Rise Of The Righteous Army - 60 minutes

[question everything]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/05/60minutes/main598218.shtml

Evangelical Christians form one of the most potent forces in American politics and society. They are people who place their faith, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, above everything else in their lives and hope to spread that Gospel to the world.

An estimated 70 million Americans call themselves evangelicals, and their beliefs have already reshaped American politics. In the last election, 40 percent of the votes for George W. Bush came from their ranks, and now those beliefs are beginning to reshape the culture as well -- thanks to a group of best-selling novels known as the “Left Behind” series.

(snip)

LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have written a series of runaway bestsellers known as the “Left Behind” novels. All together, there are 40 million books in print, and another 17 million in spin-offs. Plus, “The Kids” series, audio books and comic books are worth $100 million in annual revenue.

(snip)

Gary Bauer, who once competed with George Bush for the Republican presidential nomination, now runs a Washington organization that lobbies for evangelical Christian issues. He remembers being at the Iowa Republican Presidential debate, when all candidates were asked which political philosopher they most identified with.

President Bush said: “Christ, because he changed my heart. When you accept Christ as a savior, it changes your heart. It changes your life.”

(snip)

[SCDem]

1. I watched that segment last night

and it made me want to vommit. These are scarey times we are living in right now.

[DenverDem]

2. Fundamentalists are not Christians.

As stated before, the legalistic and judgementalist philosophies they espouse are diametrically opposed to the concepts of grace, forgiveness and agape love that are the foundations of Christ's teachings.

If Christ returned today with his liberation theology, fundamentalists would be first in line to execute him again.

If Bush's black heart has been changed by some larger power, the evidence of his subsequent actions indicate Satanic influence more than any other. Fundamentalist hate speech indicates similar inspiration.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. Bible says

"by their fruits , you shall know them" (followers of Jesus)

These are no followers of Jesus . They do not follow his teaching ,and do not bear his cross

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing

This is part of a Hadith of the Prophet, but I think I've also seen it in either the Bible or Torah. The idea is that the greatest threat to faith will come from those who, by outward appearances, are of that faith but whose hearts and actions show otherwise.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Many of these folks are Reconstructionists

There are many so called "Mainstream" fundies that, either secretly or overtly, want, seek and look forward to a time when this country is a nation ruled by biblical law, specifically Old Testament law. Making it illegal to be Homosexual, Atheist, Free thinking or otherwise opposed to that particular ideology under penalty of death. By stoning, no less.

D. James Kennedy is a perfect example of this. He has millions of listeners/watchers of his radio and TV programs and he is the principal backer of Roy Moore of Alabama. In fact, Kennedy's "Coral Ridge Ministries" were the ONLY folks that were present during the famed middle of the night installation of "Roys Rock". They filmed it for a documentary to sell to the flock.

Kennedy is also constantly carrying on about Separation of Church and state. He, of course, sees no reason at all why he shouldn't have major influence on governmental affairs in this country. And with Shrub in the WH, he does. If you think there is a shadow group of folks driving economic and foreign policy in this government, there is also a similar group driving social policy. Why was there such an uproar over the 3 Bush nominated judges the Dems filibustered? Because they have a "Win all" philosophy that they hope will bring them a total rewriting of American Law as it pertains to social issues. No Abortion. No Gay marriage. No Sex education taught in schools. "Intelligent Design Theory" brought forward as valid science. Premarital sex made illegal, Etc.
In spite of the many posts i have made on other threads regarding Christianity, i am not against people believing anything they want. My mother is a Christian and her faith, i think, helps her be a better person. She is charitable, puts in hours of community service even though she is in her 70's, and all in all, seems to be something that helps her in her walk through life. But ALAS! she is an Episcopalian and Liberal. Exactly the kind of person Pat Robertson says is in league with Satan.

Fundies make me want to fucking puke and also make me consider emigrating to France or Australia or New Zealand.

[skippysmom]

6. I saw this

Pretty scary stuff. I hate how they have corrupted Christianity into an "either you're with us or against us" philsophy. And it's scary how they've taken so much power in our country.

I do fear that we're going to turn into a theocracy.

[GRClarkesq]

7. 70 million?

I find that number to be high. If that many were politically active the American political landscape would be radically different.

[mhr]

8. www.liberalslikechrist.org Exposes The Fundamentalists As Frauds

This is a theology web site that studies the words of Christ as found in the Gospels.

Studying the Gospels puts the message of Christ front and center.

Studying the Gospels also undermines the tenets of Fundamentalism.

[mhr]

9. Ironic, We Invaded Iraq Because of Fundamentalism Yet Some Want

to return to fundamentalism here.

Seems that you can't have it both ways!

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Wow, you really just don't get it.

Our fndamentalism is God-given, inerrant, and mandatory.

Their fundamentalism is Satan-inspired, erroneous and in need of harsh suppression.

[The Stranger]

12. Maybe you are just catching on, but it is a Holy War between the

Fundamentalist Christians and Fundamentalist Jews against Fundamentalist Muslims. Only the press only presents to you the Fundamentalist Muslims while hiding the Fundamentalists making decisions in the U.S.

It is not hyperbole to state that the U.S. has been hijacked by a group of Fundamentalist Christians who see a war with Islam and re-establishment of a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as the prophesied end of the world. In their story, they receive "Rapture" and eternal paradise while everyone else is damned.

Ironically, the Fundamentalist Christians in the U.S. see the Fundamentalist Jews as their allies, except that, in the penultimate chapter of their eschatological prophesy, they forcibly convert Jews to Christianity. Suddenly, this seemingly bizarre and exciting new story becomes just another chapter in a very, very old one.

[Kbick]

10. American Taliban

These people are the same type that make up the Taliban in Afghanistan.

As I watched this last night, I recommitted myself to helping whoever gets the Dem nomination elected in November. (Even if it is Kerry)

[Moderator]

13. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=348390