Religion Takes a Spin

For some reason, religion is very much in the news lately. Go figure.

Mike Huckabee thinks God wants him to be president. Or maybe he thinks he's Jesus, or something.

It seems that Huckabee, who is running as a Christian conservative, who makes constant references to his beliefs and his background as Baptist minister, and who once interrupted a speech to take a phone call from God, is upset that reporters ask him about his religion.

And with that, Huckabee went on to speak more about his religion. . . .

But Huckabee is not alone in wanting people to respect this religion, while failing to practice tolerance when it comes to the beliefs of others. Mitt Romney, in his effort to convince Christians that he loves Jesus, kinda trampled all over non-Christians in the process. And, of course, they're quick to point out the multitude of errors in Romney's claims.

If Romney is going to attack humanists and secularists as "wrong," then let him explain why they were so far ahead of his church on the greatest moral issues of the past half-century.

You'd think a guy who wants to be president would be a little more knowledgeable about history (oh, and let's not forget that pesky Constitution problem).

And if you haven't had your fill of religious antics on this fine morning, here are a few more links that should sate you: God talks about Richard Roberts, will the Germans ban scientology? And finally, here's your annual reminder that Christmas is not just a Christian holiday (don't click on these last two links if you're uncomfortable with the f-bomb) -- nor is it celebrated only in the United States. Sheesh!

Tonight's Republican Debate

I'm watching the Republican YouTube/CNN debate at the moment, and I can't believe my ears. When Giuliani was asked about the possibility that he let New Yorkers foot the bill for his adulterous trysts, he seemed to blame the police -- that it's their fault, because they were the ones who decided how to report (or hide?) the expenses involved in following Rudy around the state every time he got randy and snuck out to spend the weekend with his mistress. Did I hear that right?

Also, did Duncan Hunter just say that gays shouldn't be allowed to serve in the military because most Americans who join the military are homophobes? Yikes! By that logic, segregation was ok as long as most Americans were racists. And this guy wants to be president?

[The only other candidates to answer the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" question were Huckabee, Romney and McCain. Huckabee just agreed with Hunter. Romney tore a page from Hillary's book by awkwardly trying to triangulate on the issue. And McCain just said that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is working (don't tell the people trying to cope with the shortage of translators in the Middle East) and that everyone in the military agrees with him -- almost unanimously. By the way, the homosexual 43-year Brigadier General who asked the question was in the audience and he was heckled by the crowd (who were those people?).]

No one answered the question about how Jesus would feel about the death penalty. Huckabee got a laugh for his evasion ("Jesus was too smart to run for public office"), but no one was able to deal with it directly. How sad. Republicans claim to be the party of Jesus, but they really can't seem to talk about him intelligently (and don't get me started on the Democrats all trying to out-Jesus each other!). Maybe we need to just admit that religion has no place in politics and put us all out of our misery.

Really, I honestly tried to find something positive in tonight's debate. But this selection of white men all seemed either really mean, crooked, or simply insane (what's the deal with Ron Paul's secret NAFTA superhighway?).

Where Are the Young Christians?

Fortunately in places like Chattanooga, there are churches that don't preach intolerance, so young people can find a safe place to worship. But in other parts of the country, that is not the case. Combine that with the hateful message prominent (supposed) Christians like James Dobson project on a national level, and you've got a recipe that has kids turning away from the church entirely (more at Pam's House Blend).

Today, the most common perception is that present-day Christianity is "anti-homosexual." Overall, 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of young churchgoers say this phrase describes Christianity. As the research probed this perception, non-Christians and Christians explained that beyond their recognition that Christians oppose homosexuality, they believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians. One of the most frequent criticisms of young Christians was that they believe the church has made homosexuality a "bigger sin" than anything else. Moreover, they claim that the church has not helped them apply the biblical teaching on homosexuality to their friendships with gays and lesbians.

When young people were asked to identify their impressions of Christianity, one of the common themes was "Christianity is changed from what it used to be" and "Christianity in today's society no longer looks like Jesus."

What would Jerry Falwell have made of this?

Lightning damages Jesus statue

Does this mean that God hates Jesus? God hates nuns? Pilgrims? People who climb stairs while praying?
(via Ricky, via Mike)

OK, so maybe Jesus DIDN'T want you to get cancer...

There's fresh (good!) news on the HPV vaccine:

Where we left off:

- Scientists: Soon a new HPV vaccine will virtually banish cervical (and some penile) cancer. So, we should require vaccination.

- Jesus (via the Bushistas): Sorry. Vaccination would send the wrong message. HPV is spread by nookie...so either abstain, or die, strumpets!

[...] But, now, a letter to the editor in the June '06 Scientific American may offer a way to defuse the battle (and save 4,000 American women's lives a year).

[...] [S]exual contact is NOT the sole means of spreading HPV. Its pathogens are widespread, and  fingers, Tampons, etc., can spread the infection.

So, unless Jesus wants to kill our women-folk for scratching "down there," there is no reason to oppose the vaccine.

Wonkette's back, xmas is dead and Coulter wallows

Whew. Wonkette is finally back from vacation, rehab, or wherever it is she goes.

We were stuck in the back country of New Hampshire for Christmas, cut off from civilization and decent liquor (no Blackberry and nothing but Gordon's gin...) so we had no idea that, apparently, the liberals succeeded in replacing Christmas with Kwanzaaukka, the official holiday of gay marriage. Conservative activist Paul Weyrich told the Washington Post that, in fact, "the campaign to eliminate Christmas from our society is well underway." Please let us know if the campaign is accepting donations or needs someone to phone bank for them.

I say we shouldn't get rid of Christmas completely, but just replace it with something that wouldn't be so appallingly embarassing if Jesus ever were to show up for his birthday party. We could start by getting rid of the frantic consumption, dead trees and mindless regurgitation of silly christian mythology and replace it with a serious effort to achieve the supposed goals of Jesus.
But back to Wonkette...

Meanwhile, Ann Coulter has shown herself to be a closet evangelist for the Christmas cause, and has used her website to send out a subtle appeal to those who practice a different faith:

        To The People Of Islam:
        Just think: If we'd invaded your countries, killed
        your leaders and converted you to Christianity
        YOU'D ALL BE OPENING CHRISTMAS
        PRESENTS RIGHT ABOUT NOW!
        Merry Christmas

We're thinking this is one reason to convert most Muslim's haven't thought of, but, ironically, "Because we want to give them Christmas gifts" was actually in the first draft of Colin Powell's UN presentation.

Ha. I checked Ann Coulter's web site, and she really did put that up there. Wow -- bitter hate and willful ignorance all at once! That's quite a combo.