In Mike Epstein’s bashing of the Jesus basher, Steve Humphrey, he asserts that St. Augustine argued God allowed Rome to become a great nation and did the same for the U.S. Neither Epstein or Augustine nor anyone else can prove this. It is merely Augustine’s and Epstein’s belief that this is so, not empirical fact. Therefore to call Humphrey “stupid” and “uneducated” is to open Epstein himself to the charge that he is also “stupid” and perhaps brainwashed as well by religious dogma that has no basis in fact.
“Easter” celebrations, really festivals honoring Spring, existed in many forms and civilizations long before the alleged existence of Jesus Christ. Mr. Epstein exposes his “stupidity” in asserting that the Constitution and Bill of Rights are “god-driven.” The word “God” does not appear in the Constitution. The Pledge of Allegiance” did not contain the word “God” in it until conservatives in Congress during the Eisenhower administration changed it. As a kid in school in the late ’40s and early ’50s I learned the old Pledge that ended, “one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” God was not mentioned.
As for the U.S. being a “Christian Nation” that is simply Christian Taliban revisionist history. Most of our Founding Fathers were Deists, including Washington and Jefferson who could never get elected today because Deists deny the divinity of Christ, his mythical miracles and indeed, religion itself. Washington refused communion on his deathbed. So Mr. Epstein before you label people “stupid” maybe you ought to examine your own level of enlightenment. But bring a very strong microscope, it’s going to be difficult to detect.
R.T.Tihista, Bend
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.
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What was it Jesus said about puffed-up pontificating pontificaters puffed-up-edly pontificating on street corners?
Oh, right, put it in the closet.
The relevant scripture, Matthew 6:5-6:
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Attending a fashionable church is no substitute for helping the poor, being kind and compassionate to the vulnerable, comforting the sick, and visiting those in prison.
You want bonus points?
Donâ ™t let anybody know that devotion to God is why you did it. Do it because itâ ™s the right thing to do (Mt 6:1-3).
I say to those in this jaded world can the Bible to justify horrid unjust treatment of gays, Israel’s genocide in Palestine, Dick Cheney’s genocide in Iraq, and the White Dog’s ongoing genocide here on Turtle Island, then I can use the Bible to tell you to stop being so proud of being a Christian and fuck off and die.
Please excuse Thomas Ware, he’s still evolving.
I agree with Mr. Ware’s sentiments although his delivery is somewhat coarse… it is completely understandable and at this moment in history it is appropriate and proportional. American Fundamentalist Christians have made a complete disgrace of themselves over the last 30 years – Jesus, if there ever was a Jesus, is doubtless sickened at the sight and sound of them.
“…have made a complete disgrace of themselves over the last 30 years …”
====
Yes, they have made a disgrace of themselves, except for all the others that have made disgraces of themselves, like the athiests, the Islamofacists, the Republican Socialists, and most recently, the Democratic Communists. But of course, Messiah Obama will convert us all to Communists, and force us to buy PeoplesParty owned GovernmentMotors cars, financed by the PeoplesParty Bank of American Government, paid for by you PeoplesParty provided government job. When the government owns everything, then everybody will work for the government. All peoples are bad, and should be killed. Let the animals re-inherit the earth. Obama, Praise be his name.
Peta–
WTF!
Another disgraceful potload of incoherency. This is your idea of argument and rationale? Go play with your tea bags.
Actually, I sit at the crown of creation. Above “sin”.
It is those who continue to bow down to dogs insufficiently evolved.
… “Yes, they have made a disgrace of themselves, except for all the others that have made disgraces of themselves, like the athiests, the Islamofacists, the Republican Socialists, and most recently, the Democratic Communists. But of course, Messiah Obama will convert us all to Communists, and force us to buy PeoplesParty owned GovernmentMotors cars”
OK… a logical non sequitur followed by “atheist” spelled incorrectly and three oxymorons…. Islamofascists (which you also managed to spell wrong by the way), Republican Socialists, Democratic Communists. One is converted to Communism, Peta, not to Communists and of course not a single phrase of Communist Ideology has ever passed Obama’s lips. Who writes your material? It’s hilarious!
Seriously though, if you want to be taken seriously you have to graduate beyond Coulter and Limbaugh.