For God's Sake: The Idiocy of "Divine Inspiration" In Politics

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Cliff Schecter

For God's Sake: The Idiocy of "Divine Inspiration" In Politics
How conservatives- and professional athletes - use "God" to justify invalid arguments and fend off criticism.

July 15, 2011 |


Lately, there would seem to be a whole lot more people who have a direct channel to the Big Guy Upstairs than one could have humanly thought possible.

It is oft-said that "God works in mysterious ways". But when Michele Bachmann hears voices telling her to run for president, am I the only who thinks the most likely explanation is a batch of bad clams or one-too-many nights role playing The Book of Eli with her equally demented husband Marcus?

Perhaps, these are the very same voices that have shared with her the important role "Founding Father John Quincy Adams" played in ending slavery as he battled the oncoming scourge of puberty? I don't know, just a stab in the dark.

Regardless, whether it is gay marriage or spotting the Virgin Mary in your gordita, our re-embrace of culture-by-theology in the United States (not unlike much of the rest of the world) has led supposedly "serious people" to say things that not so long ago would have landed them a starring role in Girl, Interrupted. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/151658/for_god%27s_sake%3A_the_idiocy_of_%22divine_inspiration%22_in_politics/

[Karenina]

1. Have you seen Rachels bits on Rev. Rick Perry?

It gets good around 2:15

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#43763815

[salinen]

2. Invoking god gives

them justifications that otherwise aren't there. Using "his" approval is also called "psychosis".

[onager]

3. Thanks and a big...

:thumbsup:

If someone hasn't done so already, I'm going to x-post this.

[checks-n-balances]

4. Seriously, that's one of their beloved Ten Commandments broken

Apparently, "Thou shalt not take the name of The Lord in vain" is one they've conveniently forgotten or choose to ignore (in addition to "Thou shalt have any gods before me"; "Thou shalt not bear false witness"; "Thou shalt not steal"; and "Thou shalt not covet...anything that is your neighbor’s ”)...