LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY loquaciousnut)

From an Australian newspaper: http://smh.com.au/news/opinion/how-design-supporters-insult-gods-intelligence/2005/11/14/1131951095200.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

How design supporters insult God's intelligence
November 15, 2005

The idea of a supreme being who leaves creation to chance does not sit well with some Christians, writes Neil Ormerod.

INTELLIGENT design has become the latest hot topic in the increasingly blurred distinction between secular and sacred in Australian society. It has received qualified support from the federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson, and is being promoted within some Christian schools as an acceptable "scientific" alternative to Darwin's theory of evolution. Yet intelligent design is based on a misunderstanding of God's relationship to creation.

Much depends on what its proponents mean by the term "intelligent design". If they mean that the universe as a whole displays a profound intelligibility through which one might argue philosophically that the existence of God is manifest, their position is very traditional.

However, if by intelligent design they mean that God is an explanation for the normal course of events which would otherwise lack scientific explanation, then this is opposed to a traditional Christian understanding of divine transcendence. In seeking to save a place for God within the creation process, the promoters of intelligent design reduce God to the level of what the early theologian Thomas Aquinas would call a "secondary cause".

( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

From The LA Times

This isn't the real America
By Jimmy Carter
JIMMY CARTER was the 39th president of the United States. His newest book is "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis," published this month by Simon & Schuster.

November 14, 2005

IN RECENT YEARS, I have become increasingly concerned by a host of radical government policies that now threaten many basic principles espoused by all previous administrations, Democratic and Republican.

These include the rudimentary American commitment to peace, economic and social justice, civil liberties, our environment and human rights.

Also endangered are our historic commitments to providing citizens with truthful information, treating dissenting voices and beliefs with respect, state and local autonomy and fiscal responsibility.

At the same time, our political leaders have declared independence from the restraints of international organizations and have disavowed long-standing global agreements — including agreements on nuclear arms, control of biological weapons and the international system of justice.( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

From Jehova's Fitness

The Fundamentalist Agenda

PINKERTON - As the polls are coming in, it is obvious that pro-gay-rights candidates have won a majority of the seats on the town's school board.

"Well, it's about time," says voter Evelyn Gaylord, "I'm sick and tired of those Fundamentalist Christians and their Agenda." Mrs. Gaylord's sentiments seem to be shared by many of the voters in today's election.

It appears that the firebrand anti-Fundamentalist rhetoric of several of the candidates hit its mark among the voters. A good example of such rhetoric is from a statement issued by incumbent Simeon Kwir, "Thanks to Fundamentalist activists there are already Christian clubs in our schools. Next on their Agenda is school prayer. It's obvious who their target is: our children. The Fundamentalists are recruiting in schools and that has to stop!"( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY inkedgeekfreak)

I was wondering if there was a list compiled of overtly dominionist corporations. Not just Republican or conservative, but out right pro-christian extremists. I looked through the links and didn't find anything like that and was cusious becuase of the previous Chick-fil-a post.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY amethyst_hunter)

dogemperor, I could really use your fact-finding expertise on this. :)

An aunt of mine sent me a forwarded email today that was from the AFA (led by Donald Wildmon). Basically it's another fear tactic - "Let's freak people out by telling them that a lone atheist is out to get the 'in God we trust' motto removed off currency!" Uh-uh. Not gonna happen, especially in this current political climate. However, I seem to remember that the AFA is an especially suspect dominionist group, and as such I want to post a reply to my aunt (who is *not* any sort of fundamentalist; probably more like she is one of the many who are largely unaware of dominionism in general and its tactics) letting her know that you cannot trust anything coming from that group. But I need some good links for evidence...doesn't have to be a lot, just maybe one or two things that show Wildmon and co. are not the sort of folk that can be trusted.

Thanks. :)

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kittynboi)

This post isn't about "them", the dominionists, but its about "us", those who oppose them.

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately. Is ours one of, if not THE most thankless jobs on the political spectrum? It seems that defending the separation of church and state and promoting a secular society where women and gays are free from persecution and where freedom of speech is intact and secure, is becoming a job fut only for those who can really take the hate that comes with it. The current political climate and the increasingly shrill tone of the dominionist, as well as their continued power grab in the GOP makes our job seemingly insurmountable. So much vitrol is directed at us "secularists", "atheists", or whatever other smear or label they apply to those of us who oppose theocracy.

As I've stated in a response to another post, I also feel growing hatred coming from the left, almost exclusively from the economic/social justice left, and often in the form of wishing the "left" didn't push "divisive" social issues. It seems a considerable part of the left wants people like us, along with feminists, the aclu, etc., out of the left so they can unite bigots to smash the corporations.

I feel increasingly unwelcome in the left, and the right already hates people like me/us. Does anyone else ever feel like what we do, and what groups like AU, the ACLU, etc. do to stop the growing tide of theocracy, is becoming an increasingly rough job, one thats winning universal hatred in the U.S.? Sometimes I just feel despair over this. I'll never stop opposing theocracy, and some issues, those related to this, I will never compromise on for anything.

It seems like the growing influence of the dominionists is simply making our efforts seen in a more and more negative light, and non dominionists groups who may otherwise support us are seeing the opposition of theocracy and the dominionists as political suicide.

I guess my ultimmate fear is that, no matter who wins the political battles, it seems that both sides will eventually bow to the dominionists to some degree, and those of us who don't want a theocracy will be the ultimate losers.

What does everyone think? Does anyone else think the task of opposing dominionists is becoming harder and more politically volatile?


Well, we could always find our own island and start our own society on it. ^o^

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jalendavi_lady)

The Georgia Baptist Convention may be about to cut financial ties with Mercer University over a GLBT organization.

( Article from the Christian Index, by the editor himself )

( Info on the GA Baptist Convention meeting currently in session )

( If it wasn't so tragic, the irony would have me laughing--a bit of Georgia Baptist History )

Please excuse me while I find someplace to be quietly sick about this.

EDIT: The student group was disbanded before the Georgia Baptist Convention voted: The Macon Telegraph- "Gay student support group disbands over Baptist controversy"

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY inkedgeekfreak)

While this is not a straight list of who is involved with the dominionists, this does at least provide a good starting point above and beyond the well known dominionist funded corporations.

http://www.buyblue.org/index.php

Its grassroots, looking for volunteers to help maintain it's database. I especially like that it can be downloaded to your IPOD, so as you spend your money you know where.

Not to be incredibly radical, because I am far from it [conservative, republican, gay] but I truly believe the almighty dollar speaks louder than anything else. If the dominionist movement is to be halted then it must get as little funding as possible. Their sheep will always donate, but why should we contribute to a cause we haven't bought into?

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ns_kumiho)

A PUSH is under way to insert a reference to God in Australia's national anthem.
Several god-fearing Federal MPs say it is time that Advance Australia Fair was amended to reflect the nation's Christian values.

Our national song does not mention God, unlike the anthems of New Zealand, the US and the UK.

Queensland Liberal MP Peter Slipper told Parliament the "importance of God" and Australia's Christian foundations deserved to be recognised in the national anthem.

"Most people, whether practising Christians or not, would accept that Australia is a Christian country and that, as a nation, we have our roots in the Christian faith," he said.

Other parliamentarians, including Family First's Steve Fielding and the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce and Bruce Scott, yesterday voiced support.

Any amendment is likely to be hotly debated.

High-profile Christian and Labor MP Kevin Rudd and Queensland Liberal MP Michael Johnson said a God reference was not needed.

"In the 1890s the sons and fathers debated about whether or not to establish religion in the Australian constitution," Mr Rudd said.

"Wisely they decided not to. The same intelligently applies to our national anthem."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17207815-2,00.html