if they even attended "bible study" - or ANY actual religious activities.

Truly, if they would dare wear a "WWJD" band (or anything like that) - they would be stunned (or smitten!) if they were told the correct answer!

To not take care of an injured child?

There are so many giving "Christianity" a bad name. I'm thinking that they think it gives them a right to say what they want, no matter how it conflicts with the preachings/teachings of Christ - or the true practitioners.

I am sure the founders of the various religions would not be happy to see how their tenets have been used.

some of them were real wierdos.

These idiots are spouting their politically twisted version.

I do wish humans would evolve at some point.

rather than religion or whatever other ideology humans fail to live up to.

They are at fault for that.

Consider Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler, Mussolini, Fascism and Nazism...I'm guessing their body counts exceed those of religion's, at least in the 20th Century.

Intersting when you look at the list you provided, they used some of the same strategies of organized religion to develop cult like devotion.

A line I picked up from a former interim pastor. His attitude stuck with me. He came up with that answer because the word no longer means what it used to since the right hijacked the term.

There's no lack of Jews not following Moses and Muslims not following Mohammed...Happens in all beliefs and ideologies.

rather than continue to bash "religion" in a knee jerk manner.

an excuse for doing evil.

That happens quite often too.

I'd say most here, myself included, do have and I'd guess there are few if any murderers. My point is, both are more than mere "excuses" to act badly...

We did say, after all, that both have positive effects as well. It's not "either or". Like people and life itself, it's complicated.

as well as evil.

Yes human nature is quite complex and so are the constructs they have invented.
Such as politics and religion. Which reflect the whole gamut of human thought and behavior.

And we currently have segments of our society who use both politics and religion as a way to do evil. And there is manipulation of the vulnerable to act out too.

When I was young and in Catholic school, I didn't believe what the nuns and priests were telling me. My father was in the military and I did not believe the nonsense told about why we were in Viet Nam.

So from a young age I rejected the standard religious and political viewpoints.
I have been a life long Democrat as it most closely reflects my beliefs and morality.

Thank you.

“Christian” sure does not mean what it used to in my view. The crazies have taken over the word and altered the meaning.

I’m going to use that one.

They depend on their ministers/priests/pastors to read "selected" parts to them. And to tell them what it means.

I'm an atheist and I know more about what the Bible REALLY says than some of them do.

Right, I bet most of them have never read the Bible or understand what Jesus said.

A truth from an unworthy follower of 'The Way'.

They themselves created a false shield of approval with claims of God...seems to cement their hate successfully.

that things will stay this way until my generation is gone (Baby Boomers). A nasty lot indeed.

in many cases by their offspring. I am stunned they like Trump. I never realized there was that much ugliness in the US as to have someone like Trump as president.

there are plenty of ugly people of every age. And as for Boomers, "they" don't all like Trump.

Some of us still are Hippies.

I was at the tail end of the B.B. generation.

Nevertheless, blaming any one generation for anything isn’t productive, and could blind one with assumptions.
There’s sure no lack of generations other than the B.B.s in the trumpTanic boat.

the ones that wrap themselves in the flag and carry a bible, IMO they are the worst of the herd.

I just spent Thanksgiving in Texas. They are still boycotting the Cowboys and football. I never thought I would have Thanksgiving in Texas without football. It's more important than turkey.

I never fit in anyway, being a vegetarian, except for my protest days at UT in Austin. Some good times and good music. One of the pockets of blue that was gerrymandered to elect Repubs.

However, its way out of control now. All of the red states are farther right and the blue are bluer.

If this continues, we could be in a civil war in 15 years, and they have most of the guns.

I blame most, if not all, of our problems on white privilege. When minorities become the majority I suspect we will see things change. I think the US could learn a lot from Europe. We are like a teenager who hasn't grown up yet but we force our retarded ways on the rest of the world with our big guns and money. Trump represents today's America very well......sadly.

that half holds almost all of the power. We are becoming more like the Saudis. Maybe Jared took some lessons in his all nighter with the Saudi Prince.

One would think as we became more of a minority country we would become less RW. It has been the opposite. The typical RW white Repub is very threatened of what they see as a zero zum game.

"I like your Christ. I do not think I like your Christians."

Nailed it!

My father grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania before and during the Depression.

His father never had money. They rented and moved often. They didn't own a car. His father gambled often -- and lost nearly always.

You would think my father would be raised with some appreciation of what little they had and some humility.

Yet when I asked if his mother would offer or give food to transients who knocked on the door, my father answered, "No, because they were bums."

The irony never touched my father.

And this is the "Trump brigade."

Was raised in the same conditions - same story.

As IQ45 would say - "Sad."

Sometimes we learn from good examples - sometimes otherwise...........

when transients (she may have used the word Hobo, I honestly don't recall) knocked on their door, her mother always gave them some sort of chore to do and food.

While her family was not rich, they never had to go hungry, and her parents were willing to share what little they had.

How sad that your father learned such a different lesson.

She was brought up Primitive Baptist, and would go to tent revivals when they rolled through town (this would have been early to mid 1950s) - not that she was burning with fundamentalist faith, but it was something to do in hill country Mississippi.

In her experience, the girls her age who most publicly wept over their own sins, and who were the loudest in rejoicing at the forgiveness of their misdeeds were those who would hook up with the boys later on for some post-salvation action - having being freshly washed clean, they were free to go and sin some more.

I hope she loses her insurance and was turned away from an emergency room...just invoking the golden rule for evangelical ass.

whole manger thing.

I grew up with a born again mother, went to Christian camp, been to many bible studies... so I have the ammo. When I troll RW sites, these idiots end up hurling personal insults at me since they have nothing else. These people are vile.

Growing up in a heavily evangelical family, I'm loaded with double ought buckshot. A couple of passages is usually all it takes for their veil of self righteousness to fall away and you see then for the ugly, vile people they really are. Personal insults and some rather vile language.

Raise a lot of the Repubs blood pressure. They are so tense and tight assed that their faces are often red.
I guess that's why we called the red states "red."

Like how is the ER supposed to make that determination, and if they have to, they will do it for everyone, including her execrable self, losing valuable time.

People they don't personally know are not human to them.

That is wired in their brains.

I know people say that we lump all of them into one group but they act like it sometimes. I personally, have not been able to have a discussion where it did not go off the rails with a Trump supporter. I try to be civil but they say some of the vilest things imaginable.

you argue facts. One told me that he hoped a rattlesnake bit me in the P.

He was complaining about protesters and the flag bs. I said, they have a Constitutional Right of Free Speech, whether you or I agree with them or not. I was trying to be diplomatic.

It is a metaphor for the differences in Repubs and Dems.

Or maybe just soulless

I suppose a number of factors contribute to what 'components' the soul ends up with--
goodness,
charity,
HUMILITY,
lovingkindness,
selflessness
OR
bitterness/strife/condemnation/rancor/selfishness.

Who knows who could be redeemed?

It does grieve me that some who profess 'The Christian Way' are not portraying what is taught/exhorted/encouraged by the Shepherd which should produce good fruit.
I am really disheartened by this.

if they actually read scripture at all. In my experience, being raised an evangelical, most do not. Otherwise....

'Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God.’ Luke 11:39-42

Not sure if this one is in Jefferson's bible, but I left it in mine.

The Gospel reading in the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, UCC, and Methodist Churches was this little gem from Matthew;

They hear it as "blah blah blah ....its good to help an old lady across the street once in awhile (as long as she's white)...blah blah blah..."

The reich wing Jeeeeezus never said what Jesus said in that gospel reading.

nt

Trump himself is both.

I think it was dear Molly Ivins who said that if you took Charlie Manson out of jail, pronounced him a born again Christian, put him in a blue suit with a red tie, and ran him as a republican, he'd get elected in over half the counties in Texas.

That's why when I tell folks I'm from El Paso and they respond: "That's in Texas, right?" I say - No I'm from El Paso - it's not really like Texas at all. If they don't understand, I usually don't bother trying to explain.

Isn't that part of Juarez?

JK, used to live on the west side.

I completely get “it’s not really like Texas at all.”

Speaking Spanish is a MUST, that’s just how it is; the town is nearly impossible and on top of the dried-riverbed shamelessly named “The Rio Grande,” and New Mexico’s cities are closer than the deep-dish Texas experience of Dallas or Houston.

El Paso is a one-of-a-kind place, love it or not.

All other distinctions and qualifiers are secondary. At their root, they are idiot racist fuckheads, and they deserve no empathy, understanding or outreach.

Fuck them.

these people cloak themselves in christianity to hide their vile souls...

dogma that dictates the recipes for the worship of the various gods?

never stop throwing up".

Frederick in "Hannah and Her Sisters".

Worse than what he did to moneychangers on the temple steps.

broadcasting to look respectable and bring in advertising. when those schools and pro teams are pushed to look for apolitical alternatives they'll lose too many of their advertisers to survive..

...core most important thing in their being. Racism trumps their religion.

Fuck these fucking assholes.

claim there are no homeless and no hunger here in Marble Falls. The churches, even my Methodist church have given up the the under the bridge ministry. The Service League lady said that the people who come to the pantry for food are scammers who make some sort of financial benefit with the box of potatoes, wonder bread, three or four onions, cans of peas. pound of burger, macaroni etc somehow.

Its beyond my comprehension.

He’s a former DPS trooper and used to be a good guy, but he turned into one of “them”. I don’t understand how that happens!!!

6 or 7 months ago, I might have been surprised. No longer. They are truly deplorable.

Like you, I can be hard-nosed and I am without any leeway about some things, but you help people in need. It's that simple.

A significant number of dreamers are Christians themselves.

At least Judas was ashamed enough to hang himself after he betrayed Christ.

it actually comes to living their religion. They are Christians only to save their miserable rotten asses from the hell that they deserve. Turn people away from hospitals when they are injured? Unbelievable.

money and influence.

In other words, when you are ashamed of yourself you look for a community that already absolves you of your guilt by scapegoating others. Religions provide a ready-made other, and even make it appear to be sane, fair, and even honorable to transfer your self-hatred to the pre-designated "other."

Religion is an organization that always provides a de-humanized "other" so that the individual can avoid responsibility for their hatred.

It's the oldest gimmick in humanity, and it's killing us. We must evolve beyond the need for religion, or our existance on this planet is on a short timer.

...are the hard-core, right-wing evangelical Christians, who have jettisoned every bit of Christian charity and goodwill to support tRump*.

You are correct: these people are monsters.

- Blind allegiance to ideology with fluid morals based on that ideology.
- No compassion or respect for human life
- A desire to “destroy” perceived enemies
- The complete dehumanization of all perceived enemies

At Church I was telling a guy about how the new Tax Scam was going to raise my daughter's taxes by over $12K due to them counting tuition waivers as taxable income. He actually said; "well, just a few stragglers are going to be hurt".

I told him; "Thanks! I've never considered my child as 'just a straggler'".

I guess that was preferable to punching him in his stupid fucking face!

Good riddance.

Republican and conservative ideology has always been basically a selfish ideology. While we know the poor are poor because, well, they have no money, the Republicans would say they are poor because they've done something wrong.

The forget/conveniently ignore Jesus' basic teachings ALL the time.

I heard one claim that if someone is stupid enough to have a retail job like Hobby Lobby, they don't deserve health care.



Over Thanksgiving, I encountered dumbasses back in my hometown who had blood relatives recover from drug addiction claim that drug users should not get any type of life saving treatments when they overdose. Let them die.

I don't know how to get people to care about other people.

it took time and the callous propaganda of a broken system.

Last edited Mon Nov 27, 2017, 11:32 AM - Edit history (1)

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Simply put, when you don't help the sick, when you send out the stranger, when you don't help the poor, the hungry, etc you are not following God's will.

And it is one of the scriptures I like to quote when doing battle with a deplorable. The other is James 2:12-17

n/t

Lewis Powell's 1971 memo to the US Chamber of Commerce began the process, followed by Reagan allowing the Fairness Doctrine to die in 1987. So, basically we have seen the metastization of right wing talk radio, the growth of Fox 'news' and the birth of many right wing websites, such as Info Wars, the new MAGA pill, Breitbart and Red State.

These media outlets pour out a steady stream of corporate-capitalist vitriol 24/7/365, and have turned otherwise decent Americans into people who hate and mistrust others, because the divide and conquer system works very well. If you hate me, and I hate you, you see, we won't notice the billionaires and giant corporations picking our pockets.

It's about money. Always has been.

If these Christians actually got the news instead of the 'Charlie Koch' funded propaganda they actually get, they might become a bit different.

When the GOP implodes and the Dems attain a majority, we are going to have to follow a program with these people like the old 'deNazification' program imposed in Germany after it lost the second world war. Seriously.

We need the Fairness Doctrine back, and we need Net Neutrality.

They like that stuff.

Well, until he turns it onto them, and he will.

written off all Trumpkins as people with no moral compass and no empathy for anyone.

They are not good or decent people. The masks are off and we know who they really are, deep down now and it isn't pretty.

But, it is better to know.

a child molester or a "pro-abortion" candidate. WTF? A living, breathing child, vs a clump of cells. Then on MSNBC, a group of women from AL all stated how they hated what Roy Moore did, but they were terrified of the democratic agenda*. Some were going to vote Moore, anyway, & some weren't going to vote. They are addled by religion.


* You know, taking care of the least of us. Hmmm, does that ring a bell? Not for this group.

(and that includes the russian hackers) could have put der drumpfenfuhrer and his gang of thugs into power.

and the sad thing is, they are PROUD of their ugly hatefulness. just got out of a discussion group where one of them showed up. damn near ruined the meeting (and I held my tongue)

what surprises me these days is if any of them actually shows one iota of humanity.

A couple of people I once worked with come to mind.
One actually jumped off the GOP train in 2008. He was especially repulsed by Sarah Palin and said he was done with any group that would put her so close to power. He voted Obama twice and voted for Hillary.
And one guy pulled the lever for Trump and very quickly regretted it. I didn’t even talk politics with him; he was ultra right to say the least. But Trump’s lying on every campaign promise of any merit. The cruelty of stripping the ACA simply because it was Obama’s bill sickened him. His warmongering stances also angered him. And this grab bag of goodies for the uberwealthy tax bill with yet more piled on the middle and lower middle class was the final. He’s no evangelical so no smarmy preacher will show him “the error of his ways.”
These are only two people but they’re done with the GOP. And no one will be coming to take their place.

rightly tell their children not to lie or cheat whenever they catch them doing it. Yet those same parents listen to Dotard lying and cheating his ass off ten times a day accept it and say nothing.Go figure.

What Would Jesus Do?