Christian Right's Truth Problem

[carzen]

The Christian right claims to embrace a higher, more truthful mode of politics. But the Capitol Hill actions of the movement's top leaders and most powerful groups belie that claim. If old-fashioned politics means distorting the facts to prove their points and concealing their real motives behind high-sounding rhetoric, the evangelical groups and their friends in Congress are the new masters of the game.

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Last week the House passed the "Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act." It was not expected to pass the Senate, but most observers say it will return next year and be a feature of many congressional campaigns aimed at attracting "values voters."

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The real goal is to limit access to legal remedies for their opponents in the church-state wars by making going to court too expensive. That goal is evident in this fact: the proposed law would bar attorneys' fees and expenses in Establishment Clause cases, but not Free Exercise cases.

Translation: if you are suing because your local federal building allows a nativity scene on its lawn, an Establishment Clause kind of case, you have to have deep pockets to sue, even if you ultimately prevail. But if you're upset because local authorities bar such displays and you want to change that, sue away, and if you win, your expenses may be covered.



http://www.jewishtimes.com/2959.stm

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. If old-fashioned politics means distorting the facts

For the Christian right whatever it takes to implement their vision of a theocratic regime is ok. After all, they are doing God's work so there cannot be anything wrong to get that job done.

[pretzel4gore]

2. Rasputin....

Rasputin was an intinerant holy man in russia pre revolution. he somehow met the empress alexandra, who son had hemophilia, the bleeding disease, which distracted the tsar and his wife to no end...anyway, Rasputin somehow was able to stop the kid bleeding (see 'nicholas and alexandra' by robert massie) and it made Rasputin a powerful guy, which was ok but Rasputin got rid of anyone who saw through him, iow he fukked up the russian political scene just when it was changing from dictatorship to a representative democracy - and the 1st world war, which cost russia millions of men, complicated things trememdously. Rasputin was assasinated in 1916, and the child alexi suffered terribly from the hemophilia (which they kept a secret from the people) the tsar lost control of the country, the revolution took place blah blah blah....The thing about Rasputin, who wasn't a bad guy, was that he really thought abusing his position as a royal favorite, seducing all those rich women etc was a SIN, but by repenting constantly of them, it just made him holier then...well then anyone! And the real reason was he just enjoyed drinking and screwing and having good times. The modern christians often secretly think the same thing - they know they sin, but think sinning makes them more in need of forgiveness, which strengthens their 'faith' etc which requires more sin....at least Rasputin was a unschooled semi illiterate who, never meant harm to anyone - the xians you mention are beasts, voracious deadly monsters, who think stealing from the nameless public, and making them pay for it, iss somehow godly!