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[Dilbert]

I can't wait for someone to start interpreting the Yellow Pages as the divinely inspired, unchallengable word of God and start a religion.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

DAMN YOU DAN BROWN!

:lol
no really, so isn't it true?

 

[ManDudeChild]

I can't wait for someone to start interpreting the Yellow Pages as the divinely inspired, unchallengable word of God and start a religion.

Are you insulting the Good Yellow Book?

 

[CabbageRed]

What the fuck? As the Republicans have successfully proven time and time again, only directed shock tactics can get Americans to stop wallowing in economic apathy and get riled up. Fortunately, for once, THIS is something they should be riled up about if they care about this fucking country at all.

And it can be done without underhanded manipulation. By mixing quotes of those for whom a large percentage of US citizens have some degree of respect with those that are obviously extremists, you polarize the issue. Once again, an important issue is lost as the two extremes launch into another cyclic, knee-jerk war of words while middle America backs off as any pertanit information is drown out half truths and bitter mud slinging.

 

[RedDwarf]

What the fuck? As the Republicans have successfully proven time and time again, only directed shock tactics can get Americans to stop wallowing in economic apathy and get riled up. Fortunately, for once, THIS is something they should be riled up about if they care about this fucking country at all.

Hm. I disagree. Just because something has worked for the extreme right doesn't make it a valid way to use the media. Seeing this annoyed me as much as if it was directed towards the left, it takes away from a strong listing of lunacy and just gives the right (in this case) the chance to say "who would take that website seriously, they quote Fred Phelps for Godssake". If the argument is strong, don't water it down with filler.

 

[Warm Machine]

I can't wait for someone to start interpreting the Yellow Pages as the divinely inspired, unchallengable word of God and start a religion.

In the beginning there was AAA Cleaners. And they were good.

 

[Drinky Crow]

If it works, it's valid.

 

[fse]

And the dems. call Dean an ass for doing what the repubs. do. Democrats are being pussies.

 

[Drinky Crow]

CabbageRed, obviously, the mud-slinging *is* working for the Republicans, and it's OBVIOUS that Americans want their politics in catchy emotional catchphrases/talking points rather than long-winded "impartial" discussions -- witness the rise of FOX News and the proliferation of talking heads (most of which are completely conservative). The most successful "liberal" outlet has been The Daily Show, which doesn't hesitate to employ the tactics you deride.

If it's working for the Republicans -- and Karl Rove is very convinced it is -- then the Democrats and progressives should employ it as well, since the message is that is the way Americans want the discussion to be held. As for the milquetoast pseudo-moderate crowd who squeal about impartiality, well, they need to realize that sometimes the middle position isn't actually about compromise or balance but simple knee-jerk cowardice.

The facts are on the liberals' side, and its time to take 'em to the floor instead of dithering about with conciliatory noises and faux-moderate language. Fuck that shit. Hit 'em with the truth, and hit 'em so hard they won't think to fuck up this country again. I'm sorry if all the shouting makes you want to hide in your room and cry, but sometimes mommy and daddy have to fight it out.

 

[Synbios459]

To further MadOdorMachine' reasoning

One thing that you need to understand is that no one is born gay, but satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay, just as they can try to influence you to steal, kill, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they can't ever MAKE you do something but they can influence you especially young children. That's why it's important for parents to pray over their kids and house hold to make sure things like that don't happen.

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

 

[Drinky Crow]

satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay

Wrong stop -- Kooktown's terminal is at http://www.freerepublic.com.

 

[Dilbert]

To further MadOdorMachine' reasoning

One thing that you need to understand is that no one is born gay, but satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay, just as they can try to influence you to steal, kill, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they can't ever MAKE you do something but they can influence you especially young children. That's why it's important for parents to pray over their kids and house hold to make sure things like that don't happen.

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

:lol :lol :lol

Post of the year? Maybe.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

Obviously, it isn't pretty clear in the Bible, as your entire argument against Drinky's post is "No, it just is!" First off, your argument is horribly flawed on a number of bases. If you're going to rely on the Bible to interpret the will of God, you're going to have to admit that numerous (over 40,000) different copies have been made through the years... some with small changes like spelling and minor word arrangement, others have done so much as to interject women as the weaker sex, which really isn't the case, academically speaking, from most of the 'original' texts recovered archaelogically. If you look at the sexism differences alone between the Septuagint and the modern NT, you'll see many different cases of this. So the idea of using the Bible to interpret exactly what God does and doesn't like is a bit of a leap in itself , unless you're willing to submit that your argument is basically "Well it's obvious that either God or one of millions of people who've had access to Biblical writings for the past couple millenia didn't like gays."

This also supercedes the simple assholeness that you'd be willing to let people who eat meat on Sundays and wear silk carry the cross on their chest in the name of God, but if they're gay, well, they can't do it and they're setting a bad precedent. Kinda picking and choosing which sins you want in a church leader, aren't you? There's 200+ sins which they shouldn't do but they probably do, and you've got people like Pat Robertson saying that we can overlook all that as long as they're not gay. It's fucking horseshit... just another example of religious corruption.

I haven't made any rebuttals to what Drinky has posted so I don't know what he has to do with this. How am I supossed to interpret or even know what God says without the Bible? According to your last paragraph, there would be no preachers because no one is sin free. Everyone sins, even preachers. It's deliberate sins against God that means he shouldn't be allowed to preach. It doesn't matter if a preacher is a habitual theif, murderer, homosexual or fornicator, if he commits it, knowing it's against Gods will, he shouldn't be a preacher. If it were someone who had turned from his sin though, and was trying to now live a Godly life, it would be okay for him to be a preacher.

 

[=W=]

I agree with Drinky.

Most Democrats are pussies.

 

[CabbageRed]

"Hit 'em with the truth, and hit 'em so hard they won't think to fuck up this country again."

I wouldn't phrase it that way but I actually think we are largely on the same page.

However, my point is that the “truth” needs to not get lost when powers shift. If the truth is with the Left the use the truth with out mixing in an extremest point of view. The tactics found in this article are not needed. They will only create another polarized front to eventually become stagnant and deemed irrelevant. Does that benefit the Left or Right?

 

[hXc_thugg]

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

You're right! That's why anal sex is pleasurable for men, I suppose!

 

[Kuroyume]

Why am I not surprised these quotes came from mostly people with religious faith?

 

[Dilbert]

I basically agree with Drinky, but it is CRITICAL that the message be tightly focused. The Republicans have a talent for saying utterly ridiculous shit on their own...don't fall into the trap of exaggerating when you go after them since they will exploit that mistake.

Good strategy: Badgering McClellan about Cheney's "last throes of the insurgency" comment. Keep hammering him with the phrase. Bring up facts. Hammer some more.

Bad strategy: The "gulag" comment from Amnesty International. As I've already said, I think it's a fair comment, but the response from the right was utterly predictable. It would be far better to get in front of a camera, say quite simply and clearly that the Bush Administration is breaking the law, and repeat as many times as it needs to be said that "enemy combatant" is NOT an officially recognized status.

 

[Synbios459]

See, this is what I hate, everyone here is so anti-religion that it doesn't matter what ANYONE says, they won't even give it the benefit of the doubt.

In the Bible it even says (don't have the exact verse maybe MadOdorMachine can help) "Do not rely on your own understanding". The thing is believing in God gives you a feeling that you just can't describe so it's impossible for you to know what it is like. Now I am not a Bible Masters by anymeans but I do know some.

 

[human5892]

To further MadOdorMachine' reasoning

One thing that you need to understand is that no one is born gay, but satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay, just as they can try to influence you to steal, kill, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they can't ever MAKE you do something but they can influence you especially young children. That's why it's important for parents to pray over their kids and house hold to make sure things like that don't happen.

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

Awesome.

Also, I agree with jinx's post. Democrats as a whole do need to grow a pair, but using overblown comparisons is giving the right a chance to respond with some fair points of their own, diluting the message that the Dems were originally trying to convey (average American: "Hey, Gulag is an unfair comparison! Damn liberals!"). Hitting them with the simple truth, just very hard, is key.

 

[ronito]

Problem is most people would much rather believe a beautiful lie, even one they suspect is a lie, than a grim truth.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

See, this is what I hate, everyone here is so anti-religion that it doesn't matter what ANYONE says, they won't even give it the benefit of the doubt.

In the Bible it even says (don't have the exact verse maybe MadOdorMachine can help) "Do not rely on your own understanding". The thing is believing in God gives you a feeling that you just can't describe so it's impossible for you to know what it is like. Now I am not a Bible Masters by anymeans but I do know some.

Maybe Proverbs 3:5? It basically means to put your faith in God and he will see you through even though we don't always understand what's going on. There are people here who agree w/us.

 

[ManDudeChild]

Problem is most people would much rather believe a beautiful lie, even one they suspect is a lie, than a grim truth.

I'm confused. Are you talking about religion in general, or the Bush administration with your comment? :lol

 

[ronito]

I'm confused. Are you talking about religion in general, or the Bush administration with your comment? :lol

Bush admin in this case.

 

[Hyoushi]

To further MadOdorMachine' reasoning

One thing that you need to understand is that no one is born gay, but satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay, just as they can try to influence you to steal, kill, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they can't ever MAKE you do something but they can influence you especially young children. That's why it's important for parents to pray over their kids and house hold to make sure things like that don't happen.

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

That is clearly worthy of a

 

[Regniws]

My country is being run by a bunch of psychopaths... Good thing i'm close enough to good ol' Canadia for an escape to the real land of the free

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

The Holy Bible has been re-written numerous times blah blah blah

That argument never gets old.

 

[bob_arctor]

It basically means to put your faith in God and he will see you through even though we don't always understand what's going on.

That argument never gets old.

*Sigh*

 

[MadOdorMachine]

What's ironic is that so many of you feel this country is run by Christians who are taking away your rights, while the Christians fell the exact opposite. We are constantly loosing our rights. The fact is, no Christian is going to succeed in forcing you into practicing their beliefs, but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

 

[Dilbert]

The Holy Bible has been re-written numerous times blah blah blah

That argument never gets old.

The hell?

 

[Hyoushi]

What's ironic is that so many of you feel this country is run by Christians who are taking away your rights, while the Christians fell the exact opposite. We are constantly loosing our rights. The fact is, no Christian is going to succeed in forcing you into practicing their beliefs, but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

Yes, poor christians, you are indeed a repressed minority.

 

[Dilbert]

What's ironic is that so many of you feel this country is run by Christians who are taking away your rights, while the Christians fell the exact opposite. We are constantly loosing our rights. The fact is, no Christian is going to succeed in forcing you into practicing their beliefs, but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

1) What "rights" are Christians losing?

2) How are you being "forced to practice secular beliefs?"

 

[heavy liquid]

What's ironic is that so many of you feel this country is run by Christians who are taking away your rights, while the Christians fell the exact opposite. We are constantly loosing our rights. The fact is, no Christian is going to succeed in forcing you into practicing their beliefs, but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

:lol

The only thing lost is this thread.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

Yes, poor christians, you are indeed a repressed minority.

I wish I could make you understand that the problem isn't with people like you that share your beliefs.

 

[Hyoushi]

I wish I could make you understand that the problem isn't with people like you that share your beliefs.

Here is a tear for you in your godless nation: :'(

 

[MadOdorMachine]

1) What "rights" are Christians losing?

2) How are you being "forced to practice secular beliefs?"

Are seriously asking or do just intend to mock me? I've never once criticized any one in this thread for their beliefs. If you want me to explain it I will. I don't care if I'm going to get bashed as long as someone is genuinely curious as to what I'm saying. If this can't be a civilized debate, what's the point in posting? I understand that you have your opinion and I respect that. The questiion is, can you respect mine? If we can understand that, then I'll continue to post.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

Here is a tear for you in your godless nation: :'(

:lol That's rather harsh!

 

[Hyoushi]

Are seriously asking or do just intend to mock me? I've never once criticized any one in this thread for their beliefs. If you want me to explain it I will. I don't care if I'm going to get bashed as long as someone is genuinely curious as to what I'm saying. If this can't be a civilized debate, what's the point in posting? I understand that you have your opinion and I respect that. The questiion is, can you respect mine? If we can understand that, then I'll continue to post.

Yeah, I want to know too. Answer those questions, then we'll have civilised discourse.

 

[ronito]

1) What "rights" are Christians losing?

2) How are you being "forced to practice secular beliefs?"

Yes, pray tell. As a Christian I'm very interested in these "rights" I keep hearing I'm loosing. Or how we are "forced to practice secular beliefs". I keep hearing people say this, and as a devout christian I can't honestly say that there's anything that keeps me from worshipping as I please, no one's, as of yet, forced me to embrace Satan, or have my wife get an abortion or watch "Desparate Housewives."

You know if I didn't know better, I'd say that I have all the rights I should. If I don't want to watch or hear something on TV I can -gasp- reach for the remote. If there's a game I don't agree with, I can simply not play it. Yeah, my kids can't go into school and read a bible aloud as fact, but that also means that Muslims, Buddhist, Hindus, Satanists and others can't read their scriptures either, sounds fair to me. If I didn't know better I'd say that perhaps this whole, "we're loosing the country" thing is just a ploy to get some people their way. It's much easier to control people with fear and hate than it is with love and understanding (which is what Christianity is supposed to be about).

I'd say that perhaps you should stop worrying about society and come the realization that God lives in you and not in society.

 

[bob_arctor]

What's ironic is that so many of you feel this country is run by Christians who are taking away your rights, while the Christians fell the exact opposite. We are constantly loosing our rights. The fact is, no Christian is going to succeed in forcing you into practicing their beliefs, but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

Forcing? Where is this "forcing" you speak of? Also, what happens when the Godless-ness begins? Will there be radio talk shows full of hate spewing non-Bible-thumping jackasses? Who will hate the gays then when God is gone? No one? Will the Pledge Of Allegiance excise the "One Nation Under God" nonsense that was "forced" into it? Same with our money? Will the Yankees cease to win, ever again?

 

[Dilbert]

Are seriously asking or do just intend to mock me? I've never once criticized any one in this thread for their beliefs. If you want me to explain it I will. I don't care if I'm going to get bashed as long as someone is genuinely curious as to what I'm saying. If this can't be a civilized debate, what's the point in posting? I understand that you have your opinion and I respect that. The questiion is, can you respect mine? If we can understand that, then I'll continue to post.

I'm seriously asking. Those are some big statements, and I'd like to hear your justification for them.

By the way -- you are under no obligation to "respect" someone else's point of view. People have a right to believe what they want, but respect is something which is earned.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

1) What "rights" are Christians losing?

2) How are you being "forced to practice secular beliefs?"

When our founding fathers started this country, they never meant the "Separation of Church and State" to be interpreted the way it is today. If that were the case, we wouldn't see things like "One Nation Under God," and "In God We Trust" on national documents. The separation of church and state was meant to keep a church from having the ultimate power in governing our country. It was to prevent something like what the Romans did from happening to our country. It wasn't meant to completely omit God from all aspects of our society.

That being said, christians no longer have the right to gather in public in government places. Christianity has been stripped from public schools in place of evolution. Prayer is no longer allowed. Then ten commandments in courthouses, "One nation under God" in the pledge of allegence and "In God We Trust" on our currency is being attempted to be taken away also. Not too long ago, there was a flag in California (I think it was L.A. or San Francisco) that had a cross taken out. Of course now people are also trying to pass gay marriage and abortion is legal.

We are being forced into secular belief by loosing these rights. It's slowly but surely demoralizing our country. The media is now able to have nudity and profanity. The media is not held responsible for reporting false information. Even if I had no TV, radio or internet it would impossible for me to avoid the media as it's plastered on billboards and marketed in shopping centers. The media is able to cover the truth with lies. I haven't even gotten into these mega-corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft, but we've allowed it to happen. We are now victims of our own society. That's why I fear for those living in this country when it truly does become completely Godless. How will people be able to understand what is absolute truth? I wonder if people don't think about these consequences or if they just don't care.

 

[Boogie]

:lol
no really, so isn't it true?

I don't really know either way, but hearing the phrase "if there's one thing I've learned from. . . The Da Vinci Code" always provokes a nervous twitching in my right eye ;P

 

[Warm Machine]

When our founding fathers started this country, they never meant the "Separation of Church and State" to be interpreted the way it is today. If that were the case, we wouldn't see things like "One Nation Under God," and "In God We Trust" on national documents. The separation of church and state was meant to keep a church from having the ultimate power in governing our country. It was to prevent something like what the Romans did from happening to our country. It wasn't meant to completely omit God from all aspects of our society.

I suggest you actually search around on google on the non christian right wing sites to find the other side of what you are talking about here.

 

[bob_arctor]

When our founding fathers started this country, they never meant the "Separation of Church and State" to be interpreted the way it is today. If that were the case, we wouldn't see things like "One Nation Under God," and "In God We Trust" on national documents.

Given this tradition, it's not surprising that the original Pledge of Allegiance—meant as an expression of patriotism, not religious faith—also made no mention of God: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1955, with Ike's support, Congress added the words "In God We Trust" on all paper money. In 1956 it made the same four words the nation's official motto, replacing "E Pluribus Unum."

So we actually never did see things like this in national documents. Unless they were "forced" in somehow, by some sort of group of people, I have no idea who.

 

[fortified_concept]

To further MadOdorMachine' reasoning

One thing that you need to understand is that no one is born gay, but satan and/or other evil spirits can try to influence you to be gay, just as they can try to influence you to steal, kill, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they can't ever MAKE you do something but they can influence you especially young children. That's why it's important for parents to pray over their kids and house hold to make sure things like that don't happen.

And when you think about it, even if you believe in Evolution, don't you think that nature would've made a man anatomally correct for another man if that were so? Same goes for a women.

:lol:lol:lol

I'm considering this a joke post and there's no way in hell you're gonna convince me it's not.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

I swaer that the origial link made me think I was on Bizarro world or something, then I realized that things just haven't been as flamboyant as they have been in the past. the SCARY thing is that all this stuff is just waiting to spew out again just as sure as 'Old Faithful' at Yellowstone National Park. Even scarier is that some of those people were elected by the people. <shudders>

 

[typhonsentra]

I'm really REALLY tired of the conciliatory tone adopted by most would-be "liberals" or Democrats. The "can we all please just stop shouting" camp of waffling pussies needs to get hammered out of the Democratic Party NOW. Either you believe in something and are willing to do what it takes to defend your beliefs, or you're just another selfish, wavering tool looking for a moment's peace at the expense of the greater future. I'd rather the pseudo-moderate crowd just admit embrace than offer the sort of wibbling, noncommittal, caveat-riddled "support" they do now because the other side sure as fuck ain't gonna compromise.

*Applauds*

 

[ronito]

Oh man where to start. All I see is fear here.

That being said, christians no longer have the right to gather in public in government places.

Agreed. But that also keeps Satanists from gathering there and chanting too. If you make this agrument you have to open it to them too. If you don't have a problem with this, then by all means use this as an argument. Otherwise you're going against the founding fathers belief that people should worship as they please.

Christianity has been stripped from public schools in place of evolution.

Don't look now sparky, but they'll also teach you about things like Gravity, atoms, the fact that the earth revolves around the sun and air vacuums, things that according to the bible aren't true. I don't buy this whole "keep your science off my children" argument. I'm a christian and find evolution in no way threatening to my beliefs. I don't understand why so many do.

Prayer is no longer allowed.

Are you kidding? I prayed tons in school, especially at tests. Just because they weren't aloud with a few holy rollers in the back didn't make them any less sincere. Again unless you're willing to open it up to all faiths so you take part in praying to Allah as well, your argument is moot.

Then ten commandments in courthouses, "One nation under God" in the pledge of allegence and "In God We Trust" on our currency is being attempted to be taken away also.

Again if you don't mind having the muslim pillars there, or a torah and a satanists bible there then you'd be going against religous freedom. Also didn't Jesus himself say "Render unto ceasar that which is ceasar's." Is this not the same situation.

Not too long ago, there was a flag in California (I think it was L.A. or San Francisco) that had a cross taken out.

Would you be so outraged if it were a star of david instead of a cross?

Of course now people are also trying to pass gay marriage and abortion is legal.

Hey sparky, you don't have to get an abortion or be gay. Isn't that wonderful? It's called freedom.

The media is now able to have nudity and profanity.

You don't have to watch it you know.

It's slowly but surely demoralizing our country.

I don't feel demoralized. The rest of the world could go south and I'd still be fine. Didn't Lot live righteously in Sodom and Gommorrah. Wasn't Abraham a "stranger in strange lands". While in Jerusalem did Jesus not say that it was the most evil of all cities. Are you then saying that these men are demoralized?

The media is not held responsible for reporting false information.

Yeah that's true, but then again, neither is the president.

You know what I'll stop there. I've had enough. C.S. Lewis (great Christian writer so you shouldn't object to reading his stuff) wrote in "The Screwtape Letters" that satan gets your attention to focus on the evils outside instead of inside. I don't see anything here that points to true introspection. I don't think that you're so worried about the country being taken away from God as you are being taken away from the way you believe. Again I say that God lives in you not in society.

 

[pnjtony]

but the Christians are being forced to practice secular beliefs. Eventually this country will be completely Godless. I hope you realize what you are doing.

Well with any luck we can pinpoint just EXACTLY what we are doing and STEP IT UP A NOTCH!