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




Terrorism Fighter Joe Lieberman Tied To Group Encouraging Terrorism
By Bruce Wilson Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:43:43 AM EST printable version print story
United States Senator Joseph Lieberman has called for banning "terrorist videos" from YouTube but Mr. Lieberman has failed to recognize that he has closely associated and allied himself with a group that has repeatedly and very publicly encouraged acts, against Israel, which the state of Israel considers acts of terrorism posing a security threat of the highest magnitude. Yesterday Journalist Max Blumenthal, on the Huffington post, elaborated on Lieberman's continuing association with a US organization inciting terrorist acts against Israel. [ALSO SEE: Christian Zionism in 60 Seconds

At the July 16-18, 2007 Christians United For Israel (CUFI) yearly conference in Washington D.C., Senator Lieberman lavished praise on Christians United For Israel's founder, Texas megachurch evangelist Pastor John Hagee, likening Hagee to Moses, calling Hagee a "man of God", and stating that, like Moses, Hagee was the leader of a 'mighty multitude'.

But on July 18, 2007, at the nonprofit 501(c)(3) group's "A Night To Honor Israel" capstone event of it's three-day conference, CUFI Regional Director Billye Brim suggested that "God has a plan" for the Dome of The Rock, Islam's 3rd holiest site on Earth and the spot from which Muslims believe Moses ascended into Heaven. In the eschatolgical, or "End-Time" belief system held by most Christians United For Israel members, The Dome Of The Rock must be removed or destroyed to make way for the construction of a 3rd Jewish temple.

"Upon that hill, there is a rock," Brim told the audience in attendance at the July 18 "Night To Honor Israel" event, which was attended by former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of The House Tom Delay,  other prominent US politicians and both current and former Israeli military and political leaders. "Upon that rock there is a dome," continued Billye Brim--as she addressed, in a stern and portentous tone, the attending crowd of up to 5,000 Christians United For Israel, while journalist Max Blumenthal and videographer Thomas Shoemaker, along with DayStar TV, filmed the event and while I watched and took notes. "God has a plan for that hill," declared Brim, to the cheers of the crowd.

Billye Brim did not directly call, on July 18th that night, for the destruction of The Dome of The Rock, but the message was clear--the Dome had to go--and in an undated audio recording I have discovered, from Billye Brim addressing a moderate sized and nearly orgiastic religious gathering, Brim makes the point more directly, stating that while she was with a group of evangelical Christians who were covertly praying around and on Jerusalem's Temple Mount Brim received a message directly from God which told her "that dome's coming down" and Billye Brim suggested that she knew the very date on which The Dome Of The Rock would be destroyed. "That dome's coming down," exulted Brim to her audience, and then she emitted what could be called nothing other than a triumphant ululation of victory. Most disturbingly Brim has stated, on a Kenneth Copeland "Believer's Voice of Victory" radio show, that human acts and human agency are necessary to fulfill "God's Plan" which CUFI's founder Pastor John Hagee claims to call for apocalyptic global conflict.

Israel's Shin Bet security service is charged with protecting The Dome of the Rock and the nearby Al Akhsa mosque, from attempts by Jewish, American and Islamic extremist groups to damage or destroy the Islamic holy sites, and the State of Israel considers such attempts to pose a top-level security threat to Israel, because it is widely assumed that the destruction would touch off a regional, or even a world, war.

In his 2000 book The End of Days: Fundamentalism and The Struggle For The Temple Mount, Israeli journalist Gershom Gorenberg described the apocalyptic aspirations of the many fringe religious groups aspiring to bring on the Apocalypse and the "end of days" through attacks on the Dome of The Rock and the Al Akhsa mosque. The danger of such attacks is not hypothetical: the last several decades have seen both individual and organized group efforts to attack the Islamic religious sites on and around the Temple Mount, from both Christian and Jewish fundamentalist groups.

But Christians United For Israel, as an organization, is itself implicated in inciting attacks upon the Temple Mount holy sites. In early 2007, a year after the launch of the Christians United For Israel organization, which Pastor John Hagee has claimed can project it's purportedly "pro-Israel" message to millions of American voters via the email lists of numerous prominent evangelists, I publicized the fact that the Christians United For Israel organizational logo, distributed on all CUFI literature and paraphenelia, which also headed all web pages on CUFI's official organizational website, featured a photographic image of Jerusalem's Temple Mount from which the Dome of The Rock had been, literally, as was done by Stalin's agents to official Kremlin photographs of Politburo members who had been assassinated, airbrushed out of the image.

When the story that the Jerusalem Temple Mount image on CUFI's organizational logo had been altered, the Dome of The Rock airbrushed out, an Alexandria, broke nationally via the New York-based Jewish Telegraphic News Service, I wrote about it and was subsequently contacted by an Alexandria, Virginia public relations official representing CUFI who assured me that the image had not been altered in any way and that the absence of the Dome of The Rock was simply due to the perspective from which the original photograph had been taken.

When I demonstrated, via a perspective analysis published on the Talk To Action website, that such a claim was impossible, the same public relations official stated that the CUFI logo image had in fact been airbrushed, with the Dome of The Rock removed, but not by CUFI : the airbrushing had been done by an Israeli photographer. But prior to the JTA news service broadcast of the "CUFI Dome-Wiping" story I searched for the origin of the CUFI Logo airbrushed image, via a Google Image web search. In a seach of up to five hundred images of the Temple Mount and the Dome of The Rock, I was unable to find a single image that had been altered in such a way, so that the Dome of The Rock had been artificially removed.

After I registered for the July 2007 "Christians United For Israel" conference last year, I received CUFI conference materials and brochures in the mail; they still featured the original airbrushed, "wiped" CUFI logo.




Display:

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)