Creepy Christian right group in S.C. wants a sovereign state of its own.

[bigtree]

NEW YORK — Nearly 140 years after the Civil War, another group of Americans wants to secede from the union.

Christian Exodus (search), a California-based group, wants God to be its commander in chief. Decrying what it perceives as the unjust secularization of the United States, it wants a sovereign state of its own.

But rather than eye the Golden State — a "lost cause," says the group's founder — it'll settle for South Carolina (search).

Cory Burnell (search), Christian Exodus' founder and president, told FOX News that the group narrowed its focus to the Bible Belt state based on an electorate that is already "Christian-leaning," has its own ports and — unlike its neighbor North Carolina — is no hub of liberalism.

Christian Exodus' mission, according to its Web site, is to scrap the "tyrannical authority" of federal government in favor of a constitutional republic, with the Ten Commandments rather than the U.S. Constitution as government's guide.

Phase One of the group's "plan of action" in breaking down the wall between church and state is to enlist groups of 1,000 members to move into 12 designated House districts in South Carolina, with the goal of voting 12 "Christian sovereigntists" into the state government by 2008.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129023,00.html

[LTR]

1. Doesn't the US have some unused islands somewhere?

I'm sure there's some decrepit territory somewhere.

[Ilsa]

3. Let's send them on the mission to Mars.

That would suit me just fine.

[IndianaGreen]

17. We don't want to pollute Mars with Earth's microbes

How about Atlantis?

[rwenos]

9. Yeh - the one with Hannibal Lector on it!

"I'm having an old friend for dinner . . . "

[Syncronaut Seven]

13. We should send them to Nauru!

http://www.janeresture.com/nauru_focus/

[IndianaGreen]

18. How about Monserrat?

They have a very active volcano there. What a better place to test their faith!

[supernova]

2. Gee, ya think SC'linians might have

something to say about that?

Good luck with the invasion Burnell. Let us know how that works out. LOL!

[liberalhistorian]

7. Exactly!

Something tells me that SC isn't going to take too kindly to groups like this just assuming that they can have free rein in the state and that the state will roll over and do their bidding willingly and happily. What typical fundie arrogance!!!

[UrbScotty]

4. Good Riddance! (nt)

[jimshoes]

5. They could get Guyana at a bargain basement

price. Jonestown, is very nice this time of year. (Stay away from the kool-aid) or not.

[ItsMyParty]

6. OMG--that's the solution to everything

Why don't we give them, all of them across this country, their own nation?? They can hate to their hearts content. They can build nukes to attack other countries (oppps that won't work because they are totally dumb about science). They can have no social programs and believe God will take care of them. They can have 24 hour religious tv, etc.,etc. They can all go there and leave the rest of this country alone, let this country get on with intelligent thinking and progress in science and the arts, let this country BREATHE again free from their filth. Why don't we just grab whichever is the biggest Christian Fundy state, move the intelligent people out and give it to these assholes!!! And if they are invaded by foreign troops, let the foreign troops take them!!!

[mitchtv]

8. isn't Utah there already?

SC isn't doing us a lot of good anyway. Idaho is already halfway there.

[johnfunk]

10. Why do they hate America so much? And why isn't FOX "News" asking?

n/t

[bigtree]

16. They hate our freedoms

[Kahuna]

11. Go ahead! I could name a few states you can take with you.

:puke:

[checks-n-balances]

12. And what about the good people of SC who don't fit into their mold?

What're they gonna do - deport them? Stage a coup for the state government?

Here's a fairly recent article I found about fundamentalism where Cory Burnell's name is mentioned. Good article, and this link should open even if you don't have an AJC subscription:

Fundamentalism: Be Indignant at Righteousness
by Jamie Turner
The Atlanta Journal Constitution
6-28-04

<snip>

"Though he has never been there," the article stated, "he plans to reshape the South Carolina General Assembly to make the state a Christian domain. And if the federal government does not stop imposing what he considers its liberal will, he wants South Carolina to secede."

Burnell's plans, while far-fetched and, perhaps, a bit naive, reflect a problem that's not isolated to South Carolina. In fact, they reflect a problem that has greater implications than anything we could have imagined in the 20th century: the rise of religious fundamentalism.

<snip>

In the earliest stages of fundamentalism, you'll find people who believe that all humanity is wonderful. But as they delve deeper and deeper into their fundamentalist beliefs, they start believing that all humanity is wonderful — as long as they speak, look and think just like them. This is where the hypocrisy begins: "I love all of God's children, as long as they're just like me."

<snip>

That's the problem. What starts as a beautiful thing ends up as fundamentalism. This prejudgment of others sometimes leads to dehumanization. It's why an Irish Catholic can kill an Irish Protestant and feel as though God would sanction it. And, most importantly, it's why al-Qaida can start a global war and do so in the name of God.

It's a very real and very dangerous threat that has the potential to cause problems far worse than the Cold War or World War II...

More
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:RmdEuUjxXAsJ:www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0604/28south.html+%22cory+burnell%22&hl=en

To parse the term FUNDAMENTAL-ISM:

- Not much FUN
- A whole lotta DAMN
- And very little MENTAL!

edited to add information

[cynatnite]

14. They've got a Yahoo List

I checked it out once and there's some freaky shit goin' on :freak:

Cyn:)

[SemperEadem]

15. I hear Central Afghanistan is pretty religiously conservative, too

[Dem2theMax]

19. I have no problem with them having 'a place of their own'.

Just as long as WE get one too, if * (gag) wins this time.
In which case, WE take the blue states, or we take the best states, whichever way we want to work it out, and all like minded people, meaning Dems, liberals, people who actually USE their brains, and on and on (it's late, if I've left your group out it's only because I'm too tired to think), we'll just paint a line and write the words 'do not cross unless you are ready to be a DEMOCRAT/Liberal/Free thinker/Plain old THINKER at all, etc.

I've got lots of paint and brushes. Where do we start drawing the line? Calif. HAS to be ours. I have to have my mexican food. And it just doesn't get done right the further east you go. :)

[Guaranteed]

20. Anyone have the numbers on how much money SC

takes in from the feds each year, and how much they give back?

I know almost all southern states take more than they give. I say let em go. Fucking moochers.