Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Uber-wingnut Gordon Klingenschmitt is now praying -- in Jesus' name, of course -- for God to strike down Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. You can listen to the prayer here. It's what they call an "imprecatory prayer," the same thing Southern Baptist Convention officer Wiley Drake did against Barry Lynn and others before. It's basically a curse, praying to God to kill those you pray against. Here's a transcript:
"One-Minute Prayer: Let us pray. Almighty God, today we pray imprecatory prayers from Psalm 109 against the enemies of religious liberty, including Barry Lynn and Mikey Weinstein, who issued press releases this week attacking me personally. God, do not remain silent, for wicked men surround us and tell lies about us. We bless them, but they curse us. Therefore find them guilty, not me. Let their days be few, and replace them with Godly people. Plunder their fields, and seize their assets. Cut off their descendants, and remember their sins, in Jesus' name. Amen."
Klingenschmitt has now crossed the line from being merely a nut and an idiot to being a complete fucking lunatic.
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Comments
Ed:
"Klingenschmitt has now crossed the line from being merely a nut and an idiot to being a complete fucking lunatic."
Nah. I think he crossed that line a long time ago; he's just lost his desire to hide his true agenda. Batshit crazy has a tendency towards prideful ownership of the affliction.
Posted by: democommie | April 27, 2009 9:37 AM
If there is a God I'd be ducking right now if I was Klingenschmitt. He wanted the BB gun and now he's going to shoot his eye out with it.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 27, 2009 9:40 AM
Posted by: kehrsam | April 27, 2009 9:40 AM
At what point does this cross into the realm of a death threat? He is asking God's to kill this two men, in front of a crowd of people who think it is their personal mission to to God's work for Him.
Can I say, "It is God's work to harm or kill x and y. And in a unrelated note, go out and do God's work." Without getting into some sort of legal trouble?
Posted by: Thoracantha | April 27, 2009 9:43 AM
Is this an example of the "love" that their religion is all about?
Posted by: D. C. Sessions | April 27, 2009 9:50 AM
Cut off their descendants....
Heh. And it's not enough to punish the infidels with death, but their descendents must suffer as well.
Posted by: Chiroptera | April 27, 2009 9:51 AM
This says a lot, not only about Klingenschmitt himself, but about the company he keeps: who is he hanging with, that he can let such infantile hatefulness come from his lips and not feel ashamed or be afraid of ostracism?
Unlike Christianity, some Pagan beliefs recognize that curses have real power, and are sometimes approppriate. But even that kind of Pagan would consider it necessary to judge you by the curses you utter, and would not take kindly to Klingenschmitt's curse -- if only out of fear of blowback.
I guess Klingenschmitt is lucky that Christians don't believe in the Treefold Law. Oh wait, they do believe it, just in different words -- "Do unto others" and "you reap what you sow." So I guess that means Klingenschmitt is doubly screwed, first by sowing what I'm sure he'd never want to reap, then by acting outside his God's mandate, and thus outside his protection. If his God is real, it's gonna suck to be him, very soon.
Posted by: Raging Bee | April 27, 2009 9:53 AM
Going for the OT style retribution? Gordy better really walk the straight and narrow, cause you never know when psychoyhwh will get pissed at you and for what reason. Gordy might be smited for spitting in the wrong direction on the Sabbath in May when flowers are blooming. Or something.
Crap like this always has me wondering how exactly godbots justify their christian "love" for others when they do this. Projecting evil to their god? Seems I'd much rather piss off my "enemies" by railing against them personally, than pissing off my god by asking him to do a hallelujah smackdown on someone and going against one of his own commandments...
Posted by: Pineyman | April 27, 2009 9:54 AM
"..Cut off their descendants..."
So much christian love.
Posted by: diegopig | April 27, 2009 9:57 AM
It's but a tiny step from this to killing them himself because that's what God would want. Of course, I don't mean to suggest he's on the cusp of murder here, but rather that if our society was the theocracy he pines for, this mentality would result in state executions for going against perceived orthodoxy.
Posted by: Jason S. | April 27, 2009 10:02 AM
Wouldnt that be poetic if something happened to Johnjacob jingleheimerschmidt or whatever his name is.
Posted by: marie | April 27, 2009 10:06 AM
"Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?" - H_II
Posted by: Henry_II | April 27, 2009 10:14 AM
Ah, that explains the Swine Flu outbreak. God never was that good at focused response. He's more of your, use a sledgehammer to drive a tack, kind of deity. Thanks Gordon, for calling down a plague upon us.
Posted by: Abby Normal | April 27, 2009 10:29 AM
I was always taught that God would call people home whenever it suits him, not according to any mortal's petty grievances. If this "imprecatory prayer" isn't taking his name in vain, nothing is.
Barry Lynn was on "Keynote" recently and he seems like the coolest guy, someone who lives by his own faith and works for what's right.
Posted by: Jon Lester | April 27, 2009 10:42 AM
I read the prayer above and cannot help but think of that famous theologian, J. Morrison, who rather strongly asserted that you cannot petition the Lord with prayer.
Posted by: Dave | April 27, 2009 10:47 AM
Isn't counselling or attempting to procure a murder, a criminal offence? The only thing that lets Klingy-shit off the hook is that his designated hit-man ain't likely to follow through.
Posted by: Eamon Knight | April 27, 2009 10:52 AM
Just so posters can compare and contrast:
- Young's Literal TranslationHope that helps - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | April 27, 2009 10:54 AM
Perhaps you are getting a clear picture of what I had to deal with for 2 years as this guy's supervisor. He was like a "bull in a china shop" as he created adversarial relationships throughout the command. I had never seen anyone become "persona non grata" on such an immediate and grand scale. And yet, recognizing that he was inexperienced and had a woefully inadequate theological education, I tried to mentor him and assume some responsibility for his development. All my efforts were frustrated by his idiotic actions at practically every level. There was no doubt in my mind that I was dealing with a certain level of certifiable mental and psychological pathology but I refrained from recommending psychological evaluation because our self-anointed prophet, priest, messiah and king would have declared our attempts to help him as "reprisals" against him.
I am not surprised by anything that he does or says. Each sick action merely confirms my initial assessment that this person is in serious need of help.
Posted by: Norm Holcomb, CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret) | April 27, 2009 11:07 AM
I don't think that's what Jesus meant when he said "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Matthew 5:44
Posted by: GeekCyclist | April 27, 2009 11:14 AM
This guy is a shining wit, as Dr Spooner might have said.
Posted by: paulh | April 27, 2009 11:26 AM
I remember seeing a photo of Gordy and his wife on some web site and immediately had a feeling of pity and a significant level of dread for his wife. Imagine what it's like having to live with this guy.
Posted by: Dogbert | April 27, 2009 11:27 AM
CAPT Holcomb,
I always enjoy reading your posts, sir; it is just a pity that I only see you write when your former troop opens his mouth. As a former sailor, I understand the strain an individual like this can put on his chain of command and I can only imagine some of the positions he must have put you in while assigned to you.
Although I am not religious I appreciate the work that you and many of your colleagues do to comfort those who are and to provide secular assistance and counseling to many more.
Respectfully,
Steve
Posted by: Satcomguy | April 27, 2009 11:39 AM
May I second the thoughts of Satcomguy? Particually the last paragraph - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | April 27, 2009 11:44 AM
Wow. When I read that prayer, I see a sad little man with no self-esteem using God as a personal vendetta weapon. Notice how he's saying that they issued press releases against him and that's why he's invoking God in the first place (apparently not because of any presupposed wickedness)? It's the theological equivalent of "I'm gonna go get my dad and you'll be really sorry!", complete with the cover-your-ass factor ('find them guilty, not me', a tacit admission of some form of guilt).
Posted by: Brian D | April 27, 2009 11:54 AM
The irony is that this is precisely what is meant by taking the Lord's name in vain. Even if God existed, I doubt it would respond to blasphemy.
Posted by: Julian | April 27, 2009 12:07 PM
"If this "imprecatory prayer" isn't taking his name in vain, nothing is."
Exactly Jon, my understanding is that calling on god to curse someone is the true defination of taking god's name in vain.
Posted by: RAM | April 27, 2009 12:20 PM
Capt. Holcomb:
You've shown much forbearance (perhaps a bit too much) with this idiot. I, being the sometimes prankish person that I am, would have asked him to walk on water, and to dive off the ship to start the sequence.
Posted by: democommie | April 27, 2009 12:37 PM
Posted by: mark | April 27, 2009 12:39 PM
Posted by: tacitus | April 27, 2009 1:15 PM
And we will know they are Christians by their love!
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | April 27, 2009 1:28 PM
I guess the guy is lucky that usually you have to have causation to be criminally liable. So even if God smites the wicked with lightning, you can't charge him with conspiracy to commit murder since it's just not plausible that his prayers had anything to do with it.
Posted by: Mu | April 27, 2009 1:29 PM
Wait a sec, is there an actual Biblical prayer for calling upon God to kill nonbelievers? I'm sure some right-wing nutcases have written plenty, and God threatens to kill infidels plenty of times, but I can't imagine a priest, even a 4th century priest, scribing a death prayer into the Bible. Is there a historical article on this somewhere?
Posted by: Brandon | April 27, 2009 1:32 PM
The Navy's JAG Office has responded to the joint letter from MRFF and AU, stating:
“The Administrative Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General will contact Mr. Klingenschmitt and inform him that, absent an appropriate disclaimer in his correspondence, use of the photograph depicting him in a naval uniform may, in fact, be contrary to federal law.”
Posted by: Chris Rodda | April 27, 2009 1:37 PM
Brandon:
Since Psalms is Old Testament, it is older than any 4th century priest. And by my recollection (which I cannot be bothered to check up on at this time), there were plenty of examples of OT people wishing horrors on [insert outgroup here], and expecting YWHW to help out. Of course, life was pretty harsh at that time, so it is probably unsurprising that the OT god was pretty harsh. See various examples of the Hebrews taking over the promised land, Joshua, etc.
Posted by: Chris A | April 27, 2009 1:45 PM
Aaaaaand this guy's not in prison right now... why, again?
Posted by: The Last Liberal Atheist | April 27, 2009 1:58 PM
From SNL, Dec. 5, 1987:
Danny DeVito: Come on, loosen up, Church Lady. I mean, it's a comedy. I mean, when was the last time you laughed?
Church Lady: I don't think that's any of your business.
Danny DeVito: [chortles with glee] I mean, it wouldn't hurt you to go out and get your package wrapped every once in a while, you know what I'm saying!
Church Lady: Well, Daniel, I'm gonna have to say a little prayer against you for that one, okay? [whispers her prayer] Well, I hope someone's beginning to feel a prickly sensation in their naughty area.
Posted by: James F | April 27, 2009 2:16 PM
wicked men surround us and tell lies about us. We bless them, but they curse us
Hm; are these dudes certain they understand the correct use of pronouns, and verb subject-object relation positions for the English language?
Posted by: abb3w | April 27, 2009 3:07 PM
Chris A: Yeah, I know about all the OT stuff. I was wondering if there was a Biblical precedent for Christians to actively pray for the death of their rivals.
Posted by: Brandon | April 27, 2009 3:42 PM
It is an eclectic prayer. "Let their days be few, and replace them with Godly people. Plunder their fields, and seize their assets. Cut off their descendants, and remember their sins, in Jesus' name." That sounds all like standard calling for the wrath of God in a really nasty fashion except for "seize their assets" which is just strange. Does he think God is a the government and can put liens on their property or what? And if he's going to use such a modern notion, why talk about plundering their fields? I'd be surprised if either Weinstein or Lynn has any substantial agricultural property.
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | April 27, 2009 3:45 PM
Joshua: it's a generic catch-all prayer -- whatever bad thing happens to the target, from plague to bad crops to a lien due to unpaid fines, Klingy will then be able to say he prayed for it, and thus the prayer worked.
Posted by: Raging Bee | April 27, 2009 4:17 PM
I curse Gordon Klingenschmitt. May he contract an incurable and unbearably painful social disease from a close loved one and suffer bodily and facial disfigurements as a consequence.
Posted by: Ron Hager | April 27, 2009 4:17 PM
Anyone know what level cleric he is? I have a ring that gives +1 saving throws, +3 vs curses, but I can't tell if this is a greater or lesser curse. Seems greater but I want to be sure before I throw my d20.
Posted by: Robert Faber | April 27, 2009 4:23 PM
Klingenschmitt's rant reminds me of the nonsense I hear weekly as an escort at our local Planned Parenthood clinic. The antis (anti-abortion and anti-family planning nuts) regularly flash their crucifixes at me and the other escorts with promises of "god's justice." They've also told me that "someone", though they never say who, will get me. When I reply, which is seldom, I ask them when the lightning bolt will strike, and usually point out that it's not hit me yet. A few have been downright menacing, warning me not to leave the premises alone. "Christians" in the traditional sense they are not.
Posted by: Keanus | April 27, 2009 4:27 PM
I've always wondered about "Thou shalt not kill" - it's a total blanket statement; it doesn't say "Thou shalt not kill people" does it? Thou shalt not kill. Period.
So presumably God wants us all to be vegetarians? Unless you also believe that plants are "killed" when eaten, so where does that leave us?
Posted by: kelebek | April 27, 2009 4:29 PM
The original translation is closer to, "Thou shalt not murder." The general consensus is that the commandment says nothing about execution, war, or non-humans.
Posted by: Brandon | April 27, 2009 4:35 PM
And, of course, Yahweh certainly didn't think that particular commandment applied to himself, now did he? Or to OT gentiles/infidels, for that matter.
Posted by: Adrienne | April 27, 2009 4:41 PM
Dear FSM,
Please make at least one of Gordo Klingenschmuck's children turn gay.
Ramen.
Posted by: Adrienne | April 27, 2009 4:42 PM
Adrienne:
I think that's a bit harsh. Howzabout if ol' Gordo just admits that HE's teh GAY and all of the repression is what makes him so fucking crazy.
Posted by: democommie | April 27, 2009 4:47 PM
Lord, please make my enemies ridicu...oh, I see you already took care of it.
Posted by: chancelikely | April 27, 2009 5:53 PM
This from a local paper...
"Illegal Bible Quoting
A Baptist preacher and community activist in Benton Harbor, Mich., was arrested last year for writing a newspaper editorial condemning the actions of a local judge. In citing the Bible and the wrath of God to take care of Judge Alfred M. Butzbaugh of the Berrien County Criminal Court, Rev. Edward Pinkney was ordered to serve a three- to 10-year sentence for issuing a “true threat,” violating the terms of his probation.
Pinkney did not personally threaten Butzbaugh (although he did call him “racist and dumb”), but he did reflect on what God might do to the judge based on his own reading of the Book of Deuteronomy. Pinkney forecast that if the judge didn’t change his ways, God would punish him “with consumption and with a fever and with an inflammation and with extreme burning.”
According to fellow Judge Dennis Wiley, Pinkney’s editorial constituted a true threat “because of his status as a Reverend, that he has some particular—I guess, direct line to the Lord, and…a reasonable person would consider this to be a threat.”
Jailed for a year for quoting the Bible, ACLU attorneys at last managed to release Pinkney on bail during his appeals process. Meanwhile he’s still under 24-hour house arrest while he tries to overturn his conviction. The Thomas Jefferson Center has filed a brief in the case."
http://www.missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=ABF46AC5-14D1-1357-9C2E09E8D12BBAE3&page=2
Our Reverend sounds much more threatening than The Reverend Mr. Pickney. I wonder why he's not locked up.
Posted by: Neils | April 27, 2009 8:27 PM
Boy does Christianity sound like Islam here!
Posted by: robthomaseyes | April 27, 2009 8:31 PM
Chris Rodda noted "The Navy's JAG Office has responded..."
Chris - that's it? I guess we'll just have to hope that Gordie climbs up on his high horse and fights it - ideally, compounding the crime in the process. Considering his past reactions to criticism, it seems fairly possible.
Posted by: BobApril | April 27, 2009 8:49 PM
I’m a certified non religious heathen without a sufficient quantity of rodent anus to care much about religious stuff, but this Klingenschmitt whackjob is pushing the envelope. What I have noticed is much of Christianity has been hijacked by a gang of thugs who seem to believe their bible is their weapon and the notion of turning the other cheek has become kicking someone else in the rump. A sect of Radical Crusader Xtianity has taken over, complete with stylized cross, fish and some really strange logos everywhere I look.
There was a flood. When the water got too deep, a man took refuge in the second floor of his house, where a Sheriff’s Department boat came by to rescue him. The man waved them away and said, “the lord will save me!”, and they left. The flooding got worse and he now found himself stranded atop the roof, where he was met with another boat, which he turned away by telling them the lord would save him. Not much later, the flooding got much worse and all he could do was tread water whole holding on to his TV antenna. A Coast Guard helicopter hovered overhead and when the Rescue Swimmer reached him, he was turned away because the lord was supposed to do this, not the USCG. There were people who wanted to be rescued, so the Coast Guard went to help them and he drowned. He sat before the pearly gates and when he saw god, he asked why he didn’t save him, a frustrated god snapped back, “What do you mean, I sent 2 boats and a helicopter!” (The USCG would never have turned away, except for this silly joke, which I probably didn’t tell as well as I’d heard.)
This joke is just an example of what some characters expect from god. I’d take Klingenschmitt’s prayer as a death threat, because you never know if some other nutcase might believe he’s the avenging angel of god. Speaking of which, whatever happened to that saying, “vengeance is mine,” sayeth the lord? Killing in the name of Jesus seems diametrically oppositional to the very notion of the man himself.
Posted by: Dave Kisor | April 27, 2009 9:21 PM
"Lord, we bless them, so please kill them for us."
I don't get it. Was there something wrong with my church that I never learned that prayer growing up?
Posted by: James Hanley | April 27, 2009 9:34 PM
Compare to this ancient egyptian spell:
First, strangle a cat. Then recite:
"Look, O great god! [person I hate] has slaughtered and desecrated your sacred animal! They must be punished!"
This spell, (the above is from my memory, not cited), seems to imply that god is stupid, not paying attention, or both.
Posted by: Scrabcake | April 27, 2009 10:01 PM
@robthomaseyes
You say Islam,
I say God's lamb.
Let's call the whole thing off.
[/musical intro] *thanx for the notion*
Raging Bee notes that if something nasty happens to either of our two worthies, "Klingy will then be able to say he prayed for it, and thus the prayer worked."
He might want to begin going into his closet and praying quietly to his god, which is in secret, considering the fate of the unfortunate Rev. Pinkney.
This will certainly be a case to follow. I trust that there are people in responsible positions, whether elected or appointed, whose ears are pricking up at this.
I will wager ten quatloos that if some misfortune befalls either Lynn or Weinstein then Klingenschmitt will not gloat if the harm is anything more than a poor showing in the polls or a drop in funding or some other black eye sort of injury. In other words, some damage that reaps a teaspoon of political advantage and falls short of, say, taking a pratt fall and breaking a bone or being diagnosed with a terminal disease or encountering a hit man.
Klingenschmitt, being a functioning human, couldn't be so foolish as to gloat over something serious after publicly praying for something terminal to befall his enemies. Surely not.
Still, let's keep a close eye on him. He wants us to. He just told us. And issued one of the most hubris-laden challenges one can possibly bespeak. Now we know that he thinks that he can Make God Kill on Command!!
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | April 27, 2009 10:24 PM
Which, strangely enough, is completely consistent with all of the observed data.
Posted by: Brain Hertz | April 27, 2009 10:31 PM
As one of the enemies against religious freedom hegemony, I am fervently NOT praying for this dripsnot's untimely demise. Guys like him are what drive more of the moderates over into the nonbelief camp.
May he continue to open his mouth, and may the crazy dumbosity pour forth in torrents.
Posted by: MrMarkAZ | April 27, 2009 10:46 PM
This spell, (the above is from my memory, not cited), seems to imply that god is stupid, not paying attention, or both.
It also implies that god is not a follower of LOL cats!
Posted by: yoyo | April 27, 2009 10:47 PM
When I was your age, the DM NEVER told anyone whether a spell was 'greater', or 'lesser', or even what spell it was, or even if it was a real spell. For all we knew, the DM was just leading us on, having a complete charlatan chant worthless chants to frighten us. And the DM never told anyone the bonus(es) on their magic items either. And the DM rolled all the dice behind a screen. You never saw the roll that saved or slew your poor hapless character.
Kids these days. They don't know what REAL gaming is like.
Posted by: llewelly | April 27, 2009 11:18 PM
"Cut off their descendants..."
Hmmmm. Don't most of us call them "balls"?
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | April 28, 2009 12:01 AM
That imprecation sounds like witchcraft to me. A death spell... and you know what they say about witches (actually, poisoners, but we'll go with the mistranslation).
Posted by: Monado | April 28, 2009 12:44 AM
There was a lot of this in the Old Testament. Someone would offend God, live a long and happy life, and so would his kids, sometimes, and then God would strike down his grandchildren--as punishment. That's the real meaning of visiting the sin on the children. The priests sometimes had to wait a long time for a coincidence that they could fit into their mythology.
Posted by: Monado | April 28, 2009 12:51 AM
Of course, Klingenschmuck proclaiming, without any evidence whatsoever, that Lynn and Weinstein are "enemies of religious liberty" does not represent a "personal attack" on these two individuals. Self-awareness and Klingenschmuck don't seem to have met.
Posted by: daniel rotter | April 28, 2009 1:09 AM
T. Bruce McNeely - Well, most of us would classify anything Klingshitt says as such. - :) DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | April 28, 2009 2:04 AM
Llewelly:
That's why the player is supposed to use a Spellcraft or Knowledge (arcana) skill check to identify the magic; you just give them an answer, you don't tell them if it's the right answer. Of course, I've also got a Dragon from a couple of years back with a "Charlatan" character class; basically, it's designed around using sleight-of-hand, bluffing, and intimidation to convince people that one is a powerful spellcaster. It also recommends taking credit for other peoples' work.
Sort of like a real cleric, now that I think about it.
Posted by: Ranson | April 28, 2009 8:30 AM
T. Bruce McNeely - Well, most of us would classify anything Klingshitt says as such. - :) DJ
Thanks, DJ. You owe me a keyboard!
Posted by: Satcomguy | April 28, 2009 12:10 PM
I used to know a nut ball like this at the Church(really a cult) that fucked me over for years. he would not touch certain people because they might transmit demons to him based on his "discernment". No wonder no one wants to go to church. I went and visited a church for the first time in a year last week basically to see a woman I work with. I got a call from the "welcoming" committee. They basically asked me if I liked the church service and wanted to come back. Nothing about me as a person or trying to get to know me. Numbers game for sure. They would swear it is not but it is. I used to be like these dicks too. I am still ashamed.
Posted by: King of Ireland | April 28, 2009 8:10 PM
What's really surprising is that Gordo hasn't posted here justifying his lunacy. I'm sure he'll get around to it as soon as he's done polishing his jackboots.
Posted by: Chris Krolczyk | April 28, 2009 8:13 PM
King of Ireland,
Try the United Methodists. They usually don't do that stuff.
Posted by: James Hanley | April 28, 2009 8:27 PM
Just contacted the Methodist Seminary here in DC. They have a whole focus on relating to the whole postmodern world that just displores this shit. I am just not a Sunday sit and listen to a speech guy. But I do like to discuss philosophy and theology. I get more out of the exchange on here and Positive Liberty than any of the shit they tried to sell me in church.
Posted by: King of Ireland | April 28, 2009 8:37 PM
My newest t-shirt will be:
"Church. What people who can't get a "tee time" do on Sunday!"
Posted by: democommie | April 28, 2009 9:52 PM
He does a daily so-called prayer on his web site. In his most humble and holy voice he says, "We show love to all sodomites out there, by openly rebuking the sins and demons that live in their hearts. This was a "prayer" in opposition to the House vote on what some call the "Hate Crimes" bill. Someone needs to tell him that the word "gospel" means "good news." He is the "bad news bear" of Christianity. Who, except a bunch of sick wing nuts would want to listen to anything he has to say? However, I do confess that I have gotten some good belly laughs out of his ranting diatribes disguised as prayers. For instance, just what did he have in mind when he told God to "plunder their fields?" Does anyone except wing nuts lost in time refer to other humans as "sodomites" in this day and time? And isn't it a bit harsh to ask God to dispose of someone's children and grandchildren ("cut off their descendants and blot out their names from the next generation") just because you got a little pissed off about what they said about you? Furthermore, he indicates that Psalm 109 is his resource and if you read the entire Psalm you find some pretty horrible stuff in there. Does he want God to do all that to these guys as well? Isn't it great, supremely comforting to know that there are people called and ordained by God to love us and pray for us?
Posted by: Norm Holcomb, CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret) | April 28, 2009 10:15 PM
Shouldn't Klingenschmitt train his god to roll over! and fetch! before he gets to smite!?
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | April 29, 2009 12:02 AM
Wow, a real fatwah. Cool! Now I'm kinda jealous of Mikey and Barry. How can I get a fatwah issued against me?
Posted by: John the Skeptic | April 30, 2009 11:48 AM
"Oh God please spare these idiot's lives. Smite them oh mighty Lord, you must not want state and church to separate! These heathens are corrupting our beautiful world!"
Evangelicals are the most radical extremists in the world. Jesus Camp is a great example of that. I can't respect a religion that wants intelligent, peace-making, societal-building people dead.
"You know your god is man-made when he hates the same people you do."
Posted by: Aaron | April 30, 2009 9:48 PM
Heres my prayer:
I yearn for the day that science supercedes religion and men that wear dresses and pointed hats no longer dictate the moral ineptitudes that lead to discrimination, feigned self righteous indignities, religious wars and deaths. The day that christians no longer kill the spirit of man by classifying him as a sinner at birth. The day that society recognizes that hedious religious moral judgements imposed on humanity cannot be reconciled with a compassionate God.The day that the fires of the flat earth mentality are finally extinguished once and for all.
Posted by: Mary | May 3, 2009 1:01 PM
Religion is the problem. Atheism is the cure. What retards will do in the name of their religions is endless.
Posted by: seathanaich | May 8, 2009 5:06 PM
Ed and Norm,
Hope you are doing well. The Klingenfraud just keeps banging away. I got interested in him again a couple of weeks back when he showed his miserable face at Notre Dame. Norm, I still here in the area, if you ever want to get together for a beer let me know.
This imprecatory prayer stuff is pretty scary. The right wing has gone from merely whacked out to wacked out at ludicrous speed. These guys are getting scary. Klingenfraud and is praying for the deaths of individuals and curses on their descendants, someone in PA put an ad in a local paper asking that President Obama meet the same fate as Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy. Meanwhile, Joe Farah at World Net Daily suggesting that we pray for the US Government to fail, talking about armed resistance and secession and making the right look even more idiotic by continuing their failed attempts to have President Obama declared ineligible to be President. Hannity and a host of others keep calling Obama the most "Pro Abortion President in history" "that he is destroying our military by cutting weapons programs" (the hell with the troops, buy weapons that have no use in the wars we are currently fighting) and calling him a Narcissistic Marxist. It is as if they have gone from simply nuts to raving mad.
Keep up the fight.
Peace, Steve+
Posted by: Padre Steve | May 30, 2009 12:32 PM
Posted by: DingoJack | May 30, 2009 12:58 PM
Religion is the problem. Atheism is the cure. What retards will do in the name of their religions is endless.
Atheism is the "cure"? Was Mao or Stalin aware of that?
Posted by: mroberts | May 30, 2009 1:00 PM
So you're unsure about the answer to yuor own question then, eh Mrroberts?
Well next time you try to push this tired old meme, I'll be happy to remind you of that uncertainty. :) - DJ
PS Where have you been? Long time no post (guess you, unlike some, have got a life then? :D)
Posted by: DingoJack | May 30, 2009 1:05 PM
Well next time you try to push this tired old meme, I'll be happy to remind you of that uncertainty
Hey, I was just pointing out the tired old meme about how atheism will cure the world's evils. :) People that continually push the idea that religion is the source of our problems never bother to make the distinction between militant religion and peaceful religion. The religious wars of the world are by and large NOT caused by Christians, but atheists almost never fail to lump Christians in with the Muslims that are ACTUALLY causing most religious conflicts. Religious conflicts and terrorism cannot honestly be blamed on religion in general.
And how am I wrong about Stalin and Mao being atheist? Was not the USSR a regime based purely on science? And look how all that worked out! Rights are far more secure from tyranny when national leaders recognize that they are granted by God and beyond their reach as declared in our own Founding documents. Under an atheist regime, rights are a gift of the government and can be be granted or taken away based on the whims of the atheist leaders. The history of Mao and Stalin demonstrate abundantly how this works in real life.
PS Where have you been? Long time no post (guess you, unlike some, have got a life then? :D)
Actually I've been pretty busy lately with holding down a full-time job and building a business on the side. Don't tell me you missed me! :)
Posted by: mroberts | May 30, 2009 1:23 PM
Mrroberts -
Militant religions (of the christian variety) have started numerous wars and genocides throughout the Europe and the New world (not to mention down here "at the arse end of the Earth"). Peaceful religions tended to have gone out of favour in Europe in the so-called 'Dark Ages', in favour of more militant bands. Think "the Crusades".) Such wars tend to be more vicious because of the certainty of the 'moral rectitude' on both sides.
The Stalinist Junta believed in whatever they thought Stalin believed in, and that was a pseudo-science called 'Lysenkoism', an anti-Evolutionist strain, developed to please Stalin's lust for control. This belief was sidelined in old UUSR in the 50's (at the latest).
The 'Founding Fathers' didn't base thier ideas on a christian god, but on some vague Enlightenment concept of a 'god of nature', chiefly because they couldn't think of anything else. Now, I think people would not find it too hard to believe that humans have rights intrinsically due to the fact they are intelligent beings, in the late 18th century, not so much. Remember also the aphorism 'When Fascism comes to America, it'll be wrapped in a flag', PATRIOT Act anyone? - DJ
PS It's said that in the 60's Charles M Shultz (the cartoonist responsible for 'Charlie Brown') was invited to a costume party with a 'Hippie' theme. He came dressed as he normally would. When the Hostess met him at the door, she saw his 'square' dress style, so she lent him a chunky gold pendant that proclaimed: "LOVE". Schultz supposedly looked at it and asked: "Love? That's a bit strong. Haven't you got one that just says 'like'?".
'missed you' is perhaps a little strong....
Still, I'm glad all is going well for you and yours. Starting a business now is certainly ballsy. It's not a 'leftorium' by any chance? :) When you make your first million think of me.
Posted by: DingoJack | May 30, 2009 2:07 PM
Nah, no leftoriums. Most bankers and VCs are right-handed I think . . .
:)
Posted by: mroberts | May 30, 2009 2:51 PM
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