LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Ohio is the first (but not only) battleground in the orchestrated takedown of conventional government by religious supremacists. It is the home of Pastor Parsley and his "Patriot Pastors", and its legislature is currently deciding on whether or not to pretty much hand the reigns of power over to these people.

Theocracy Watch has some background on what is going on in this state.

Americans must be 'Christocrats" -- citizens of both their country and the Kingdom of God -- the Rev. Rod Parsley told his congregation at the World Harvest Church, located just outside Columbus, Ohio. "And that is not a democracy; that is a theocracy," he said. "That means God is in control, and you are not."

Think about that. These people see the 2006 election as an "apocalyptic clash between a virtuous Christianity and the evildoers who oppose Christianity's values," and they are feeling their oats, and are confident that their side will win.

If you live in Ohio, it's time for you to stand up and start demanding that these people get run out of power. It's time to push back. Because if Ohio goes down, that will embolden these people even more, and the juggernaught will take off, chewing through state legislatures and turning state governments into theocratic governments.

If you live in a state where such people are crawling around in the background and are grasping for power, stand up to them. Do your homework. Find out about your candidates. Write letters to the editor of your local paper. Expose the theocrats for what they are. We are not the 'hordes of hell', as one would-be theocrat would describe us. We are citizens, and by All, we have to stand up for our country, our government, and our rights.

I am. Are you? Will you?

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Here's a hilarious riposte to all the Intelligent Design stuff:

Inscrutible Malignity: The Controversy

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY navytron89) I actually saw this bumper sticker on my way to work at the Naval Base and no one said a thing.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY multiclassgeek)

The Times (UK): "Police fear for children abused by religious sects"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1921773,00.html

Basically, it's an article about the growing number of child abuse cases coming to light where the children have been the victims of "exorcisms". The main reason I'm flaggin this here is because it sounds a lot like the sort of thing that goes on in Dominionist "deliverance" circles... Though in the US, from what I've seen/heard/read, most of the damage tends to be mental and emotional, rather than physical, as it is in this case (please correct me if I'm wrong)

Most of the cases seem to be African evangelical churches, which are often not affiliated with any other "church-groups" (such as the Church Of England, or the Roman Catholic church). The "small independent" church concept... It has a "Westboro Baptist" feel to it.

Thought you guys might like to know...

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY cheap_laugh)

Wish them a "Happy Feast of the Circumcision this January 1st. That's right, folks, just count 8 days from Dec 25, and you get Jan 1. In Judaism, the 8th day after birth is the day infant boys are circumcised as a sign of the Covenant between God and Jew (one can also argue it as a form of menstral envy, but I digress...). Send them cards....

for your edification, Feast Days. This article goes on:

The circumcision took place, not in the Temple, though painters sometimes so represent it, but in some private house, where the Holy Family had found a rather late hospitality. The public ceremony in the synagogue, which is now the usage, was introduced later. Christmas was celebrated on 25 December, even in the ertrly centuries, at least by the Western Church, whence the date was soon adopted in the East also. (See CHRISTMAS). Saint Chrysostom credits the West with the tradition, and St. Augustine speaks of it as well and long estabblished. Consequently the Circumcision fell on the first of January. In the ages of paganism, however, the solemnization of the feast was almost impossible, on account of the orgies connected with the Saturnalian festivities, which were celebrated at the same time. Even in our own day the secular features of the opening of the New Year interfere with the religious observance of the Circumcision, and tend to make a mere holiday of that which should have the sacred character of a Holy Day.

( give us bar Abba )