Christofascism Rising: It HAS Happened Here

It's becoming more overt as they feel more threatened with the loss of power. If it looks as if the Dems will win in November, I expect even more overt displays like this, and if the Dems somehow do actually win, we might see displays of street violence at the result.

wu ming linked to a billmon post about Spain 1936 as the most appropriate model for another US Civil War, and stuff like this is right in that vein. When I first saw that horrific image of the Statue of Liberty you have there, my mind immediately recalled Franco's own monument, El Valle de los Caídos.

Fucking crazy.

Perhaps the conflation of religion and government does more to harm religion than government.....

  Mexico has severely curtailed the Catholic Church.....

Here, the Southern Baptists, iirc, have experienced falling rates of conversion and new members, and Catholics here are going to church less and less frequently.  The mega-churches in suburbia are more Dr. Phil than fire and brimstone.  Christianity continues to grow--but primarily in the Third World where its economic egalitarianism makes strange bedfellows with conservative economic thought. 

The statute of liberty stunt smacks in some ways of desperation--an attempt to gain attention, to boostrap onto Southerners' feelings of patriotism, hoping that it carries over to the religious sphere.  And let's not forget the true model of the neocons--Imperial Rome, not humble Christianity, whose founder was advocating something different than a military kingdom..... The true religion of red state America appears to be a naked nationalistic gingoism. 

It's so completely opposite of my understanding of my faith tradition (and the approach of Jesus as told in the Gospels) and it hurts so many people.

Had an interview today for a ministry position - and I'm very frank that a large part of what I experience as my call to ministry is specifically because I believe I can be a voice against this kind of idolatrous, dangerous religion.

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAARGH and I'm sorry.  More and more of us are working to counter this bullshit.  I hope you're right that, ultimately, more harm is done to religion than the state.  I fear it's both right now.

sometimes you win. sometimes you lose. and sometimes.... it rains.

That to me is the fallacy underlying many of the fundamentalist/evangelical Protestant denominations: that "faith", belief in the "proper" theological underpinnings, is not only necessary, but sufficient for salvation, and "good works", how someone behaves, are unnecessary. As long as you're "saved", you're going to heaven; it doesn't matter if you're the biggest asshole in town. Now, I'll grant the Catholic Church has sometimes gone overboard the other direction, exalting good works over faith; but as many Catholic and other apologists have said, good works done in evil's name are still of God, and good; evil done in God's name is still evil.

That, in a nutshell, is the rationale for all the horrible things the religious right nutjobs say: because their theology is "pure", their hate speech is "blessed by God". It's also how they manage to rationalize ignoring three-quarters of what Yeshua of Nazareth said.

But examination of the available data leads only to the conclusion that the biggest beneficiary of the Bush Presidency is Warren Harding. (Steve Mirsky, "Antigravity", SciAm 10/05)
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est. (Latin for All Occasions)

The newest Jesus Historian on the scene, James Tabor, is looking for the buried Jesus near Galilee--he found a First Century burial tomb of Mary, Salome (mother of James and John and Jesus's aunt) and other members of (or who could be members of)Jesus's family in Jerusalem not to long ago, and believes it was the Jesus family burial tomb. He also found a grave in Czech republic of a First Century roman soldier named Pantera, who Tabor  believes was Jesus's father.

He thinks he might indeed find Jesus's remains in Galilee---- 

This novelby Kathy Reichs, whose books gave rise to T.V. show called "Bones," is based on Tabor's discovery of the tomb, and is said by many to be an attempt (along with Tabor's own book) to capitalize on Dan Brown's success with the Da Vinci Code.

Tabor found the first century burial site with ossuaries, bones, and one burial shroud, but there were a lot of Marys, Jameses etc. at that time.  As to Pantera, Tabor says he is the one who found the grave.  He is a bit of an eccentric, with an outsized personality and good academic credentials, i.e, he will do well on T.V., etc.  I picture him combing the Galilean desert with a divining rod looking for the body of Jesus.

Tabor, btw, has weighed in on the James Ossuary hoax.  At first, everyone was convinced that an old ossuary with the inscription of James the brother of Jesus son of Joseph, was real.  Although those three names were quite common, it would have been rare to have that exact combination, so many thought they had found the original ossuary of James, the brother of Jesus.  It turns out the inscription was fake but the box was real.  Tabor, has this theory that the box was not properly tested, and makes a big deal about Israel's refusal to let him test the DNA in the James ossuary to see if it matches the DNA in the tomb he found that had the bones of Mary.  If they match, Tabor reasons, you would have found the Jesus family tomb. 

Do these people ever stop to really look around at how much freedom they have?  The government is the only place where it's restricted, and that's for their own benefit.  Once the government gets involved in something, it becomes subject to the whims of politicians.

Ever wonder why the omnibus spending bills have so much pork?  It's because every politician wants to give the folks back home something to remember him by.  Ever wonder why the Medicare drug benefit is a sweetheart deal for the drug companies or why the Iraq occupation is such a sweetheart deal for Haliburton (and the list goes on)?  It's crony capitalism.  Politicians are beholden to their friends and big donors.

Do the fundies really want crony theocracy?  Their precious religion will get distorted very quickly.

The Bay of Fundie. Keeping the Radical Right at Bay!

"Fascism is attracting the dregs of humanity- people with a slovenly biography - sadists, mental freaks, traitors." - ILYA EHRENBURG

They attempted to spell "womb" out of the initials but fell one letter shy.

They should have named it World Overcomers Miniature Brains...

Don't burn the flag. Wash it!

How do they do this?  Simple: they do it via narratives.  And "America is a Christian nation" is one of their favorite narratives.  It's our job to create, articulate, and repeat, repeat, repeat our own narratives.

We are hampered by the fact that truth is more complicated than fiction, and it doesn't make for such simple narratives.  But who ever said that the path of virtue was easy?

Nonetheless, here's a bit of a reminber:

(1) America was founded as a liberal nation, not a Christian nation.  That meant that everyone had the right to worship God in the way that they saw fit.  Every nation on earth that called itself a "Christian nation" told some of its citizens that they weren't real Christians, and they didn't have the same rights.  That's what "Christian nation" meant!

(2) At the time America was founded, theocracy was the rule.  Virtually every European nation (or smaller independent political entity) based its legitimacy on God--not on the will of the people.

God was not invoked to promote freedom, to but to crush it.  Liberty was denounced as a rebellion against God--just as bin Laden denounces Western liberalism today.

Liberalism--and America--changed all that.

(3) Liberal political theory is based on (a) the separation of church and state, (b) with the state based on the collective will of people, and (c) church membership based on the individual will and conscience of each believer.

This comes from a long line of liberal theorists, but was given its classical formulation by John Locke roughly a century before America was founded.

It was not something that Jefferson just happened to think of after the First Amendment was already written.  It was not just an add-on, as the word "amendment" might suggest.  It goes to the very heart of how government is legitimized in liberal political theory--the social contract, which is an agreement from below on how to organize society to protect our inalienable rights--including "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

And what greater happiness, for the believer, than to worship God as they see fit, not as a tyrannical government would force them to worship?

That is why liberals are the greatest friend that true believers (as opposed to hypocrites) ever had.  For liberals alone will protect their right to worship unconditionally, and defend them against all religious oppression.

These are the actual historical truths that we must repeat over and over and over again, in as many different ways as we can think of, until we find the ones that best connect with those we are trying to educate.  For this is the truth.  This is the story of American freedom, and how it came to be.

< /snark.... no, wait, the snark never goes off...

The issue of legitimacy, for example, being based on the will of the people v. the will of God. 

Isn't the reason that legitimacy was reposed in the people because they were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights? 

Does not legitimacy, then, in deep and intractable ways still rest on the will of God, such that American liberalism might better be seen as a variation on a theme rather than a clean and radical repudiation of "theocracy," whatever that might mean?

You say that you've presented historical truths but I wonder whether you're offering a specific, debatable interpretation of those truths.

I think one of the reasons I get uncomfortable with this kind of narrative is because I think that America is a deeply Christian nation, simply by virtue of its history.  I'm forever afraid that drawing too sharp a dichotomy between Revolutionary America and its contemporaries or between a liberal v. a Christian nation might conceal as much as it reveals.

I don't know, this isn't my area, but these are the questions I wanted to put out there.

Isn't the reason that legitimacy was reposed in the people because they were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights?

So I think it's not quite right to see this as a "Christian nation" - what strikes me as more accurate is that this is a "nation populated by many Christians."

As to the question of legitimacy, popular sovereignty, etc, it seems a bit ahistorical to assume that because in 1787 it was argued that these rights came from a Creator, our liberalism or our rights are still founded on that premise today. (There's also the question of whether "Creator" was intended as a Christian form or not). Over the last 220 years Americans have frequently reshaped and redefined those concepts of free will and inalienable rights. Where I see it as sitting today is a broad concept that is compatible both with a "Creator" origin and with a more secular interpretation. The 20th century synthesis has allowed for both to coexist - a synthesis that now seems to be breaking down.

Anyhow. I look forward to discussing this all with you when I join you folks in Philly next month!

The text of the State for Religious Freedom was this:

And on The Religous Freedom Page,  there is this instructive comment:

The assertion, rhetorical or not, was that liberty  was a creation that was not one of human society but that it was one of the gifts of "the Almighty God".  And that attempts to restrict that liberty were infringement of the natural rights granted to human beings by that God.  Notice the section that forbids repeal of the law.

Liberalism talks during this period of time in religious language and indeed it may owe to a particular historical religious problem - the religious civil wars of the 15th-17th centuries.

Want a third party -- 50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts -- Go get 'em

yeah, that's scary as hell. we are officially there, kiddos. yikes....

"after the Rapture, we get all their shit"

What makes it interesting.

1. Black churches are participating in the conservative Republican fusion of the American civil religion and Christian fundamentalism.  And it is instructive to see how the civil rights movement of "liberation" has been woven into this art form and the traditional immigrant "give me your tired....send me the refuse of your teeming shore" has been replaced by the Ten Commandments (a la Roy Moore).

2. These churches are marketing to middle-class blacks and a few middle-class conservative fundamentalist whites who have gotten beyond the race issue.

3. One wonders how much Faith-Based Initiative funds this church has received and, if it has received those funds, how it has used them and how much administrative cost it has taken out of them.  However, unlike other government funds, there is almost no indication of where Faith-Based Initiative funds have gone, and even that "almost none" has been provided begrudgingly.

4. It shows that the left must get beyond the instinctive "ain't it awful" response and begin to look at what is happening outside our day-to-day experience.

5.  The religious issue is not going away just by wishing it would.  And it becomes a reason for despair only if you cannot figure a way to pry the issue from the cold, dead hands of conservative Republicanism.  For the left has recently made the mistake of seeing the danger of theocracy coming from the religious subversion of government, when in fact it has been coming (since 1979) from the Republican subversion of religion.

Want a third party -- 50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts -- Go get 'em

I know every time someone from either coast starts in with elitist-sounding talk about rednecks and trailer parks, etc., that becomes the motivation for the evangelicals to burrow out from their holes to herd en masse to the polls, so I won't go there.  But there can be no question that they are interested in imposing religion on everything, and this $260,000 statue  is dramatic visual iconic proof that religion is a burgeoning insidious force in this country, if any more evidence were needed.  As the pastor responsible for this monstrosity, Alton Williams, boldly proclaimed at its unveiling:

"I decree the spirit of conviction on this intersection . . This statue proves that Jesus Christ is Lord over America, he is Lord over Tennessee, he is Lord over Memphis."

It's hard to know whether to laugh, cry or freak over this kind of statement -- meaning both the statue and Williams' words -- I recommend vigilance, as always. 

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. 

What do you say to this: "If you are an extreme Liberal and dislike everything about this country you are naturally going to blame the "Religous Right" for your hatred. If you are a Right Wing Conservative, you are going to blame the Liberals.

Every one of the checked items would also apply to the Liberals who seem to think that they are more intelligent, patriotic, and deserving than the rest of the population."

This is what I rambled out... ACK

Truckee, separation of church and state. Period. If you clearly believe that there are such things as fascist liberals... then... whatever. I truly can't even begin to figure out how someone so intelligent could cross that bridge. I am not "extreme" I am so sick of that crap. I am indeed a liberal. There's nothing extreme about that. I'm actually quite mainstream. The freakin' stream moved to the extreme right is what's happened. No, not one of the steps of fascism could be checked off in a liberal sense unless you count pointing out that this Administration is an abomination that should be abolished. Yes, I HATE Bush, this administration. But I'm sure there are others who hated Hitler as well and their hatred of such criminals doesn't undermine the fact that the regime, the killings, the torture, the goosestepping were indeed "W"rong. I know for a fact John Walsh HATES the man who murdered his son but that doesn't take away the fact that he's done so much to protect children with his anger and grief.

Sorry if my hatred of a callous POS chickenhawk who laughs as he executes people offends you, Truckee. I am not a Christian and therefore don't feel the need to coddle killers and people send young men and women off to die while they laugh it up in the Oval Office. lI am not pointing at certian groups of people such as what the RIGHT WING does... how they say that gays are a "threat" to the values of this country... I'm pointing at the Administration and it's biggest base of support... the Right Wing Religious. Look up Brownback - look how he's using radical religious views to form a political party. If I can't stand up and say that's clearly not a good idea because it might offend someone who happens to believe in a Jesus... than say good bye to this red white and blue country... and just call it Jesus Land. Bush and his followers, supporters use their "religion" as a weapon against foreign and domestic alike. So don't get all upset with others toss their crap right back at them.

If I was a Christian I would be livid at what this Administration has done with your views and choices.

Also you are wrong about "Disliking everything in this country" I love my country, it's my government and the apathy of citizens that I am ashamed of. I realize that your own private beliefs you feel shouldn't affect other people and their private decisions and lives. But... this administration is using their idea of religion as well as greed to create laws, borders and punishments. If I can't say that is wrong, if I can't stand up against that.... then we're eternally screwed.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." ~Jimi Hendrix

I like the History Channel, and it tends to focus on things such as the Battle of the Bulge and Bin Laden.  I really love its sister channel, (same logo) The History International Channel, which has all kinds of shows about the Ancient Greeks and Romans, Celts, Druids, etc.--in essence Ancient and Medievel European History.  The History International Channel just debuted a new series this week, "Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts."  The show is supposed to be history with a new, fresh and exciting perspective.  Young, hip Dave Stotts drives around Europe in small sporty-looking cars, has funny outtakes, and projects lots of energy. 

The first episode was entertaining--some of the shows on the History International Channel are narrated by what seems like a 75 year-old docent at the local museum.  But last night, I watched two episodes of Drive Thru History I had recorded and was intrigued by the subtle narrative.  The show tended to shave the rough edges off of events, leaving a narrative that tended to fit the Christian narrative.  And at the end of one show, Stotts was clear that he personally believed that--by pre-design--the Greek and Roman empires paved the way for Jesus by creating a world-wide language (via the Classical Greeks and Alexander) and a world-wide highway system (via the Romans) that would allow the story of Jesus to be disseminated.

But guess where this Dave Stotts guy comes from?  Cold Water Media produces "Drive Thru History."  It has also produced a video called "Icons of Evolution" challenging aspects of Evolution.  Who markets "Drive Thru History"?  James Dobson and the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

How slick can you get?????  This stuff, which is supposed to be history, is religious theology and dogma.  Fine, but accurate labeling would be helpful. 
 

This is the address (see the very bottom of the page) of Cold Water Media:

This address is in teeny weeny print at the bottom, and if you click on the link "Who We Are" you will see a nice little blurb, which states:

So, their offices are in Ohio, right?  Nope....The photo of the reconstructed barn doesn't look like they are in Ohio--it looks like Colorado.  And they don't tell us where the reconstructed barn is, do they? 

So, where is Palmer Lake, Colorado?  It is in El Paso County just north of the Air Force Academy and Colorado Springs.  Here (I hope) is a mapquest location for Palmer, Colorado.

Now here is the website for James Dobson's Focus on the Family, which has the following address:

Well, let's plug that address into mapquest and see what we get.  Here is the link.  If you zoom out a couple of notches you will see that Focus on the Family is basically on the south side of the Air Force Academy, and Palmer, where Cold Water Media is located, is just a tad to the north of the Academy.  Pure coincidence?  Perhaps.

Let's look at the editorial policy and philosophy of "Drive Thru History."  Here is Dave Stotts' view of history:

Any doubts, now, about who is financially backing "Drive Thru History?"  It is James Dobson's view of history.  The right wing is extraordinarily sophisticated in manipulating the media.

Sorry to take up so much bandwith on this....

Outside of the incessant WWII stuff ("All Hitler, all the time") which gets tiring after a bit, Drive Through History (which I will admit, I haven't seen) isn't the only program on the History Channel which is blatantly slanted towards a (dare I say revisionist?) Christian-centric view of history...that was discarded by most reputable historians at the end of the 19th C. I noticed a few years back that a lot of their programs were written in a sensationalist, breathless, polemic style which whenever possible supported a Christian world-view, and in many cases were blatantly incomplete to that end. On occasion, they were downright innaccurate as far as I could tell...but I'm only an interested amateur.

No surprise here, everybody.

But examination of the available data leads only to the conclusion that the biggest beneficiary of the Bush Presidency is Warren Harding. (Steve Mirsky, "Antigravity", SciAm 10/05)
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est. (Latin for All Occasions)