Why it is so very important not to let fundamentalists gain power

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I was relaxing, doing genealogical research tonight when I came across an excerpt from "History of Andover", Massachusetts, by a Miss Bailey, written over 100 years ago. It gives details about some women of Andover who were caught up in the witch hysteria which will be forever linked to another town in Essex County--one called Salem.

She was an aged woman, a widow, without friends of influence to give aid in her distress. She was evidently weak in mind and body, and was ready at the trial to confess to almost anything, and believed anything which was suggested against them. Indeed, some of these women had so long used to contemplate their natural and acquired depravity, in its most aggrivated forms, that some of the sensitive and self-accusing were ready, even in ordinary religious meditations, to regard themselves as guilty of almost all sin, believing literally that 'he that offendeth in one point is guilty of all'. The piety of Ann Foster is especially spoken of by her sons, and there can be little doubt that she was led to charge herself with the sin of witchcraft with all sincerity and contrition. A broken down old woman, in her decreptitiude and weakness, torn from her quiet home, brought a long journey to prison and a court room, accused of blaspheming her God and forsaking her Savior--what wonder that she sank and died under such a weight of miseries. She was four times examined--July 15th, 16th, 18th and 21st. It is pitiful to think of this poor, tottering, feeble creature, dragged again and again before her accusers, and finally dismissed to the sheriff to be taken care of as guilty.


The chilling part is that Ann, a "pious" woman, had really been condemned by her own piety--the beliefs about original sinfulness which had been drummed into her since she was a child. She willingly confessed because, to her, she WAS guilty--of everything. And so the ministers used her, and others like her, to try and gain power in Massachusetts Bay Colony.

I see this same thing happening today amongst the fundamentalists of both Christian and Muslim faith. Their preaching is of hatred and fear, and their influence strong. Religion has its place in society--in the temple, church, or mosque. It must never be allowed to enter the assemblies and Congresses where laws are made.

[troubledamerican]

1. The Long Coup D'etat

There's a strong argument to be made that the real power in the U.S. is in the notorious "Military-Industrial Complex".

There's a strong argument to be made that Fundamentalist Christianists have taken over within the Pentagon & Raytheon & Lockheed-Martin.

There's a strong argument to be made that the military branch most strongly taken over by Fundamentalist Christianists is the USAF and especially its academies.

There's a strong argument that a smart President who took over in 2009 already knows that the majority of the U.S. branches of government & its institutions & its military masters are already held by the Christianist fascist coup faction.

[ControlledDemolition]

2. Scary but true! In this upside down world religion has become EVIL! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I think that Evil has taken over religion.....There is a movement back to the Dark Ages

and times when the local witch doctors and "religious" leaders maintained their power thru fear and violence.
Mixing religion and government can lead only to evil.


In addition to "The Family" check out Dominionism and Christian Reconstructionism. SCARY SCARY SCARY

[vadawg]

4. i dont think its religion thats the problem, its fanatics whether religious or non religious

both sides have their radicals who would happily boil in oil anyone who disagrees with them..

[BrklynLiberal]

5. You are right. The fanatics know how to manipulate people using religion as their tool.

It has been this way throughout history..fanatics of all types have used religion to control people, and use them to accomplish their own ends.

[cabluedem]

6. Most fundies are bat-shit crazy and need psychotherapy, IMO. nt

[optimal-tomato]

7. Strong arguments.

But they get you nowhere. Even now, an atheist is being discharged from the Army for his lack of religion, and nothing else. When our military institutions are indoctrinating and forcing out noncompliant enlisted men, there's no hope of fixing it without draining the swamp.

It's like the CIA, in a lot of ways. There is a culture of evangelical Christianity, especially among the officers. But how do you fix it?

[troubledamerican]

8. Exactly. White supremacists, Neo-Nazis OK, but no gays or atheists.

And an evangelical cabal, especially in the USAF.

Again, the stuff coups d'etat are made of.

[tbyg52]

9. >>without friends of influence to give aid in her distress

Exactly the sort of people who *must* be protected.

First they came for....