And so begins another year ~ "live links" in original ~ Sooz

This Week in God, 1.5.19
01/05/19 08:00 AM—Updated 01/05/19 08:03 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a look at one of Donald Trump’s most steadfast evangelical allies, whose perspective on the president has to be seen to be believed.

Jerry Falwell Jr., who leads Liberty University and whom Trump reportedly considered to lead the Department of Education, is as loyal a Trump ally as the most sycophantic Republican members of Congress. But when Falwell sat down with the Washington Post recently, he went into detail on the scope of his support for the Republican president.


In other words, in a rather literal sense, Falwell believes Trump can do no wrong. His support for the president is complete and unshakable.

The prominent leader in the religious right movement added that it “may be immoral” for Trump’s evangelical critics “not to support him.”

Falwell did not appear to be kidding.

There’s a fair amount of evidence that suggests Trump’s single most loyal constituency are politically conservative evangelical Christians, who are unconcerned with the president’s rampant dishonesty, sex scandals and adultery, casinos, and secularism.

It’s a difficult perspective to understand, which makes Falwell’s unflinching support for the president that much more notable: it’s a peek behind a confusing curtain, offering insights into those who believe Trump wants what’s best for the country, so everything he attempts necessarily should be seen as good for the country.

In the same interview, Falwell added, “Think about it. Why have Americans been able to do more to help people in need around the world than any other country in history? It’s because of free enterprise, freedom, ingenuity, entrepreneurism and wealth. A poor person never gave anyone a job. A poor person never gave anybody charity, not of any real volume. It’s just common sense to me.”

I guess some people approach Christian principles in very different ways.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* Facebook recently banned Franklin Graham for one day after concluding that he used “dehumanizing language” toward transgender Americans in an item published in 2016. This week, the social-media giant apologized and restored his content.

* As the new Congress gets to work, its historic diversity isn’t limited to gender, race, and ethnicity: this group of federal lawmakers has more non-Christians than any previous Congress.

* Speaking of religion and Congress, the U.S. House voted this week to keep Father Patrick J. Conroy in his role as House chaplain. In April 2018, then-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) tried to fire Conroy for reasons that were never fully explained.

* And for what it’s worth, when a megachurch pastor posts a video online about the $200,000 Lamborghini SUV he gave his wife as an anniversary gift, he probably shouldn’t be too surprised by the criticism that follows.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-1519

The Christian Taliban has been relatively quiet this week.
Recovering from hangovers?

A poor person never gave anyone a job. A poor person never gave anybody charity, not of any real volume. It’s just common sense to me.”

Apparently he's never heard of this Biblical character Jesus Christ or "it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a camel than for a rich man to get into heaven." Getting to more contemporary and real times he should check on what a poor man not given to private jets, Lamborginis and wealth can accomplish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Sattar_Edhi

UMMM, jim? ~ good post ... except for "it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a camel ..."????? ~

Sooz

Well, I know I've never seen a camel pass through another camel's eye.

Apart from which poor people have given plenty of people jobs. Who does he think buys stuff?

"Rich man"! "Rich man!" ……"easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven" …….Can I blame autocorrect somehow?

Another installment ~ "live links" in original ~ Sooz

This Week in God, 2.2.19
02/02/19 07:12 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a look at Donald Trump’s unexpected endorsement of legislation to allow “Bible Literacy” classes in American public schools. The Washington Post reported:


As is often the case, the president’s missive followed on the heels of a segment that aired on Fox News’ morning program.

In this case, it’s important to emphasize that Trump, whether he knew this or not, was referring to proposed legislation at the state level, not the federal level, which may never actually become law. Presidents have no formal role to play in state-based education policy.

That said, there is also a degree of irony to Trump weighing in on the subject: those who see “II Corinthians,” and think it says, “Two Corinthians,” probably shouldn’t be promoting the virtues of biblical literacy.

But what struck me as especially notable was the president’s rhetorical question: “Starting to make a turn back?” It was a reminder that for Trump, making America “great again,” means taking deliberate steps backwards. In this case, the Republican appears to have in mind public-school classrooms that promote the religious views of his conservative allies.

For the record, there’s nothing necessarily problematic – legally or scholarly – with public schools providing secular courses on religious history or the literary significance of religious texts. That said, as my friend Rob Boston explained this week, “So-called ‘Bible literacy’ courses may look all right on the surface, but you don’t have to probe too deeply to expose serious problems. Often, these courses are just a cover to bring a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible into public schools. Essentially, they’re Sunday School lessons masquerading as legitimate instruction.”

It’s likely the public will soon hear more about these courses, with or without the White House’s assistance. As USA Today recently reported, “The proposals are getting more attention because they’re linked to a common source: an initiative called Project Blitz coordinated by conservative Christian political groups.”

Also from the God Machine this week:

* An especially difficult story for the Roman Catholic Church: “A Vatican official who handles sexual abuse cases for the Catholic Church has quit two months after being accused of sexual abuse.”

* Conservative media sure did get worked up about this one: “The House Committee on Natural Resources is reportedly seeking to have the words ‘so help you God’ removed from the oath recited by witnesses who testify before the panel, according to a proposal obtained by Fox News.”

* This was a case that had drawn Trump’s attention: “The U.S. Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up the appeal of a Washington state high school football coach who lost his job after he refused to stop praying on the field immediately after games.”

* I’m noting this Politico report without comment: “White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s presidency is part of a higher calling. ‘I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times, and I think that he wanted Donald Trump to become president,’ Sanders said during an interview with Christian Broadcast Network News. ‘And that’s why he’s there, and I think he has done a tremendous job in supporting a lot of the things that people of faith really care about.’”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-2219

I’m noting this Politico report without comment: “White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s presidency is part of a higher calling. ‘I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times, and I think that he wanted Donald Trump to become president,’ Sanders said during an interview with Christian Broadcast Network News. ‘And that’s why he’s there, and I think he has done a tremendous job in supporting a lot of the things that people of faith really care about.’”

So she's admitting God needs a laugh once in awhile too.



This was a case that had drawn Trump’s attention: “The U.S. Supreme Court declined Tuesday to take up the appeal of a Washington state high school football coach who lost his job after he refused to stop praying on the field immediately after games

This is like the football player who used to pray before his games. Seems to me the complainers have too much time on their hands if they're willing to waste valuable court time on this kind of thing.

And, what would be Ms. Huckabee's evaluation of the leadership of, say, Adolph Hitler? Genghis Khan? Caligula? Ronald Reagan? (sorry)

Jeannedeurk1 wrote:

And, what would be Ms. Huckabee's evaluation of the leadership of, say, Adolph Hitler? Genghis Khan? Caligula? Ronald Reagan? (sorry)

Probably not very high. The first three would despise her idol as a wannabe and the fourth would have to keep being reminded who he was.

Here is this week's disturbing installment ~ ~ "live links" in original ~ Sooz

This Week in God, 2.9.19
02/09/19 07:21 AM—Updated 02/09/19 02:39 PM
By Steve Benen

[Video, The Rachel Maddow Show, 2/8/19, 9:45 PM ET, "SCOTUS disregards Establishment Clause to expedite prisoner death", accessible via the end link.]

First up from the God Machine this week is a closer look at a step the U.S. Supreme Court took this week that seemed wholly at odds with bedrock principles of religious liberty.

At issue was Alabama’s plan to execute a man, Domineque Ray, for the robbery, rape, and murder of a 15-year-old girl, Tiffany Harville, in 1995. His guilt was not in doubt. She wasn’t even his first victim. Rather, what mattered in this case was the method in which the state planned to kill him.

Alabama said it would permit a Christian minister – an employee of the state prison system – to be in the execution chamber with Ray at the time of his death, but Ray was a Muslim and requested an imam. Officials balked and a court fight ensued.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the plaintiff, citing the First Amendment, and issued a stay. If Christian inmates can have a Christian minister with them during their executions, a unanimous appellate court panel concluded, then inmates of minority faiths deserve equal treatment.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, rejected the appellate court’s reasoning. As the New York Times reported, the court’s majority said little in defense of its decision, though Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the dissenters, made a striking case that the majority was “profoundly wrong.”


And that’s ultimately what makes this dispute so notable. It’s not about feeling sympathy for a man convicted of heinous crimes; it’s about the underlying legal principle that in the United States, people of every faith tradition – and those who’ve chosen not to follow a spiritual path at all – will be treated equally under the law.

On matters of religious liberty, the government must remain neutral and not play favorites, and yet, Alabama is the nation’s only state with an official policy of having a Christian minister – and only a Christian minister – in the execution chamber.

The five conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court didn’t seem to care.

Indeed, I’d love to offer a detailed assessment of the conservative justices’ reasoning, but they offered no real explanation for overturning the 11th Circuit, except to say that the condemned man “waited until January 28, 2019 to seek relief.”

The calendar may not seem especially relevant, but apparently, Ray was supposed to speak up a few months ago, when Alabama originally scheduled his execution. He might have done so, but he was only made aware of the Christian-chaplain-only rule a couple of weeks ago.

At that point, the Supreme Court had a choice: prioritize Ray’s religious liberty or Alabama’s execution schedule. The five conservatives went with the latter.

Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick added:


Domineque Ray’s lawyer told reporters at 10:20 p.m. on Thursday night that Alabama had, in fact, executed his client. There were no religious leaders in the room.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-2919

Some follow-up on the most recent installment above ~ ~ "live links" in original ~ Sooz

Even some conservatives question Supreme Court’s judgment in Ray case
02/11/19 10:47 AM—Updated 02/11/19 01:10 PM
By Steve Benen

[Video, The Rachel Maddow Show, 2/8/19, 9:45 PM ET, "SCOTUS disregards Establishment Clause to expedite prisoner death", accessible via the end link.]

In Saturday’s installment of “This Week in God,” we discussed the Supreme Court allowing Alabama to execute Domineque Ray, a Muslim inmate who was offered a Christian minister to stay at his side when the state killed him. Ray requested a religious leader from his own faith, but the state balked.

Following a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court last week rejected the inmate’s request for a stay, ignoring the rather obvious First Amendment problems associated with Alabama favoring one religion over all others. The outcome generated quite a bit of criticism from the left, but civil libertarians weren’t entirely alone.

The Washington Post’s Eugene Scott noted that some on the right were critical, too.


Quite right. When public officials, with the U.S. Supreme Court’s approval, elevate one faith tradition over others, it creates the conditions our First Amendment has long sought to prevent. Christians who shrugged with indifference when five conservative justices turned away Domineque Ray’s appeal should consider the long-term effects of such a principle.

Today, it’s Christians who receive special treatment in Alabama. What will conservatives say when it’s a different faith that’s elevated in a different state tomorrow?

For those who missed Rachel’s segment on Friday night, and/or our Saturday coverage, let’s recap. Ray was scheduled to be executed for the robbery, rape, and murder of a 15-year-old girl, Tiffany Harville, in 1995. His guilt was not in doubt. She wasn’t even his first victim. Rather, what mattered in this case was the method in which the state planned to kill him.

Alabama said it would permit a Christian minister – an employee of the state prison system – to be in the execution chamber with Ray at the time of his death, but not an imam.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the inmate, citing the First Amendment, and issued a stay. If Christian inmates can have a Christian minister with them during their executions, a unanimous appellate court panel concluded, then inmates of minority faiths deserve equal treatment.

When the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed, Justice Elena Kagan wrote a striking dissent, explaining why the high court’s majority was “profoundly wrong.”

Whether or not one feels sympathy for a man convicted of heinous crimes; at issue here is the underlying legal principle that in the United States, people of every faith tradition – and those who’ve chosen not to follow a spiritual path at all – will be treated equally under the law.

On matters of religious liberty, the government must remain neutral and not play favorites, and yet, Alabama is the nation’s only state with an official policy of having a Christian minister – and only a Christian minister – in the execution chamber.

The five conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court didn’t seem to care. On the contrary, they prioritized Alabama’s interest in killing the inmate quickly.

Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick, who talked with Rachel about the case in detail on Friday night, added:


Domineque Ray’s lawyer told reporters at 10:20 p.m. on Thursday night that Alabama had, in fact, executed his client. There were no religious leaders in the room.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/even-some-conservatives-question-supreme-courts-judgment-ray-case

Sick.

Here's another installment ~ anyone wanna guess which tidbit I find the most disgusting? ~ ~ "live links" in original ~ Sooz

This Week in God, 3.9.19
03/09/19 07:30 AM
By Steve Benen

First up from the God Machine this week is a look at Donald Trump’s trip yesterday to Alabama, where the president visited communities devastated by recent tornadoes, and where Trump apparently wanted to show his support.

While greeting locals at Providence Baptist Church in Opelika, however, the president was apparently comfortable autographing Bibles, which seemed a little … different.


In case there were any doubts, Trump signed the covers of the Bibles handed to him.

In fairness, the Washington Post article on this noted that there are some documented instances of other modern presidents having signed Bibles. In this case, however, the motivations of those who asked for Trump’s signature on their holy book may have said even more than the president who agreed.

John Fea, a historian at Messiah College, told the newspaper, “The fact that people are bringing Bibles to him says a lot about them. It seems to imply that they see him not only as a political leader but a spiritual savior for the nation.”

It’s not the first time Trump raised eyebrows by signing something he probably shouldn’t have. At a White House event last summer for the families of murder victims, the president thought it’d be a good idea to autograph pictures of violent crime victims.

Also from the God Machine this week:

* The U.S. Supreme Court this week passed on hearing a case involving historic preservation grants to churches in New Jersey, though Justice Brett Kavanaugh made a point to express his conservative perspective on the separation of church and state.

* On a related note, the U.S. Supreme Court also recently heard oral arguments in a case involving public support for a 40-foot-high cross created to honor Americans killed in World War I. Predictably, the conservative court seemed sympathetic to the idea that public support for a religious symbol is constitutionally permissible.

* Leaders of the United Methodist Church are in the midst of a major dispute about marriage equality and LGBT clergy.

* And this was just a stunning recent report out of Texas: “The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News in an expansive investigation named 220 pastors, ministers, deacons, volunteers, Sunday school teachers and others who were found guilty of sexually abusing churchgoers over 20 years. More than 250 have been charged. And roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct involving more than 700 victims, the report found.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-3919

Meh. Just a misinterpretation of "laying on of the hands". (I probably misquoted that)

This is just a flash in the pan. These others getting charged has been known for years. Little churches just don't have the money the Catholic Church has to make it worthwhile doing all the suing song and dance.

"suing song and dance"?

So what percentage of these allegations would you reckon are actually false Jim?

(And the Southern Baptists have PLENTY of money)

Cattleman wrote:

"suing song and dance"?

So what percentage of these allegations would you reckon are actually false Jim?

(And the Southern Baptists have PLENTY of money)

I didn't say any of them were false. They just don't attract the same attention as the Catholic ones because these little churches aren't as sueable as the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is wide open for it because their top down structure makes them one rich entity. The Southern Baptist conference is composed of many small, stand alone churches. All you can sue is the single church. You can't sue the whole conference because they aren't a single organism. Once in awhile a mega church gets nailed which will garner headline for a bit but then they are forgotten almost as fast.