"Jesus Made Me Puke", Undercover with the Christian Right »
Posted by: RickyDawkins 4 months, 2 weeks ago164 Comments Report this Story
I joined a megachurch in Texas Hill Country to get a look inside the evangelical mindset that gave the country eight years of George W. Bush. We don't get to see the batty world they live in, when the cameras are turned off and their pastors are not afraid of saying the really dumb stuff, for fear of it showing up on TV. I feared for my normal.
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RickyDawkins4 months, 2 weeks ago
It's all a con that is done with the consent of the conned. Which is what gives it strength. If everybody agrees to believe, it is real.
The hooting and howling went on seemingly forever. It was nearly an hour and a half before Fortenberry was done. He had cast out the demons of every ailment, crime, domestic problem and intellectual discipline on the face of the Earth. He cast out horoscopes, false gods, witches, intellectual pride, nearsightedness, everything, it seemed to me, except maybe E. coli and John Updike novels. At least four of the men and about six of the women writhed and screamed and fussed themselves into sheer physical exhaustion, collapsing in chairs by the time it was over.
By then most of us were just sitting there mute, looking around absent-mindedly, waiting for it to end. I was sitting there, clutching my demon vomit bag perhaps the single greatest souvenir of my journalistic career...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/2027...
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Goppy4 months, 2 weeks ago
I have a hard tiem with this story Ricky.
See, the problem is, the auther never intended on recievin grace. So, he never was liekly to get a true insight into the whole experience.
Only if you enter with the INTENT to release all resistence will you accept that Neo-Conservatism is your lord and savior.
Then, you TOO will vote straight ticket Republican.
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AbuAmirah4 months, 2 weeks ago
Yikes, more economic misery, more decline in the infrastructure, more deficit spending, more of the dollar tanking, more of the oil companies gross profits, schools getting worse and so forth. Yeah, America. Vote republican for 4 more years of nothing but war, contractor and oil company profits with crumbling bridges and broken levies
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disraeli4 months, 2 weeks ago
Ricky,
Just starting reading this story, very interesting.
Then I noticed.
It was posted May 1, 2008. That's right - a week from now. This glimpse into the future is just a little divinely freaky. How do they do that? How do they know what will be published a week from now? And who are they? And did they prepay their subscription to Rolling Stone?
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ML2007Comment removed: User banned.
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BravoSierra4 months, 2 weeks ago
lol...even if it's pure fiction...it's exactly correct...lol. I grew up out in far West Texas...a Catholic boy bein' told he was goin' ta haelll and always being drug off to evangelical revivals by is buddies... What a hoot. Later we'd go drink beer and for graduation it was prostitutes across the border in Mexico...or the traveling strip shows in tents in the country. But for the "chosen" such things are irrelevant...another revival and you're good for another year...lol.
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mdual4 months, 2 weeks ago
Fundamentalism is alive and well in all religions. There will always be religiious leaders that are frankly mentally deranged but unfortunately - clever.
There are too many weak and hurt people that look to someone powerful to save them. Anything can be "interpreted" to rationalize any set of viewpoionts.
There is no critical thinking in fundamentalism and never has been.
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hyplar34 months ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxobgkPEAo
Hello, Mr. Dawkins. I'm kinda new here, but, the video above captures the workings of cell. Does this look like it could happen by accident?
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rdy2rck4 months, 2 weeks ago
I have been through similar experiences when I began "searching" for a church and am very uncomfortable about what is loosely termed the "Christian Right."
I attend seminars occasionally thinking to pray and study the Bible. Recently, one I attended you could feel the joke.Pancake makeup, pleas for money.And when it came time to "step" forth for miracle prayers, the first five fell, knees buckling in the same manner and all five lying in a perfect row in EXACTLY the same manner. Now that's a miracle.:)
I guess my Christianity is a different "brand."
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SonOfTheMask4 months, 2 weeks ago
I was going to give it a go until I realized it was Matt Taiibi. Sorry, call me what you will, I won't read anything by that guy. I should have known by the title that it was one of his pieces.
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rdy2rck4 months, 2 weeks ago
I thought that 2 Son and just got back to say I do believe the article showed total bias and the conclusions were predetermined but I felt I wanted to make a reasonable response.
And just for the record, All Christians are not like that.
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RickyDawkins4 months, 2 weeks ago
I think it is commendable that Matt Taiibi is shedding light on fundamentalists such as these, whether they are Christian or not.
In my opinion, it is unwise and unsafe to let dogma run rampant.
For example, the Texas polygamy sect which was recently raided on accusations of child abuse, it is owned and operated by religious fundamentalists.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/art...
It would have been preferable to expose something like that before any children (and adults) were harmed by the fundamentalists.
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catstevensComment removed: User banned.
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jordan114 months, 2 weeks ago
Maybe this will peak some interest about what the writer is trying to convey. Here it is from the horses mouth, so to speak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auf-Su-xZVU
Certainly not all Christians are like this; however, of the one's who are, which political party do they vote for, and which party vigorously solicits their vote? Do they expect something in return? Have they gotten something in return?
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jordan114 months, 2 weeks ago
If you can get past the hokey voice and music, here's another goodun.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/john-mccain-e...
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memestryker4 months, 2 weeks ago
The U.S. was arguably on the leading edge in stem cell research prior to Bush's election. Tax money has been flowing to religious organizations to provide "faith-based services" with a strong dose of prosyletizing--just when people are in their darkest hour and most susceptible. Information on effective use of condoms disappeared from websites immediately following Bush's inauguration, with "under construction" popping up. Bush stacked the Supreme Court with social conservatives. I'd say they expected and got a lot.
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Lurch4 months, 2 weeks ago
Rev. Hagee obeys a higher authority than America, than our constitution, than our democracy, than our liberty, than our freedom.
Rev. Hagee obeys Israel.
Yeah, makes me want to vote for McCain when I see McCain chases after bigots and hate-mongers like Hagee who believe its their calling to `hurry-up` Jesus in bringing on Armageddon.
Has McCain denounces or distanced himself from this whack-job yet?
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memestryker4 months, 2 weeks ago
McCain is in trouble. He was hoping to closely tie himself to the far right, which won 2 elections for Bush. Hagee is a double-hitter: fundamentalists/evangelicals and Jews. But Catholics are turning on McCain for various reasons and the radical right never liked him in the first place.
He also doesn't have the pro-self defense vote. He's not much stronger than Clinton in that area. Once the Democrats' p*ssing contest ends and they focus their wrath on him, he'll be in worse trouble.
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david_nwpa4 months, 2 weeks ago
Ricky,
By far one of the best articles I have read lately. That is saying quite a bit, since some of them have been off the charts good. The whole Fortenberry scam is nothing more than a bunch of hocus-pocus. It is Deepak Chopra dressed up in Christian clothing. Frankly, the whole concept of religion seems droll and stupid to me. No matter what anyone else says, religion was invented to service the rich and keep the poor in line. If the government tells you whom to worship, you have little other choice. Of course, I am referring to the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, but I could just as easily be referring to recovering addicts who are forced into religious rehab. Folks, this whole shtick is designed to make a few elitist a$$holes incredibly rich. Wake up or get fleeced.
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memestryker4 months, 2 weeks ago
david nwpa, Deepak Chopra is not just a religious figure, so I personally wouldn't include him among the religion snake-oil salesmen. His books are much more practical than doctrinal.
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quemara4 months, 2 weeks ago
david, I don't think that religion is necessarily a bad idea. It gives many people hope that there will be better times. I have worked with many people on their death beds and the thought that God (no matter how you may call him) is waiting to care for them afterward is very comforting to them and their family. I hate it when people use their religion as a basis for threatening or force their beliefs on others. I think that people that read their "Bibles" should read them for the stories that they are. They are here for guidance, they are not here for reading verbatum. We should read them and interpret what the true meaning is here. The bible has been changed many times and it is also the writings of man in our language. I agree totally that these evangelicals are using this on the weak and it makes me sick... THEY do get large amounts of money from unsuspecting people.. what a shame..
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jordan114 months, 2 weeks ago
He could be after selling his book, but from what I have heard come straight out of Hagee's mouth, among other religious zealots (who, by the way, are a powerful lobby group), it would seem awfully short sighted not to look past his book, and consider a movement that's dangerous.
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RickyDawkins4 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you for the information crg.
Here is his website so you can pre-order:
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/author/matt_taibbi
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Radiofreeeuropa4 months, 2 weeks ago
Well who writes and publishes books for free? Maybe "the Watchtower"?
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AntiNeoCon4 months, 2 weeks ago
Not to worry, its just Ricky again...trying to disprove God.
Same old BS...sorry Ricky, I couldn't read the whole 8 pages without going to sleep.
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vor4 months, 2 weeks ago
The onus is truly on you to prove there is a God. Otherwise your faith is a blind faith. For you are believing in something for which there is no evidence. As Hitchens pointed out, if there were a God and he was trying to evidence himself to man he is doing a pathetic job with his salt stains on underpasses of the Virgin Mary and grilled cheese sandwiches showing Jesus burnt into the crust. This is the best that such a being can do?
Or consider the abuse that went on in the Catholic Church for centuries. Rather than any sort of punishment bestowed upon it, the church has flourished. The pope is still surrounded by gilded objects and there are now nearly a billon Catholics worldwide. Yet the church leaders clearly turned a blind eye, never admitting it is the very lifestyle the Church created for these men that led them to pedophilia. The church leaders clearly moved these men from parish to parish to hide their deeds. As if this was sanctioned by God.
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quemara4 months, 2 weeks ago
I think that what the priests do to the children is horrible. However, I believe that they would have done it whether they were priests or not.. it is not something that happens because of situations.. it is in them already.. There are too many priests that do not moleste for this theory to be true..
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Mutainia4 months, 2 weeks ago
I think that he feels that IF he can destroy your faith in God, he believes that you'll be far happier. That you'll be able to do whatEVER you want without the fear of hell, and, you'd only rob a bank or rape someone due to a chemical imbalance (NOT from a desperate need to live life to the fullest before it's over). I think he believes atheism will benefit the human race for the better WHEN it realizes that this is the ONLY life it will ever have. That love CAN mean something when it's believed to only be a chemical process, and, nothing divinely SOUL related. Well, it's either THIS for his atheist preachings that many seem to call noble, OR, he's trying to be remembered for something before he dies. Perhaps it's both.
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david_nwpa4 months, 2 weeks ago
OK, I am not sure what you are trying to say, but it makes zero sense. I do not believe in God, but I do not go around committing crimes either. I believe that it is important to live in peace with one another as a means of protecting our planet and the people on it whom I love.
The rest of your ramblings made no sense. Thanks for yammering, though.
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Radiofreeeuropa4 months, 2 weeks ago
So he is trying to hide from man? But if we pretend we see him/her/whatever we are rewarded after we are dead? Sounds silly to me. sorry.
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Charlson4 months, 2 weeks ago
Maybe he's providing a warm blanket to many of us who are atheists and have had to stay in our closets because of the majority of people who wrongly believe we are evil and must be stamped out. Just because we are Godless does not mean we have no morals and are evil. Look around you, I'll bet you know many who profess to be religious but do things that are clearly against the tenets of their religion. If I commit a crime and get caught, I would most likely be punished. But if I repent and ask for forgiveness, will the court system absolve me from my crime? If I commit a sin and get caught but repent and ask for forgiveness, God will forgive me and absolve me from his punishment of everlasting doom. What's the lesson I've learned?
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memestryker4 months, 2 weeks ago
AntiNeoCon--get a grip! "God" is a metaphor, a means of communicating ideas about something mysterious. Even the Jews, who provided us the pentateuch, mostly don't believe in an actual personal male supernatural omniscient, omnipotent being with giant cahones.
My Jewish friends refer to the "name of God" above the temple entrances (I Am That I Am) and refer to it in writing as "G-d". Paulist teaching is what most major "Christian" sects primarily follow.
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