Tag: Jesus

Jesus Said That?!

Yes, as the candidates themselves talk about Christ all the time, as if he were on their campaign staff, this brought things into perspective—an actor playing Jesus quoting things these candidates actually are saying. Now, some folks might be quick to judge this as sacrilegious. I would respond by countering, “What these candidates are peddling in the name of Jesus… Continue reading

Christianity and Social Justice

“The poor you have with you always.” —Jesus And with that people who self label as Christians dismiss any obligation to help anyone but their religious leaders as they seek to curry God‘s favor and reap the bountiful blessings they believe are due them. It’s just easier. I stumbled upon1 this quotation that needs to sink deeply into the hearts… Continue reading

And Man Became a Living Soul [Updated]

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n 21st-century America, I am feeling less and less like a living soul and more and more like a collection of data points. I place the blame for this at the feet of the American church. The church has, as the Bible refers to it, “lost its savor.1” Today’s Sorry State of Affairs I think that most people now realize… Continue reading

Tax Religion: Corporate Owned & Operated Jesus Factories

Selling the Joel Osteen Brand of Corporate-Owned Jesus Where two or more are gathered in my name, charge them $850 for the good seats! Yes, that’s the cost of the best seats at this year’s Joel Osteen Tour at Yankee Stadium. Praise the Lord! Osteen will be hocking his brand and products at the event—selling everything Osteen. Praise the Lord!… Continue reading

Happy Easter!

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]o celebrate this season in Christian faith, let’s pause to remember who Jesus of Nazareth actually was. I quote from Michael Schulson’s interview with Reza Aslan in Salon magazine: The real Jesus, the historical Jesus, the Middle Eastern Jew who advocated for the poor, whose politics were adamantly, I would even say violently, against the wealthy, is a Jesus that… Continue reading

Reflecting on Those “Underserved” after being “Ravaged by Abuse”

The New York Times is reporting that Bob Jones University is faulted for halting an abuse study. The first paragraph starts with a bang and gets more heartbreaking from there. GREENVILLE, S.C. — For decades, students at Bob Jones University who sought counseling for sexual abuse were told not to report it because turning in an abuser from a fundamentalist… Continue reading

Selling Prejudice for Profit

Look carefully at my Solstice Gnome. Who does he look like that’s been in the news for his prejudiced remarks lately? The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without my commenting on some of the ignorant remarks given national attention this year, during this year’s horrific “War on Christmas.” Jesus is white? (Riiiiiiight!! And the manger accepted the Gold Card, too.)… Continue reading

Christian Taliban? [Updated]

From time to time I’ve used the expression “Christian Taliban” in my blog posts. I want to make certain people understand what I mean by that, as well as what I don’t mean. What I Don’t Mean I don’t mean that Christians are like the Taliban. Most Christians in my experience are basically good people who try to be kind… Continue reading

One More Before I Let It Go…

Predictably, after the SCOTUS rulings on Prop 8 and DOMA, the Christian Taliban is crying foul, throwing around their poor me persecution complex. From my friend Jeffrey Hoffman, this was just too well said not to share at every turn: A quick note to the “Christian” Right today: Folks, when you bully somebody long enough that the law has to… Continue reading

Freedom and The New Tyranny

I’ve witnessed the oddest thing in my lifetime—something I never could have imagined. As a child, I attended an ultra conservative christian school where I was taught about the separation of church and state. The church in these United States of America was to enjoy a freedom from the tyranny of government. The church was to stay out of politics… Continue reading