I don't want elected religious maniacs forcing their insane ideas on me thanks.

[Philosoraptor]

I'm frightened at the thought of tea bag religious maniacs like todd akin and his ilk laying down laws thought up in the dark ages and forcing them on me and you and mine. My own brother is one of these religious maniacs and believe me, the stupid and the evil in these people is deep and wide and knows no bounds.

If you just let your mind wander and try to imagine 10 years from now, when they've gotten more of them in our shattered government, senators, congressmen, presidents who have some sickening plans for us all, frightening scenarios that seem too bizarre for a sci-fi novel about an apocalyptic future run by Christian zealots with no capacity for human mercy, people with the ultimate goal of converting us all to their will, and turning America into a Christian theocracy.

I know, to some of you that sounds far fetched, impossible even. A paranoid fantasy, but we should all be more than just slightly alarmed, we should be preparing for the worst.

The gop invited the crazies in, now they don't know how to control them or get them to shut the hell up, and if they don't know how to deal with them, then it becomes OUR job. But how exactly DO you deal with these maniacs? The terrifying answer is: you can't.

They CAN'T be reasoned with, they can't be toned down, they won't meet you halfway, if you give them an inch, they'll take 50 miles, they are on a sick mission to conquer the globe for Christ.

Our founders were old hands at this, they knew these days would come eventually, and they wrote out rules and regulations to prevent exactly what is happening now, a little concept called separation of church and state, a pact they made to keep religions alive and free, but keep them from overtaking our government.

I'm from Missouri, and I don't want to be associated with anyone like todd akin, not personally, and not politically. And I damned sure don't want people like him threatening me and mine, and having the power to pass insane religious laws on me and mine.

If you aren't scared already, then you should be, and you should be thinking about how we can GET RID OF THESE MANIACS, because they have some very nasty, old testament ideas and plans for us all.

[avebury]

1. K&R nt

[drm604]

2. K&R

[valerief]

3. I think this is all our fear.

If you just let your mind wander and try to imagine 10 years from now, when they've gotten more of them in our shattered government, senators, congressmen, presidents who have some sickening plans for us all, frightening scenarios that seem too bizarre for a sci-fi novel about an apocalyptic future run by Christian zealots with no capacity for human mercy, people with the ultimate goal of converting us all to their will, and turning America into a Christian theocracy.

Especially since they've infiltrated the Justice System and employ Liberty University justice.

[skepticscott]

4. But don't you know

that these aren't REAL Christians? According to many, if we could just embrace the warm-fuzzy version of the same supernatural woo-woo, everything would be peachy-keen. Many people on this site claim that "fundamentalist" atheists are every bit as bad as wing nut religionists. That's where their fear is.

[valerief]

5. There are real people on this site and there are trolls.

It's like bird-watching, trying to differentiate between the types through their foliage of words.

Anyone who uses the phrase fundamentalist atheist (and means it) isn't of the, um, real person variety. And no one can sell me on real Xtianity, but I see them like the common cold. We're not going to get rid of either of them too soon, unfortunately, so we have to learn to tolerate them.

[skepticscott]

27. Stop by the Religion Group sometime

if you dare...you'll see it used all the time.

[valerief]

49. No, thanks. I have most of the religion groups blocked.

I have the two woo-woo groups, Buddhism, and atheism (which doesn't even belong under Religion) unblocked, but I prefer to block the rest.

I see enough magic-thinking with them blocked as it is.

[skepticscott]

58. Don't blame you

But you'll have to take my word...there are a lot of DUers who feel that way.

[FatIrishBastard]

8. W/ respect

Real...unreal, whatever...all about profit, control, conformity, programming & propaganda for weak, frail humans who are just too damned scared of the truth, the world, & especially other humans. This great, benevolent Daddy in the sky story is so humanly clever...can't be proved, got the faith, so nya nya nya, weez better than YOU. My Dog is a mighty Dog...THAT I can prove, Doggammit!

[valerief]

50. Well, yes, religion is all about power and $$$ for the charlatans.

For the sheep, it's about delayed gratification (as opposed to no gratification at all).

[tex-wyo-dem]

71. Nailed it!

"all about profit, control, conformity, programming & propaganda for weak, frail humans who are just too damned scared of the truth, the world, & especially other humans."

I agree...my experience is that most people turn to religion basically out of plain old fear...the fears you point out as well as the biggie, death.

[RC]

51. "fundamentalist" atheists ???

What kind of oxymoron is that?

They believe in all kinds of things that don't actually exist, don't they? And they want to rule the rest of us more reality based types?

[Iggy]

6. Freedom of Religion

also means freedom FROM religion...

[FrodosPet]

78. Amen to that!

[Fuddnik]

7. As another DUer observed a couple of years ago.

"Reagan turned them loose, now they're running around Congress".

[The Doctor.]

9. I know these people too.... I was one of them.

Decades ago, when I was a younger person, I was into eschatology. It was so easy to buy in to the belief that a) I knew everything I needed to know, and b) I would never experience physical death.

But it was more than that. It was almost magic. So long as I 'believed' things tended to go the way I wanted them to. It was, essentially, one of my first experiences reaching into super-consciousness. But it was entirely selfish.

I grew up.


These people believe for all three of the above reasons. 'Faith' gives them a sense of esoteric power that, like it or not, becomes real to the mind that seeks it. It is so much more than addictive, it is a new world.... well, it's a different one. The problem is that religion like theirs is only a small part of the superconscious reality, but they cannot get past that foyer.

They believe because they 'know' there is something more grand than mundane living, but they cannot shed the horrible lie that led them to it.

Damn it's complicated.

[siligut]

56. It seems complicated because we don't have language that defines it

Money, politics and religion are the new trinity. It is mind control on steroids.

[tex-wyo-dem]

72. thank you for your insight The Doctor...

What it all boils down to is how our complicated human minds percieve the world and the lives we live. It is extremely tempting to believe in super-natural forces that guide us and are looking out for us, in life and death. The thought that this life is all there is and after death we basically totally cease to exist seems, well, very pointless and depressing to many people.

This is where, IMO, all religion isn't all bad. If it provides peace, comfort, happiness and a sense of well being to some, then I have no problem with it. However, once it becomes dogmatic and an excuse to gain power over others or to force others to believe in the way you do (as it invariably tends to do), then it becomes a bad thing for everyone except those who profit from it.

[BlueinOhio]

10. Justified

They believe what ever they do to bring Jesus back is justified. Also alot of them believe that once they "are saved" they can perform any heinous act they want and still go to heaven. I wish they would pack up leave and go to some 3rd world pit so they can live their dream of religious mandates on how they live and dress, a government they can drown in a bath tub, and not paying taxes.

[AlbertCat]

25. a government they can drown in a bath tub, and not paying taxes.

Somalia!

[BlueinOhio]

63. Overall

The muslim countries were ahead of western culture with math, science, medicine and literature. Then the extremists took over sent them to the dark ages that they are still trying to ascend from. Big problem with the GOP is that their base is uneducated religious fanatics and the ones over the party really do not believe but go along because they see that they they can make money hand over fist by letting them destroy the earth's natural ways of dealing with pollution so they can sell us water (which they already are) and bottled air to breathe (thats what is next). they only have one god, money.

[dynasaw]

11. Republicans and the right are frighten

and frighten people are dangerous. What are they frighten of? I'd like to hear from people as to what are some of the things that are scaring the right.

[AlbertCat]

26. what are some of the things that are scaring the right.

Well, let's see....

A black man in the White House.

then there's that black man in the White House.

Also, they know that in the White House there's a black man.

And of course they are terrified of someone in the White House who is not white, but black.


All these things threaten them!

[brush]

30. Why are they afraid

The country's demographics are changing fast and the Christian right (99% conservative whites) know it. They see the Democratic coalition composed of Latino Americans, progressive whites, African Americans, women, gays and Asian Americans and they know that if they don't win this election their chances are even less in 2016 so they are trying every trick in the book, include voter purges and suppression. Some are cracking and blurting out their real agenda (Akin) to the dismay of the rest of them who wanted to slip all their crazy policies in undetected. They even got one of their own, Ryan, on the national ticket. President Obama is the embodiment of their fears, a country where they are not longer dominant and they can't stand it. So keep working everyone on the national and and down-ticket campaigns to get progressive dems in, and if you're not already working sign up to volunteer at least a couple of hours a week because it's vital to the future of the country. Who wants people like Akin passing laws to take us back to the 1950s where women were their husband's property, blacks were in the back of the bus and other minorities weren't even considered.

[Hydra]

61. At least for the religious right here's what they're scared of:

Change.

This comes in many flavors- Womens rights, LBGT rights, Sexual freedom, Scientific progress, Environmentalism, Socialism, Arts, Education, Diversity...

All of these things threaten their bland and predictable little world, and worse, it reduces the power they have over these various people.

The idea that we can get along with people that refuse to move forward, and will kill people to stop it from happening is more than silly- it's insane.

[B Calm]

12. Will we all be forced to wear Magic Underwear?

[smirkymonkey]

13. K&R!

:kick:

[DeeDeeNY]

14. the stupid and the evil in these people is deep and wide

That about nails it. Scary.

[Scuba]

15. There's no crazy like god crazy.

[Coyotl]

16. Read a Mormon relative's Facebook this morning. There is a "new world" coming

and her friend posted on a photo of the wild horses in Nevada near my cousin's home about how great those horses will look in this coming new world. They apparently think it is coming soon.

There is nothing more dangerous to humanity than delusional humans.

[Philosoraptor]

21. One way or the other, there IS a new world coming.

But it should be everyone's world.

[Coyotl]

23. They are talking about a post-rapture paradise where they will live forever in bliss

and they never consider the need to create a better world in the here and now because the rapture is coming any moment anyway.

Oh yeah, and you and I will not be in their delusional scenario because we are not the chosen few

[HereSince1628]

17. Interesting how fear takes hold of thoughts and promotes more fear

even to the invocation of mental illness to construct those you dislike into a class of unwell, defective persons who represent must be feared and expunged before they do more harm to you.

Why shouldn't the inductive leap from qualities of your sibling to all the faceless and nameless, "they" be considered as an overly broad and hasty generalization?

If you really do think your expression of fear is rational, I ask you, what is the value of logic if it is mustered into the service of advocating extermination of any group of people?

What historical groups that have used such purges do you wish us to emulate?

Can you assure any of us that once your purge is in motion that it would sweep up only those crazies that are maniacs out to force their ideas on you and would leave in safety the rest of the mentally ill who are otherwise innocent of any projection of their values upon you?


Of course, you really weren't advocating religious genocide, were you?

[Philosoraptor]

18. Don't doubt for a minute that they wouldn't purge us

And no, I'm not advocating death camps for the religious.

[HereSince1628]

19. The application of more fear won't be anymore effective than the first time but then

I understand the character of the rant is actually intended to function as an expression of belonging that will evoke from others additional statements that guide the social identification of an in-group defined on the basis of opposition to an out-group.

[TBF]

32. If you think Christians in this country are an "out-group"

you have not been paying attention and there are numerous examples of religious zealots systemically attacking folks they don't agree with. The Salem Witch trials are a great example in our own history - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials

Plenty of wars can be traced back to religion. My family has been in this country since 1635 as well, and I'm quite sure I wouldn't have wanted much to do with those early Puritans.

[HereSince1628]

36. Membership defines "in" versus "out" not popularity and it is relative depending upon point of view.

Riddle me how mustering other 'innies' to get rid of 'they' (the action calling statement in the OP) is really different than having a bunch of religious "innies" let their fear of satanic forces drive them into witchhunts? I don't think it is.

But I also understand that DU is replete with posts whose intention is to make a declaration that rallies other of 'our' innies to K&R the thread. Statements about wishing genocide on the outies aren't really intended as statements of genocide. They are colorful surrogate statements that communicate the message "I'm a strong member of 'us'. Show your loyalty and become a BFF by replying or rec'ing"

[TBF]

39. The difference is that we are not advocating genocide

but rather we desire to uphold the separation of church and state. This may seem like genocide to religious folks but I assure you it's not.

[HereSince1628]

47. Plumbing ambiguity of meaning requires that the blanks are filled in based on assumptions.

Those assumptions might be shared by members of an in-group as you suggest in your 'WE' statement.

It seems, however that it is just as meaningful to understand that the statement "We desire" as a projection of individual belief upon both the group and the author. The assumption follows from a belief something like "Hey people here think like me so I know what was meant but not said." Maybe maybe not.

The OP clearly states "get rid of these maniacs", anything beyond face value of that statement requires some interpretation provided not by the author but by the reader. And we do--"hey, the author is one of us. In context, we think we know what's actually up with this messaging."

But, then, that sort of slack isnt' something provided to those maniacs who are the out-groups that are chauvinistically contrasted with our 'patently obvious better mental wellness.'

[DarleenMB]

53. Thorazine

is the best answer.

[siligut]

57. Thorazine and its cousins have been used to keep the status quo

Used by run-of-the-mill practitioners. There are some legitimate uses for psychotropics, but remember when the Bush Administration tried to make rejection of authority a mental disorder? Soviet psychiatry is the term applied to to your "answer".

[sulphurdunn]

20. We need more lions.

We've already got the coliseums.

[meow2u3]

22. Too bad lion trafficking is an international crime

But I'll settle for grizzlies and/or wolves to unleash on the fundies.

[Fuddnik]

24. +1

[renie408]

31. HOW DARE YOU! This is NOT funny!

Lions are an endangered species and should only be fed wild grown, organic meats.

[sulphurdunn]

60. I'm sorry.

I hadn't thought of that. Maybe if we cleaned them out first with vegan food and lots of enemas?

[Thinkingabout]

28. Proof of alternative reasoning is occurring in many states introductions of "sharia" type laws.

I hear so many times from rw's, this one is against abortion. Well, okay, but does this provide proof the candidates are qualified for any office. These elections has produced the likes of Todd Akin who has proven he needs lot of training in human reproduction and understand how pregnancy occurs. The anti-abortion laws are telltale signs of far right radical thinking movement to enact sharia laws. I am a christian, and do not like churches spreading untruths and thinking they are christians for spreading the untruths. I hear stories which are easily proven untrue they tell me they have heard at churches. It is a way of getting donations and keeping their flock in control.

[unhappycamper]

29. The only difference between Christian radicals and Muslim radicals

is a beard.



To paraphrase Paul Ryan, "A radical is a radical."

[Honeycombe8]

34. That's an ignorant statement.

Muslim radicals:

[Hissyspit]

65. There are different ways to do violence to other human beings based on absurd extremist ideologies.

Some people can get away with some types depending on the social context and some can get away with others.

[Honeycombe8]

68. You choose: Have your nose and ears cut off, or get talked to by the churchgoers.

Which do you choose?

One is normal by muslim radicals, the other is the norm for evangelists.

I know you hate 'em, but get real.

[Hissyspit]

75. I wasn't referring to getting talked at.

[JoeyT]

76. Since you post that picture every time someone makes that equivalence,

here's a few more.

Gay man burned alive in the horrible Islamic state of Scotland: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8845395/Gay-barman-Stuart-Walker-killed-and-set-on-fire.html

Gay man beaten to death in Sharia controlled Chile: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/in-chile-beating-death-of-gay-man-stirs-change/2012/03/29/gIQANOIviS_blog.html

And of course there's the people like Matthew Shephard, who was killed in Islamist dominated Wyoming.

I kept my links limited to ones that didn't include pictures of video (Video of the actual act happening: Yes, they're out there. I wish I could have remained blissfully ignorant of that for the rest of my life.)

In two of these the crime resulted in a push for hate crime laws, which were heavily opposed by fundamentalists. In one they lost, in the other they're still holding them off.

[Honeycombe8]

33. Is Akin's view on pro-life religious based, or Republican-based?

I don't know much about him, except his recent statement on rape and conception, and that he's tea party. But he didn't mention religion.

I just figured he was patriarchal society controlling Republican, like most of them are, but are his beliefs religious based?

[paleotn]

42. Yes

Fundigelical beliefs and republican politics have for all practical purposes become one and the same. There's not a lot of difference between what's spouted from fundigelical pulpits, shouted by forced pregnancy and other culturally oriented religious groups and what's bandied about Congress these days.

[Skittles]

73. CORRECT

[CanonRay]

44. Is there really a difference anymore?

They are so intertwined, the religious crazys and tea party crazys are one and the same to me.

[siligut]

35. The crazy religious stuff, it seems to act like a virus

There is research to show that some people are more susceptible to suggestion, it doesn't depend on intelligence, education or class. We want to reject mind-control because we want to believe we have control. The people who are spreading this "virus" may be unwitting, though we know people like Limbaugh and Billo (disgusting blob) are benefiting from their disease.

[Philosoraptor]

37. I'm happy to have freedom to believe

And I don't care what anyone believes, as long as they don't force it onto me by law. Don't force me to believe like you do and we'll get along just fine.

[treestar]

38. They will take 50 miles

Correct. After abortion, they will go after birth control. Then they will try to eliminate divorce. Then get laws prosecuting premarital sex back on the books or enforced. They are starting to tell us their true desires.

They'll let people die or suffer due to not being able to afford healthcare. They are not really "Christians" who could not stand to watch that happen.

[ananda]

40. Agree.

What they call "Christianity" is some kind of morphed
monster that is neither human nor godlike.

[MADem]

41. "We, the People" elect those idiots to OUR "shattered government."

The voters--and that means US--need to step up to the plate and acknowledge that we own a share of the blame when one of those nitwits makes it to Congress.

Every seat should be challenged, even the "impossible" ones. Our candidates should be the BEST, not just the only person willing to put him or herself out there, and they should be supported strongly, even if the possibility of victory seems insurmountable.

We don't make gains by pointing at "them" and complaining. We need to get out into the streets, precinct walk for these underdogs, smile and dial/make cold calls for them, volunteer to stuff envelopes, drive people to the polls, whatever our area of expertise is. We need to make the case why our team is better, not just point at that wingnut jerk occupying the Congressional seat (who probably has an OUTSTANDING constituent services team--example--Strom Thurmond--best constituent services in Congress, even when he was drooling and out of it...that's how good his staff was) and say "S/He sucks!"

Getting scared? That's for losers. Getting pissed off and getting to work? That's how we win. Money helps, but it's not all about money. It's about people, getting out there and spreading the word. It may not be this election that turns back this or that anti-choice nutcase, it may not even be the next--but if the message is repeated, early and often, it eventually gets through.

[Philosoraptor]

43. I'm just waiting for my absentee ballot

[Waiting For Everyman]

45. It's piecemeal establishment of religion.

Last edited Sun Aug 26, 2012, 11:49 AM - Edit history (1)

The effect is the same, whether it's done by an overt decree all at once or with lots of denial a piece at a time. Somewhere I remember hearing that establishment of religion was a Constitutional no-no. But then, our courts too are deep captured by these same people, so there you go. The frog is nearly boiled by now.

Time after time, people have voted their attitudes rather than the facts. They have pulled an 'Esau'. These are character-free people in a fact-free time... the polar opposite of our Revolution generation. And yes, they have nearly thrown our Constitution away, and they haven't even noticed yet. When they finally do have to realize it, I predict whining and blame-shifting like the world has never seen before.

[riderinthestorm]

46. Militant atheists!

Sorry, couldn't resist... great OP! Agreed on all fronts. If you know any religious right wingers, their ideas on religion in government are really frightening.

[TxVietVet]

48. The repukes believe that they are ordained by their god to rule us.

Period. That's why when they lose a major election like for President, they really get agitated and turn on their hatred and their evil ways. Think about it, the first thing the conservanazis talked about when Obama was sworn in was to work to get him out. Never once did they plan to help with the other party to present legislation to put people back to work. Not once.

The conservanazi christian republikans HATE Obama so much that they are willing to destroy this country to get him out of office.

Now, they are faced with a serious problem. The Democrats are a coalition of all peoples in the US, more so than the conservanazis, who seem to piss off most minorities. Now, the minorities are growing. If the conservanazis can get power this time around, they will pack the US Supreme Court with more rabid conservanazi judges. Worst than Scalia and dumber than Thomas. That will affect the nation for years.

I believe, like some may have posted here, that if the repukes can't win this year, they are doomed. I believe that some of them are so serious about this issue, that some will be armed and really do some stupid stuff. That, or if they do get power and the corporations and the very rich own this government of ours, a real uprising of the people will come because all of the conservanazi policies will come home to roost on the poor of this nation. That will break the camel's back.

It's just a thought............

[ismnotwasm]

52. Agree

They are terrifying.

[kestrel91316]

54. They consider The Handmaid's Tale divine prophecy and their playbook.

[lonestarnot]

55. K & R!

[freshwest]

59. They're turning this nation backwards a few thousand years. I'm not signing up by not voting.

[sarcasmo]

62. You are not alone with this fear.

[spanone]

64. republitaliban....

[vlyons]

66. Religion is poison

They don't believe is sex for pleasure, except for men. They don't believe that single women are entitled to have safe sex w/o guilt. Their whole religion is based on money, power, vengence, guilt, and demonizing everyone else. Never ever forget who killed Jesus. It wasn't the Romans. Pontius Pilot washed his hands of the whole mess. It was the High Priest and pharasees who passed the death sentence on Jesus.

[AsahinaKimi]

67. We are

Heading down a darker path if Republicans win this time. We can not let that happen.

[tex-wyo-dem]

69. You're correct that they can't be reasoned with...

That's because they live in a world of absolutism where they are absolutely right and everyone else that doesn't think, behave, look and believe exactly as they do are wrong. To think that people like this can come to positions of real power in this country is scary indeed. It's happened throughout the history of humans on this earth and resulted in some of the darkest times ever known.

[defacto7]

70. I agree. I am wholly with you! Let's look as some religionist of the past.....

"What harm would it do, if a man told a good strong lie for the sake of the good and for the Christian church … a lie out of necessity, a useful lie, a helpful lie, such lies would not be against God, he would accept them."

Martin Luther

Then came the "hoards" of Martin Luther that sacked Rome. The sacking of Rome was probably the single most heinous period of despicable acts committed by man against man. They planned and devised ways to make the people suffer as close as possible to what they could envision hell to be. Not even Attila the Hun or Genghis Kahn could compete, and in the name of a loving god. I will leave that study to you.
--------------------------

The words of Eusebius Pamphili, a Roman historian (c. AD 263–339) states in his Book Evangelical Preparation:

"It may be lawful and fitting to use fictions [falsehood] as a medicine, and for the benefit of those [Christians] who want to be deceived."

He was the first to "notice" the infamous Testimonium Flavianum of Josephus the historian whose account apologetics claim "proves" the existence of Jesus Christ 300 years earlier... and, of course, was probably treated with Eusebius's "medicinal fictions".
..................................

The lies, deceit and control started from the very beginning. It's their way of life and the meat they eat.

Sorry for my bluntness.. but it's our history...

[jobycom]

74. I don't even want them forcing their sane ideas down my throat, if they have any. nt

[ErikJ]

77. Dont worry, they believe in the NEW Testament.

That's what one told me when I said you guys are going to pass laws making stoning women to death just like in the Bible.

[defacto7]

79. stupid thing is they probably don't believe in diddly squat,

as in they believe anything that is politically necessary. That's diddly squat.

[oldsarge54]

80. I've Been Fighting this one Since 1982

This is not news. In fact, don't blame the Tea Party, the originals were just anti-tax. The social conservatives moved in on them. The entire pro-life movement is based on their interpretation of the Bible, as well as their anti-gay agenda. Now there is a deep rooted vein in American Protestantism that seems to be focused more on the controlling aspects of the old testament and the pauline writings, not to mention Revelations, and they seem (excuse the phrase) hell bent of pushing Jesus following types out of the mainstream. You are right, what we need is to acknowledge that the 1st Amendment guarantees freedom from religion as well as of religion, and challenge any push from those people on the basis of the 1st Amendment. Any lawyers out there think this is doable?