Finding Jesus

Isn't it charming how the most contemptibly corrupt scoundrels are so pious?

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The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all.
tags: freedom of speech, freedom of publishing,
Those scoundrels at Deep Sea News narrowly beat us to this story. But the video is spectacular! Click here to watch it, and read their much-better-informed-than-ours-would-have-been description.
After some torrential rain in Pinellas County, Fla, residents were treated to some friendly neighborhood walking catfish.

It's a timing thing. They never seem to be able to find god until after they do all their evil deeds. Or maybe they're just trying to blame their unindicted co-conspirator.

By Mark Paris (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

...the man who gave us the bon mot "if you have them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow".

By George Cauldron (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him. I read it a couple of years ago in a letter from a Fresno State student who knows the truth about atheists.

From RSR:

Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay took part in a public prayer session in the courtroom with the Rev. Bill Lawson. Lawson compared Lay to Jesus who, he said, "was convicted and even executed." Lay declared himself "blessed" by his conviction.

Nice wording. The quote suggsts that Lawson thinks Lay should be executed. After all, that would make him more like Jesus.

Not even gonna get into the pros and cons of THAT ... :)

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him.

It's a fairly common argument. Dale Reich comes to mind.

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well. So they're not good professionals, they're not good statesmen, they're not good Christians, they're not good citizens...hell, they're not even good people.

What good are they?

By BlueIndependent (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well.

Although I categorize religion as irrational, I can appreciate the difference between the real thing and blatant fakery. Authentic Christianity makes a point (missed by many of its contemporary practitioners) of speaking quietly, modestly, and personally with God instead of beating one's breast in public and loudly proclaiming one's piety for all to hear. It's the passage in Luke 18 that contrasts the humbly faithful (the publican) with the loud hypocrite (the Pharisee).

Some Bible-learning is one of the best defenses against Bible believers.

Ralph Reed.

By Left_Wing_Fox (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

Yes, it is definitely a timing thing. Oh, if only they had found God earlier, because without God you cannot be moral. Yes, it's the Rabbi Shafran argument again, but the argument doesn't belong just to him. I read it a couple of years ago in a letter from a Fresno State student who knows the truth about atheists.

Bravo Mr. Zeno.

By BlueIndependent (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

No such list is complete without mention of Chuck Colson.

The National Lampoon once ran a mock ad for a book by Colson called God Is My Unindicted Co-Conspirator.

"Although I categorize religion as irrational, I can appreciate the difference between the real thing and blatant fakery. Authentic Christianity makes a point (missed by many of its contemporary practitioners) of speaking quietly, modestly, and personally with God instead of beating one's breast in public and loudly proclaiming one's piety for all to hear. It's the passage in Luke 18 that contrasts the humbly faithful (the publican) with the loud hypocrite (the Pharisee)."

Excellent point, Zeno! I'm often deeply chagrined by the parallels between Fundamentalist Xianity and the Pharisees.

Ah, yes, the Pharisees. I characterize Jesus, assuming he existed as anything like the biblical character, as fighting the religious establishment of his day as personified by the Pharisees. He lost, and his teachings were twisted and coopted by a new establishment with an essentially Greco-Roman theology (a god comes to Earth and impregnates a woman who then bears a half-god) dressed up to resemble judaism. How convenient that one has only to pronouce a word in the right way (that was one test christians took from the OT) to get into heaven. None of this "love your neighbor" or "do unto others' crap is necessary.

By Mark Paris (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink

Man, those guys can't even *ACT* pious well. So they're not good professionals, they're not good statesmen, they're not good Christians, they're not good citizens...hell, they're not even good people.

What good are they?

A good laugh?

Bob

Why should anyone expect any different - given that ...

All religion is blackmail.

( Or, in other words all religion is a form of criminal activity )

By G. Tingey (not verified) on 31 May 2006 #permalink