Radio Wingnut Kevin Swanson Explains How Demons Guided Mark Twain

[rug]

11:44 am August 31, 2013
by Doktor Zoom

Colorado radio preacher Kevin Swanson, the genius who determined that God sends wildfires to punish the multiple scourges of gay marriage, abortion, and women wearing pants, warned that the Boy Scouts will soon have merit badges for sodomy and cannibalism, and alerted America to how the Pill leaves women’s wombs littered with lots and lots of tiny dead babies, has now turned his keen analytical skills to the world of literature, and reveals that Mark Twain was possessed by demons.

Cool story, bro!

In a guest appearance on fellow wingnut Rick Wiles’ radio show (every wingnut now has a radio show), Swanson explained that

“Mark Twain was probably the strongest apologist against the Christian faith that America’s ever seen,” said Swanson, claiming that Huckleberry Finn was an “attack on the Christian church” by exposing Christian hypocrisy on issues like slavery. “He mocks Christianity throughout and Huckleberry Finn is an atheist himself.”

Well, not exactly, Kevvie. Huck’s no atheist. He’s a Christian, through and through, and so absolutely convinced by all the good Christian adults in his world that you can’t be a Christian and oppose slavery that he decides that freeing his friend Jim is well worth going to hell for. Funny how Swanson misses that Huck’s devotion to his fellow human being is the most Christ-like act in the whole novel, eh? (Yes, yes, we follow Hemingway’s advice and try to block out the sad farce of the final few chapters.)

http://wonkette.com/527223/radio-wingnut-kevin-swanson-explains-how-demons-guided-mark-twain

This may be particularly interesting to former fundamentalists who might have believed such things.

[gordianot]

1. My guess is Samuel Clemons would have loved this speculation by a genuine nut

[rug]

2. No doubt.

“True irreverence is disrespect for another man’s god” - Mark Twain’s Notebook

[xfundy]

3. OK, now you confuse me.

Usually you link bullshit based on "religious" belief, much of which hurts people, and seem to endorse it. Today, something different and logical in the face of hateful "religious" bullshit.

So, have you changed your spots?

I'm honestly confused.

Let's review:

In America, christers have declared war on gays, poor people, those on food stamps and welfare, the uninsured, those on minimum wage, those of any other religions or none, non-"whites," libruls, and basically anyone who's not just like the assholes that sit on top of the mess the US has become.

Fill me in, please. If I was in error, I will gladly apologize.

[rug]

4. Religion is a mixed bag.

But always interesting.

Some is bullshit, some is not. Your next-to-last paragraph, I think, overstates the case. It also omits the political component which often hijacks a movement, religious or not.

I think it's a mistake to lump it all together as all bad or all good. I don't think it's difficult to separate the bad from the good. And certainly bad actions, regardless of the motivation, must be opposed.

You apparently consider religious belief to be inherently harmful and inevitably must manifest itself in harmful actions. I don't. In fact, the more I look at it, the less that seems to be the case. This Group provides a good venue to look at all of it, good and bad.

So, I post what I consider interesting about it. You may not believe this, but I don't come here looking for either a fight or an apology, although I am happy to accept either. Genuine discussion, though, trumps both.

Peace.

[gordianot]

5. Mark Twain had some very definite views on religion as in "The Damned Human Race".

He was convinced that his Autobiography should only be printed long after his death. His "War Prayer" he anticipated would ruin his status as a writer and in his time may have been true. Today looking at his autobiography and his accumulated writings are not that controversial. Having a religious nut case condemn him after 100 years following his death would have been a real thrill for Mr. Clemons. I get your point this belongs in the "religion" group. Mark Twain is my favorite author especially when he ridiculed religious bigotry in his day.

I do hope whatever afterlife, he is not on some cloud playing a harp and improving himself.

[xfundy]

8. "You apparently consider religious belief to be inherently harmful"

No, I don't. It doesn't affect me if another person believes in one or one thousand gods. It does affect me, though, when they want to put their religious beliefs into law, especially when they want to force others to accept it, get punished by it, and/or have to pretend to believe in it in order to live their lives without harassment or threats of beatings and/or death for being "infidels."

In my own experience, yes, the religion I was taught was horrible and definitely harmful to my own life and hundreds of thousands of others. I was raised to be Southern Baptist, raised to be a racist moron, and disappointed my church and family when I questioned it and rejected it--not the religion, for I was taught to believe it out of fear-- but the racism/homophobia/xenophobia and moronity, which my family still carries on to this day without me. They actually hate me for taking a stance of reason and sanity, ie, that everybody has to be somewhere on this planet, rather than praying the "other" was smited into oblivion.

As for belief, as stated, I believed out of fear, then read the entire bible. The violence, jealousy and hate of a supposed "god" who was "above" men displayed emotions and petty childish hatreds befitting an 8-yr-old.

Rather than hating religion, I simply cannot believe any of it. Any. Of. It. Any religion. To claim I could believe in it would be a lie, a lie that I believe many believers, including rabbis, preachers, priests, imams, etc., continue to tell 'cuz there's money in it.

[cbayer]

11. I would say from your last paragraph that you lack of belief is a part

of who you are and not a choice. Would I be correct?

If so, do you think it is possible that for some faith and belief is a part of them and not a choice?

[dimbear]

6. "the strongest apologist against the Christian faith"

as gravely logically challenged as the rest of Swanson's mind is. An apologist is a defender by definition. You can't be an apologist against something.

[Jim__]

7. Demons must have a hell of a sense of humor. Who knew?

[xfundy]

9. They sure do!

(Looking under desk)

"No weapons 'a mass d'struction under here! Hnk hnk hnk!"

(Laugh track)

[LostOne4Ever]

10. Mark Twain would have had a field day with this guy! (nt)