Google WWW 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




Ford's "Dominionist" Prayer - a firsthand account
By Lauren Sabina KneislyWed Jan 03, 2007 at 10:03:48 PM EST
topic: Battlecry and Ron Luce section:Front Page printable version print this story
Bumped over from the diaries -- ed

SusanG's diary on Daily Kos last night singing Gerald Ford's praises as having allegedly kept his faith and his political acts separate finally crossed some threshold that pushed my partner, Mike Doughney and I, into commenting. We wrote for the first time about an event we were present for where Ford threw the full weight of his status as Former President behind one of many key groups in the Biblical American, or what some might term the "dominionist", youth movement; by personally appearing at Teen Mania's "Stand Up" event in Michigan, back in 2000.

This diary, then, are some of the details of that, and unlike almost most every other piece of writing I've seen since Ford's death, this is based on a first hand experience, it reflects an event that happened almost 7 years ago, not during the 1970's.

This has been exceptionally difficult for me to write out, the gravity of what we saw and how to bring information forward; ourselves, holding to some value of civility even as we have seen incredibly uncivil things. But ultimately, I think it's critically important to look at Ford's 'legacy' in light of his actual actions. So at this point, I'm just going try to write 'what I know', while incorporating some quotes from my partner, Mike.

* INTRODUCTION

By way of introduction, I'll use a little of what Mike wrote last night:

The organization that created the event, Teen Mania Ministries, is the same one now running the "Battle Cry" campaign, which kicked off its series of stadium gatherings last spring with a provocative display at San Francisco City Hall that they framed as a response to the gay marriages that had been performed there. It seeks to recruit young people as so-called "culture warriors" creating friction and divisiveness around the usual topics over which they obsess, all with the alleged goal of recruiting teenagers to church youth groups.

This is what Ford was doing in his twilight years: a full participant in being put forward as an example of "Godly leadership" at an event like this, eventually being used to further these cultural and political conflicts, and the agendas of dominionist leaders, now and in the future. This "Battle Cry Campaign" of Teen Mania has evolved to have an explicit political component, and it's tied in with all of the usual suspects (Falwell, Robertson, Colson, Haggard, Santorum and Brownback just to name a few). Ford's presence there was used to legitimize Ron Luce and Teen Mania; Ford was part of the process by which the organization has grown and launched its latest campaign.

* HUMAN, WITH HUMAN FAILINGS

Unlike so many of the Ford diaries that paint the man as pure evil or pure saint, this is a diary about Ford as entirely human, complete with human failings. Unlike so many that assume Ford left Washington for the greener (or whiter) pastures of Vail, and the desert in California, and had no real recent history thereafter other than being man about town, perhaps mentions here and there of some rounds of golf, raising money for the completion of the national cathedral, and his heart treatments last August, no, this diary focuses upon Ford's actions in the year 2000.  It's a first hand account, a story of how a man who politically claimed to be pro-choice, queer friendly, pro-stem cell research etc ended up becoming the embodiment of validation at an event with thousands of teenagers, for much of what he personally assumedly would have disagreed with; a personified validation for an anti-abortion and anti-Queer youth movement that we will likely be feeling the effects of on into the future.

It's a story of how what may have been one man's personal religious quest can result in a very public 'fatal' misstep that ultimately, for me at least, outweighs any previous stance the man may have taken.

Many writers may focus upon Ford's openness to Queer participation in society, his support for stem cell research, his pro-choice position, others focus upon his role in the rise of Rumsfeld and Chenney, his veto of the FOIA, the mess that was the ending of America's Vietnam war, his dogged attempts to impeach Stevenson, and most importantly Ford's pardon of Nixon - thus ensuring there would never be any consequences, a precedent that has echoed down through the years. No, Ford the man himself, like so many christians, is nothing if not a bundle of contradictions.

But it is his christianity that provides a consistant thread through both his time and office and afterwards. And so it is Hunter S. Thompson's words about Ford, oft repeated over the last few days, that I find a necessary backdrop to begin my own personal story about Ford in the year 2000:

"Ford, who believes strongly in Heaven and Hell, has told more than one of his celebrity golf partners that I know I will go to hell, because I pardoned Richard Nixon."

Ford was a man deeply concerned about the predisposition of his own soul (also see Time magazine's piece on Ford's participation in bible studies), and when push came to shove that to my mind at least became the man's greatest weakness, because in the end, concern about the state of his soul in relation to his god may have been precisely the motivation that led Ford to stand on a stage in the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of teens and act as validation for so much of what he himself claims to had disagreed with politically in his life.

* RESEARCH, AND "DAY ONE"

In April of 2000, my partner, Mike Doughney and I were in Michigan again. We were there, as a part of our ongoing 'work' as what might be termed 'oppositional researchers'.

We had been focusing in on what we've come to term the Biblical America movement (our definition) "the social movement that seeks to use their interpretation of the Bible as the sole basis of all governance and social interaction") was teaching its kids. (The BA movement is actually one of three strands in what we're labeling a 'braided cord'- BA, neo-cons, and anti-individualist/pro-'coporate'ism- i.e. groups over individuals.) By the time we reached Pontiac, we had already spent several years looking at youth events and Teen Mania events in particular.

A year earlier, in 1999, we had also come to the Silverdome for what many have called the largest christian teen gathering in history, Teen Mania Ministry's "Day One", with an estimated 70,000 people.  Day One was a turning point, including its own christian pre-emptive war language years before Iraq war. Day One's pre-emptive war was called for by Teen Mania head, Ron Luce- "We must either fight or become slaves". (See our Acquire the evidence page about that speech to get the flavour of it). It's a strong rejection of peaceful chrisitianity and peaceful christians themselves, in favour of warlike christianity.)

* PONTIAC: STAND UP 2000 FINALE; PAT ROBERTSON, & FORD

So, back to the year 2000, we're once again at the Pontiac Silverdome, for a second Teen Mania 'national event,' this time entitled "Stand Up" which will include many speakers over the course of a weekend. Sessions are held Friday evening, Saturday morning, and afternoon, with a finale held Saturday evening. Over the course of those many hours, language and concepts are methodically redefined and there is a great deal of expectation setting. The finale of the Saturday night event will be Ford and Ron Luce. Pat Robertson was another, earlier featured speaker that final night. Robertson's speech is a whole 'nother topic, for another day.

While the previous year's "Day One" had been a mass spectacle of its own sort, the final evening, the emotional climax of Stand Up featuring Gerald Ford, was a spectacle we have not quite seen the like of before or since. When it came time for Ford to come out on stage the audience was at an emotional peak. They had spent many hours listening to speaker after speaker, interspersed with worship sessions, and for many, very little sleep. But this wasn't going to be the entrance of just any speaker; it was going to be a grandiose spectacle. Accompanied by a color guard and regal music, Ford was brought to the stage in an electric cart, and presented with an award created solely for the occasion.

* BIBLICAL AMERICAN "OATH OF THE UNASHAMED" LED BY FORD

The heart of the Gerald Ford appearance was his leading the thousands of youth groups in what Teen Mania called "The Oath of the Unashamed" (video with full transcript, can be seen here.) It is a pledge that to some may appear relatively 'standard christian', but throughout the course of the weekend, much of the language contained within it had been redefined, such that by the time Ford led the kids in it, some were having a very specific experience, one translated through the experiences and language redefinitions of the last two days.

Yet even taken at face value without the specific Teen Mania-ized redefinition of language, the Oath that Ford read contains explicitly supremacist or 'dominionist' aspects, specifically the lines "I pledge my life recognizing I am no longer my own, belonging to God who has called me to lead the world." and "I make God's word the final authority directing my motives and actions."

"God... has called me to lead the world" and "God's word the final authority".

My partner, Mike has described these two lines far more articulately than I ever could:

Here are two lines that embody much of what Teen Mania teaches, and that have certainly come to the surface through their "Battle Cry" campaign. First is the notion of death to self, and its actual implementation: the radical personality change, central to all of Teen Mania's programs, that they put forward as absolutely necessary if one is to become a "follower of Christ." Second is the notion of their interpretation of "God's word" being the final authority, overriding secular law, and for that matter, all social convention; the basis of the so-called "culture war" that is now central to Teen Mania's latest campaign, with the slogan of their next round of stadium events, starting in March, now being "culture warriors unite."

Ford provided an imprimatur of legitimacy on Ron Luce and Teen Mania. He used his status as a former American President to both having 'lead by godly example' at the time and add that full weight of that to those two concepts, trying to ensure so called 'godly leadership' on into the future through another generation.

* FOR FURTHER READING

For more, explore our critical web site:
Acquire the Evidence
: on Ron Luce, Teen Mania Ministries and the "BattleCry" campaign

and

"Battle Cry Campaign" at Wikipedia

and

Teen Mania's own "Battle Cry" site to see the campaign Teen Mania is currently spearheading.

A permanent copy of this piece can be found here on our barf.org site.




Display:
This is exactly the kind of calm, thoughtful analysis, grounded in actual research, that helps us all who are trying to make sense of the politics of the religious right in its many manifestations. Well done!


by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 01:17:56 AM EST
It's been about 6 years coming. Exceptionally difficult to 'get out' on 'paper'.

by Lauren Sabina Kneisly on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 01:21:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Just noticed this got front paged- I think I'm blushing- big thank you.

by Lauren Sabina Kneisly on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 01:23:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Some things take time to come to fruition, as all of us who have been down these research roads know all too well.  Your knowledge and care and dedication show.

Please do keep up the great work.

by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 01:31:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]


but unfortunately, there is relatively little appreciation there of the influence wielded by what you accurately term Biblical America.

This is a subject that deserves more than snarkfests. Thanks to you and Mike for your work.

by moiv on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 10:07:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]





(I'm going to add a comment I originally made over on the dKos diary- so that I'm more clear over here on TTA as well.)

"Dominionist" is not actually language I use often, or particularly enjoy, however, for the sake of trying to get a title onto this thing, and in the text, for the purposes of this piece, purely so people would understand what it was I was talking about, I used it- I'm a pragmatist.

The language Mike and I have spearheaded and tend to use is Biblical America- those advocating A biblical America- a different America, one that would use their interpretation fo the Bible as the sole basis of all governance and social interaction.

Biblical Americans are working to re-make America into their vision of a Biblical America.


by Lauren Sabina Kneisly on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 05:29:32 AM EST


You wrote that Ford's greatest weakness was his concern for his soul.  As a Christian who holds to a traditional (more or less) belief in heaven and hell, I'd say the "state of one's soul" and a personal relationship with my God is pretty important.  Liberal or conservative, being a committed young Christian is no easy task.  I suspect Ford's willingness to be rolled out in front of thousands of teens was to offer his testimony as an elder statesman who remained committed to his faith.  Based on his own previous words, I find it hard to believe that Ford was purposefully promoting fundamentalist theology.

I'm no inerrantist.  But most centrist or mainstream Baptists will tell you, our faith is rooted in the authority of the Bible as interpreted through the words and actions of Jesus.  To say that God's word is the final authority is not necessarily "dominionist" speak.  Millions of non-Fundamentalist Christians recognize and value the authority of Scripture in matters of faith and practice.  Many Christians (not just the fundamentalists) believe that God calls individuals to be good Christian Citizens which I believe includes being leaders in all that we do.  The prayer's words may mean one thing to Luce and another to Ford.  They do to me.  Remember, "evangelicalism" does not equal "dominionism."  At times however, we do share a common vernacular.  And while Luce can be considered a "dominionist" - Ford's prayer can not.  

by Big Daddy Weave on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 02:12:54 AM EST

Well let's start here, Big Daddy Weave said-

You wrote that Ford's greatest weakness was his concern for his soul.

what I actually said was this-

Ford was a man deeply concerned about the predisposition of his own soul,... and when push came to shove that to my mind at least became the man's greatest weakness, because in the end, concern about the state of his soul in relation to his god may have been precisely the motivation that led Ford to stand on a stage in the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of teens and act as validation for so much of what he himself claims to had disagreed with politically in his life.

Note what comes after "because". I am not saying that concern for one's soul is an inherent weakness, I'm saying that in Ford, it became an opening, into him, perhaps not unlike a chink in armor, that made it possible for him to end up standing on a stage, a personification of a stamp of legitimacy for the very things he himself rejected.

When concern for one's soul can be used back against an individual, getting them to act in ways deeply at odds with other parts of the personae then yes, it can viewed as a weakness, a way in.

Nor did I characterize Ford's appearance as pertaining to his testimony- christian or otherwise.  His appearance primarily served two key purposes; a passing a baton of 'godly leadership' to a new generation, and leading the audience in the oath. His role as a former president was in service to legitimizing, and increasing the group's social acceptability.

In my comments over on the dKos thread I made it quite clear, whether Ford was 'used' or fully aware of what he was doing and who he was doing it with ultimately matters little, the effect is unfortunately the same.

As for the "god's word the final authority" exactly as I said, out of context, parts of this "oath" may look very 'standard christian', it is only in full context, after many hours of redefinition that the full meaning of these words take on other character.

'God's word the final authority' from Teen Mania, must be taken in the context of another of their oft recited pledges- the "teenage bill of rights" of which, there are various versions that have been used down through the years. The version on their webpage, for example, is one of the more tame reitterations and it bears very little resemblance to the text's original unveiling at Day One back in 1999.

The original full 1999 version of the text we found on a page from archive.org contains inherent potential contradictions-

The statement

"We refuse to be led by those who are morally bankrupt. With this in mind, we commit to shape our society and world accordingly."

not far above point 8 in that pledge;  

"We will respect the authorities God has placed in our lives, even though some have character that we do not admire. We realize that all authority comes from God. We refuse to subvert our parents or other authority figures."

(This from a group that has sold a tape entitled "How to get your parents to do what you want." The cover of which depicts a large smiling teen holding two tiny assumedly 'parents' in her hands, 'Daddy on the left, holding car keys, 'Mommy' on the right, holding a wad of cash. )

All of this, the original teenage bill of rights must be taken two contexts, the December 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton four months before the original unveiling of the document, and the Columbine shootings that occurred four days before before the initial use of the document at Day One.

That tension, between refusal to be led by those "morally bankrupt" while promising to respect the authorities god has placed in their lives, is exactly the clarity the "'God's word the final authority'" statement is meant to add input to.

There are yet other versions, that I don't have at my fingertips at the moment, but there has been drift through time and reitteration over exactly what the nature of "Godly authority" is.

by Lauren Sabina Kneisly on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 07:01:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

"How to honor your parents when they don't derserve it."

Again, visually, big teen, small parents.

And how exactly does this match up with "We will respect the authorities God has placed in our lives..." and "We refuse to subvert our parents"?

by Lauren Sabina Kneisly on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 07:08:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]



that the issue is not Ford's concern for his soul, but rather the opportunism of the ocasion. If the politics required it, or the paycheck was right, I have no doubt that Ford would promote a dominionist line and offer his implicit endorsement by association, just as he did in this instance. Even if you are correct that he did not intend his words to be dominionist, in the context of the ocasion, that is exactly what they become.

I hasten to add that this was not the first time he had done something like this. I wrote about one episode in 1996 where he was a headliner at an event sponsored by a prominent front group of the Unification Church of Rev. Sun Myung Moon in Washington,DC.

All this may sound rather dissonant in the immediate aftermath of the remarkable eulogies of the past few days.  But I am certain that at least in the case of the Moon episode, Ford knew perfectly well who he was dealing with and why.

by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 02:57:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]



"God who has called me to lead the world".

To tell a teenager this is ridiculous - most teens need a reality check on their basic selfishness or self-dramatization. This phrase is the perfect one to recruit a teen to political activity.

Not to mention, not over-scriptural. Whatever happened to "service"?Oh. Tutoring other children or reading to the vision-impaired in an old folks' home is hardly contributing to a political agenda.

by NancyP on Thu Jan 04, 2007 at 10:58:14 PM EST

for the calm, reality-orientation of this.

And an 'amen' to Nancy's note.  This is a long way from 'being the change you wish to see' wisdom of Ghandi and unhelpfully feeds/misuses the self-centeredness that is the curse of adolescence.

by Don Niederfrank on Fri Jan 05, 2007 at 11:50:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Nancy caused me to think about bush and the way he wants to lead the world.

Maybe the dominionists are stuck in the adolescent stage?  They certainly have forgotten about servanthood.

A leader IS a servant, or is supposed to be (especially if that person claims to be Christian).  I see no evidence of service in bush or the repugs.

Regarding Ford- about all I remember of his term was Nixon's pardon.  If what I've read is correct, we're still paying for the fallout of that today.


by ArchaeoBob on Sat Jan 06, 2007 at 12:22:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]




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)

Goading Churches into Defying Federal Tax Laws
The Religious Right has long made abuse of the priviledge of federal tax-exemption for churches and other non-profit organizations a political tool. While most......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Mai Tai Dogs: Bush Administration, McCain-Endorser Hagee Caught Schmoozing at Chinese Restaurant
The year was 2004. It was summer, July. The 12th. Occasion ? Pappy Bush's 80th, and after pappy floated down from the sky, parachuted......
By Bruce Wilson (5 comments)
With the Founding Fathers as Our Press Gang
Jill Lepore has a wise and erudite article in The New Yorker about four recent books about the Founding Fathers and their approach to......
By Frederick Clarkson (1 comment)
Evangelical Angst: `Moderate' Evangelicals Worry About The Movement's Image
How do you react when people tell you they're evangelicals? Do you think that they simply want to share their faith - or do......
By Rob Boston (3 comments)
Ex-prez Bush hosts cult leader at Texas A&M!
Jeremiah Wright? Come on. The Moonies have just trumpeted the latest delegation of their dreaded leader, Sun Myung Moon, to the Bush presidential......
By John Gorenfeld (1 comment)
What the Hardcore RR Thinks about McCain
I first ran across Texe Marrs through a book circulating in my Senior Adult department in church. Texe had published a book he claims......
By wilkyjr (4 comments)
Clinton Compares Catholics and Jews, White Supremacists and Jihadists
It was as if Barry Lynn or some ACLU imp had temporarily seized control of Hillary Clinton's brain and vocal cords, causing her to......
By Bruce Wilson (2 comments)
Creationists and Christian Zionists to Hold Conference in California
WND touts the upcoming "Southern California Strategic Perspectives Conference": WND founder Joseph Farah joins "Left Behind" author Tim LaHaye, former terrorist Walid Shoebat, evangelist......
By Richard Bartholomew (3 comments)
A Sacrament Abused
The Catholic Right, Part Fifty-six On Tuesday I read the news that Cardinal Edward Egan (Archdiocese of New York) criticized former Mayor Rudy Giuliani......
By Frank Cocozzelli (2 comments)
Speaking Up for Those Silenced by the Religious Right -- UPDATED
How far will the Catholic hierarchy go in silencing dissidents in the U.S.? We are familiar (as Frank Cocozzelli has reported) with the very......
By Frederick Clarkson (2 comments)
Moon over Africa
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is a former President of Sierra Leone, and a long-serving UN official. A few days ago he gave the keynote address......
By Richard Bartholomew (0 comments)
McCain Endorser Pastor Hagee's 'Thrilling' Scenario Includes Nuclear Strike on US Coasts
The initial controversy over Pastor John Hagee's highly public endorsement of Senator John McCain's presidential bid, at a nationally televised press conference viewed potentially......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
McCain Backer Hagee: Abortions Easier To Get In Public School Than Aspirin
In a sermon given at his San Antonio, Texas Cornerstone megachurch that was telecast and available in up to ninety million homes worldwide, controversial......
By Bruce Wilson (3 comments)
The Family, Democrats, and the National Day of Prayer
May First is the National Day of Prayer - aka the Official National Day of Religious Supremacism. The congressionally authorized event is held annually,......
By Frederick Clarkson (3 comments)
McCain Endorser Pastor John Hagee: God Curse and Doom America
[NEW!, May 2nd 2008: McCain Endorser Pastor Hagee's 'Thrilling' Scenario Includes Nuclear Strike on US Coasts] "As a nation, America is under the curse......
By Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
PBS "Carrier": A Mixed Blessing
Watching the PBS miniseries "Carrier" was a revelation, but not always a pleasant one... ......
By bughouse square (0 comments)
Will We Ever Learn?
Ever looked at something or did something which at the time seemed good and beneficial only to learn that it was not what you thought?  If we could all have the opportunity to live......
By truthngrace (0 comments)
McCain-Endorser's Church Casts Out "Demon of Anal Fissures", Teaches Vomiting Evil Spirits
[NOTE: for a related story, see Mai Tai Dogs: Pics Show Bush Administration, McCain-Endorser Hagee Schmoozing at Chinese Restaurant] I have to admit, on one level it sounds more entertaining than a church full......
By Bruce Wilson (2 comments)
Bush 41 salutes Sun Myung Moon's effort to subdue the planet.
Sun Myung Moon's end time political front, the Universal Peace Federation had a summit from April 28 to May 2 in Washington DC. The participants took a tour of the Moon owned Washington Times......
By Lou (2 comments)
Advancing The Kingdom
Over the past four years, I've researched the darkest regions of the Christian right for the non-fiction film Silhouette City. The film tracks the movement of apocalyptic Christian nationalism from the margins of American......
By MichaelWWilson (2 comments)
Newspaper Profiles Army of God Spokeman
We have written a great deal about the anti-abortion terror organization, Army of God. One recent post prompted God Tube to take down videos posted by the proprietor of the Army of God web......
By Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Judicial Council Chief James Holsinger and $20 million of UMC Money
Dr. James Holsinger, a leader in the IRD-linked Methodist renewal movement has, until now, been best known for his crack-pot anti-gay views. - FC Dr. James Holsinger, the Bush nominee for Surgeon General  and......
By AJWEAVER (0 comments)
No Constitution Party home for Keyes
Well, that didn't take long.  All the speculation about Alan Keyes finding a home with the rabidly right-wing Constitution Party has quickly come to naught as the CP convention picks radio talk show host,......
By tacitus (0 comments)
Florida Christian License Plate
Well, Florida is at it again. They're considering a "Christian" license plate.  It's supposed to have a cross and a stained glass window on it with the words "I Believe!" More below the break!......
By ArchaeoBob (3 comments)
The Alleged 'Atheist Delusion'
John Gray's ample Saturday Review column in the March 15th edition of London's  Guardian newpaper diagnosed the current climate surrounding religion as one of `moral panic'.  This is true only of the irrational fear......
By TMurray (0 comments)
A Real GI Bill of Rights
As much as I admire Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel for their efforts to reform the military, I respectfully submit that their proposed bill doesn't go far enough... ......
By bughouse square (2 comments)
Mikey's War
There comes a time when ordinary citizens need to step up and openly challenge the perverse Christianization of our national instutions, particularly the military. What follows is an introduction to someone who is doing......
By bughouse square (1 comment)
For McCain, Silence on Religion is Golden
Just one day before lambasting Barack Obama over his recent comments about religion, John McCain was a no-show at Sunday's CNN Compassion Forum on faith.  That's because when it comes to discussing his own......
By Jon Perr (0 comments)
Christian Right Flees Randall Balmer's Challenge On Torture
At the Daily Kos website, I have written what so far is a four part series [1, 2, 3, 4] on the Bush Administration and torture. My series covers the structure of the National......
By Bruce Wilson (3 comments)
Just *what* is "The Family" so desperate to hide?
Over the past few days, I've done some writing expressing concern regarding some revelations that Jeff Sharlet will be discussing extensively in his new book "The Family"--including information regarding apparently widespread and systemic use......
By dogemperor (7 comments)
The *other* members of Hillary's "Family" cell
On Friday, news reports started coming out to the effect that Hillary Clinton may be a member of a cell-church group run by the secretive "Family" nee "Fellowship" org; as the import of this......
By dogemperor (1 comment)
Hagee donating 6 Million dollars to Irael
Today it was reported in the local paper that John Hagee has donated 6 million dollars to Israel.  http://www.theledger.com/article/20080406/API/804062669 It appears to be a big publicity stunt.  The article says that "Hagee... brought hundreds......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
"The Family" and its use of cells, explained
A few days ago, I wrote a post expressing concern re Hillary Clinton's reported involvement in a cell-church group operated by the longest-running political dominionist group in existence--some folks considered this a wee bit......
By dogemperor (1 comment)
The Politico's Half-Story on McCain's Religion
[bumped from diaries - ed]In the Politico this morning, Jonathan Martin offers what the New Republic deemed a "smart piece" about John McCain's religious beliefs.  But in describing McCain's reluctance to speak publicly about......
By Jon Perr (1 comment)
The Fellowship, cell churches, and coercive tactics
There's been a lot of good writing recently in regards to what is probably the oldest continuously running political dominionist group in the US today--a secretive org called "The Fellowship" or "The Family", and......
By dogemperor (1 comment)
Dobson at it again
As most of you may know, Dobson has a history of misusing (and distorting) scientific research to further his own nefarious goals.  Well, he's done it again- this time claiming that "Anthropologists agree on......
By ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
The "Walid Shoebat Foundation" Con Game--Exposed!
Over the past few days, we've had a lot of people (including Bruce Wilson) writing about a con game being promoted by the Walid Shoebat Foundation--namely, the claim that they are supposedly ex-PLO terrorists......
By dogemperor (0 comments)
Open Letter to Hillary, Obama, McCain and News Editors TV, Radio and Print
"Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all...and passionate attachments for others should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should......
By eileen fleming (0 comments)
Of Gideons, Public Sidewalks, and Missing the Point
Gideons have been handing out Bibles in school or adjacent to schools for longer than I have been alive.  Does the fact that they now stand on public sidewalks really mitigate the legality of......
By Irrevelations (0 comments)
Happy Birthday Israel: Company is Coming and they are Carrying UN Flags!
[Israel Palestine] As Hagee's man, candidate McCain pandered to militants and fundamentalists during his trip to Jerusalem, giving firm "support for Israel's military response"...Ziad Abu Ein, a senior Fatah operative and Deputy Minister for......
By eileen fleming (0 comments)
Florida Bills for funding Focus on the Family
There are two bills before the Florida Legislature that need to be stopped. Florida House bill 707 and Florida Senate bill 630 both provide for Florida's Department of Transportation to solicit $1 contributions from......
By ArchaeoBob (2 comments)
Rare Washington Times dinner disaster video (1997)
A special treat awaits after the jump. So the big story out of Rev. Moon's Washington Times is that the new editor, John Solomon of the AP, will supposedly be remaking it into......
By John Gorenfeld (0 comments)
Possible national Assemblies support of "Watchmen" leaders?
As one of my continuing "side series" (along with the Gothard research), I've been writing up on the virulently anti-LGBT "Joel's Army" group "Watchmen At The Walls"--a group linked with no less than one......
By dogemperor (2 comments)
Jeb Bush and Colin Powell to appear at Assemblies of God "University"
A news article today in the Lakeland Ledger reports that Jeb Bush and Colin Powell are going to attend a "National Leadership Seminar" being held at the local Assemblies of God "University".    The......
By ArchaeoBob (3 comments)

More Diaries...