Fundamentalist ignorance and arrogance in Texas

[This is not the church mentioned in the article]

In a little town just outside of Houston, Texas, is an independent, fundamentalist "Bible" church which preys on the ignorant and unsuspecting people by preaching a religion based on the notion of an inerrant "Bible" that only they and other like-minded religionists interpret correctly.

They interpret their Bible thus: Human beings are basically sinful and deserve to spend eternity being tortured in hell. But God, who made human beings sinful, loves his sinful human beings so much he sent his son (who was really himself) to earth as a "real" human just like all the rest of us, so he could be killed on a cross or a tree. [The fact that a real "god" can't die seems to have eluded them].

Being killed is the important thing because these fundamentalist Christians believe there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Yes, I know that's a sacrificial system, a form of ancient barbarism, but that's what they believe. So this son who is really god (Jesus) must die in order for God (who is Jesus) to forgive the sins of the humans he created as sinful beings.

What you have to do to be saved is simply "believe" that Jesus died on a cross to save you from your sins.

[This nonsense gets even worse with the Roman Catholics who believe that during the mass, Jesus is killed again on the cross by the magic words of the priest and that's why it's so important to attend mass -- to eat the cracker and drink the wine - 'cause you're really, truly, actually eating Jesus' flesh and drinking his blood, and thus you share in his "sacrifice" and are saved.]

I am not making this up.

Back to this little town in Texas and the "Bible" church. The pastor of this so-called "Bible" church writes a column in the local paper. I just happened to receive a copy of one of his most recent literary efforts.

Because so many people in this little Texas town are fundamentalist Christians, the pastor assumes that they are in essential agreement with his beliefs. Thus, he begins his article this way:

"When we [my emphasis] lose elections and a Communist, homosexual, or a Muslim gets elected, I want my pastor to tell me how we can elect a Biblically-qualified candidate next time."

Hmm...well...I've heard these types of christianists call Obama a commie and a Muslim, but not a homosexual. Maybe this pastor knows something I don't? Not that he's referring specifically to President Obama. God forbid. But, if people are driven to make that connection...well...

He continues with such drivel although to give him credit he does say that Christians should not "vote for a Christian candidate regardless of experience and capabilities." But then I have to decredit him 'cause he wants us to think that Christianity is a religion unlike any other. Actually, Christianity is not even a religion. "Religion," saith the pastor, "is what mankind does to get to God or to try to make him happy.

"Every other religion that I am aware of does this. On the other hand, Christianity is what God has done for and to us."

Yup! That's why Christianity is not a religion. Then the good pastor quotes some Bible verses to "prove" his point.

And his point ends up being that he won't vote for anyone who doesn't share the same understanding of Christianity that he holds. That doesn't mean "a Christian leader will always do what is glorifying to God" but he's going to "prefer a capable Christian over a candidate who does not have this kind of relationship with God through Jesus."


If I ever meet this guy, I'm going to ask him if he voted for Obama. I mean Obama clearly had a much clearer Christian faith and stance than the other guy and his moronic cohort from Alaska.

Secondly, I'm going to ask him if he has ever read the Constitution of the United States. That document is quite clear that there shall be no religious test applied to those who wish to hold public office in our country. That clause was inserted into our Constitution because our founding fathers knew from bitter experience that government under those who claimed a relationship with God through Jesus could be an horrendous thing!

The third question I would ask this pastor if I were to meet him, has to do with how he can justify such a flagrant rejection of a fundamental American principle. He is very specific - even though he tries to hedge his bets, in the end he does not equivocate - vote for a fundamentalist Christian.


You might be thinking, what's the big deal? He's just a local cleric in a little Texas town. So he swings a few people to his way of thinking.

Except this guy has clones by the thousands in small (and large) towns all over our country who are preaching the same un-American claptrap. Every single Sunday, Biblically-challenged, ignorant people listen to their clergy (who they usually perceive to be their spiritual betters) rant about the importance of electing fundamentalist Christians to public office.

Which is why we've got so many christianist fundys on our city councils, in our state legislatures and on Capitol Hill in Washington!

Not only so, but there isn't a chance in hell that one single person believes their pastors would recommend voting for a Democrat under any circumstances! All this preaching about Jesus-lovers for office is code meaning "vote Republican"!

Which means the pastor in this little Texas town and all the pastors like him throughout the US of A are extremely dangerous! They are a threat to our Constitutional way of life and thus a threat to the ongoing health of our beloved country!