LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY metaphorge)

Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism--biblical literalism--is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true. But religious enthusiasm is not all bad. Like love or political activism, it can help troubled souls transform their lives. And if what we're looking at is an America with an ever-larger and boxed-in working class and tighter competition for high-paying jobs among the elite, fundamentalism is exactly the thing to manage decline: It schools the downwardly mobile in making the best of their lot while teaching them to be grateful for the food pantry and daycare over at the church. At the same time, taking advantage of existing currents of anti-intellectualism and school-tax resistance, it removes from the pool of potential scientists and other creative professionals vast numbers of students, who will have had their minds befuddled with creationism and its smooth-talking cousin, intelligent design. Already, according to a study by University of Minnesota biology professor Randy Moore, 40 percent of high school biology teachers don't teach evolution, either because it's socially unacceptable in their communities or because they themselves don't believe in it.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kynn)

Molly McKasson writes in the Tucson Weekly:

Last winter, about the middle of my son's senior year, he dropped in on his friend Jim (not his real name), who was in the midst of being rushed by an Army recruiter. Clay recognized the sergeant from Tucson High, where he'd been "working" the cafeteria for several weeks, catching potential soldiers during lunch. Clay sat quietly waiting for him to leave.

The conversation went something like this: Jim didn't have money for college. No problem; the Army would provide up to $70,000, plus other expenses. Jim didn't think he'd like being ordered around so much. No problem; his Army aptitude score would quickly put him in a position of authority.

At the end of his pitch, the recruiter turned to Clay, who wasted no time in laying out his opposition to the occupation of Iraq. The recruiter leaned in close and said softly, "You obviously don't know what kind of world it is out there, man. Have you ever read Revelation?"

Clay must've given him a blank stare. "From the New Testament?" the recruiter said.

Clay didn't recall it from Sunday school. "Read it. You'll change your mind."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

These are some of the headlines from solarbird's latest cultural warfare update:

* Don Feder, mid-level fundamentalist leader, tosses in his two cents: Katrina was God's Punishment for evacuations of Jewish settlements in Gaza, queers, and a few other things
* National Review argues that John Roberts is setting up to rule against Roe v. Wade
* Kennedy rails against Federal relief funds going to religious schools
* National Center for Health Statistics showing more youth engaging in "alternative" sex (FotF's word) - teenage women in particular. FotF wonk claims that the study is being released to discredit abstinence-only education.
* FotF applauds major new Justice Department push against "obscenity"
* FotF pleased at outcome of UN goals -- "sexual and reproductive rights" removed from final language
* FotF ACTION ITEM to exempt religious Head Start money receivers from anti-discrimination law in hiring. They want religious receivers of federal money to be able to be able to engage in currently-illegal religious hiring discrimination.
* FotF encourages fundamentalists to use the Human Rights Campaign's list of GBLT-friendly businesses to form a personal boycott list
* FotF ACTION ITEM to continue pressuring Governor Schwarzenegger to veto the California marriage rights bill while simultaneously complaining about about pressure from GBLT groups to not veto it
* Puerto Rico may pass bill allowing same-sex marriages performed in other states to be recognised there, while not allowing them locally. FotF urges against, of course.
* One of two CWA "take that, fags" articles about NY Central Park Zoo's gay penguin couple breaking up. Also plugs the "March of the Penguins" documentary movie as evidence of creationism.
* Georgia legislator trying to make it harder for Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to get members.
* Traditional Values Coalition scare story about QUEERS CONTROLLING THE MEDIA.
* Washington State's Faith and Freedom network: education is useless without the Bible, must be based on it in all areas.

Details behind the above link.