How to sucker a billion Christians, Mark Morford

[madokie]

You do not mess with blind faith.

Just a humble reminder. You do not question the dully codified stories of Christianity, or challenge them, or offer even remotely refreshing, alternative storylines with anything resembling intelligence, or humor, or deep intellectual curiosity.

What are you, a masochist? To do so would imply there is something to be gained, some sort of cultural progress to be made in the realms of the exhausted – but still deeply paranoid and very simpleminded – Christian faith, when there most certainly is not. Besides, you want to make lots of money, right? Of course you do.

Do you know who understands this overarching rule perfectly? Mark Burnett, the goliath TV producer who single-handedly destroyed the modern world by popularizing reality TV. Burnett and his wife, “Touched by an Angel” actress Roma Downey, know exactly how sucker-able are the vast majority of the world’s Christians. Because they’re evil that way. Smart. I mean smart.

So smart are the Burnetts that they recently hacked together a terrifically lousy movie about the life and times of Jesus, called Son of God. They made it by cobbling new footage with bits of last year’s 10-hour History Channel miniseries on the Bible that was already quite perfectly lousy but still really popular because, you know, Jesus.

http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2014/03/04/how-to-sucker-a-billion-christians/

[malaise]

1. Isn't that the truth

I pass

[Ferretherder]

2. I agree with everything he said.

Yep.

[pipoman]

3. Haters will be haters...

[raven mad]

4. If the Teacher existed once......and I don't disount that at all -

and came back today, they'd burn him/her at a stake and dance while doing so.

[Ikonoklast]

5. Christians are killing Christianity.

It all started back with Paul, and has never ceased trying to gain political and economic power ever since then.

[zeemike]

7. Yep that is how it went down.

And Christianity would have been dead in 100 years if it had not been for Paul making it acceptable to Rome...and today they must make it acceptable to the 1% and the right wing.

The teachings of Jesus must be ignored to be acceptable to TPTB...or otherwise called bullshit.

[Ikonoklast]

8. It's too bad that more Christians don't know much about the early power struggles that defined

their faith.


Paul was an opportunist, he tailored his message to the audience, distorted the actual teachings to fit his narrative....and nothing has changed in that faith since then.

[zeemike]

12. And that is why preachers will seldom quote Jesus

And when they do it is always out of context.
The teachings of Jesus does not support their own views, so they jumble the OT together with Paul to make shit up.

[Demo_Chris]

6. read the comments. nt

[dotymed]

9. I am a Christian.

I have not been to church for about 2 years. I always enjoyed the Episcopalian one though. They were/are about peace
and helping your neighbors, no matter their sexual preference, etc. Not that it matters but I am hetro.

My Daughter and Son in law have really surprised and worried me since they have DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. It has snuck up on me. We had a great relationship before they moved to Knoxville for him to attend the seminary and she teaches H.S. there.

Since my last heart stent 2 weeks ago, I have spoken to my daughter once. She was upset that I have not completely stopped smoking (I understand) and that I do not see life as she does now.

We were all great together when they lived here. She attended college, he worked construction. They met at AA.
She was raised to be liberal. Now they believe the earth is 6000 years old, etc.
I told her that we choose to believe what we want. I was supportive.
As I was writing this, I received my 1st response from her since I got out of ICU. I texted that I would really like to know that they were alive. "She is, but stressed, pray for us."
I always believed in a caring, respectful relationship/religion.
At least NOW I know that she is alive. I worry about what I perceive as cults.
IDK

[maindawg]

10. My heart goes out to you

I cannot imagine losing a child to the cult of uber christianity. All you can do is let go and hope that someday they come to realize what is important in this life.

[mountain grammy]

11. Tax the Church!!

How much money will the good Christian movie makers hide from taxes as being some kind of sham religious non profit..

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

13. Thanks. Thought of posting this after reading it today, but was too lazy.