I'm watching that since week on German TV and news print. Not much to hear from most of his bishop colleges. They are used to such splendor and then there comes along this spend thrift pope from latin america. What a shock!

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
10/26/13 10:14 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a possible culture-war shift in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, which caused a major stir in religio-political circles this week.

There is a contingent within evangelical Christianity that believes they are, as John 18:36 put it, “not of this world.” They’re inclined to withdraw from politics and the culture war, and leave parochial disputes to others, focusing instead on their immediate faith community.

With this in mind, consider a profile the Wall Street Journal ran this week on the new Southern Baptist Convention leader.

For years, as the principal public voice for the Southern Baptist Convention, the country’s biggest evangelical group, Richard Land warned of a “radical homosexual agenda” and pushed for a federal ban on same-sex marriage.

His successor, Russell Moore, sounded a different note when the Supreme Court in June struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “Love your gay and lesbian neighbors,” Mr. Moore wrote in a flier, “How Should Your Church Respond,” sent to the convention’s estimated 45,000 churches. “They aren’t part of an evil conspiracy.” Marriage, he added, was a bond between a man and a woman, but shouldn’t be seen as a “‘culture war’ political issue.”

Since the birth of the Christian-conservative political movement in the late 1970s, no evangelical group has delivered more punch in America’s culture wars than the Southern Baptist Convention and its nearly 16 million members. The country’s largest Protestant denomination pushed to end abortion, open up prayer in public schools and boycott Walt Disney Co. over films deemed antifamily. Its ranks included many of the biggest names on the Christian right, including Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.

Today, after more than three decades of activism, many in the religious right are stepping back from the front lines.

Given the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent history, the prospect of the SBC pulling back from politics and the culture war generated considerable controversy, though some caution is probably in order.

For one thing, as Ed Kilgore noted, the Southern Baptist Convention has made similar noises in the past, but never actually retreated from the culture-war battlefield. For another, as Rob Boston explained, there appears to be a shift in tone, but not position – Russell Moore appears ready to put the same agenda in a less-confrontational package.

Still, given the Southern Baptist Convention’s size and influence, it’ll be worth watching what kind of changes, if any, the denomination is prepared to make under its new leadership.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* Towards the beginning of the recent government shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) reportedly turned to prayer for guidance, thinking “there must be a reason” he was in his position.

* Similarly, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) believes there has been divine intervention in key moments of his political career.

* Following up on an item from last week, Pope Francis this week suspended German Bishop Franz Peter Tebartz-van Elst – sometimes referred to as “Bishop Deluxe” or the “Bishop of Bling” – for his lavish spending on his personal accommodations. Pope Francis ordered Tebartz-van Elst to vacate the Diocese of Limburg, at least temporarily (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

* And failed Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum believes the Devil has used the U.S. film industry as “his playground,” though Santorum hopes to push back with a movie of his own.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-76

Santorum hopes to push back with a movie of his own.

Does it involve lube?

froth

I know he froths. The lube is for his other end.

come froth and praise god .............. oops, that's come forth ............ nevermind

LMAO

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
11/02/13 10:31 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a big church-state case that will have its day before the U.S. Supreme Court in just a few days. The outcome will have pretty far-reaching implications.

At issue are the town board meetings in Greece, N.Y., a Rochester suburb, which hosts a “chaplain of the month” before board members begin their official business. Nearly all of the invited chaplains are Christian, and “more often than not,” the Christian clergy “called on Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit to guide the council’s deliberations.”

Some local taxpayers, Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, reached out to my friends at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed suit to keep board meetings secular. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in their favor, but the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on appeal – and will hear arguments this week.

A federal appeals court said last year that such a “steady drumbeat” of Christian invocations violates the Constitution’s prohibition against government endorsement of religion.

Now, the issue is set to come before the Supreme Court. Next week – soon after the court’s marshal announces a new session with the phrase “God save the United States and this honorable court” – the justices will once again tackle the role of religion in the public square.

If this legal dispute sounds at all familiar, it’s because the Supreme Court already weighed in on legislative prayers 30 years ago, concluding in a case called Marsh v. Chambers that these invocations are legally permissible.

So is the outcome obvious, given the precedent? Perhaps not – as the 2nd Circuit found, in the decades since Marsh, court rulings have gone further to separate government from endorsing a specific faith tradition. And since Greece, N.Y., has promoted Christian pastors nearly exclusively, the case before the justices will be well worth watching.

For that matter, in Marsh, the issue was a legislative invocation where members of the public are mere spectators – while in town board meetings, the public actually participates, and it’s more directly relevant that local officials not make Americans feel like second-class citizens in their own community.

Oral arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* The Public Religion Research Institute published its annual American Values Survey, and found some interesting religio-political differences between Libertarians, Tea Party members, and Republicans in general.

* Remember that Tennessee judge who ordered a family to change their baby’s name from Messiah to Martin? The Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew was sanctioned this week by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct, which said the judge relied on an inappropriate religious bias in violation of the state judicial code of conduct (thanks to reader R.P for the tip).

* There have been a series of religious controversies in recent years at the Air Force Academy, which this week announced that cadets will no longer be required to recite “So help me God” as part of the school’s Honor Oath. The religious right movement is, to put it mildly, not pleased.

* And former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) told radical preacher John Hagee this week, “Jesus destroyed Satan so that we could be free and that is manifested in what is called the Constitution of the United States. God created this nation and God created the Constitution; it is written on biblical principles.” For the record, the Constitution is entirely secular, and makes no reference to Christianity or the Bible.


http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-79

"Jesus destroyed Satan ..."

If "Jesus destroyed Satan" wtf are they afraid of all the time?

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
11/09/13 10:39 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is an unsettling look at a ritual politico-religious exercise, which is now apparently being led by the former half-term governor of Alaska.

We are still a couple of days from Veterans Day, and 19 days from Thanksgiving, but it’s apparently never too early to raise the alarm about the annual “War on Christmas.” Dan Amira listened to the entire four-and-a-half hour audiobook version of Sarah Palin’s latest release, which focuses on Palin’s goal of “protecting the heart of Christmas.”

The book is part tribute to the joys of Christmas, part how-to guide for oppressed Christians looking for ways to fight back against whiny and litigious secularists, and part manifesto on the general superiority of Christianity over atheism.

Palin, throughout, appears incapable of fathoming why a business catering to people from all walks of life may prefer to use inclusive holiday-season language in promotional items, or why a non-Christian may not appreciate a government institution expressing a preference for Christianity over other religions. To hear her tell it, such attitudes imperil America’s dedication to religious freedom itself.

Every year, I foolishly think the right will find a way to enjoy winter holidays without complaining about store clerks using inclusive language in a diverse, modern society. And every year, I’m mistaken.

In theory, the very idea that Sarah Palin would publish a book on the subject would seem to represent some kind Peak Silliness, but if recent history is any guide, this is a nonsensical arc without end – and a phenomenon we can only expect to intensify in the coming weeks.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* Pope Francis took the surprising step this week of launching a poll: “The pontiff with a penchant for surprises is making new waves by launching a survey of his flock on issues facing modern families – from gay marriage to divorce. Very specific questions are being sent to parishes around the globe in preparation for next year’s synod of bishops, a grassroots effort that experts say is unprecedented.”

* Oh my: “Doug Phillips, an outspoken proponent of male “dominion” over women and a leading home-schooling activist, has stepped down as president of his Texas-based Vision Forum Ministries after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a woman” (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

* Billboard wars in the Big Apple: “After a Creationist-supported billboard went up earlier this week in New York City, Atheist activists have responded with one of their own.”

* And First Lady Michelle Obama this week hosted an event to honor the Hindu “festival of lights.” It led the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer to complain that a “doctrine of demons … is being celebrated in the White House.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-81

In theory, the very idea that Sarah Palin would publish a book on the subject

Coming soon to bargain bins near you!

And First Lady Michelle Obama this week hosted an event to honor the Hindu “festival of lights.” It led the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer to complain that a “doctrine of demons … is being celebrated in the White House.”

So now they've started the War On Diwali. Probably with good cause since the whole purpose of Diwali is inclusiveness....some Christians abhor.

What's worse it's obvious the No. 10 Downing St. home of America's strongest ally has been occupied by the same demons.

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/videos/T ... visit.html

(Can you imagine the faux outrage of the right if Michelle ever wore a sari.)

Here's this week's installment ~ one note of a semi-correction: in the last item below about Illinois, Steve Benen refers to "... the state's upcoming approval of marriage equality" ~ the state HAS approved marriage equality and the bill is on Quinn's desk for signature, which he has promised to sign ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
11/16/13 09:06 AM
By Steve Benen


First up from the God Machine this week is an unfortunate controversy surrounding prominent voices in the religious right movement and their take on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

On a Veterans’ Day broadcast, Kenneth Copeland, a widely influential televangelist, and David Barton, a Republican pseudo-historian, relied on Scripture to argue that military veterans returning from war can’t get PTSD because they’re doing Godly work. As my friend Kyle Mantyla at Right Wing Watch reported this week:


Not surprisingly, arguing that Scriptural promises “will get rid of” a serious condition such as PTSD, and that military veterans don’t need medication or counseling, proved offensive to many, including the Southern Baptist Convention’s Joe Carter, who said Barton and Copeland are “profoundly ignorant about theology and history,” adding that by “downplaying the pain of PTSD” they have “denigrate[d] the suffering of men and women traumatized by war.”

Carter went on to say, “[F]or them to denigrate the suffering of men and women traumatized by war – and to claim Biblical support for their callow and doltish views – is both shocking and unconscionable.”

Barton, it’s worth noting, is a close ally of Glenn Beck and Mike Huckabee, who was recently sought out by Texas Tea Partiers to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014. He later declined.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* The Associated Press reported this week on “atheist mega-churches,” which proved to be popular in Britain and are now catching on in a variety of U.S. cities. The article notes that the services are drawing crowds of atheists “seeking the camaraderie of a congregation without religion or ritual” (thanks to reader G.B. for the tip).

* Mariah Blake published a fascinating piece this week on the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the Korean cult leader who started the conservative Washington Times newspaper, and who has seen his remarkable empire rise and fall. It’s a remarkable narrative that’s well worth your time.

* Gallup has repeatedly reported that roughly half the U.S. population believes the creationist view about humans being created within the last 10,000 years, but the National Center for Science Education’s Josh Rosenau has found that the results change dramatically with a slight shift in the wording of the question and that support for creationism is probably much lower than the Gallup results suggest (thanks to reader B.S. for the tip).

* A snake-handling preacher in Tennessee, who’s had great success on reality television, has an unusual legal problem on his hands: he’s been accused of illegally keeping dozens of poisonous snakes at his church. The National Geographic Channel star pleaded not guilty yesterday.

* And in Illinois, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, will reportedly preside over a prayer service of “supplication and exorcism” next week in opposition to the state’s upcoming approval of marriage equality (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-82

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
11/23/13 10:45 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is an important court ruling out of Ohio, which has an encouraging outcome, but which was also a closer call than expected.

At issue is a public school science teacher, John Freshwater, who insisted on distributing creationist materials to students, and surveyed kids on whether religion is important to them. The Mt. Vernon City School District told him to stop, the teacher refused, so Freshwater was fired. The teacher then sued, claiming the district was stifling his First Amendment rights to free speech.

The Ohio Supreme Court this week ruled against Freshwater, but it was not a one-sided decision.


The ruling went on to say, “Freshwater’s First Amendment rights did not protect the display of these items, because they were not a part of his exercise of his religion. Freshwater’s willful disobedience of these direct orders demonstrates blatant insubordination. That insubordination is established by clear and convincing evidence, and the record fully supports the board’s decision to terminate him on these grounds.”

This wouldn’t appear to be a tough call. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that, under the First Amendment, public schools cannot teach creationism as science – a detail this teacher ignored. That, in conjunction with his brazen disregard for the school district’s instructions, seems to make dismissal a no-brainer.

But here’s the thing that jumps out: it was a 4-3 ruling. In other words, three justices on the Ohio Supreme Court concluded that the teacher in question was justified in blowing off the school district, scientific cannon, modern biology, the religious liberties of his students, and legal precedent.

The entirety of the ruling, including the dissent, is online here (pdf). In case you’re curious, justices on the Ohio Supreme Court are elected, and the three jurists who dissented in this case ran as self-identified Republicans. Three other Republican judges and the court’s only Democrat made up the majority.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* A Costco in California caused a bit of a stir this week when it sold the Bible with a “Fiction” sticker. The store explained soon after that a distributor “mislabeled” the books and apologized (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

* Rev. Frank Schaefer of the Zion United Methodist church in Lebanon, Pa., was convicted in a church trial this week of “violating church law for marrying his gay son to another man.” He’s been suspended for 30 days, at which point he’ll be expected to either uphold church doctrine or resign as a United Methodist pastor.

* Oh my: “An essay published Wednesday on the website of the Harvard Ichthus, a campus ‘journal of Christian thought,’ argued ‘the Jews were marked out for destruction when they killed Jesus.’”

* Hobby Lobby president Steve Green, perhaps best known for his legal fight over contraception access, has written a Bible curriculum for an Oklahoma high school, which he hopes to see adopted for classroom use.

* And Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) spoke this week at a fundraising event for the right-wing Florida Family Policy Council. Making an odd case against church-state separation, the far-right senator said the issue isn’t worth debating because “God is everywhere” and “doesn’t need our permission to be anywhere.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-83

So many things, so little time. I'll address a couple:

At issue is a public school science teacher, John Freshwater, who insisted on distributing creationist materials to students, and surveyed kids on whether religion is important to them. The Mt. Vernon City School District told him to stop, the teacher refused, so Freshwater was fired. The teacher then sued, claiming the district was stifling his First Amendment rights to free speech.

Let's see what happens when a Muslim tries the same thing. I'm assuming that only "christian" free speech is considered free speech?

* A Costco in California caused a bit of a stir this week when it sold the Bible with a “Fiction” sticker. The store explained soon after that a distributor “mislabeled” the books and apologized

I read about this. LMAO! I would LOVE to know how they have labeled it now. "Drama"? "Fantasy"? "Sci-Fi"? "Romance" (all those wives and such)?

"Romance" (all those wives and such)?

Porn?

Funny, those were the 2 that stuck out for me also.

Not much difference between crazies and godsters.

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
11/30/13 10:04 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is an unexpected partisan backlash against the United States moving its embassy to the Vatican. The unabashedly conservative Washington Times seemed to get the ball rolling with this report on Wednesday.

The Obama administration, in what’s been called an egregious slap in the face to the Vatican, has moved to shut down the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See – a free-standing facility – and relocate offices onto the grounds of the larger American Embassy in Italy.

Breitbart aggressively pushed the story, as did other far-right outlets, which subtly changed the story from “moving” the embassy to “shutting it down.” Soon after, Fox Nation’s top story said President Obama intends to “close” the embassy to the Holy See.

It wasn’t long before prominent Republican officials, taking their cues from right-wing reports, started expressing outrage. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), for example, called the news a “slap in the face” to the nation’s Roman Catholics. Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R), ostensibly one of his party’s less-ridiculous voices, suggested the Obama administration is “closing” the embassy as “retribution” for the Vatican’s “opposition” to the Affordable Care Act. The National Republican Senatorial Committee even launched a petition drive to protest the move, calling it “the latest anti-religion pursuit” of the Obama administration and a decision that “weakens America’s position as a global leader.”

All of this is completely bonkers. It’s tempting to think there’s a limit on the amount of nonsense Republican officials expect far-right activists to believe, but the party keeps finding new ways to push the envelope.

First, no one is closing the embassy. It’s moving to a new location – closer to the Vatican – that will save American taxpayers money and improve security for U.S. diplomats and staff.

Second, despite the Republican apoplexy, the Vatican doesn’t mind the move and hasn’t complained at all. Indeed, other countries have made similar moves in Rome without incident.

Third, plans for the move began under the Bush/Cheney administration, making the incessant Republican whining that much stranger.

Asked to defend his party’s transparent and demonstrable falsehoods, Brad Dayspring, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told CNN that the party is pushing back against the move because it will be “perceived” by “many” Catholics as offensive.

But that perception will only exist if Americans believe the lies Republicans are repeating about this manufactured controversy.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* A federal judge ruled this week that an IRS exemption that “allows clergy to shield a portion of their salary from federal income taxes” is unconstitutional. According to the Religion News Service report, the housing exemption currently applies to “an estimated 44,000 ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and others” (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

* Pope Francis caused a considerable stir this week when he condemned “trickle-down” economic policies in stark terms. The Roman Catholic leader called rampant capitalism “a new tyranny,” adding, “Such an economy kills.”

* Southern Baptist leader Richard Land argued in print this week that “the best option” for unmarried mothers is giving up their kids for adoption. “A single mother who keeps her baby is quite often denying that baby the father that God wants for that baby, and every baby, to have,” Land argued.

* And the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer told his followers this week that the Constitution allows U.S. officials to “make Islam illegal” and “prohibit the building of mosques.” In case anyone’s curious, that’s the exact opposite of reality.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-84

Sometimes I enjoy following the links Benen uses. As he or one of the other writers notes, these guys enjoy a special kind of crazy. They also don't always think things through:

Southern Baptist leader Richard Land argued in print this week that “the best option” for unmarried mothers is giving up their kids for adoption. “A single mother who keeps her baby is quite often denying that baby the father that God wants for that baby, and every baby, to have,” Land argued.

This clown used the story of Solomon threatening to divide the baby as an example of a mother putting the welfare of her baby before her own desires. What he neglected to remember was that both mothers were single. Either way, that baby was going to be raised by a single mother.

And the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer told his followers this week that the Constitution allows U.S. officials to “make Islam illegal” and “prohibit the building of mosques.” In case anyone’s curious, that’s the exact opposite of reality.

This nut bar completely neglects the 14th Amendment (which he calls a "modern" interpretation of the Constitution) but even if it didn't exist and he was remotely right, I wonder if it occurred to him that the same interpretation could be used to rid the country of Christianity and churches. After all, they're the ones who are so worried about the "War on Christianity".

ummm- i don't think PTSD has much to do with guilt, fellas. and i am even less sure that God wants us in Afghanstan.

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
12/07/13 10:01 AM
By Steve Benen


First up from the God Machine this week is a closer look at one of the more overtly religious campaign run by a U.S. senator in recent memory, and the unexpected controversy that ensued.

The commercial was launched this week by Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, widely considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the 2014 cycle. For those who can’t watch the clip, here’s the transcript of his latest ad, which is titled, “North Star.”


Throughout the ad, the viewer sees a Bible in Pryor’s hands – open, closed, and with the spine of the book pointed at the camera to make it explicitly clear exactly which text he’s holding.

In general, this kind of overt religiosity is uncommon in televised campaign commercials – it’s reminiscent of this 2007 spot for Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign – and especially unusual for contemporary Democratic officials.

But in an unexpected twist, Pryor was slammed, not by church-state separationists, but by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “So is the Bible Mark Pryor’s compass, providing the ‘comfort and guidance to do what’s best for Arkansas?’ Or is it really not a good rule book for political issues and decisions made in the Senate? Guess it depends on which Mark Pryor that you ask,” NRSC Director Brad Dayspring responded.

Adding another twist, Rep. Tom Cotton (R), the far-right House freshman running against Pryor, actually took the Democrat’s side, calling the NRSC’s response “incredibly bizarre and offensive.” Cotton’s campaign spokesperson added, “We should all agree that America is better off when all our public officials in both parties have the humility to seek guidance from God.”

Taking stock, what do we have here? A red-state Democratic senator literally waving a Bible around in a campaign ad, and a Republican Senate candidate at odds with the Republican campaign committee trying desperately to get him elected. When religion and campaign politics mix, strange things can and will happen.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins told supporters this week that “homosexual activists like to say that momentum is on their side” when it comes to marriage equality, but as far as he’s concerned, “the tide may already be turning” in the right’s direction, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. His proof? Indiana will vote next year on an anti-gay ballot measure.

* A variety of prominent voices in conservative media – including Rush Limbaugh and various Fox hosts – were deeply critical of Pope Francis this week, stemming from his remarks on economic inequality and the adverse of effects of trickle-down economics. In the larger context, note that when the Obama administration moves the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See closer to the Vatican, the right deems it “anti-religion.” When conservatives slam the pope’s economic views, that’s fine.

* On a related note, we also learned this week that Pope Francis used to work as a nightclub bouncer and has reportedly been sneaking out of the Vatican at night to counsel Rome’s homeless, dressed as a regular priest.

* And on TV preacher Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” program this week, a twice-divorced woman wrote in to ask if she’d go to hell if she married a third time. Robertson didn’t seem eager to offer his viewer much support, telling her, “You have picked a selection of losers, there is something in your character that draws you to these men who are indigent or abusive. I don’t think you’re marriage material.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-85

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
12/14/13 09:42 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a story out of Oklahoma, where state Republican officials were so eager to promote government-endorsed religious displays, they inadvertently opened the door to religious monuments they really won’t like.


Oops.

In this case, the $20,000 Satanic monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma state capitol would, like the Ten Commandments display, be privately financed. Taxpayers wouldn’t pay a dime – all the Satanic Temple would need is comparable public space provided by the state legislature for the Christian monument in 2009.

ACLU Oklahoma has already reminded state officials that they cannot discriminate on the basis of religious viewpoints.

Which brings us back to the underlying principle we last discussed in July: in an open forum, the government can’t play favorites. If the government is going to devote space to promoting one religious monument, celebrating the tenets of one faith, it can’t deny space to other religions that expect equal treatment. It’s easy to imagine the Oklahoma state capitol reserving space for everyone: Baptists, Buddhists, and the Baha’i; as well as Sikhs, Scientologists, and Satanists.

There are, after all, no second-class Americans citizens when it comes to the First Amendment. If one group has the right to erect a monument, so does everyone else.

It seems likely that officials in Oklahoma will be less than enthusiastic about welcoming a permanent Satanic display to sit near the Ten Commandments display, but they probably should have thought this through before. They opened the door, and it’s going to get crowded as others walk through it.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* The American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer argued this week that the First Amendment protects the free exercise of Christianity, but not other religions. That’s pretty nutty, even for the religious right movement.

* This story out of Ohio will almost certainly not end well: “A portrait of Jesus and prayer could return to public schools if two state representatives persuade fellow lawmakers to pass the Ohio Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (thanks to my colleague Laura Conaway for the tip).

* The appeal on this one should be interesting: “A federal judge struck down Utah’s criminal ban on cohabitation between a married individual and another person not his or her spouse, a prong in the state’s law against polygamy. The Friday ruling did not address legal polygamy – actually being married to multiple people – but only what U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups referred to as ‘religious cohabitation.’”

* The legal dispute over the 29-foot cross atop Mount Soledad has been ongoing for literally most of my lifetime. It’s not over: “A federal judge ruled Thursday that a cross on federal land in San Diego violated the First Amendment ban on a government endorsement of religion and ordered it removed within 90 days.”


* What a relief: “Texas lawmakers sent notices to schools on Monday informing them that new legislation allows students and teachers to dress in festive garb and say ‘Merry Christmas’ all they want without fear of punishment” (thanks to my colleague Robert Lyon for the tip).

* Fox News’ Megyn Kelly raised eyebrows this week when she insisted that Santa Claus, a fictional character, must be considered white – just like Jesus. Last night, the host said she was kidding and told her viewers she’s the victim: “Fox News and yours truly are big targets for many people.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-86

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
12/21/13 09:21 AM—Updated 12/21/13 09:24 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a story published by Fox News, claiming to have real-life, documented examples that prove that the “war on Christmas” is a genuine phenomenon. Like many of the horror stories associated with the Affordable Care Act, the closer one looks at the anecdotal evidence, the less scary the claims appear.

In this case, Kelly Shackelford, a fairly prominent attorney in the religious right, argued that those who believe the “war on Christmas” is a myth “must not be looking very hard.” He proceeded to list a series of examples, some of which are impossible to take seriously – moving a Nativity scene from public property to private property does not a “war” make – but there was one claim in particular that stood out for me: just this year, Shackelford said, there have been attempts to “ban Christmas observances” in schools in Bulloch County, Georgia and Frisco, Texas.

My friend Rob Boston at Americans United for Separation of Church and State went through each of Shackelford’s anecdotes, one by one, but since I’ve never heard of a ban on Christmas observances, I was curious about the Georgia and Texas stories. So let’s take a closer look. On the former, local school officials in Bulloch County have said conservative media simply made stuff up.


And on the latter, the alleged developments in Frisco, Texas, were imaginary.


Considering this in the larger context, if the “war” actually existed in reality, legitimate examples should be readily available. But when given a chance to document the assault on the holiday, the best “war” proponents can do is point to scary stories that are easily debunked.

Which should probably tell fair-minded people quite a bit about the validity of the right’s favorite “war.”

Also from the God Machine this week:

* Following up on last week’s lead TWIG story, “Oklahoma has put a halt to new monuments at its Capitol after groups petitioned to have markers for Satan, a monkey god and a spaghetti monster erected near a large stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments” (thanks to my colleague Robert Lyon for the heads-up).

* Social conservatives have rallied with extraordinary efficiency around “Duck Dynasty,” following bigoted comments from one of the reality-TV show’s stars. The American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer described A&E’s suspension of the show’s cast member as a “mark of the beast.”

* For now, it appears biology is safe from creationists’ criticism in Texas’ public-school science textbooks (thanks to my colleague Kent Jones for the heads-up).

* Methodist minister Frank Schaefer was “stripped of his clerical credentials on Thursday for violating church law by presiding at his son’s same-sex wedding.” Though church officials said the move is intended to discourage other ministers from blessing same-sex marriages, “the trial and defrocking of Mr. Schaefer have galvanized a wave of Methodist ministers to step forward to disobey church prohibitions against marrying and ordaining openly gay people.”

* And in South Jersey, another religiously inspired battle of billboards is underway, with a “Keep Christ in Christmas” banner going up against a “Keep the Saturn in Saturnalia” sign. This week, the latter was torched “by two unidentified men who fled in a pickup truck after only charring the sign’s steel support beams.” The men apparently decided the best way to celebrate the holidays is to engage in arson, vandalism, and the destruction of private property (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-87

Here's this week's installment ~ "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original are accessible via the end link ~ Sooz

This Week in God
12/28/13 10:00 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a closer look at Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) apparent confusion over the meaning of religious liberty.

A&E announced late yesterday that Phil Robertson’s suspension over bigoted comments has ended and production will begin anew on the “Duck Dynasty” reality show. New episodes will begin filming in 2014. In response, Bobby Jindal described the news as a victory “for the freedoms of speech and religious liberty.”

Perhaps now would be a good time for a refresher on Civil Liberties 101.

As we discussed last week, Phil Robertson’s free-speech rights were never in jeopardy – A&E is a private entity, and Robertson, as a private citizen, has always been free to say whatever he pleases about minority groups he doesn’t like. Whether Jindal understands this or not, the Constitution does not entitle Americans to their own cable reality shows – Americans’ freedom of speech does not mean Americans are entitled to have someone pay us for our speech.

But this applies equally to religious liberty. Americans’ ability to worship freely, or not, based on our beliefs and conscience is not dependent on paychecks from cable networks. Phil Robertson’s freedom of religion remains entirely intact whether or not he’s on A&E’s payroll.

Let me try to explain this another way:

1. You are not the star of your own televised reality show.

2. Your ability to worship and exercise your religious beliefs remains unaffected.

See how easy this was? Jindal and other conservatives have been eager to defend Robertson by arguing that religiously based contempt for minority groups is somehow more acceptable than garden-variety bigotry. They’re certainly welcome to believe that if they wish.

But what Jindal and his allies should not do is change the meaning of the First Amendment to suit a misguided culture-war agenda. The freedom of religion means something rather specific, and if the governor of Louisiana finds that confusing, it’s not too late for him to brush up on the basics.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* John Hagee, a prominent evangelical pastor who dabbles in Republican politics, argued this week, “[I]f atheists and humanists don’t like being wished a ‘Merry Christmas’ … well, they can just get out of the country.”

* An important overturned conviction: “Lawyers for a Roman Catholic church official will demand his immediate release from prison Monday after an appeals court overturned his conviction in a novel priest-abuse case aimed squarely at the church hierarchy in Philadelphia. Monsignor William Lynn, 62, is the first Catholic official ever prosecuted over his handling of priest sex-abuse complaints. He has served 18 months of the 3- to 6-year sentence handed down by a judge who said he helped predators remain in ministry, endangering new victims” (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).

* And the Rev. Frank Schaefer gets a new job offer: “A pastor who was defrocked by the United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania because of his support for same-sex marriage has been offered another position by a Methodist bishop in California, a sign of the deep split within the church over acceptance of gay men and lesbians.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-88