and Rape - July, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Muelhauser, Ryan, Criminal Sexual Conduct - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Murff, Johnny, Theft - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Ntege, Nathan, Fake marriages - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Ornelas, Hugo, Sexual Assault - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Padilla, Roberto, Domestic Assault - May, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Paulish, William, Indecent Exposure, indecent Assault, Rape - October, 2013: Catholic
Phillips, Chris, Embezzlement - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Phillips, Doug, Morals - Infidelity - November, 2013: Christian Cult - Quiverfull
Picanto, Sobrino Valdeci, Sexual Assault - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Pitt, Matt, Impersonating a Police Officer - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Pop, Ioan, Sexual Assault - November, 2013: Romanian Orthodox Church
Price, Bobby, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Baptist
Pyles, Ronald, Rape of a developmentally disabled woman - January, 2013: Baptist
Quintero, Jeremiah, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Apostolic
Rathburn, Ronald Sr., Child Porn - December, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Reed, Rickey Alan, Aggravated burglary and theft - October, 2013: Methodist
Robertson, Jason, Sexual Assault - October, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Schaible, Catherine, Child Abuse - August, 2013: Christian cult
Schaible, Herbert, Child Abuse - August, 2013: Christian cult
Schirmer, Arhur, Murder - February, 2013: Baptist
Schneider, William, Child Porn - November, 2013: Baptist
Schwartzrock, Derek, Child Porn - April, 2013: Baptist
Shuck, Jay, Threats with a Gun - May, 2013: Methodist
Smith, Danny, Morals - Violation of Community Trust - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Smith, David, Child Porn - April, 2013: Lutheran
Smith, Ira, Child Molestation via disabled child - February, 2013: Baptist
Smith, Jonathan H. , Child Molestation - November, 2013: Presbyterian
Spencer, George, Child Molestation - March, 2013: CME
Stubb, Stephen, Rape - September, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Sweeny, Gregory, Sexual Misconduct - March, 2013: Catholic
Tamfuma, Greatness, Rape - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Thomas, Timothy, Rape - April, 2013: Methodist
Thompson, Alex E., Child Neglect - November, 2013: Vineyard
Tice, Danny, Morals - Stupidity - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Torres, Alvaro Javier Gamez, Serial rape - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Vallejos, Pedro Emilio, Child Molestation and Threats - February, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Vandergraph, Bill, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Velez, Eddie, Assault - March, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Wallin, Kevin, Drug Dealing - March, 2013: Catholic
Walsh, Harry, Child Molestation - December, 2013: Catholic
Warren, Robert Eric, Child Molestation - June, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Werneburg, Dustin, Rape - February, 2013: Baptist
Wheeless, Josh, Sexting and Child Porn - November, 2013: Baptist
White, John D, Murder - April, 2013: Unknown Protestant
Willam, Theldon Jr., Child Molestation - February, 2013: Baptist
William, Anthony, Fraud - February, 2013: Fraudulent Pastor
Williams, Carri, Homicide by abuse and Manslaughter - September, 2013: Baptist
Williams, Larry, Homicide by abuse and Manslaughter - September, 2013: Baptist
Willis, Ernest, Rape - August, 2013: Baptist
Wininger, William, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Baptist
Winninger, Bill, Child Molestation - November, 2013: Baptist
Yocum, Walter, Child Molestation - March, 2013: Baptist
Yoon, Samuel, Soliciting sex from underage teen - May, 2013: Baptist

The master list of the Morally Corrupt is up-to-date. If you have additional information or additional cases, please send them to me and I will add them to the list.

GOP Fail - Eric Bodenweiser

Eric Bodenweiser, a GOP political candidate from Delaware, was arrested on 113 counts of child molestation related crimes. Keep in mind that Bodenweiser was a rabid anti-gay activist and a GOP state senate candidate.

A 30-year-old victim of Bodenweister came forward with unknown, but apparently damning enough, evidence to convince authorities to arrest the popular political candidate. The victim, whose identity has not been released, claims to have been molested by Eric Bodenweister between Oct. 1 1987 and Aug. 31, 1990.

It has been reported by delawareonline.com that Bodenweister's indictment included 74 counts of unlawful sexual contact, a felony in the second degree. Also attached were 39 first-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Source:Pedophile GOP senate candidate arrested on 113 counts
Original source:Bodenweiser, indicted on sex charges, makes bail

Is Eric Bodenweiser a Christian? Hell yes! Up until his arrest, Bodenweiser was associated with Delaware Family Policy Council. It is a right wing evangelical Christian organization which lobbies for things like banning divorces, making reproduction a marital requirement, and fighting against marriage equality. 

Nutball Alert: Gordon Klingenschmitt

Does anyone believe that President Obama is trying to drive Christians out of the military so he can use the military to kill American Christians. No? I thought as much. Have your heard "Dr. Chaps" Gordon Klinenschmitt tell his crazy story? It reminds me of my grandpa telling me that President Carter was allowing the UN to establish bases in America. Even as a young teen I knew it was crazy talk. 

Nutball: "Dr. Chaps" Gordon Klingenschmitt talks about Christian persecution and a certain segment of Christianity listens.

Hat tip: Right Wing Watch: Klingenschmitt: Obama Creating Atheist Military to Attack Christians

Santorum - Middle Class is Marxism Talk

Rick Santorum will run for president in 2016. Be proud America. Be proud.

Pastor charged with crimes against humanity

Hey! This was my idea!

Evangelical pastor to stand trial in Massachusetts for alleged crimes against humanity

A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a crimes against humanity case brought against evangelical pastor Scott Lively of Massachusetts.

Lively is accused of violating international law by inciting the persecution of LGBT individuals in Uganda. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG) in 2012.

“We are gratified that the court recognized the persecution and the gravity of the danger faced by our clients as a result of Scott Lively’s actions,” CCR Attorney Pam Spees said. “Lively’s single-minded campaign has worked to criminalize their very existence, strip away their fundamental rights and threaten their physical safety.”

If one LGBT person died because this hate monger, then he deserves to be locked away for a very long time. 

Ken Cuccinelli must be stopped

Ken Cuccinelli is a strong supporter of these crazy religious clinics, and now he wants to be governor of Virginia. He must be stopped. This is superstitious madness. 

Read this: Undercover footage reveals more crazy "crisis pregnancy center" lies

Crisis pregnancy centers lie to women, and now there is more audio to prove it.

A counseling session covertly recorded by a reproductive rights advocate from NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia reveals, once again, the kind of dubious information (and baldfaced lies) staff members at these anti-choice centers are passing off as legitimate medical advice.

Excerpts from the exchange (which you can listen to in full here):

• Condoms are “naturally porous” and do not protect against STDs 
• Women who have taken the birth-control pill for four years prior to their first pregnancy have a 46% increased risk of breast cancer

One forgets that young people are impressionable and can be ignorant. Why, I remember buying a family bible back as a young parent because of the strong sales pitch from a religious organization about the time of my son's births. I was an atheist at the time, plus I paid for it in installments. I'm going with ignorant and gullible.

In Tennessee, we love everyone… except those LGBTs

Is this America or the land of nonsense? Sometime I wonder. I expect equality and freedom, not hatred and bigotry. I read this story today: Tennessee bill allows Christian counselors to reject suicidal LGBT students. 

Before I read the story, the headline blew my mind. How is it possible that any Christian would want the legal right to reject giving another human being help in their darkest hour? Is this what Jesus taught? That… help is offered for the sick, the blind, the poor and lepers even, as long as they are not Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered. What! The! Fuck!

What kind of an idiot would dare to damage the Christian brand in such an antithetical way? Our misguided crusader is named Senator Joey Hensley and you can send him your love at Sen.Joey.Hensley@capitol.tn.gov. 

After reading the article, my opinion is that Joey Hensley and the Family Action Council of Tennessee need to go read about Jesus and then reflect on service. If necessary, I know this little old lady who has been feeding the homeless. I'm sure she can teach them a few things. After reeducation, take a few years to study what we expect as a society from our doctors. Consider it remedial punishment.

What Hensley is offering is a perversion of principles of Christianity and a complete misunderstanding of the Hippocratic Oath. 

The best quote of the day….

“The concept of so-called ‘religious liberty’ as it’s being (mis)used is faulty,” Badash wrote on Tuesday. “If anti-gay people want a reason to not help gay people, they should have the personal courage to do so, and accept the consequences.”

Um… yes, that makes perfect sense to me. 

I spoke to a homeless man recently. He asked me if I were a Christian. I told him no. He looked disappointed. When I asked whey, he told me that Christians always help. I'll offer the following comeback the next time I'm asked a similar question, "…not if you are LGBT."

The problem with Victoria Jackson

The problem with Victoria Jackson and the problem with celebrity opinions in general is that we confuse working in entertainment with intelligence and wisdom. We should listen to the wise among us, but seriously now, who thinks Victoria Jackson is wise? After the Sandy Hook massacre, we hear this from the "sage" actress Victory Jackson

"My friend Jim Riley posted: "Wasn't the Connecticut killer just doing what abortionists do every day? It's a wonder we don't have more 20 year old "dads" doing what women and doctors have been an accomplice to for years in America. When you forget the TEN COMMANDMENTS, people, THIS is what you get."'
Source: A FORMER Saturday Night Live star has sparked controversy for saying the Sandy Hook Massacre is "what you get when you forget the Ten Commandments."

We see her for what she is, another evangelical nutball using a horrible massacre to further a political agenda.  Normal people hear of the massacre and take a moment to reflect before offering condolences. Abnormal people, evangelical nutballs if you will, take the issue and use it to push an agenda. The hate bleeds through every word they use. Children died unthinkably violent deaths just a few hours ago, and the best she can do is blame it on the victims. Is this wisdom? No. It is hate, and we all see that.
Jackson goes on to belittle President Obama, who like many Americans, was overcome by the scale of the tragedy and in an all-too-human moment, shed a tear with us. What does Jackson say about this important moment?

"Obama dramatically wiped a tear as he said, "The majority of those who died today were children - beautiful little kids ... They had their entire lives ahead of them - birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own..."
"YEAH OBAMA. SAME AS THE MILLION BABIES YOU HAD ABORTED THIS YEAR.
"ARE YOU CRYING FOR THEM?!"

Instead of seeing the Presidents acts for what they are, an honest reaction to horrible traction, she must bring up her pet issue. Everything is about her issue. Fuck the victims of Sandy Hook… I want to beat my drum. Look at me. Look at me. We know you like it Victoria Jackson. It's all about attention.
What can you do?

• Tell Victory Jackson to fuck off via Twitter. 
• Keep the story alive. Post about her idiocy. 
• Remember this event and protest each and every future Victory Jackson endeavor. 

How does one steal Christmas?

I’m trying to steal Christmas? I must not have gotten the memo. Am I supposed to march or something? I hate marching. And why am I always the last to know? Atheists… we need to work on our communications.

But seriously folks, Pat Roberson is a douche. He is a fear mongering and decrepit old hatemonger. Why does anyone listen to him?

The truth is, atheists do not give a rat’s ass about how Christians celebrate Christmas. All we ask is that you don’t trying to make us celebrate your Christmas. As an American, I am free to celebrate Christmas by not celebrating it. I exercise that right every year. Doing so does not hurt Christians at all, nor does it attack Christian’s most cherished commercial holiday. Christians will go shopping on black Friday. The will go to church on Christmas and Christmas Eve, and then, just like most of the rest of America, they will open presents on Christmas morning just like they have for the last 100 years. Move along people. There is nothing to see here.

All Pat Roberson’s inane and hateful pronouncements really do is give me an excuse to update his obituary.

Hat tip: Tana Ganeva at AlterNet

Would Jesus charge a speaker’s fee?

I read that the New Hope Gospel Church is trying to raise $50k so that they can buy Tim Tebow to speak at an event called The Restoration. Raising money to entice a famous Christian to speak seem wrong on so many levels.

Youth Pastor Adam King with New Hope Gospel Church tells the Zanesville Times Recorder that an announcement was made at Sunday services and that thousands of dollars was already donated by Sunday night. A flyer says the goal is to raise $50,000 to have Tebow appear at the event called The Restoration on March 2.

Read more: Ohio Church Works To Lure Tebow

Would Jesus charge a speaking fee? The answer is no of course. The mere thought of Jesus charging a speaking fee is wrong. We know this (even those of us who do not believe). So why pay $50k to a millionaire for an hour of his time? The money should go to feeding and clothing the poor. As for Tebow, if he were a real Christian, he would speak at the event for free. Of course, this assumes that the event is not some self masturbatory prosperity doctrine sermon.You can be a rich Christian just like Tebow… just sent $29.95 for your holy tea towel.

What really grates… youth pastor Adam King is so proud of his effort.

Technorati Tags: Tebow,Christians,Hypocrites

I get comments

Today is 3:16. For some reason a few Christians think today is special because of John 3:16. If you type John 3:16 day into Google, Deep Thoughts ranks on the main page with this post - Photo a day - John 3:16. It’s a photo of John 3:16 scratched into the dust on the back of a truck. I don’t know what John 3:16 day is, nor do I care. But the protest emails rolled in anyway, and so did this comment (I left the misspelling intact).

Just a thought of my own…

My question to you is why does it bother you so much? Why must you attack someone you don't even know? You claim to be open minded but only as long as those around you feel exactly the way you do. It's not enough that most people you know are Christians because the verse says God so loved the world (not most of the world) and until everyone has been told about the gift God has given us in Jesus then Christians work can never be done. God loves you even if you don't belive in Him. God doesn't need you to belive to exist. He has always extisted and will always exist. God has the power to make all of us belive in Him but He gave us a choice. If you truly belive that God and Jesus don't exist why would those words in that dust on the back of a truck bother you so much? Why even give it a second thought? Let all the "crazy" Christians belive what they want and go on with your life. But you can't do that can you? There's something about it that bothers you. You should ask yourself why? Could it be God's way of trying to speak to you?

I feel compelled to answer.

My question to you is why does it bother you so much?

For all of my adult life I have been an atheist. This works out to a little over 31 years. For fully 20 of those years admitting publically any link to atheist resulted in social and economic consequences. I lost every Christian friend I had when I lost my faith. None survived even a year into my life as an atheist. Every single day of my life as an atheist I’ve had to run the Christian propaganda gauntlet. It bothers me because the messages are overwhelming. It bothers me because I am alone with my atheism and the constant pressure to believe something else wears me out. It bothers me because you assume I need the message. It bothers me because it ruins by daily buzz.  I’m high on life and this incessant drive to spread the Christian message is all around me. It’s almost like Christians think that nobody has heard the good news. We’ve heard it. I reject it. Stop bothering me.

But it gets worse when you look deeper. I’m one of a small minority in this country. My voice is small. If I dare raise it in the form of a message supporting my beliefs, like a bus ad, billboard or bumper sticker, the community rises up to oppose every word. If I put a Darwin sticker on my car Christians will pester me with pamphlets, and on occasion break a window. My words are lost in the overwhelming noise of Christianity. Why does it bother me so much? Because I have no outlet that is not opposed by Christians. Not only must I run your gauntlet. I cannot complain about it without getting 107 emails (just today), all of which tell me that Jesus loves me but that I’m going to burn it hell. Why does it bother me? I’m tired of this oppressive message. I don’t want to see it anymore.

Scratching John 3:16 on a dirty truck does not make you edgy or relevant. This is not a viral campaign to get the message out. This is simply more of the same crap. I see it everywhere I go. I drove 45 miles across LA this evening. I passed 11 religious billboards and noticed 9 cars with religious stickers. There were no atheist messages. Why does it bother me? I don’t have a choice but to see your message. You might as well be selling doughnuts. Our John 3:16’s are tastier than the catholic variety, we use lard. Pass the doughnuts please.

Your other questions are bullshit.

Why must you attack someone you don't even know? Hello – I attacked a straw man. Who is this someone I allegedly attacked? They don’t exist. My rant what hypothetical.

You claim to be open minded but only as long as those around you feel exactly the way you do. What? Come again? I am open minded. I can care less what “those around me feel”. My blog has an open comment police. I suffer idiots, which is why you were able to post. And I read all comments. I simply do not agreed with a single word you wrote. Not agreeing in not being close minded. It’s not agreeing.

I skipped the middle preachy part. I don’t need to see another John 3:16 message.

If you truly belive that God and Jesus don't exist why would those words in that dust on the back of a truck bother you so much? Why even give it a second thought? – I’m pretty sure I addressed this above. If you are still unclear, read it again and this time pay attention.

Let all the "crazy" Christians belive what they want and go on with your life. But you can't do that can you? – Here are facts, Christians go about their life while inflicting their beliefs on others, and they don’t’ know I exist. I have influence over what Christians do with their lives. I can only control my own life. That’s it. Nothing more. Believe whatever you like, but stop preaching it at me. I don’t try to convert you. Stop trying to convert me. It’s rude.

There's something about it that bothers you. You should ask yourself why? Could it be God's way of trying to speak to you? – No. There is no god, no Jesus, or any other deity. It’s all bullshit. You are speaking to me. So are the millions of other Christians in this country. And you won’t shut up.

Let me tell you a story from just last week. I sat alone in a Denny’s eating breakfast while on a business trip. While I waited for my for my order, a woman took an interest in me. She tried hard to make eye contact. I avoided her. I was already working and was busy preparing for a meeting. My steak and eggs came, and with it came an un-invited guest. She reach across the table as I picked up my fork and put her hand on mine. She said, “Let’s pray.” things went down hill quickly. The only reason I did not call the cops is that the manager threw her out of the restaurant. I’m guessing the $400 dollars I’d paid on previous days for team meals had something to do with his disposition.

This vicious and condescending woman was practicing what you preach. She was spreading the Good News. News I did not want to hear. 93 percent of Americans claim to belong to a religious denomination. How much good news can you possibly spread? The other 7% of us have already heard the damn message. Move on.

Technorati Tags: Christians,John 3:16

Pat Roberson was right!

I read the Halloween warning published by the ever so helpful Pat Roberson. Being an atheist and all, I found it hard to believe that demons and witches were involved in the production of my Halloween candy. But if Pat Roberson makes a claim, no matter how outlandish and unfounded, it must be true, because he is a Christian and would never ever lie, at least that what my mom tells me. He would never just pull something out of his ass, right? I mean, he must have some kind of poof for his outrageous claims, right?

"During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches."

I was concerned enough to go check on my candy stash. We have a family of Wiccan’s living across the street. They are all fat too. Perhaps they like candy? Perhaps they like my candy? The pressure was too much. I had to make sure my candy was safe.

I opened the refrigerator and found surprise. A demon working his magic on my Kit Kats. I managed to take a quick picture. It’s blurry, but you can tell that little green guy is a demon, right? The funny thing is, after I wrestled the candy from his grubby little claws. I felt compelled to eat it. Man… demon candy is the best! The kids are going to love it.

Technorati Tags: Halloween,Pat Robertson

Baptazia – Super Sunday

I found these video’s while surfing on Reddit. The comments are funny, but the videos make me want to pee my pants.

I always been mesmerized by how well crazy baptists sync up with rave music.

&

All the black people are dancing. All the white people are having seizures ...

&

I always wondered what a rave would look like if you turned the lights on

It’s hard not to laugh at the spectacle…

Baptazia – Super Sunday I

Baptazia – Super Sunday II

Baptazia – Super Sunday III

Technorati Tags: Music,Hysteria,Baptists

Allen Stanford linked to Christian evangelicals

Image via CrunchBase

Max Blumenthal has an outstanding article in The Daily Beast linking alleged financial conman Allen Stanford, with the evangelical website we all know and love as GodTube. God and Ponzi discusses how a Stanford owned firm called VCE Capital Partners, was a founding partner of the GodTube.

GodTube spokeswoman Holly Taylor says her company’s involvement with Stanford has made “zero business and financial impact” on the website’s parent companies, Tangle.com and Big Jump Media, and insisted that one of Godtube’s funders, VCE Capital Partners, purchased only “a nominal amount of shares,” with Stanford's holdings amounting to 0.5 percent of the company’s total shares.

GodTube has removed VCE Capital Partners from its website where they were listed as limited partners. I think they are looking to distance GodTube from the massive scandal surrounding Stanford. Good luck with that.

I find it disturbing that money allegedly stolen from investors would fund Christian outreach ministries like GodTube. I wonder what motivated this behavior? It could not be profit. GodTube’s business model seems pretty weak and their numbers are minuscule in comparison to mainstream sites like YouTube. I don’t think profit was a factor. Standford must have been doing the Lords work… with stolen funds. How nice. I wonder if GodTube will give the money back?

Technorati tags: GodTube, Evangelicals, Allen Stanford

Examining Sarah Palin #2

I have an axiom which says, if James Dobson is for something, it is wrong. And that is the problem, James Dobson supports Sarah Palin, so that makes Sarah Palin and by extension, John McCain wrong.

Sarah Palin is a direct attempt to snare the evangelical vote. Their intent was simple, give the evangelical voter an anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage fundie mouthpiece, who is dressed up to put a good face on the same old tired right wing theocratic crap. Dobson says it best.

He applauded the Republicans' stronger wording against embryonic stem-cell research in the new party platform, which many consider the most pro-life in history, concluding, "If I went into the polling booth today, I would pull the lever for John McCain."

Dobson first commented on Palin when she was chosen as McCain's running mate last week.  He exclaimed, "Sen. McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an outstanding choice that should be extremely reassuring to the conservative base of his party. She is a strong executive who hates corruption and puts principle above politics."

Dr. Dobson joins a chorus of pro-life and pro-family leaders supporting McCain for solidifying his ticket with the strongly pro-life and pro-family Palin, and giving voters confidence that the Republican nominees will actively champion the rights of the unborn if elected to the White House.

Source: Dobson: 'If I Went into the Polling Booth Today, I Would Pull the Lever for John McCain

By selecting Palin, McCain has sold his political soul to the very people he as been distancing himself from for the last decade. He has thrown in his lot with the haters.

Technorati tags: James Dobson, Sarah Palin, Politics, Republicans, Evangelicals

Oopsbama and the Joshua Generation Project

Barack Obama should do his homework before committing to a major new effort to attract young evangelical voters. His Joshua Generation Project ran afoul of fundie copyright infringement. Generation Joshua already represents a bunch of home schooled politically active fundies.

The campaign for Sen. Barack Obama in June revealed plans to launch a major new program to woo younger evangelicals and Catholics voters. The effort went by the name "Joshua Generation Project" and involved reaching out to young faith voters on issues such as poverty, Darfur, climate change and the Iraq war, Christian Broadcasting Network’s The Brody File had reported.

But upon learning of the project, lawyers with the Home School Legal Defense Association – an advocate group for home schooling rights – sent a letter asking the Obama campaign to stop usage of the name. The 83,000-strong organization pointed out that it owns trademark rights to both "Generation Joshua" and "Generation Joshua & Design."

Source: Obama's Joshua Generation Project Hits Legal Rift with Homeschoolers| Christianpost.com

The Obama campaign needs a new name for its program. How about the Pandering to Fundies Project? I'll let you have it for free.

Technorati tags: Barack Obama, Politics, 2008 Elections, Religion

Top Ten Hagee-isms

Via Katie Halper on 23/6

Number 1

"God says in Jeremiah 16 - 'Behold I will bring them the Jewish people again unto their land that I gave unto their fathers' - that would be Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - 'Behold I will send for many fishers and after will I send for many hunters. And they the hunters shall hunt them' - that will be the Jews - 'from every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks.' If that doesn't describe what Hitler did in the Holocaust... you can't see that. So think about this - I will send fishers and I will send hunters."

- Pastor John Hagee in a sermon

This guy is scary and crazy. Read the rest of the list here.

Technorati tags: John Hagee, Evangelicals, nutballs, politics

Israelis take out the trash

A few days ago the Christian press was full stories about Israelis burning bibles. The act even prompted an official apology from a deputy mayor. Now it seems some Israelis are arguing that the unsolicited bibles and evangelical pamphlets are in fact trash and should be burned like any other piece of garbage. 

The people who burned these books and pamphlets broke no law. Despite the allusions being made to the burning of Jewish holy books during the times of the inquisition or the holocaust, there is absolutely no comparison here. The New Testaments and evangelistic leaflets had been basically thrown out -- they were unsolicited garbage, and there is no law against incinerating garbage, even by religious Jews, even in public.

Source: israelinsider: Views: Harrassed by Christian missionaries, Israelis take out the trash

One man's trash is another man's holy book. By now everyone should understand this. If it is ok to burn the bible in Israel, then it is ok to shoot the Koran in Iraq. In this case, the Israelis are simply saying STOP trying to convert our citizens to your nutball religion.

Technorati tags: Bibles, Israel, Christians, Jews, Intolerance

The Evangelical Manifesto

The times are changing and so are Evangelical politics. The new thinking is to move away from single issue politics. No more focusing on Anti-abortion or Family Values. The Manifesto also calls for and end to Anti-Intellectualism. How refreshing.

An Evangelical Manifesto is an open declaration of who Evangelicals are and what they stand for. It has been drafted and published by a representative group of Evangelical leaders who do not claim to speak for all Evangelicals, but who invite all other Evangelicals to stand with them and help clarify what Evangelical means in light of “confusions within and the consternation without” the movement. As the Manifesto states, the signers are not out to attack or exclude anyone, but to rally and to call for reform.

As an open declaration, An Evangelical Manifesto addresses not only Evangelicals and other Christians but other American citizens and people of all other faiths in America, including those who say they have no faith. It therefore stands as an example of how different faith communities may address each other in public life, without any compromise of their own faith but with a clear commitment to the common good of the societies in which we all live together.

For those who are Evangelicals, the deepest purpose of the Manifesto is a serious call to reform—an urgent challenge to reaffirm Evangelical identity, to reform Evangelical behavior, to reposition Evangelicals in public life, and so rededicate ourselves to the high calling of being Evangelical followers of Jesus Christ.

My litmus test is James Dobson. if he apposes the manifesto then it is moving in the right direction.

James Dobson, founder of the conservative group Focus on the Family, reviewed the document and was asked to sign it, Dobson spokesman Gary Schneeberger said.  Dobson reportedly consulted the group’s board of directors but did not sign it “due to myriad concerns about the effort,” according to Schneeberger.

Source: Evangelical group issues political manifesto against "single-issue" politics

For the record - Dobson refused to support this. Yes! Our decade of hate is coming to a close.

Technorati tags: James Dobson, Evangelicals, politics

The War on Porn

Why is it that people actually care enough about what other people do in the privacy of their hotel rooms that they feel the need to block access to pay per view porn? I mean, what the hell?

Several conservative groups, including the American Family Association, are asking Marriott International Inc. to stop giving hotel guests the option of ordering pay-per-view movies with strong sexual content.

AFA, based in Tupelo, said 47 "pro-family leaders" have signed a letter asking chain's chief executive, J.W. Marriott Jr., for a meeting to discuss their concerns.

Marriott was told that stopping "porn movies" would be in keeping with the corporation's position of "promoting the well-being of children and families," AFA said in a news release.

Source: Conservative groups ask Marriott to stop offering hotel guests option of adult movies - International Herald Tribune

These people are going to wake up one day and realize they wasted their entire lives. If the concern is children viewing porn, try this. When you check in at your next hotel  in "please blog the adult content". I've done it when traveling with my children. Problem solved.

I have  a suggestion for Marriott hotels, add "block adult content" as an option on your customer profile database. I doubt fundies will use it. How else can they tell if the movies need to be blocked? Somebody must take one for the team (I write about this stuff all the time, so don't try to deny it!)

Of course, this is just another example of James Dobson trying to legislate our national morality. I've got news for you Dobson - this issue is none of your business. And given the profits involved here, you have no hope.

A funny side note. The last time I stayed in a hotel was last Wednesday night. It happened to be a Marriott. Instead of watching TV in my off hours. I powered up my Mac and updated the obituary posts I keep ready for a few key Christian luminaries. I don't want to go into how anal I am here. Suffice it to say my friends often shake their heads with an odd look on their face when they learn of some of my odd habits. In this case, I read a book on writing that suggested writing obituaries for famous people as a months long exercise in editing. I've been doing it for about a year now. So... my James Dobson obituary post was updated Wednesday night instead of even thinking about watching cheesy hotel porn.

Technorati tags: Porn, Marriott, James Dobson, American Family Association, Theocracy