The strange world of "pro-life" warmongers

[theHandpuppet]

So I'm in the parking lot of the local hospital this morning (to pay a bill) when I pull up next to a car plastered with one of the most mind-boggling displays I've seen in a while (and believe me, there are some real doozies around here). The entire back of the car was akin to a billboard, neatly split 50/50 between military/war bumper stickers and signs and those proclaiming the sanctity of the fetus.

The military stuff was the typical yellow-ribbon, eagles flying, flag-waving display complete with pro-war, jingoistic slogans. In juxtaposition to that was an array of "pro-life" bumper stickers, but double the size of regular bumper stickers, in case anyone should miss their message. "U Can't Be Catholic and Be Pro-Choice, " read one. Another -- the largest of the group, poster-sized -- sported a photographic image of a twisted, aborted fetus. This is just a sampling of the display.

So does anyone have clue what must be going on inside these folks' heads?

[BlueJac]

1. Just plan hate and ignorance

[tridim]

2. It's really not that difficult to diagnose

They're batshit crazy as a result of putting their complete faith in a church that's equally as batshit crazy.

[lonestarnot]

3. rocks bouncing together.

[napi21]

4. It's interesting. I had a discussion with a friend of mine who is

a strong Democrat, a reborn Christian minister, and a psychologist in private practice. We were discussing the pro-life/pro-choice issue compared to the death penalty.

He is very much against almost any wars, against any abortion for any reason, but pro death penalty. He traces his position back to the bible and the eye for an eye thing.

As to having pro war and pro life stickers on your car at the same time, my guess would be that they still believe Iraq was a threat to the US and THEM PERSONALLY, mainly because their Prez told them that, and even the bible permits you to defend yourself.

[theHandpuppet]

6. Does he read his Bible or just use it as a paperweight?

This is what Jesus Christ said about that "eye for an eye" thing:

(From the Sermon on the Mount, the Book of Matthew)

Go the Second Mile
38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.


Love Your Enemies
43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

[napi21]

9. Oh he reads it a lot! Believe me, he can tell you by chapter and

verse where every quote comes from. Perhapse I mistated his reasons for supporting the DP since this discussion was quite lengthy and much more involved that I stated here.

He really isn't one of those nuts who just carry their bible around for show but never open it. It amazes me how he can retain all that stuff in his head!

[nancyr]

5. Bizarre!

What a twisted view of what constitutes life and what doesn't! They are truly appalling. I have an old friend who is a registered Democrat, but also a Catholic. She voted for Bush because she "couldn't vote for a baby-killer". Bottom line...it didn't seem to matter to her that Bush is a raving fool and evil, too. Totally brainless, and this from a woman who should have better sense! They just blindly listen to what their church tells them and don't seem to be able to think logically.

[RoBear]

7. Could be why

lots of people are leaving the Catholic Church. Curious thing is they are NOT going to other religions. So the church is in the untenable position of driving people away from the "truth" rather than "saving" them.

[BOSSHOG]

11. We stopped going to the local Catholic Church

about a year ago because I was sick and fucking tired of hearing the garbage coming from the pulpit every Sunday. Hate gays, hate liberals, hate the media, hate secularists, hate doctors. And we have not returned to another church. I recall a time when I could find a message of love from the Catholic Church, but not here in South Mississippi where the number one religion is hate.

[RoBear]

12. That message of hate

is pretty much universal any more. It's gotten to the point where if you hear a message of love from a religious person you do a double-take. I actually left the church years ago (10 or more) and do NOT feel my life is any less fulfilling or less moral. I have standards that do not include hate. Not so the church in which I grew up. (Mother Angelica being a prime example of hate masquerading as "love.")

[theHandpuppet]

8. Yeah, I had an odd experience with the "baby killer" crowd...

... during a voter registration drive when some woman just started screaming -- literally -- in the middle of a parking lot about how she couldn't vote for "baby killer" John Kerry.

I wonder (sadly) if your friend is keeping a body count of the already-born babies Bush has killed in Iraq.

[leesa]

10. I'm currently reading John Dean's 'Conservatives Without a Conscience'

which explores this very interesting phenomenon. He looks at studies of authoritarian followers and leaders and discusses how their personality type can allow them to accommodate diametrically opposed concepts with ease. He specifically discusses religious fundamentalists as very high level authoritarian personalities who are capable of maintaining incredibly inconsistant viewpoints, such as abortion is murder, but war is good, because their authority figure, whoever that may be, has told them it is righteous.

It's very interesting. Also very scary because they can be manipulated into just about anything with the right "daddy". It's how a Hitler got his following.

[Emit]

13. I'm almost finished reading Dean's book, too.

I highly recommend it for some insight into these types.

[Bandit]

14. Well in the first place they are not "Pro-Life" yet we use their

language to describe them. They are Pro-Tobacco, Pro-Death Penalty, Pro-War, Pro-Gun and many other Pros but none are Pro-Life. They are Anti-Abortion, Anti-environment, Anti-health care. Anti everything that is good and decent in this world and Pro all things vile and destructive.

[leesa]

15. The problem is they truly BELIEVE they are pro-life.

[kineneb]

16. gotta call 'em as they are: hypocrites and heretics

that should get them steaming!
:evilgrin: