Finding a target to ridicule and bash away on is always much easier to accomplish if the day's already going badly and you haven't even left the house yet

In my case, I had a bastard of a headache when I went online

And when I saw two stories in particular, the headache got much worse

They hit the absolute wrong buttons, as I grew angrier at the willful ignorance & arrogant self-delusion on the part of those who claim only the purest of virtues and complete, unquestioning faith towards supposed religious authorities

As a result of that anger, this bizzaro world idea that supposed "Christians" are being persecuted in this country for their supposed “faith” has intruded upon me at a bad time, thus causing me to flail back in disgust at the sheer stupidity of that concept

Unlike Christ-except for one VERY notable exception he set by getting righteously angry-I’m NOT turning the other cheek to these theologically-bankrupt “Eager To Inflict Misery On Unwilling Others”-pimps like those on public display at the THE WAR ON CHRISTIANS AND THE VALUES VOTER

So I’m aiming this blast/rant DIRECTLY at the people taking part in, and running, this Hatefest called Vision America, reminiscent of nothing so much as a literal freakshow

And guess what else?

Even though I’m no fucking bible expert, I’m doing this in Jesus’ Name

But first, the two articles needed to give this some context

bypass registration with this Bug Me Not link-good for both articles, so each excerpt will feature the reporters initials to differentiate the two

Redemption Among the Faithful

Written by Dana Milbank

And

'War' on Christians Is Alleged
Conference Depicts a Culture Hostile to Evangelical Beliefs

Written by Alan Cooperman

The "War on Christmas" has morphed into a "War on Christians."

Last December, some evangelical Christian groups declared that the religious celebration of Christmas -- and even the phrase "Merry Christmas" -- was under attack by the forces of secularism.

This week, radio commentator Rick Scarborough convened a two-day conference in Washington on the "War on Christians and the Values Voters in 2006." The opening session was devoted to "reports from the frontlines" on "persecution" of Christians in the United States and Canada, including an artist whose paintings were barred from a municipal art show in Deltona, Fla., because they contained religious themes.

"It doesn't rise to the level of persecution that we would see in China or North Korea," said Tristan Emmanuel, a Canadian activist. "But let's not pretend that it's okay."(AC)

Not Pretend, that’s all you’re fucking DOING is pretending

Pretending you & your ilk are in ANY way under sanctioned, Government approved harassment that’s resulted in substantial losses of physical property, lives or limbs is an absolute lie, and I say “Prove It”

And I mean prove it with facts, names, dates, financial amounts of seized property, and transcripts for trials of those locked up because of their conservative religious beliefs as either the only, or main, reason

I want to see how nonviolent expression supposedly gets religious believers of only one mindset persecuted & sanctioned, and how that nonviolent expression had food taken off the table and out of the mouths of their children

As the “Law & Order” character McCoy best put it

“People who wrap themselves up in the flag or the cloth piss me off no end”

And in this case, these Taliban Rejects wrap themselves in both as tightly as possible

And BTW Vision America, when you honor a pure scumbag like this jackoff, you’re just BEGGING for a Christian BitchSlapping from the Deity YOU claim to profess & honor

There are those who would say Tom DeLay lost his job as House majority leader because he was indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges of money laundering and conspiracy, or because of his extensive ties to lawbreaking lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But they would be wrong....."I believe the most damaging thing that Tom DeLay has done in his life is take his faith seriously into public office, which made him a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ," Scarborough said, introducing DeLay yesterday. When DeLay finished, the host reminded the politician: "God always does his best work right after a crucifixion."(DM)

Wow

Delay=Christ to this fucktard Scarborough, I must have missed the part where Christ approved of killing off worker protections in the Sweatshop industry, as DeLay did when he’d help Jack Abramoff kill off increased legislation mandating better working conditions for those who worked in the Northern Marianas islands sweatshops

Somehow, the impression I get from DeLay-and this goes double for the rest of DeLay’s whiney Amen-Corner-is of someone who would have enthusiastically scourged Christ, bound Christ’s wrists to crucifix with spikes, joyfully tugged the Crown of Thorns into Jesus’ scalp as hard as possible, mocked Christ further, pierced the side of Christ and then cast lots for Christ’s garments

Interestingly, it appears US Talibantard Scarborough has more than one interest when it comes to his agenda, which is literally banking on the dull-witted natures and fears of his fervent followers-And yes, phrases like “Goose that laid the golden eggs” and “cash cow” do spring immediately to mind

But, as Scarborough knows, believers will be more motivated to go to the polls in November (and to contribute money to his group) if they feel threatened. And so his forum offered all sorts of books and pamphlets proclaiming dire warnings: "The Criminalization of Christianity," "Liberalism Kills Kids" and "Same-Sex Marriage: Putting Every Household at Risk."(DM)

And then there’s this bit of DeLay's “O’ Woe Is Me” canard that never passes the reality test in the least

White evangelicals make up about one-quarter of the U.S. population, and 85 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. But three-quarters of evangelicals believe they are a minority under siege and nearly half believe they are looked down upon by most of their fellow citizens, according to a 2004 poll.

In a luncheon speech yesterday, DeLay took issue with the "chattering classes" who think there is no war on Christians.

"We are after all a society that abides abortion on demand, that has killed millions of innocent children, that degrades the institution of marriage and often treats Christianity like some second-rate superstition. Seen from this perspective, of course there is a war on Christianity," he said.(AC)

No Tom, you’re no “Christian”, not in any New Testament version of “Christ” that I’ve read, and what you call "War On Christianity", I call, "refusing to asskiss religious hypocrites of the highest order"

To be a fundamentalist Christian, one would constantly give all their material goods to those less economically fortunate than themselves, after all, their faith in the Deity they claim to worship IS shown or disproved by their examples

To be a fundamentalist Christian requires sticking up for groups & individuals shunned & condemned by the larger society

“Comfort the afflicted & afflict the comfortable”

There’s no way Jesus would ever be on the same side of the abortion or same-sex marriage issues as those doing the condemning at Vision America, no bigger hypocrites than these moral & ethical hypocrites who claim they act in the spirit of “righteousness” by being so against the lessons Christ taught

Something else here too

I defy Scarborough or ANY of his followers to point out-in the New Testament-where in the Bible Jesus ever agreed with the Pharisees in terms of shunning those already unpopular with the larger society

The bile and anger rise even higher with this next bit of both overwrought hyperbole & rhetoric of the most hypocritical kind brayed jackass style by Pastor Scarborough

"This is a man that I believe God has appointed," Scarborough said, a view that might surprise the voters of the 22nd District of Texas. Scarborough, in his introduction, said DeLay had been "virtually destroyed in the press," and he urged the crowd to campaign for DeLay -- though he said nonprofit tax rules prevented him from actually "endorsing" DeLay.

The congressman started with a profession of faith, then went on a tour of the religious views of great presidents. He seemed to be on the verge of discussing his own troubles when he recalled Lincoln's view that men should "confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow."

But this was not the time for a DeLay confessional. Instead, he gave his view on the War on Christians. "Sides are being chosen, and the future of man hangs in the balance!" he warned. "The enemies of virtue may be on the march, but they have not won, and if we put our trust in Christ, they never will. . . . It is for us then to do as our heroes have always done and put our faith in the perfect redeeming love of Jesus Christ."

DeLay basked in the rapturous ovation that followed. "Keep your eyes on Jesus," Scarborough called after the fallen leader as he departed the stage.(DM)

You’re absolutely right Scarborough, SOMEONE needs to think of Christ, as it’s obviously not the worthless hypocrite of the First Order DeLay so clearly is, and it sure as hell isn't yourself either

There’s only one part of the Bible that I’ve ever read and gobbled up, and that would be where Christ excoriated the Pharisees in the temple, and I can’t think of a better retort to the above infuriating and smug warped theology, or one that’s transcended time with its fury intact

King James Version of the Bible
Book of Matthew
Chapter 23

23:1
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

23:2
Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:


23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

23:4
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

23:6
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,


23:7
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

23:8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

23:11
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

23:12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

23:16
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

23:17
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

23:18
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

23:19
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

23:20
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

23:21
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

23:22
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.


23:24
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

23:26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.


23:28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

23:30
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

23:31
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.


23:32
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

That’s a really good question anyone who took part at Vision America’s HypocrisyFest 2006 should try and spin away

Jesus BitchSlapping of the Pharisees is even more applicable today to the US Talibantards who aim to turn the US into a country where only Whites have real political power, although a few crumbs will be tossed the way of minorities willing to sell out their people for a seat at the GOP’s golden edged table

As I said, these blowhards aren’t Christian in any New Testament understanding of Jesus, they’re not real “Christians”

Real Christians try and relieve real-world suffering on the part of those already born, they don’t limit their worries or efforts to fetuses alone

Real Christians don’t preach a message of “Prosperity Gospel” that’s in complete contradiction to what Christ taught-a message of giving away all one owns in order to follow Jesus, and a message of ministering to the physical needs of the lowest of the low, the most powerless classes & groups in our society, namely the poor and the homeless

Real Christians don’t whine about how socially marginalized & permanently disenfranchised liberals are somehow able to overcome their complete lack of political power & massive societal rejection and successfully persecute “Christians” to the point of financial and personal ruin

In short, these theologically deluded fucktards who organized and ran the Vision America Hatefest are NOT real “Christians”, they’re more properly labeled as “Old Testamentalists”

And in part II of this rant, we’ll see more interesting items from some of those at the Vision America conference