I am watching Sunday church services on CNN at 10:30 on Thurs.

[BigmanPigman]

Three people introducing Pence have been preaching using sentences peppered with "God, Jesus Christ, blessing, lord's will, prayer, the Bible says, savior, faith, forgiveness,..." for 10 minutes. As an Atheist I am VERY offended! I know they mean well but this is religion and I do not want that in my government. They can apply it elsewhere.

[MattP]

1. Disgusting and Graham is so gross

[annabanana]

2. My exact reaction..

As a liberal church goer, I am also very offended. This isn't the time or place.

[OldHippieChick]

8. Same here. As soon as I heard what God was doing ...

I had to change channels to some cheesy comedy until it was over.

[hamsterjill]

15. I agree. I am a Christian, too.

Who were the speakers? I was driving at the time.

[RussBLib]

3. and in Rockport, TX today (Thurs)...

They are having a big prayer circle with Pence and TX Gov Greg "Crip" Abbott.

All I can do is shake my head at the thought of them thanking god for "bringing people together" after the storm, and beseeching him to look over the recovery. I'm sorry, but this is so fucking absurd to me. No matter what, praise god. Geeez.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. That's the best cartoon.

I should post in on FB everytime someone in my news feed posts something along the lines of: Please pray for my (nephew, aunt, granddaughter, etc) who has been diagnosed with some terrible disease, or was in a terrible car crash.

No, don't pray to either the God who caused the terrible thing or the God who did nothing to stop it, but put your secular faith in modern science.

[RelativelyJones]

4. Remember when it was considered humble not to wear your religion on your sleeve? n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. If Jesus was blessing them, how did this happen in the first place?

[logosoco]

6. Maybe this brings some folks a good feeling, but it seems to me

that prayer won't do you no good (and I heard that line also in a Led Zepplin song about the levee breaking, so it fits here!).

You know what would be really nice for these folks coming in from DC to do? Spend those ten minutes with a toddler or a baby that is right now under the care of some very stressed out parents. Seems like that would really make a difference.

[VigilantG]

7. I'm atheist too--wtf happened to separation

Of church and state?!?

Pisses me off watching what is happening with the Country.

[LanternWaste]

11. Separation of church and state refers to laws being passed which would coerce a citizen

"wtf happened to separation Of church and state?!?"

Nothing.


Separation of church and state refers to laws being passed which would coerce a citizen into following or rejecting a particular faith, it does not refer to the allowance or denial of a politician invoking a religion, regardless of how tasteless one might find it, else both Presidents Carter and Obama would have been guilty of your inaccurate implication..

[PearliePoo2]

9. Remember this guy is an 'End Times" Dominionist whack-job. (so are Perry and Palin)

These are the folks that believe in apocalypse/armageddon bullshit. They are so "whacked" they may even secretly wish for it.
THIS atheist also says: "Get the fuck out of my government!"

[GulfCoast66]

12. Did any of them ponder why god let Harvey happen?

Seems like he only used his mojo for good stuff? Seems they should be really pissed at him about now.

Their sophism is astounded.

[Patterson]

13. As a Christian, I am very offended.

[stopbush]

14. Christianity sucks. Childish bullshit that needs to go away.

Our species needs to move beyond these fantasies and the inherent evils they champion.

[hamsterjill]

16. No, people should be free to believe however they wish.

People just don't have the right to try to force other people to believe as they do. THAT's where the line gets crossed.

[stopbush]

17. Let's be realistic: Christianity and its beliefs are given the status of being factual

in this country. As factual as science in many respects. THAT is bullshit. We don't bestow such status on the old Greek and Roman religions in this country, because we know they are based on make believe. Yet we continue to allow Christian beliefs - which are just as much make believe as any other religious beliefs - to influence our laws and our social contract. This is wrong.

Sure, people are allowed to believe any stupidity they wish, like Christianity. And I am well within my rights to point out the obvious, craven, childish stupidities of Christianity.

It would be one thing if Christianity influenced our culture at the same level that the Norse gids influence our culture. Were that the case, sure - believe away. Enjoy your idiocies.

But it doesn't. That's not what it's about. It's about Christianity and its bullshit beliefs being a major influence on the lives of real people, when it deserves no such status.

Now, if you can tell me how we get people to regard the fictions of the Bible to be on the same level of fact as Grimm's fairy tales, then I'm with you: believe what you will. Short of that, I don't think so.

[hamsterjill]

18. Okay. And yes, I will believe what I will.

I enjoy and take comfort in my faith. And THAT is my business and my right. But I have no right to try to force those beliefs on anyone else. And I don't.

Peace.

[stopbush]

19. In this country, we respect a person's right to believe what they will.

That does not mean that we need respect the actual beliefs themselves. Believing something does not endow a belief with any level of fact or truth. If you can't prove it's true, well, it's a cartoon, isn't it?

And, yes, I find it mildly amusing to see those "TRUTH! Soul Armor" bumper stickers that equate Christian beliefs with truth, as truth by definition has a factual basis, and we know there is no factual basis for religious beliefs.

We at DU respect a person's right to vote Republican. Doesn't mean that we respect the ideas and policies they are voting for.

[hamsterjill]

20. Okay.

Whatever. I am not here to fight. Not here to discuss this issue further. I've stated my case. My mindset. My believe is firm. I don't need proof for everything. That's me.

Have a great afternoon.