Pharisees in GA

So very, very sad. GEORGIA IS BEING GOVERNED BY DEMETRIUS THE SILVERSMITH The US constitution guarantees that no faith will get a Most Favored Status from government, even if it is our own. We Baptists were the persecuted minority at the nation's founding and it is we that were told the Word of God was against us and our beliefs were not scriptural. It was the Established Churches that claimed they rightly interpreted the text and should be given special favor over the heretical Baptists. Our nation and stae are not governed by the Bible or any religious text but by the US Constitution. As far as I can tell, no church has been shuttered; no one has been denied access to a house of worship of any faith, even our own; and all public businesses have to be held to the same public accommodation laws that may not refuse service to anyone for any reason, =unless= they are LGBT, a non-protected class in our state. No pastor has ever been forced to marry anyone with whom he/she didn't want to; and no church has ever been forced to host a ceremony it didn't want to host. Now that is not the same for =BUSINESSES= since all =BUSINESSES= are held to the same standard of law.

GA is not governed by the Bible, or more aptly one narrow interpretation of a select few passages. We are a nation of laws that protect everyone and makes sure everyone is treated the same in the public arena. If we don't make sure other interpretations of faith are protected in the public arena, then one day another religious group can force THEIR religious interpretation onto us in the business arena ... you know, kinda back to where we Baptists started in England, Boston, Virginia, etc., when we were refused service in businesses, or buying/renting property, or getting services from state employees, and the government sanctioned that discrimination because the majority faith said we were not true Christians.

An analogy of Demetrius is not the proper one in this case. Maybe it should have been the Pharisee standing outside the party Jesus was, saying: "Why does Jesus even associate with those sinners?"

"Christian Index" Editor and Facts

It is no secret I am not too happy with the GA Baptist Convention nor its editor, Gerald Harris. I was a frequent poster on the GA Baptist Convention Facebook page for a few years, usually pointing out when they used Alt Right and fake news sites as source material; decrying the politicization of the Convention; warning of a creeping acceptance of fascist political thinking; criticizing the Pharisaical attitude of faith that has become acceptable; wildly yelling about the anti-science stance at our Baptist colleges; etc. I guess they finally got tired of me being a gadfly and banned me, something I'm very proud to wear as a badge of honor.

On Monday, 19 December, 2016, the Electoral College was set to vote to validate the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency.  Not to disappoint, Gerald Harris gives his normal editorial makes one of those really, really, REALLY ignorant statements that is such an embarrassment to every GA Baptist. Here is the quote:

Many staunch Clinton supporters want the Republican electors to break precedent and refuse to vote for Donald Trump, denying him the required majority. Some celebrities vainly hope Republican Electors would even dare to cast their vote for Hillary Clinton. 

However, if the electors were to do as some of the Hollywood elite demand, they would be violating the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which says “they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President.” (emphasis is mine)

 Perhaps Gerald Harris would do well to call upon a history professor or a Constitutional law professor and get input before making such a naive claim.

Really.

It Can't Happen Here ... Did It?

I realize that the source I'm using for this is considered "liberal" by current political majority. I get that. Nonetheless, that doesn't invalidate the point being made. Thom Hartman is spot on.

The Ghost of Vice President Wallace Warns: "It Can Happen Here"

Fascism has been growing in America for a long time, and it finally achieved its winning of the political structures. Seeking to return to the days of the Robber Barrons, where the top few dominate the economic, political, societal, and cultural structures, they have won. By playing on the the fear of the demographic shifts, the US population has been manipulated. Fake news has given validation to their suspicions and ignorance. Patriotism is no longer a support of one's national values, but of blind allegiance to anything the nation does no matter how unfair (or evil) it may be. Faith is now synonymous with being a "good American," and that faith is only of a certain stripe and looks more like a political action committee than a religious organization.

We got played.

Fascism is now in power. The US went to war to stop it 80 years ago and we've now duly elected it's descendants. God help us.

Todd Starnes, the ACLU, and the Right Thing to Do

Knightstown, Indiana, Endorses Christianity


It is not surprise to anyone that I believe Todd Starnes is one of the most ignorant people on the planet. The fact that he has teamed up with Truett McConnell College, a GA Baptist college, is frightening.

Starnes is continuously fanning the flames of a "War on Christians" and misrepresents history. Just use any search engine and you will be aghast at the twisting, contorting, and out-and-out lying about history and current events. Let's face it, the guy manipulates people with false facts for political gain. Goebbels would be so proud.

But this one is so basic that I'm amazed he hasn't been booed off the air with this one. The city of Knightstown, IN, has a lighted cross a top a Christmas tree. Not a star where it could be argued is merely symbolic of the Holiday Season. No. This is a cross, the emblem of one religion.

Dear Mr. Starnes: would you be OK if this were a star and crescent?

Very simple. If it is wrong for a city to do this for one religion, it is then wrong for all religions.

Madison's Remonstrance was very clear on how they intended to address situations like this.

Todd Starnes, you are what the founders warned us against.