Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

Very scary group of crazies; politically powerful crazies.

I like open church congregations like Episcopalians. We don't care what kind of sinner you are. You just have to keep up with the pew aerobics.

ninjakirby: Very scary group of crazies; politically powerful crazies.

Is Obama one?

RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

I was gonna say that also. DC is just weird as hell.

From TFA:

Founded in 1935 in opposition to FDR's New Deal, the right-wing fundamentalist religious group organizes prayer meetings for Congressmen, as well as the annual National Prayer Breakfast.

Note to Obama: the first President to not go to that bullshiat "prayer breakfast" will have my support forever.

Possible leader

strathcona: Is Obama one?

I seriously doubt it, but I would have said the same thing about HRC. There is another Farker who is actually familiar with The Family beyond tfa; I believe he as read the referenced book as well as his own follow up research. Gonna toss him an email.

strathcona: ninjakirby: Very scary group of crazies; politically powerful crazies.

Is Obama one?

They don't let Mohammedans join.

Is Ron Paul a member?

If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

It's just the most insane, farked up view ever. It's even more nonsensical than prosperity theology. Well, it basically is prosperity theology, but with the additional bit that capitalism is god.

oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

You forget, God in the form of the head of US Steel told their founder all this, and that trumps the Bible, because the head of US Steel was rich.

/Religion, because if they called it anything else they'd be committed.

Hey, I have a new way to define a moron.

oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

I'm pretty sure they'll have some theory that the money lenders in the temple were the equivalent of The Fed. So all he was doing was getting the government out of the way.

GAT_00: Hey, I have a new way to define a moron.

They may be morons, but they are powerful morons.

Trickle down faith, or hwoever it was described. If that's not scary, I don't know what is.
Here I thought people acted like this because they were assholes. I didn't know they claimed to have a religious justification for being assholes.

These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

Because they refused to raise interest rates on borrowers who paid off their balances each month.

Hmm, I thought 'Family' met something entirely different.

At first I was like 'oh yeah, of course!' and now I'm like 'oh...'

// the more you know

FTA:

Founded in 1935 in opposition to FDR's New Deal, the right-wing fundamentalist religious group organizes prayer meetings for Congressmen, as well as the annual National Prayer Breakfast.

That explains a lot, republicans lost their minds over the new deal. They even tried to organize a military coup to overthrow him.

ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

RemyDuron: ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

Sadly, I think this could be the ONLY thing on every news channel and newspaper for the next 5 weeks, and it wouldn't make any difference.

/But HRC????

AirForceVet: I like open church congregations like Episcopalians. We don't care what kind of sinner you are. You just have to keep up with the pew aerobics.

Whew, tell me about it.

Stand up, sit down, stand up, kneel. Sit, kneel, stand...

/And also with you.

SEKRIT CHRISTIAN!!

oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

Since when has Christianity actually put emphasis on Christ's actions?

ghare: RemyDuron: ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

Sadly, I think this could be the ONLY thing on every news channel and newspaper for the next 5 weeks, and it wouldn't make any difference.

/But HRC????

I remember this group being mentioned in the election. Of course, all that got mentioned was that they were secretive and had a lot of high profile members. The whole batshiat crazy prosperity doctrine stuff didn't get mentioned.

Instead they showed that clip of Wright saying "God damn America!" 5 more times.

You know, they often lurk here in the threads....

Macinfarker: Hmm, I thought 'Family' met something entirely different.

At first I was like 'oh yeah, of course!' and now I'm like 'oh...'

// the more you know

If you were thinking about that "have sex with Jesus" cult that used to call themselves the Children of God, then yeah, that was the first "Family" I thought of, too...

/Man, that's some farked up shiat.
//So's the Children of God.

RemyDuron: ghare: RemyDuron: ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

Sadly, I think this could be the ONLY thing on every news channel and newspaper for the next 5 weeks, and it wouldn't make any difference.

/But HRC????

I remember this group being mentioned in the election. Of course, all that got mentioned was that they were secretive and had a lot of high profile members. The whole batshiat crazy prosperity doctrine stuff didn't get mentioned.

Instead they showed that clip of Wright saying "God damn America!" 5 more times.

The guy who wrote the book claims they really believe it and aren't in it for the money.

I think he didn't look hard enough for the money.

oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

Back in the day, the way that I learned it (from a Southern Baptist professor of Old and New Testament) was that the way that the ancient Hebrews constructed the Second Temple-- there were a few main sections, only one of which was open to non-elite rural Hebrews there to get the priests to perform their important animal sacrifices, as in Luke 2:22-29 (new window). That was where the moneychangers were. The most important aspect of the animals used in the sacrifices was that they be umblemished and essentially perfect. The moneychangers were originally there to exchange cash for stock of specimens used in sacrifices, as most people traveling for days did not end up with animals suitable for sacrifice. The moneychangers essentially had an exclusive contract with a captive audience, and were charging extortionary rates. Moreover, they grew in number so that those coming from non-elite backgrounds had trouble sitting in or being in the temple. Of course, any setup like that is hardly a "free market." I'm not a Biblical scholar, so I'm not up to date on the literature, but it makes sense given what else I know about Hebrew temple culture at that time and place.

RemyDuron: ghare: RemyDuron: ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

Sadly, I think this could be the ONLY thing on every news channel and newspaper for the next 5 weeks, and it wouldn't make any difference.

/But HRC????

I remember this group being mentioned in the election. Of course, all that got mentioned was that they were secretive and had a lot of high profile members. The whole batshiat crazy prosperity doctrine stuff didn't get mentioned.

Instead they showed that clip of Wright saying "God damn America!" 5 more times.

Hmm... prosperity doctrine vs. "kill whitey." I think I might prefer the "kill whitey", if only because hey, I can understand being put out by slavery. Much preferable to Ayn Randist douchebaggery.

/whitey

Checking out the Wiki (new window), I learned two very interesting things:

(1) The Family was founded in Seattle, at a time when the unions and the anti-union forces were locked in a furious ideological battle (that last part wasn't in the Wiki; I know it from elsewhere).

(2) "While they conduct no fundraising operations, they reported revenues of more than $12 million in 2003 from donations."

soy_bomb: SEKRIT CHRISTIAN!!

sgilman: That explains a lot, republicans lost their minds over the new deal. They even tried to organize a military coup to overthrow him.

Something tells me these guys were deeply involved with that.

Does this mean another one of those Dan Brown books is on the way?

Prospero424: sgilman: That explains a lot, republicans lost their minds over the new deal. They even tried to organize a military coup to overthrow him.

Something tells me these guys were deeply involved with that.

Does the name Presott Bush ring a bell?

ghare: /But HRC????

Why does that surprise you? It doesn't surprise me in the least. When she got elected to the Senate, she worked very hard to gain access to religious echelons of political power, among other things. Having it dominated by the GOP doesn't matter. Its part of what most of the serious go-getters do. And she's definitely a go-getter. Wonder if they accept Mormons-- Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch, Mitt Romney and all that.

PenguinTheRed: Possible leader

Came here for this, left satisfied.

/*shakes fist at Bethesda's QA dept.*

Somacandra: ghare: /But HRC????

Why does that surprise you? It doesn't surprise me in the least. When she got elected to the Senate, she worked very hard to gain access to religious echelons of political power, among other things. Having it dominated by the GOP doesn't matter. Its part of what most of the serious go-getters do. And she's definitely a go-getter. Wonder if they accept Mormons-- Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch, Mitt Romney and all that.

It just does. I mean, I know you have to lie and pretend you care about church and all that crap to get elected in America, but I've never noticed her using as much fake religiosity as others.

soy_bomb: SEKRIT CHRISTIAN!!





I have a feeling Joe Lieberman and Eric Cantor are not part of this group.......

. "Beau, let's say I hear you raped three little girls. And now here you are at Ivanwald. What would I think of you, Beau?"

Beau, given to bellowing Ivanwald's daily call to sports like a bull elephant, shrank into the cushions. "Probably that I'm pretty bad?"

"No, Beau." David's voice was kind. "I wouldn't." He drew Beau back into the circle with a stare that seemed to have its own gravitational pull. Beau nodded, brow furrowed, as if in the presence of something profound. "Because," David continued, "I'm not here to judge you. That's not my job.

WARNING WARNING WARNING

If you ever hear anyone speaking in this manner of hypothetical denigration coupled with absolute forgiveness - Get The F*ck Out. You're being recruited into a cult.

Isn't that great?" David said. "That's the way everything in life happens. If you're a person known to be around Jesus, you can go and do anything. And that's who you guys are.

A scary f*cking cult.

I had no idea liberals were THIS PARANOID!!

/ read the whole thing - who knows if it is true?!? what a complete paranoid bastardization
// wow; kinda freaky even

I'm willing to bet this has something to do with Scientology.

Wow.

Every time I hear about the Family I get some major chills.

I'm creeped out enough by "normal" fundamentalist theology, but a secret elite anti-democratic fundamentalism that reaches to the highest echelons of our government on both sides of the political spectrum freaks me the fark out.

As mentioned above, props to Obama for not attending that National Prayer Breakfast thing.

GratuityIncluded: I had no idea liberals were THIS PARANOID!!

/ read the whole thing - who knows if it is true?!? what a complete paranoid bastardization
// wow; kinda freaky even

What makes you think it's only liberals who don't trust these guys?

GratuityIncluded: I had no idea liberals were THIS PARANOID!!

/ read the whole thing - who knows if it is true?!? what a complete paranoid bastardization
// wow; kinda freaky even

We're not paranoid. We find things like this hilarious. We're the guys who get invited to the secret club meeting and then start making fart sounds. So we usually don't get invited back.

ninjakirby: If you ever hear anyone speaking in this manner of hypothetical denigration coupled with absolute forgiveness - Get The F*ck Out. You're being recruited into a cult.

Seriously. That was my first thought upon reading that.

It sounds almost as if these guys had set this organization up in the 30's as a "counter" organization to freemasonry, only with much more serious religious overtones.

The freemasons, despite the religious trappings, saw themselves as a secular club, and were almost all Christian themselves. These "Fellowship" guys saw themselves as part of an overtly "righteous" religious society.

That's some dangerous, freaky shiat.

...Also, Terry Gross interviewed this author on Fresh Air today. It was really interesting and freaky as hell. Who knows how true it is (I tend to believe Terry does her homework though). These people are apparently fundies that believe they are "chosen" and that the good will of God trickles down through them to poor people. I think it would be pretty easy to get people in power to buy into this kind of bullshiat. Especially people as self centered and self important as Sanford (and I'm not terribly surprised if HRC is one too).

Doesn't your average libertarian believe the free market is sacred, plus or minus the literal religious connotations?

Add a dash of Strict Constitutionalism (plus or minus some Truthers) and you've got your garden variety Paultard.

sgilman 2009-07-02 12:18:07 AM
FTA: Founded in 1935 in opposition to FDR's New Deal, the right-wing fundamentalist religious group organizes prayer meetings for Congressmen, as well as the annual National Prayer Breakfast.

"That explains a lot, republicans lost their minds over the new deal. They even tried to organize a military coup to overthrow him."

Now that you mention it our current economic situation is pretty similar to 1935 and Fox News did just advocate a major terrorist attack against the United States. In light of these parallels the teabaggers now seem less funny and more dangerous.

RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

I have a real hard time believing that, I've read her book, she has never come across as terribly religious, and she's ALWAYS been fairly pro-gay (for a pandering politician). I'd like a citation.

Also, I heard this interview and was terrified at the end.

PenguinTheRed: Possible leader

Came for the Fallout 3 ref; leaving satisfied.

Seemed appropriate.

detfrost1:
I have a real hard time believing that, I've read her book, she has never come across as terribly religious, and she's ALWAYS been fairly pro-gay (for a pandering politician). I'd like a citation.

they're just two fundie hypocrits. meh.

RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

I thought she was a godless communist.

I know this will be wasted on Fark but here goes.
These guys are using Christianity, as they define it, to justify the sins and hypocrisy their own lives. They remind me of a guy I knew who dumped his wife for a younger sportier model. He claimed that his hot babe was actually the woman God had chosen for her and not his wife and mother of his kids. His church would have none of it but this guy found all kinds of "proofs" in scripture to justify his actions. It made no difference what his pastors said to him, what his friends said to him or what his wife said to him. He was going to do what he wanted to do.

These guys are just like him, twisting scripture to their own ends.

Also David was in the opinion of many Biblical scholars, punished by God for his many sins. He may have been Gods chosen guy but that does not mean that God was behind him 100%.

I'll bet there isn't one real theologian amongst this groups numbers and never has been.

LockeOak: RemyDuron: ghare: RemyDuron: ghare: These guys are considered heretics by most churches.

Something tells me they are secretive for a reason, because if people knew many high up Republicans and a few Democrats were members of an elitist cult that believe God appeared in the form of the head of US Steel, they might think twice about voting for these people.

Sadly, I think this could be the ONLY thing on every news channel and newspaper for the next 5 weeks, and it wouldn't make any difference.

/But HRC????

I remember this group being mentioned in the election. Of course, all that got mentioned was that they were secretive and had a lot of high profile members. The whole batshiat crazy prosperity doctrine stuff didn't get mentioned.

Instead they showed that clip of Wright saying "God damn America!" 5 more times.

Hmm... prosperity doctrine vs. "kill whitey." I think I might prefer the "kill whitey", if only because hey, I can understand being put out by slavery. Much preferable to Ayn Randist douchebaggery.

/whitey

Wright's a nut, but his initial comments were not really bad unless you took them out of context and played him up as a scary black preacher.

"If America kills innocent people, not God bless America, no no no, God damn America!" I always wondered if people who had a problem with this really supported America killing innocent people, or just thought God would be cool with it.

And the other bit was essentially saying 9/11 was a response to our foreign policy. Which is, you know, true. Unless you believe 9/11 was done because "they hated our freedom."

The Family is far more disturbing, IMO.

Notabunny: Does this mean another one of those Dan Brown books is on the way?

Nah, this is actually real and interesting, so Dan Brown will never write about it.

/Just read Foucault's Pendulum and the Illuminatus! Trilogy, then you've read a better version of everything Dan Brown has ever written.

Delawheredad: These guys are using Christianity, as they define it, to justify the sins and hypocrisy their own lives. They remind me of a guy I knew who dumped his wife for a younger sportier model. He claimed that his hot babe was actually the woman God had chosen for her and not his wife and mother of his kids. His church would have none of it but this guy found all kinds of "proofs" in scripture to justify his actions. It made no difference what his pastors said to him, what his friends said to him or what his wife said to him. He was going to do what he wanted to do.

These guys are just like him, twisting scripture to their own ends.

There are good people and bad people (through whatever combination of nature and nurture) who both use religion to justify their actions.

While it's comforting to believe Hitler was possessed by Satan and Mother Theresa was a saint, they both really enjoyed doing what they did on a human level.

Anyone else remember the second season of Deadliest Catch when one of the captains they followed was a fundie? Remember how he lost his shiat when they announced they'd no longer be having a free for all for crab season? Apparently God only wants people to make money right now, screw being able to make it tomorrow, safety, nature or anything else right now.

detfrost1: RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

I have a real hard time believing that, I've read her book, she has never come across as terribly religious, and she's ALWAYS been fairly pro-gay (for a pandering politician). I'd like a citation.

Also, I heard this interview and was terrified at the end.

These guys are a bigger threat to America than Osama and Saddam could ever hope to be.

detfrost1: RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member. One of the creepiest groups I've ever heard of.

I have a real hard time believing that, I've read her book, she has never come across as terribly religious, and she's ALWAYS been fairly pro-gay (for a pandering politician). I'd like a citation.

Also, I heard this interview and was terrified at the end.

I remember it being mentioned in the campaign, in the context of "We've heard a lot about Obama's church, but what about Hillary's?"

Wikipedia mentions it with these sources:
Link
Link

The second link doesn't call them the Family, but the prayer group lead by Douglas Coe is the Family.

Ahhh. That explains so much. Fascinating.

PenguinTheRed: Possible leader

That's like a mini nuke of pure win.

Save America from false Christians.

ghare: These guys are a bigger threat to America than Osama and Saddam could ever hope to be.

I agree, but I wouldn't call them a threat. What they want is a world that they can be in charge of. The irony is that they could never get this wish. They could seek to control humanity through delusion and a consolidation of power, but they will never control humanity; if total control was possible, marijuana wouldn't still be smoked despite being outlawed, speeding wouldn't happen, etc. Laws and other socially-based restrictions never completely control anything. And these people are so anal about power that they can't realize that it's impossible. Every dictatorship falls. Nothing is permanent, and squealing to Jesus only tricks people into thinking your way and is a lousy way to control people. I don't fear people who think they can control people. I won't fear a bunch of stupid Jesus freaks who, despite having tons of power and wealth, are still unable to roll back benefits to a working/lower class they created with their pathetic greed.

The rich are a pathetic lot and should be treated as such. For all their 'power,' they are just sad losers who aren't happy with themselves and don't know the first thing about life. They aren't part of life and they use power and money to cover up for their shortcomings. So fark them. They should be exposed for the losers and lunatics that they are, along with their crappy club and their pathetic sideshow.

These people deserve many things; ridicule, mockery, insults. Fear isn't one of them.

Yay, more idiots who believe that the market is rational despite all evidence contrary.

CaptMacMillian: Yay, more idiots who believe that the market is rational despite all evidence contrary.

It doesn't have to be rational if it's God! It simply has to be obeyed!

Ugh...

Twelve page article written by author of TFA's book in Harpers Magazine.

From what I'm reading, I would probably not label this group a cult, but it does bear a great many of the markers. The only thing that I can see which its lacking is a central leader, and the degree to which the other markers are implemented.

- Specialized terminology: "brothers", "poor", "believer"

- Possible love bombing: "At Ivanwald, men learn to be leaders by loving their leaders. "They're so busy loving us," a brother once explained to me, "but who's loving them?" We were."

- Manual labor and servitude as part of 'training': "The brothers each paid $400 per month for room and board, but we were also the caretakers of The Cedars, cleaning its gutters, mowing its lawns, whacking weeds and blowing leaves and sanding."

- Devaluing standard societal norms and replacing them with cult ideology: "Doug [...] was more concerned that the focus on labels like "Christian" might get in the way of the congressman's prayers. Religion distracts people from Jesus, Doug said, and allows them to isolate Christ's will from their work in the world."

- Ritualized activity designed to tire both mind and body, leaving no time for introspection or self reflection (same principle as manual labor/servitude): "Bump was designed to bring out your hostilities. The Family believes that you can't grow in Jesus unless you "face your anger," and then abandon it. When bump worked right, each man was supposed to lose himself, forgetting even the precepts of the game. Sometimes you wanted to get the ball in, sometimes you wanted to knock it out. In, out, it didn't matter. Your ball, his, who cared? Bump wasn't horseplay, it was a physicalized theology."

- Contact with external world cut-off or minimalized: "The regimen was so precise it was relaxing: no swearing, no drinking, no sex, no self. Watch out for magazines and don't waste time on newspapers and never watch TV. "

Particularly worrying:

There they forge "relationships" beyond the din of vox populi (the Family's leaders consider democracy a manifestation of ungodly pride) and "throw away religion" in favor of the truths of the Family. Declaring God's covenant with the Jews broken, the group's core members call themselves "the new chosen."

"A covenant," Doug answered. The congressman half-smiled, as if caught between confessing his ignorance and pretending he knew what Doug was talking about. "Like the Mafia," Doug clarified. "Look at the strength of their bonds." He made a fist and held it before Tiahrt's face. Tiahrt nodded, squinting. "See, for them it's honor," Doug said. "For us, it's Jesus."

Coe listed other men who had changed the world through the strength of the covenants they had forged with their "brothers": "Look at Hitler," he said. "Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, Bin Laden." The Family, of course, possessed a weapon those leaders lacked: the "total Jesus" of a brotherhood in Christ.

And I've only read about half of it.

And by "obey", I mean do whatever the clergy tell us God wants us to do. It's not like we mere plebians can know the whims of the almighty.

That's why our betters are so eager to . . . serve us.

I love that the peskiest hurdle to reconciling Christianity to the ideology of the modern day GOP is Christ himself.

This quote by Jim Wallis sums it up:

"There's no more central theme in the Bible than the immorality of inequality. Jesus speaks more about the gap between rich and poor than he does about heaven and hell."

Or this one by Graef Crystal:

"Plato told Aristotle no one should make more than five times the pay of the lowest member of society. J.P. Morgan said 20 times. Jesus advocated a negative differential - that's why they killed him."


And it's true, too... You can bet if Jesus were to arise in the U.S. today and speak the exact same gospel... Limbaugh, Levin, Hannity, et al would declare him public enemy number #1. And if he were to develop a following... ohhh boy. Nobody'd be racing faster to nail him to a cross than the GOP.

The best part is that if you ever want to see a Republican do an immediate about-face on religion in government, you start talking about Jesus' teachings.

"Charity's great... It's not the government's job, though!!!"

Beating down the homo's and all the other random miscellany, sure... "We're a CHRISTian nation!!!!" but the stuff Jesus CHRIST actually SAID? They wanna separate the fark out of that...

Prospero424: And by "obey", I mean do whatever the clergy tell us God wants us to do. It's not like we mere plebians can know the whims of the almighty.

That's why our betters are so eager to . . . serve us.

"It's a cookbook!"

Driving Without Pants: "It's a cookbook!"

Hehehehe, exactly.

breakfast?
ok.

i'm gonna make poached eggs. put them on toasted onion bagels; sauteed ham, onions, mushrooms and garlic.
slide a few slices of avocado in the middle, a tablespoon or two of my girlfriend's mom's salsa on top with a side of sliced tomatoes.

I already knew about this bunch, so the Fallout references were a welcome derail that I didn't see coming.

/And I should've.
//So many bloodpacks I've sold that cap dispenser guy...

Do they believe in helter skelter, too?

ninjakirby: the Family's leaders consider democracy a manifestation of ungodly pride

I'm not especially well-versed on either man's biography, but a cursory examination seems to reveal some rather telling parallels between Mark Coe and Leo Strauss.

Guntram Shatterhand - ghare: These guys are a bigger threat to America than Osama and Saddam could ever hope to be.

I agree, but I wouldn't call them a threat. What they want is a world that they can be in charge of. The irony is that they could never get this wish. They could seek to control humanity through delusion and a consolidation of power, but they will never control humanity; if total control was possible, marijuana wouldn't still be smoked despite being outlawed, speeding wouldn't happen, etc. Laws and other socially-based restrictions never completely control anything. And these people are so anal about power that they can't realize that it's impossible. Every dictatorship falls. Nothing is permanent, and squealing to Jesus only tricks people into thinking your way and is a lousy way to control people. I don't fear people who think they can control people. I won't fear a bunch of stupid Jesus freaks who, despite having tons of power and wealth, are still unable to roll back benefits to a working/lower class they created with their pathetic greed.

The rich are a pathetic lot and should be treated as such. For all their 'power,' they are just sad losers who aren't happy with themselves and don't know the first thing about life. They aren't part of life and they use power and money to cover up for their shortcomings. So fark them. They should be exposed for the losers and lunatics that they are, along with their crappy club and their pathetic sideshow.

These people deserve many things; ridicule, mockery, insults. Fear isn't one of them.


Truer words...

Due to the nature of my job, (advertising/TV, but in a niche in which my clients tend to be extremely successful professionals) I'm around the "creme de la creme" of the high society set quite a bit, both at work and at play. (fundraisers, socials, "gala celebrations", and what-not)

They are among some of the most miserably insecure people you'll ever meet. They don't know how to function outside of a social hierarchy. It's the only way they seem to know how to gauge their worth. Strangely, many... hell, most of them are as nice as can be in and of themselves. But the desire to measure each other and "measure up" TO each other is EXTREMELY pervasive and consuming.

Get them among the pack, and they become different people. People who'll chat happy as clams with me for an hour during the day, won't give me more than the slimmest non-commital greeting at an event. Because when it comes right down to it, I'm the help. I'm not one of them, and they can't be seen being too chummy with me. They've got to be seen with the "right" people.

It's really like a sorority... a bunch of people who voluntarily spend all of their time together, but who all hate each other's guts, but who are all desperately concerned with what the others all think of them... It's perverse.

Worse yet, it's contagious. Spend much time among them, and it starts catching. I often have to remind myself that I don't care about that shiat... because it's natural, you spend time with people, you want to fit in. So, I occasionally have to remind myself that I don't WANT to spend time with them... that it's just part of my job and that the world is full of perfectly happy much more interesting people who don't even know who those folks are.

And that's just in my little corner of the world, I can't even begin to imagine how much supercharged neuroses propels people to the top of DC society.

nice aliendave

We waited for you, Neville, so you could see this: The end. The end of all you done. You see, none of it was real. It was illusion. Your art, your science, it was all a nightmare. And now it's done. Finished. My brethren, our task is nearly complete. He was the last of those who brought the punishment to us. We have cleansed and purged his world. Now we must build.

technicolor-misfit: These people deserve many things; ridicule, mockery, insults. Fear isn't one of them.


Truer words...

Yeah, the idea of the group freaks me out, but it scares me no more than that ridiculous farking Bohemian Grove thing does.

It was a week or two ago that the Daily Show (I believe) played an old quote:

"The Bohemian Grove, which I attend from time to time-it is the most faggy goddamned thing you could ever imagine..." - Richard Nixon

I seldom laugh as friggin' hard as I did when I heard that come out of Nixon's mouth. Yeah, he's a sad little paranoid homophobe himself, but it's still funny.

Guntram Shatterhand, thanks.

Aw man, I thought we were ruled by lizard people.

Prospero424: technicolor-misfit: These people deserve many things; ridicule, mockery, insults. Fear isn't one of them.


Truer words...

Yeah, the idea of the group freaks me out, but it scares me no more than that ridiculous farking Bohemian Grove thing does.

It was a week or two ago that the Daily Show (I believe) played an old quote:

"The Bohemian Grove, which I attend from time to time-it is the most faggy goddamned thing you could ever imagine..." - Richard Nixon

I seldom laugh as friggin' hard as I did when I heard that come out of Nixon's mouth. Yeah, he's a sad little paranoid homophobe himself, but it's still funny.

Eh, Bohemian Grove is a playpen, I don't think anyone except conspiracy nuts take it seriously. This is a cult devoted to free market capitalism in the name of JAYSUS! which includes many high up Republicans and the secretary of state. Normal fundies scare me enough, powerful influential and twisted fundies who promote the idea of a ruling elite and believe power and money mark one as chosen by God. . . That's a recipe for religious fascism if ever I saw one.

Not saying they'll do it, but that anyone powerful combines politics, economics, and religion to this degree is frightening.

Did this guy just list Genghis Khan as a role model?

How insane is your moral compass when you look through history for people to emulate and you come up with Genghis freaking Khan?

ghare: GratuityIncluded: I had no idea liberals were THIS PARANOID!!

/ read the whole thing - who knows if it is true?!? what a complete paranoid bastardization
// wow; kinda freaky even

What makes you think it's only liberals who don't trust these guys?

I should re-phrase. Who the fark is stupid enough to believe this?

EL_FABREZ: Aw man, I thought we were ruled by lizard people.

The shape-shifting alien lizard people run the Family.

ProdigalSigh: Did this guy just list Genghis Khan as a role model?

How insane is your moral compass when you look through history for people to emulate and you come up with Genghis freaking Khan?

He was an excellent ruler, by all accounts. He was just a real dick if you didn't fall in line.

GratuityIncluded: ghare: GratuityIncluded: I had no idea liberals were THIS PARANOID!!

/ read the whole thing - who knows if it is true?!? what a complete paranoid bastardization
// wow; kinda freaky even

What makes you think it's only liberals who don't trust these guys?

I should re-phrase. Who the fark is stupid enough to believe this?

Have you SEEN the modern Republican party?

House of Tards: strathcona: ninjakirby: Very scary group of crazies; politically powerful crazies.

Is Obama one?

They don't let Mohammedans join.

I believe the correct term is "Musselman."

Occam's Chainsaw: He was an excellent ruler, by all accounts. He was just a real dick if you didn't fall in line.

Exactly why people who wish for total power and/or the establishment of "Christ's Kingdom," shouldn't be revering him.

ProdigalSigh: Exactly why people who wish for total power and/or the establishment of "Christ's Kingdom," shouldn't be revering him.

I dunno, I think the love and forgiveness for everybody except those unbelievers WHO GO TO HELL AND DIE A SECOND DEATH is kind of in line with the whole "excellent ruler but dick" thing.

Also yeah rape forgiveness terrifying... Jesus God in heaven what the fark is wrong with these people?

Holy shiz. Thank God that dozens of Democrats have infiltrated this spooky group of "people of faith". I had to scour The Google for many seconds to find (new secret window)

I'm off to fearlessly dig up the dirt on this secretive group known, only to them, as "Kathliks". THEY DRINK BLOOD AND EAT FLESH! We are looking at through glass people here now people now here!

ProdigalSigh: Exactly why people who wish for total power and/or the establishment of "Christ's Kingdom," shouldn't be revering him.

My guess is the only thing he knows about Genghis Khan is "he killed the sh*t out of his enemies", and is completely clueless about the whole strict religious tolerance, hands-off policy with local administration of subject regions, and somewhat progressive (for the time) views of women's role in society parts.

CaesarSneezy: I believe the correct term is "Musselman."



Why do they hate applesauce?

HowDareYouCallMeAHoser: Holy shiz. Thank God that dozens of Democrats have infiltrated this spooky group of "people of faith". I had to scour The Google for many seconds to find (new secret window)

I'm off to fearlessly dig up the dirt on this secretive group known, only to them, as "Kathliks". THEY DRINK BLOOD AND EAT FLESH! We are looking at through glass people here now people now here!

Secretive != secret.

And no one said it was just Republicans. Just mostly.

Do godless liberal heathens fear white helicopters(probably with some gold airbrushed swords, crosses, and menorahs) and wear tofu hats?

Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.

/tets-up

Gulper Eel: Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.

/tets-up

What is this "newspaper" thing you speak of? Please provide a link. Also, only my Mother calls me Jim, I prefer James. Thanks

Yeah...The Family are a bunch of religious nutbags with very few redeeming features...
...and while she left the Jebus fundies behind, I merely wish to present ONE thing that The Family produced:



/hot like Taiwan summer

Goddamn it!

HOT LIKE TAIWAN SUMMER!

Liv Lo (new window)

tatum: Yeah...The Family are a bunch of religious nutbags with very few redeeming features...
...and while she left the Jebus fundies behind, I merely wish to present ONE thing that The Family produced:



/hot like Taiwan summer

tatum: Goddamn it!

HOT LIKE TAIWAN SUMMER!

Liv Lo (new window)

God, please forgive those that know not that they fail, twice. For an image to be hot it must be an image, and not a link. Is not every link a hot link? Amen.

HowDareYouCallMeAHoser: What is this "newspaper" thing you speak of? Please provide a link. Also, only my Mother calls me Jim, I prefer James. Thanks

Scoff now, but the Colonel puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes ye crave it fortnightly...SMARTASS.

Just like any other form of Christianity, remember when Jesus "forgives" Satan laughs, the more the merrier.

Hobodeluxe: Remember when the economic crisis kicked into high gear and a bunch of them went up to Wall st. and prayed to the golden bull in front of Merrill Lynch?

Wow...

Gulper Eel: the Colonel puts an addictive chemical in his chicken

salt?

Hobodeluxe: Remember when the economic crisis kicked into high gear and a bunch of them went up to Wall st. and prayed to the golden bull in front of Merrill Lynch?

The Christian Right, is neither Christian or right. Discuss...

Very weird... people can be persuaded into believing any old bullshiat if it feeds their egos, I suppose.

keylock71: Very weird... people can be persuaded into believing any old bullshiat if it feeds their egos, I suppose.

This is the excellent foppery of the world: that when we are sick in fortune - often the surfeits of our own behavior - we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains on necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion, knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance, drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence. An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star!

Hahahaha

You can make that stupid book mean anything you want it to, and there's never a shortage of dupes around.

I sure hope they are not related to this cult (new window)

Gulper Eel: keylock71: Very weird... people can be persuaded into believing any old bullshiat if it feeds their egos, I suppose.

This is the excellent foppery of the world: that when we are sick in fortune - often the surfeits of our own behavior - we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains on necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion, knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance, drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence. An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star!


"Temptation is the fire that brings up the scum of the heart."

"See Barry, you can get away with anything."

HotWingConspiracy: Hahahaha

You can make that stupid book mean anything you want it to, and there's never a shortage of dupes around.

My favorite is in this case Sanford is not stepping down and the author attributes it to a belief that he is only doing god's will so he should not have to pay for being a loyal soldier.

Religion has been and always will be more powerful than the state.

There is no such thing as "The Family". I spent last summer in something called the "Congressional Fellows" program, it was a summer internship/ leadership training program run by the people supposedly connected with "The Family". Over the summer, I spent time at Ivanwald, the Cedars and the ominously maligned C Street house.
The reason that this fellowship is constantly smeared is because it has no official name or membership rolls. There is simply a group of several pastors who hold multiple Bible studies in the DC area, each with various big names on both sides of the aisle attached to one group or another.
Having participated in these bible studies and discussions myself, I'd like to dismiss any of the fundamentalist notions that outsiders attach to the group - if it can even be called as one. There is a significant theologically left of center presence in the group. Myself included, around half of the students in the program intended to vote for Obama. I know that I did, and unless the others fell victim to the evil cult like mind control we know they possess, I can only assume that the others did as well. These fellowships are often criticized for having so many high Republicans associated with them, seeming proof that a theocratic shadow government is at work. However, this is somewhat of a Catch-22:
A.Attack the "Fellowships" for being made up entirely of Republicans, proving they are fundamentalist theocrats.
B.When Democratic or left-of-center participants are named, argue that this only indicates how deep their reach is, proving they are fundamentalist theocrats.

Granted, this is Fark, so I don't expect to change anyone's mind. However, I do have experience with these fellowships and their leaders so take my at my word or reject me as just another puppet in this conspiracy.

/Also, if the group is so powerful, you'd think I might have a job by now.

I Invented Crack
Thanks for a counter-balanced opinion. I read the excerpt and the guy's sermon (or speech or whatever) sounded a little too concocted, like something out of a Grisham or Clancy novel.

\I'll take both the book excerpt and your post with grains of salt
\\look now I have 2 grains of salt!
\\\you should've included the full "I'm really getting a kick out of these replies"

a church that believes the free market is sacred? I wanna join!

Gov Sanford should really keep reading forward from the story of king David, which he used to excuse his adultery the other day. (Oh and FYI Gov? In the OT, story God forgave David, but only after killing his kid. Personally I'd gone with the "let he who is without sin cast the first Stone bit" where Jesus saves an adulteress from being stoned to death)

Mark chapter 25 justifies every social program ever

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

I always find it interesting that many evangelicals will demand that the biblical position on abortion, homosexuality, and other social issues be made the law of the land, simple because the bible says so. But when you remind them of other biblical commands, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc , suddenly those biblical commands are supposed to be a private matter between the believer and his god.

WhyteRaven74: Anyone else remember the second season of Deadliest Catch when one of the captains they followed was a fundie? Remember how he lost his shiat when they announced they'd no longer be having a free for all for crab season? Apparently God only wants people to make money right now, screw being able to make it tomorrow, safety, nature or anything else right now.

Wow, really? A fundie who made money off of the abomination that is shellfish? What level of hypocrite does that make him?

Okay this is quite possibly the scariest version of Christianity I've ever run into:

FTA:


David smiled and winked. "Did you guys see Toy Story?" Half the room had. "Remember how there was a toy cowboy, Woody? And then the boy who owns Woody gets a new toy, a spaceman? Only the toy spaceman thinks he's real. Thinks he's a real spaceman, and he's got to figure out what he's doing on this strange planet. So what does Woody say to him? He says, 'You're just a toy.' " David sat quietly, waiting for us to absorb this. "Just a toy. We're not really spacemen. We're just toys. Created for God. For His plea sure, nothing else. Just a toy. Period."

and this explains why these guys can deal with Scumbags like Tom Delay and overlook all their moral failings:


"Hey," David said, "let's talk about the Old Testament...Who" - he paused - "would you say are its good guys?"
...
"David," Beau volunteered.

"... "Hey, you know what's interesting about King David?" ... "King David," David Coe went on, "liked to do really, really bad things." He chuckled. "Here's this guy who slept with another man's wife - Bathsheba, right? - and then basically murdered her husband. And this guy is one of our heroes." David shook his head. "I mean, Jiminy Christmas, God likes this guy! What," he said, "is that all about?"

"Is it because he tried?" asked Bengt. "He wanted to do the right thing?" ...

"That's nice, Bengt," David said. "But it isn't the answer. Anyone else?"

"Because he was chosen," I said. For the first time David looked my way.

"Yes," he said, smiling. "Chosen. Interesting set of rules, isn't it?" He turned to Beau. "Beau, let's say I hear you raped three little girls. And now here you are at Ivanwald. What would I think of you, Beau?"

Beau, given to bellowing Ivanwald's daily call to sports like a bull elephant, shrank into the cushions. "Probably that I'm pretty bad?"

"No, Beau." David's voice was kind. "I wouldn't." ... "Because," David continued, "I'm not here to judge you. That's not my job. I'm here for only one thing. Do you know what that is?"

Understanding blossomed in Beau's eyes. "Jesus?" he said. "

So apparently you can be any sort of moral monster you want, and if these guys decide you are "Chosen" it's all Hokey-doke. Hell this guy even excuses the atrocities of Ghengis Khan that way:

You guys know about Genghis Khan?" he asked. "Genghis was a man with a vision. He conquered" - David stood on the couch under the map, tracing, with his hand, half the northern hemisphere - "nearly everything. He devastated nearly everything. His enemies? He beheaded them." David swiped a finger across his throat. "Dop, dop, dop, dop."

Genghis Khan's genius, David went on, lay in his understanding that there could be only one king. When Genghis entered a defeated city, he would call in the local headman. Conversion to the Khan's cause was not an option, as Genghis was uninterested in halfhearted deputies. Instead, said David, Genghis would have the man stuffed into a crate, and over the crate's surface would be spread a tablecloth, on which a wonderful meal would be arrayed.

"And then, while the man suffocated, Genghis ate, and he didn't even hear the man's screams." David stood on the couch, a finger in the air. "Do you know what that means?"

..."I think so," I said. "Out with the old, in with the new."

Yes, he nodded. "Christ's parable of the wineskins. You can't pour new into old." One day, he continued, some monks from Europe show up in Genghis Khan's court. Genghis welcomes them in the name of God. Says that in truth, they worship the same great Lord. Then why, the monks ask, must he conquer the world? "I don't ask," says Genghis. "I submit."

David returned to his chair. "We elect our leaders," he said. "Jesus elects his."


So according to him, the man who invented genocide, who made a pyramid of a million human skulls to avenge an insult, was personally chosen by Jesus, and thus we cannot question or condemn his actions
and in case anyone missed the point:


He reached over and squeezed the arm of Pavel. "Isn't that great?" David said. "That's the way everything in life happens. If you're a person known to be around Jesus, you can go and do anything.


Wow, the Bush years make a whole lot more sense now

I don't see how anyone can defend the free market on Christian principles. Capitalism is about selfishness; Christianity is about self-sacrifice.

It's like citing Stalin to defend liberty.

/capitalist
//atheist

SlothB77: a church that believes the free market is sacred? I wanna join!

Face it, churches are businesses.

Somacandra: oldebayer: If the free market is sacred, then why did Jebus throw the moneylenders out of the temple?

Back in the day, the way that I learned it (from a Southern Baptist professor of Old and New Testament) was that the way that the ancient Hebrews constructed the Second Temple-- there were a few main sections, only one of which was open to non-elite rural Hebrews there to get the priests to perform their important animal sacrifices, as in Luke 2:22-29 (new window). That was where the moneychangers were. The most important aspect of the animals used in the sacrifices was that they be umblemished and essentially perfect. The moneychangers were originally there to exchange cash for stock of specimens used in sacrifices, as most people traveling for days did not end up with animals suitable for sacrifice. The moneychangers essentially had an exclusive contract with a captive audience, and were charging extortionary rates. Moreover, they grew in number so that those coming from non-elite backgrounds had trouble sitting in or being in the temple. Of course, any setup like that is hardly a "free market." I'm not a Biblical scholar, so I'm not up to date on the literature, but it makes sense given what else I know about Hebrew temple culture at that time and place.

The story, as I've heard it, is that, at the entrance to the temple were folks who would change Roman money for temple money. Roman money contained a graven image (of the Roman Emperor) and was thus unclean and forbidden inside the temple. The moneychangers were franchised by the temple who took a cut of their profits. And since they were getting a slice of the pie, the priests were apparently looking the other way when the money guys fixed the scales to cheat pilgrims of a fair exchange. (think a 1st century AD Cash4Gold).

Everybody knew it was going on, but they had little choice but to use the moneychangers if they wanted Temple money. BY attacking them and driving them out of the Temple, Jesus was a) winning a lot of popular support by doing what everyone else who got cheated there on a daily basis wanted to do; and b) directly attacking the authority of the Temple Priests and calling them out as corrupt.

Not coincidentially, it was shortly after this attack that the priests started plotting to have him killed

WhyteRaven74: Anyone else remember the second season of Deadliest Catch when one of the captains they followed was a fundie? Remember how he lost his shiat when they announced they'd no longer be having a free for all for crab season? Apparently God only wants people to make money right now, screw being able to make it tomorrow, safety, nature or anything else right now.

There is a certain strain of Fundamentalists who believe that any sort of conservation or environmental awareness is evil because:

A) It's a secret plot to make people Pagan: See pagans worship the earth as the goddess Gaia. So therefore any reference to "mother earth" or any attempt to protect and care for the earth is merely plot to lure Christians away from the true faith and down the dark road of Paganism

B) It Denies the 2nd coming: As all good Christians know, all the signs point to the fact that the 2nd Coming/The Rapture/Aramageddon is at hand. SO why conserve resources when the whole earth will be consumed by fire in the last battle of Armageddon (or is that Ragnarok) any day now?

I Invented Crack: There is no such thing as "The Family". I spent last summer in something called the "Congressional Fellows" program, it was a summer internship/ leadership training program run by the people supposedly connected with "The Family". Over the summer, I spent time at Ivanwald, the Cedars and the ominously maligned C Street house.
The reason that this fellowship is constantly smeared is because it has no official name or membership rolls. There is simply a group of several pastors who hold multiple Bible studies in the DC area, each with various big names on both sides of the aisle attached to one group or another.
Having participated in these bible studies and discussions myself, I'd like to dismiss any of the fundamentalist notions that outsiders attach to the group - if it can even be called as one. There is a significant theologically left of center presence in the group. Myself included, around half of the students in the program intended to vote for Obama. I know that I did, and unless the others fell victim to the evil cult like mind control we know they possess, I can only assume that the others did as well. These fellowships are often criticized for having so many high Republicans associated with them, seeming proof that a theocratic shadow government is at work. However, this is somewhat of a Catch-22:
A.Attack the "Fellowships" for being made up entirely of Republicans, proving they are fundamentalist theocrats.
B.When Democratic or left-of-center participants are named, argue that this only indicates how deep their reach is, proving they are fundamentalist theocrats.

Granted, this is Fark, so I don't expect to change anyone's mind. However, I do have experience with these fellowships and their leaders so take my at my word or reject me as just another puppet in this conspiracy.

/Also, if the group is so powerful, you'd think I might have a job by now.

You should write a rebuttal book then, and get rich and go on the talk show circuit.

/The version of Christianity they espouse does not correspond to Christianity as I understand it, at all.

Catholics are better than them, for we were founded by Jesus Christ.

And Something tells me that Jesus looks more kindly upon Socialism than Adultery.

/I'm a Catholic Free market Republican

HowDareYouCallMeAHoser: tatum: Yeah...The Family are a bunch of religious nutbags with very few redeeming features...
...and while she left the Jebus fundies behind, I merely wish to present ONE thing that The Family produced:



/hot like Taiwan summer

tatum: Goddamn it!

HOT LIKE TAIWAN SUMMER!

Liv Lo (new window)

God, please forgive those that know not that they fail, twice. For an image to be hot it must be an image, and not a link. Is not every link a hot link? Amen.

Can't link to image because it's not an image, it's a link.
Hot refers to Liv (sadly only an acquaintance), not the link.

/sweaty...like Formosa July

I am also afraid of "Opus Dei and the Time"... That is one scary group.

As a Christian, reading this sort of crap makes me cry.

RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member.

Citation needed.

I love the people that scream about the idea of Free Market (and that's usually all they can talk about) when it comes to the economy.

If it wouldn't be such a huge mess, I wish they could see a REAL free market and realize how farking stupid the idea is - and how impossible it would be.

>> Both John Ensign and Mark Sanford are part of a secretive church called the Family that believes the free market is sacred.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You farkin cons are sooooooooo nuts.

Have you prayed to Milton Friedman today LOSERS

I Invented Crack: There is no such thing as "The Family". ...

Granted, this is Fark, so I don't expect to change anyone's mind. However, I do have experience with these fellowships and their leaders so take my at my word or reject me as just another puppet in this conspiracy.



For what it's worth, you've put my mind at ease.

There's a psychological principal at work, in everyone, no matter where they find themselves on the political spectrum -- People love getting riled up. So I guess it's not all that surprising when, on closer examination, sometimes things aren't as frightening as they seemed at first.

Good luck with the job hunt...

Governor Sandford invoked the name of King David as a reason for staying in office. He pretty much said that David had done the same and was allowed to stay in office, so should he.

The Family is an elitist cult with a sense of entitlement. They feel that if they can get away with something, it must have been divinely sanctioned. It's an insane interpretation of religion as a means of satisfying immensely greedy and unethical behavior.

Apparently this is all related to the prosperity gospel, which last showed up before the first Great Depression. The Bush tie in was use of the terms Ownership Society and/or Opportunity Society.

Hobodeluxe: Remember when the economic crisis kicked into high gear and a bunch of them went up to Wall st. and prayed to the golden bull in front of Merrill Lynch?

Somehow I think Moses might have a problem with this...

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

My relijus edumacation is based mostly on watching tv an easter while stoned, but is that or is that not a farking GOLDEN CALF??!

lilbjorn: RemyDuron: Hillary Clinton is also a member.

Citation needed.

All ready gave two.

ghare: SlothB77: a church that believes the free market is sacred? I wanna join!

Face it, churches are businesses.

With tax-free apartments in this case

Prospero424: And by "obey", I mean do whatever the clergy tell us God wants us to do. It's not like we mere plebians can know the whims of the almighty.

That's why our betters are so eager to . . . serve us.

It's a cookbook.

There has got to be a good way to scam religious freaks out of all their money. Anyone want to team up with me?

1)find way to scam fundie scum
2)...
3)profit!

Probably the only scamming I wouldn't feel guilty after doing.

neongoats: There has got to be a good way to scam religious freaks out of all their money. Anyone want to team up with me?

1)find way to scam fundie scum
2)...
3)profit!

Probably the only scamming I wouldn't feel guilty after doing.

You could always build a church. That's the tried and tested way to scam fundies out of their cash.

keith olbermann has the hairiest knuckles ever in that pic. Probably looks like wet ourangutan when he steps out of the NBC shower.

/primate. hoohah.
//drunk on thursday