I was over on MT’s blog and saw her entry regarding, “One Nation, Under God: Vote to Keep it That Way.” It got me to thinking about Catherine, one of the God-niks in my life.
Catherine is a person who was a good friend of mine when I lived in California. Back in the early 90’s she was what one could call the town bicycle as she was very promicuous and everyone knew it. A couple years ago, she suddenly jumped on the God wagon and now it is her view that I’m going to hell and that the government needs to get involved in regulating who I am able to have a relationship with. Originally a moderate Democrat, she has become a staunchly conservative Republican, lining up with the jack booted thug tactics of the religious right.
Oddly, the Republicans out west are finding that they need the federal government to regulate gay relationships, but that logging and mining are states rights issues. What is it with the Republicans anyhow? If a state grants marriage rights to homosexuals they view that as a state overstepping it’s authority, but if the federal government tells a state they can’t clear-cut all the forests in their borders, suddenly it’s a states rights issue. I’d think their views are in conflict at least as they pertain to the structure of government.
She finds that she supports the part of the bible that says I shouldn’t be who I am, but has no problem wearing blended fabrics, thinks that the bible does not say that her parents should have sold her into slavery, and that her brother (the first born son) should not have been killed by his parents.
It’s amazing what the God-niks will do. Using something that was once good to justify their bigotry. What scares me is that they would like to turn the USA into a Christian version of Iran, and thus far are doing a pretty good job of it.
Note to God – Please save me from your followers!
Chris,
If it weren’t for “God” where would the republicans be?? They base their whole political stand point based upon the bible…how then are they supposed to have (when and if they win an elected office) a seperation between church and state?
Republicans blindly follow…well many of them do, some actually do have a brain I found out and can think for themselves. But I find it really hard to deal with those who blindly follow…therefore, same goes for the Lords followers. How can you blindly follow something? I don’t understand how someone couldn’t take in the information and think about it…then formulate their own opinion about the matter. Now, whether their formulated opinion is exactly the same or slightly altered isn’t in question…but I just don’t understand it.
Since it seems like Republicans and Christians are one in the same…I wonder if they are all even capable of formulating an idea/opinion on their own. Seems harsh, and I’m sure they can, but I have yet to see the majority of that club being capable of such a task. (sure I have a few friends who can actually think and fall into either or both the repub/christian club).
I was told last night by a republican that I was a tree hugging baby killer. My response was that he should expand his learning and actually learn what the other party was about and he claimed that he knew everything. But if he did, he would know that Kerry himself is against abortion, but believes it’s up to the woman to decide. He doesn’t understand that people can have their own particular view point that doesn’t fall under the cookie cutter democrat.
I told him I didn’t want to argue with him because it was pointless. He told me then, “well you’re dumb and won’t see the light.” Hahah…my response was for him to get a cat scan. haha.
Sorry for the rambling chris…but my point is…I’m afraid of Christians and Republicans because if they are not mentally deficient to begin with, most are too afraid to use their brain and think.
Thank you anonymous. 🙂 The thing that worries me about my friend out west is that she had a brain and somehow lost it. Now she just blindly follows and does whatever her preacher tells her to.
I think we saw how well that worked in Waco, TX back in ’93.
I think my problem is less with Christians or Republicans but more about individuals that can’t think for themselves and blindly follow. The Republicans around here (not all, but generally) give me the impression that they think all gay men are child molestors and that we want to crack babies heads open and eat their brains.
To me Church/Religion = societal regression. If you blindly follow and never change anything, how can society advance and come to a higher awareness?
I’m kind of glad blogs like this exist, it lets me get out of conservative hell for a while and be among friends. 🙂
Of course, we can’t generalize about all religions. Granted there are some real wackos. For instance, my husband’s aunt joined a church. Church said God would heal her. She stopped taking her meds. She had a massive heart attack. Now she is disabled.
Take a second instance. My stepmother’s cousin’s wife (yep, now that’s a link) went to a faith healer. He said he cured her epilpsy (sp?). She stopped taking her meds. She had a seizure in the bathtub and drowned.
But some church folks aren’t like that. My husband’s best friend’s mother is a UCC minister who is incredibly liberal and remarkably normal. And some UU churches are pretty good too. (At least the one is B’ton was rather open minded).
P.S. When *is* Adam coming back? He didn’t say how long he was going to be gone in his blog.
Your comment about fundies wanting to turn the USA into a Christian version of Iran is the same thing I’ve been thinking for years. They really would like an evangelical Christian version of Iran under the Ayatollah.
Oh, I also really liked your entry about Danville from a few days ago. It’s not often I run across mentions of my home town in blogs.
Chris,
I posted anonymous because I was afraid you wouldn’t reply back. 🙂
I think you made some very good points (as well as MT). I made a rather bold generalization about Christians and Republicans which doesn’t always hold true, but much of the evidence I’ve seen is that many of those people blindly follow. I agree with you that my problem isn’t with what they believe per se but rather with the fact that they blindly follow (as you pointed out). Obviously there are some fundamental differences between what I think/believe and what C&R’s (haha like that abbreviation?) tend to think/believe.
I have some friends who are die hard C&Rs, however, one of the reasons why we remain to be friends is because I appreciate their questioning and tailoring of their core beliefs into something more personal…ie they aren’t blindly following. They aren’t afraid to use their brain. We might not agree on things, but they are willing to listen to the other side of the story and think about it.
Of course we have those who blindly follow in the democratic and liberal world too. I’m not trying to pick on the C&R’s…it just seems like a more common trend within C&R.
I really don’t understand the problem with gay marriage or gay adoption. The only thing I see wrong with gay marriage or gay adoption, is that under current laws…it’s not allowed. People get in this huge up-roar over it when in reality, there are actual fundamental problems and real problems that our country needs to deal with. I don’t see the problem with letting gay people getting hitched, having huge million dollar weddings, having small intimate weddings, or whatever they so please. If you are a REAL human being you would be happy for someone for finding someone that they love and that they want to spend the rest of their lives with…regardless if it’s a man loving another man or a woman loving another woman. Love can be and is something very difficult to find and I’m thrilled that someone can find love and I don’t care what the gender is of who they love. It’s so stupid and trivial to worry about omg Chris loves a boooooi!?!?! I thought as humans, we are supposed to encourage love, and be happy for those who are lucky enough to find it. It doesn’t matter what someone’s personal preference is, but rather to accept that people love each other. If gays cannot get married, why not let the government step in and say that Jack cannot marry Susie because Susie is too fat to marry such a hot Jack. What a pile of festering turds…rather ridiculous, no?
As for adoption…I’m going to go out on a limb and make an assumption: it’s funny that those who are AGAINST gay adoption are probably also against abortion. I don’t know if I can really make that claim but it seems to be that way. The adoption system is entirely too over loaded and is in extreme need of parents (straight, gay, single, handicapped, ect). I don’t think that any one set of parent(s) is any better than the other as long as they are capable of providing love and needs to their children. There are plenty of STRAIGHT parents who are TERRIBLE parents and SHOULD NOT be parents.
Ah…i’ve gone off on a ridiculous rant. Chris I know you don’t particularly like me but I do think you’re a good person. I hope that you can get everything you deserve and are able to keep it. If you want to get married and have kids…then I hope you can and you can maintain that without the government telling you that everything you have is now void and tries to take it all away from you.
MT–I’m sorry about your family memeber…that’s really sad and unfortunate 🙁
ps…anyone watching the debate?? kerry got a hair cut…am I the only one who noticed that?
Saw the debate. Did not notice haircut. But, I have to wonder about one thing. Surely not all conservatives are ignorant. Why can’t they pick a better spokesperson for their cause than the evil Bush?
Anonymous — Not sure where I gave the impression that I hate anyone in the forum, but o.k. 😉 Sorry if I did.
MT–
I’m fairly certain that you’re correct…there are good conservatives out there but where do they hide? I think they are probably ashamed would be my guess 😉
Chris–
Don’t think you hate me but I know I’ve said a few things to make you think I’m a big meanie head 😛
Today’s appalling story: A friend of mine from college (who, btw, used to be the BIGGEST hellraiser in and out of the sheets) sent me this e-mail about Teresa Heinz Kerry:
So how does Mrs. Heinz Kerry spend John Heinz’s money? Just one example:
According to the G2 Bulletin, an online intelligence newsletter of WorldNetDaily, in the years between 1995-2001 she gave more than $4 million to an organization called the Tides Foundation. And what does the Tides Foundation do with John Heinz’s money? They support numerous antiwar groups, including Ramsey Clark’s International Action Center. Clark has offered to defend Saddam Hussein when he’s tried….
Aiding and supporting our enemies is not good for America, regardless of your political views. If voters will open their eyes, educate themselves and see the real Teresa Heinz Kerry, they will not appreciate her position as ultra rich fairy godmother of the radical left. They will not want to imagine her laying her head on a pillow each night inches away from the President of the United States. Hopefully they love this country enough to decide that the only way these two will ever be allowed into the White House is with an engraved invitation in hand.
Instead of deleting this, pass it on. Let everyone know these people are unfit to represent this great nation. The uninformed will never hear the truth from the press, who wants Kerry elected! Those who buy the Kerry facade, beware what you vote for – – – you may regret that you got it!
In God We Trust …
P.S. This was my response back to her. Hopefully this will keep that crap out of my e-mail. Otherwise, I am going to have to start spamming her with “I hate Republicans” e-mail.
The Response:
Wow, this is interesting. I think it’s great! She’s a pretty cool lady. Very self-possessed. And gives a great deal of money to charities.
It will be good to have a strong woman in the White House, instead of a librarian who says one thing while her husband totally undermines her.
MT
Okay, one more thing. I put the whole freaking e-mail on my blog, but inserted my nasty thoughts in it. It’s pretty funny. I sent copies to my family. I will soon be disowned. Good thing my family has nothing to disown me from!
http://www.swampgoddess.com/blog/archives/000201.html