LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY multiclassgeek)

OK; Most folks around this group are aware of Dominionist-sponsored "Left Behind" series.

But Left Behind is not the only Apocalyptic Fiction out there: Slacktivist.com correpondents seemed full of ideas, some of which seemed heavily theological, some less so. Everything from James Beauseigneur's "Christ Clone" trilogy (another exploration of End Times, but apparently less Dominionist than LB) to Walter M Miller's A Canticle For Leibowitz (recommended mainly for being "a good book with Post-Apocalyptic leanings")

I was just wondering what anyone else around here might have read, or read about... Whether anyone had recommendations, or anti-recommendations...

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY pope_guilty)

Does anybody know where I can get information on where Sun Myung Moon's political donations are going? I've tried opensecrets.org, but found nothing for him. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This Video Dog blog at Salon.com talks about the "War on Christmas" and a certain conservative commentator's comeuppance:

We're waking up briefly from our holiday slumber to bring you the breaking, woeful tale of a fallen Christmas Warrior. It began when Fox News anchor John Gibson, who has been shilling a quickie, inflammatory book on the Fox News-created war on Christmas, was nailed by Media Matters for his comments on a religious-right radio show on Nov. 17. On the show, he warned all the non-Christian infidels who are "following the wrong religion" that "they're not going to have to answer to me. We know who they're going to have to answer to." Nice. "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann blasted him for it in early December. Then Gibson (with an assist from Bill O'Reilly) attacked back, claiming that Olbermann was "misquot[ing] to justify saying some truly disgusting things about me." (Like scandalized church ladies, neither O'Reilly nor Gibson will deign to mention Olbermann by name.) But Olbermann returned Tuesday night to play the tape of Gibson's performance on air (Media Matters has it here) and the proof appears irrefutable. In fact, the long excerpt of the pandering Gibson is even more nauseating, and the fact that he's denying it, more shocking.

Or is it? Take one look at the 59-year-old Gibson's whipped blond pompadour and you suspect the guy's a bold liar. Will Fox stand by their golden-tressed prevaricator or come clean? Yeah, we don't think so, either. Still, don't miss the terrific Olbermann segment (captured by the equally terrific Crooks & Liars) below. His "800 billion flies" reference is a keeper. And catch the full coverage, including all referenced transcripts, at TVNewser.

You'll need to go to the post to follow the embedded links. Also make sure to click on the video at the end- it's pretty hilarious.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY synergybc)

This might seem a little lightweight compared to some of the things posted in this community, but I thought it fits its theme. There's a designer in Sweden who's anti-establishment and is putting out some jeans named "Cheap Monday" that are flying off the shelf with a logo that bears a skull with an upside down cross on it. Supposedly they're working on introducing them in the U.S. I'm skeptical that they'll make it without having all sorts of fundamentalists getting up in arms about it.

Here's the link to the article at Yahoo News:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051230/ap_on_re_eu/sweden_devil_s_denim

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

I don't know if this is technically "dominionist" activity, but it certainly shows how conservative Catholics are flexing their muscles.

Following the Dec. 7 season finale of South Park, titled "Bloody Mary," the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights slammed the network for its irreverent portrayal of church icons and sought to block the episode from being rebroadcast.

It appears the group may have met with success. A repeat of the finale was scheduled to air Wednesday night, but was seemingly pulled from the Comedy Central lineup without explanation.

In the episode, [really gross and offensive stuff transpires]. Somewhat predictably, the Catholic League was incensed by the satirical portrayal of the Virgin Mary and the pope and by the fact that the episode aired on the day before the Catholic Church celebrated its Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The conservative group demanded an apology from Viacom, Comedy Central's parent company, to Roman Catholics everywhere and "a pledge that this episode be permanently retired and not be made available on DVD." The Catholic League also sought a personal condemnation from Viacom board member Joseph A. Califano Jr., who the group noted is a "practicing Catholic."

Califano was only too happy to oblige. After viewing the episode, he released a statement calling the episode an "appalling and disgusting portrayal of the Virgin Mary."

Full Story

I've seen the episode in question -- twice, in fact. Personally, I was more offended by the writers' characterization of alcoholism as a simple lack of discipline than I was by the sacrilege. Nonetheless, this is South Park, folks. It's supposed to be offensive, and long-time fans have seen how the writers constantly "push the envelope." I doubt conservative Catholics are in the target audience.

I don't really like this episode, but I'd hate to see this attempt at censorship succeed. I hope someone will somehow make this episode available for download, as Xenu.net did with the Scientology episode.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ccroft)

Hi guys,

I'm surprised no-one has posted a link to the transmission from BBC Radio 4 yesterday yet, but I'm absolutely glad to; it is I think a 30-minute radio broadcast that makes for some essential listening at the end of 2005.

You can hear it online. Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml and select 'Analysis'. You will need RealPlayer installed (and Internet Explorer too it seems - didn't work with Opera). The BBC has provided links for those who need to set themselves up for web-broadcasts.

The show summary itself:

"Analysis (30 min)
Broadcast on Radio 4 - Thu 29 Dec - 20:30

Is God on Their Side? Andrew Brown asks why many Americans see themselves and much of world history in religious terms, and where this outlook is taking the superpower."

It's a very intellectual programme, and you will find input from university professors from both sides of the Atlantic, left wing and right wing, as well as some current thoughts from ex president Jimmy Carter recorded specifically for the programme.

Happy new year all.