Donate to or support
Talk to Action








The Indian River Incident : What You Can Do

link > The "Stop the ACLU Coalition" Shaming Project
How you can help stop "Stop The ACLU" just by sending a few emails



 'Left Behind' video game imageThe Shaming Project

does the violence of "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" bother you ? If so, what can you do ? Well, to begin with you can email Jonathan Hutson's stories to people you know. That will help to bring more public scrutiny of the game. Public shaming really works ! Just click on the "email" icon and link at the top or bottom of the story and you'll be taken to a form that will allow you email the first story, The Purpose Driven Life Takers or the latest installment without leaving this site. Thanks. 'Left Behind' video game image




Theocons at the Pentagon, the fight is on
By Shockwave Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 12:14:29 PM EST printable version print story
[ed: promoted from the diaries] Recently I posted this diary on a film by the Christian Embassy that shows evangelical generals in uniform proselitizing within the Pentagon. Since then the Campus Crusade for Christ has taken the film down from YouTube because of "Copyright" violations.  Yeah right!  The reason is they are running scared.  The video showed clearly what the theocons think  of the separation of church and state.  They own the Air Force Academy, the Air Force and soon the rest of the Pentagon.

The religious right is not short of allies.  One of its key mouthpieces is none other than Rush Limbaugh (whose show is rebroadcast on Armed Forces Radio every day) Rush Limbaugh spoke against Mikey Weinstein, who uncovered the film and leads the battle aginst theocons in the military from his Military Religious Freedom Fundation. Now Mikey is fighting back. He will be on Paula Zahn tonight.


Here is some background news.

And here is Mikey's letter to Rush Limbaugh

An Open Letter to Rush Limbaugh:

In Defense of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Satan's Lawyer. Un-American. Anti-religion. Pacifist. Anti-Christ. Liberal. The Field General of the Godless Armies of Satan. The Most Dangerous Man in America.

I've been called many names since I began my battle to uphold the religious freedoms of the noble men and women in our armed forces. I'm impressed with the creativity of my adversaries and frankly flattered that so much time has been invested in coining these denigrating titles.

It's rare that I take time to call attention to these criticisms, sticks and stones may break my bones but, you know the rest; however, Rush, you who kindly called both me and Military Religious Freedom Foundation members liberal pacifists, also asked an important question of me on your radio program last week.

"Who in the world are you, Mikey, to say that our military has to ban religious activity in the Pentagon because it might offend the enemy?"

Well, Rush, exactly who do I have to be and who are you to openly trample on our Constitutional rights?

This has never been a political spectrum left or right issue; it is an issue of what is Constitutionally right or wrong. It is neither my goal nor the goal of my Foundation to "ban religious activity in the Pentagon," and we certainly do not strive to appease the fundamentalist enemies we are currently fighting.

I am a great believer in the United States Constitution as laid out for us by our Founding Fathers.  I am a staunch advocate for both freedom of speech and religious freedom. However, the military, due to its necessarily draconian command structure, is an inherently coercive, adversarial, and ritualistic organization - one that presents situations in which both of these cherished freedoms can easily be abused in the supervisor-subordinate relationship.  Given your personal lack of service in our nation's armed forces, I can partially understand why you might not grasp these basic facts.

Military leadership is required to uphold and abide by military regulations and Constitutional guarantees. Senior officials must strive to serve as exemplars to their subordinates.

Military and civilian personnel are undoubtedly entitled to their own religious beliefs. It is, however, clearly against military regulations and Constitutional guarantees to promote these beliefs during mandatory military meetings and events, while in uniform and on duty. My son and daughter-in-law (both of whom are United States Air Force Academy graduates) found this out when their request to appear in uniform in a documentary film about religion in the military was denied, in writing, by the Pentagon, for fear of government endorsement of their views.

We are not asking for the cessation of bible studies, prayer groups, sermonizing or religious functions before or after military duties have been completed. We are only asking that these religious events not be made mandatory or be thrust by those in the chain-of-command, in the face of subordinates who actively choose not to engage in them. Of equal importance, we are asking military members to not use their official government positions as a platform to preach about their particular biblical worldview.

As a United States Air Force Academy graduate, with a long family history of military combat service, I consider myself a true patriot and a loyal supporter of this country and her values. I have never sought to placate our enemies and did not choose to engage in this fight with that objective in mind. Rather, I took up this cause after hearing innumerable examples of specific Constitutional infractions and of blatant religious bias, from U.S. armed forces and civilian personnel stationed at the 702 U.S. military installations in 132 countries throughout the world.

I firmly believe that the encroachment of religious fundamentalism on our armed forces destroys their ability to successfully serve the American people.  Servicemen and women, cadets, midshipmen and civilian personnel are crying out that constant coercive evangelizing and the pressure to adhere to a religion that is not their own, negatively impacts their ability to study, serve and stand together as a cohesive fighting unit in the war we are currently waging.        

How can we successfully battle religious fundamentalists overseas who seek the destruction of American ideals, if we carry our own brand of fundamentalism into that war?

It is your support, Rush, for the deliberate erosion of our Constitution that truly emboldens our enemies overseas.

I'll fight with every fiber of my being for you to have the right to spew your skewed notion of our Constitution. But I also won't rest until all of our men and women in uniform have the religious freedom our nation guarantees.

Mikey Weinstein
MRFF President and Founder

Please help this letter get some visibility, the forces arrayed against Mikey are powerful and the subject of the evangelical take over of the military too important.




Display:
We are giving them heartburn.  Lets get the word out.

Also posted at DailyKos

by Shockwave on Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 12:16:57 PM EST

I hope this helps.

Any time/channel/station for Weinstein's appearance on Zahn's show ?

by Bruce Wilson on Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 12:28:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't know about East Coast.

by Shockwave on Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 01:13:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]



Mr. Weinstein produced an exceptionally well written letter.  I wonder if Rush will ever read it in his lifetime?  I especially liked his little burn about Limbaugh's lack of military service and therefore not being able to grasp what goes on in the command structure.

The following is a letter to the editor I sent to Air Force times regarding a story they printed on the Christian Embassy video.  It is not my intention to threadjack but I will continue to hammer on this particular issue regarding Christian Embassy because I see them as a threat to more than just religious freedom or equality.

In reference to the article "Religion on their sleeves?", I would like to offer a different perspective on Christian Embassy that has not been voiced in the media.  Doesn't it seem odd that their private ministering is exclusively to high ranking officers and high ranking members of the federal government to the exclusion of enlisted members and lower ranking officers?  I have seen their promotional video and one of the most glaring problems is not only their exclusivity with these high ranking personnel (which smacks of elitism) but also their close contact with foreign ambassadors and other members of foreign governments.  

Ministering is a very intimate affair where confidentiality is expected and where people often confess secrets they would not ordinarily confess even to their own spouses.  A foreign intelligence officer would be crazy to pass up an opportunity to attempt recruitment within an organization that has this kind of unfettered access to members of the government and military.  This poses a huge threat to national security and the Department of Defense should immediately issue a no contact order with Christian Embassy until that threat level can be determined.  Likewise, the president should issue a similar order to civilian government members.


by Ross Raymond on Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 02:00:44 PM EST




WWW Talk To Action


Its the Substance, Not the Slogan
As Talk to Action regulars know, we believe that name calling and cheap sloganeering are no substitute for actual knowledge and the capacity to......
By Frederick Clarkson (6 comments)
Short Takes: The Family edition
Religion Dispatches: A number of religious leaders called on president Obama to condemn the proposed Ugandan kill the gays bill, which had been originally......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Will National Prayer Breakfast Once Again Flaunt Fake George Washington 'Prayer' ?
It was February 2006. President George Bush, King Abdullah of Jordan, and Bono all gathered at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast. If they read......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
NY Times, AP, Cable News Reports on Air Force Academy Don't Get the Picture
In recent weeks, there has been a pretty steady stream of articles reporting on the much improved religious climate at the U.S. Air Force......
By Chris Rodda (3 comments)
The Road to Remonstrance
I recently wrote about the need for mainstream and liberal Catholics to offer remonstrance -- an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance......
By Frank Cocozzelli (7 comments)
Angry Voters, Right-Wing Populism, & Racial Violence
Eric Ward is nervous. He's seen it before--the angry right-wing populist crowds, the strident calls to "Restore America" and "Take it Back." In the......
By Chip Berlet (8 comments)
Historians Whack "Liberal Fascism" Thesis
David Neiwert has pulled together a critique of the idea of "Liberal Fascism" over at the History News Network: "It has now been just......
By Chip Berlet (1 comment)
Texas Churches and the Governor's Race
In Polk County Texas, Governor Rick Perry held a campaign rally in one of the Black churches.  He was joined by the head of......
By wilkyjr (0 comments)
Richard Land and Presidential Politics
Andrew Hogue of Baylor University has chronicled the story of Richard Land's connection to Presidential power.  Writing in Texas Baptist History's 2006 Journal, Hogue......
By wilkyjr (0 comments)
Good Riddance 'Jesus Rifles' -- Trijicon to Stop Putting Bible References on Military Rifle Sights
(I've updated this post to add some photos and other stuff to rebut the most common comments I'm seeing on other articles and blogs.)......
By Chris Rodda (1 comment)
Movement Behind Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill Organizing in Newark
Street by street, block by block, organized by city ward, PrayforNewark's squads of church members are walking their city, praying for residents and businesses.......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Resource Directory for the New Apostolic Reformation
The Apostles and Prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation view their postdenominational movement as the future face of the Protestant church and the end......
By Rachel Tabachnick (0 comments)
Sight Fight: U.S. Military Must See Problem With Bible Engravings
Yesterday I wrote on AU's blog about a controversy that has erupted over the revelation that a Michigan-based company has engraved references to biblical......
By Rob Boston (5 comments)
History Matters: Obama Declares Religious Freedom Day
President Barack Obama has issued a Proclamation declaring January 16th Religious Freedom Day. (PDF) In it he invokes the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Video Exposes Antigay Western Theocratic Effort "Transforming" Uganda
My new 20 minute documentary, Transforming Uganda, exposes the immense political influence in Uganda of the International Transformation Network and ideological influence of George......
By Bruce Wilson (3 comments)

Pope John Paul II's Penitential Practices: The Opus Dei Connection
We are pleased to once again welcome theologian William Lindsey as a guest front pager. This piece is crossposted from the new progressive Catholic group blog, The Open Tabernacle: Here Comes Everybody. -- FC......
By William Lindsey (0 comments)
WallBuilders, Inc., Promoting a dominionist "Christian Nation"
Cherry Hill Seminary Supports Patrick McCollum in 9th Circuit Case Against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation http://snipurl.com/u8kcj ......
By Dragonzmajick (0 comments)
Roeder verdict sparks fears of more anti-abortion violence
cross-posted at dKos Scott Roeder is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of George Tiller.  At the very least, he'll by 75 years old before he can......
By Christian Dem in NC (1 comment)
The dark underside of the Latter Rain--a walkaway's view
cross-posted at dKos I read Bruce Wilson's posts on dKos and Talk To Action regarding the "Pray For Newark" initiative with particular alarm.  While Pray for Newark appears to espouse an admirable goal--community empowerment--it's......
By Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
Bishops as Provocateurs
In a thinly-veiled reference to the campaign of President Barack Obama, Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, charged that Americans are "embracing a totalitarianism which masks itself as the 'hope,' the 'future' of......
By bettyclermont (0 comments)
The Vatican v. Children
Yesterday was not a good day for children seeking justice from the Roman Catholic Church. The internet brought the following news: ......
By bettyclermont (0 comments)
Religious bigots control supermarket chain
Well, they've won again.  The religious bigots have forced Publix Supermarkets into bowing to their wishes. ......
By ArchaeoBob (5 comments)
Manhattan Declaration is to Theology what Fox is to Journalism
The December 20, 2009, New York Times ran a lengthy article by David D. Kirkpatrick about Robert P. George, "The Conservative-Christian Big Thinker." The occasion was release of George's "Manhattan Declaration" signed by the......
By bettyclermont (2 comments)
Merry Freakin' Christmas: I'm Taking Your Stuff, and you Can't Stop Me!
A humorous look at the larger implications of a seemingly harmless holiday tradition. ......
By John Sheirer (1 comment)
Lou Engle, September 25, 2007, Los Angeles: "Holywood"
[This is a partial transcription of a sermon/speech Lou Engle, Founder of TheCall gave on September 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. The full sermon is slightly over 63 minutes. This partial transcript is of......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Tweet complains my videos of his "Hitler/Lenin/Mao" speech are unfair
It's gratifying to know "America's most powerful pastor" seems to have taken notice of my videos, showcasing Rick Warren's 2005 speech at California's Anaheim Angels Stadium, during which Warren outlined a "stealth" program to......
By Bruce Wilson (4 comments)
Blurring Reproductive Rights and the Religious Right
The principle of the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds from paying for abortion back in 1976 -- is now seen as an acceptable, "abortion neutral" position for the prochoice Democratic Party. How did......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Calls on Followers To Be Dedicated as Followers of Lenin and Mao
[note: for more recent news on Rick Warren, see Rick Warren's Dissertation Advisor Leads Network Promoting Uganda Anti-Gay Bill] Video, below contains audio recording, photos, and transcript from Rick Warren's April 17, 2005 speech......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Julius Oyet Touts The College of Prayer
A new Talk To Action story identifies Apostle and bishop Julius Oyet as a major player in the recent effort in the Ugandan parliament to pass a draconian anti-gay bill. In this video [transcript......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Mark Silk on the Hagee / Rodriguez Entente
Mark Silk, at Spiritual Politics has picked up on my notice of the Hagee-Rodriguez embrace and zeroes in on what's certainly one of the most notable aspects: "The key thing to understand about the......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Inscribing Christian Values in our Children Before Birth?
Following the evolution of evangelical discourse as it re-defines homosexuality as evidence of "fallen creation", Terri Murray looks at how the Christian right have shifted their rhetoric to adapt to empirical research showing that......
By TMurray (0 comments)
US News & World Report Showcases Creationist Ray Comfort
US News and World Report's Dan Gilgoff has charitably provided evangelist Ray Comfort a media platform in the form of a US News & World "exclusive" through which Comfort defends his efforts to distribute,......
By Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Atheist billboard in Central Florida
The organization "Atheists of Florida" sponsored a billboard promoting atheism in Lakeland, Florida.  I, however, have some concerns. ......
By ArchaeoBob (3 comments)
Transcript: Billy Graham and Richard Nixon, February 21, 1973
The following is my own transcript of a 20 minute phone conversation between Richard Nixon and Billy Graham, on February 23, 1973. As far as I am aware this is the only publicly available,......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Rifqa Bary being sent back to Ohio now
Well, there's a change in this case.  After the judge gets immigration documents and so on from the parents, he will send her back. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
The War on The War on Christmas Goes To Pot
The first day of Fall could be considered the official launch date for the annual war on the war on Christmas, which represents a significant part of the the American Family Association business model......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
School Officials off the hook
Today it is reported that the judge excused the school officials who violated the agreement they had over separation of Church and State. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
Dominionists trying to outlaw birth control
Well, they're at it again in Florida. ......
By ArchaeoBob (5 comments)
No Danger for Rifqa Bary
The FDLE just completed an investigation and found "no credible reports of threats" against Rifqa Bary. ......
By ArchaeoBob (1 comment)
Truth hitting the mainstream!
I've despaired of ever seeing anything critical or exposing Dominionism hit the mainstream press.  There is now an exception. ......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
Extremism?
The term extremism is currently in vogue to describe hate groups and other malcontents listed as such by knowledgeable monitors like SPLC and others in the T2A sidebar, but while we all know what......
By Jay Taber (2 comments)
My Netroots Nation Panel Talk
Where Do We Stand in the Bright Light of History? Netroots Nation August 14, 2009 Thank You, Professor Ledewitz, for initiating this discussion of a progressive vision for church and state -- and Netroots......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Transcript, Jan. 18, 2009 Steven Anderson Sermon Excerpt
Note: the sermon excerpt video and transcript below, from a January 18, 2009 sermon by pastor Steven Anderson of the Tempe, Arizona Independent Baptist Church, begins at approximately 21:30 into Anderson's  one hour, four......
By Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
More anti-Muslim provocation
The local paper reports that students in Gainsville, Florida are wearing T-shirts with "ISLAM IS OF THE DEVIL" printed on them. ......
By ArchaeoBob (1 comment)

More Diaries...


Donate to or support
Talk to Action

Left Behind: Eternal Forces: Installments of Jonathan Hutson's Talk To Action expose series on the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game have been viewed by up to 1/2 million people. See our site section featuring Over 35 original articles covering the controversial "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game that has provoked a boycott by a coalition of religious groups and a letter writing campaign urging Walmart to stop selling the game. Media inquiries click here
(image: detail from Francoise Dubois' rendition of the Bartholomew's Day Massacre reveals the actual nature of religious warfare)