God and Conservatism

I was just poking around at GIFS, as is my want from time to time and I stumbled across this sentence: “Adding sense to Evolutionists’ fanatical hatred toward God, conservatism, and anything that represents them.” No, it wasn’t from one of the GIFS lads or lasses, it was a quote from the subtitle of a blog called Weapon Of Mass Destruction. As you can see, it’s an ID fundamentalist blog that makes some very “interesting” claims. As I read that, something struck me. It struck me in the back of the head, just above the neck and it did it quite hard. God and conservatism… Hmmm. Sounds a bit christian far right to me.

But wasn’t Jesus really a bit of a lefty? I mean he preached all that charity and “love thy neighbour” stuff and lived in poverty didn’t he? He was really a bit of a peacenik too, or so it seems to me. Sure, god’s been known to do his share of smiting, but he’s only ever really done that for the Israelites. I mean he never smote Rome for killing his boy did he? Come to think of it, I don’t think he’s ever done any smiting at all in the name of Jesus and I’m sure that Jesus wouldn’t want him to. All those heathens can be saved after all.

I’m also sure Jesus was a firm believer in only taking and keeping what you need too. Easier for a Camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to pass through the gates of heaven and all that. Why say it if you don’t mean it? The guy was supposed to be “Mr. Truthful” after all. So if that’s the case, why do serious christians horde wealth? They’ll tell you it’s to do with stewardship and that christians make the best stewards, but there’s no scriptural basis for that argument at all, except that Paul says that you should be a good steward with what god gives you. Most rich people get that way either because of honest hard work, or like Sylvia Browne, by being complete crooks and shysters and god really has nothing at all to do with it.

So now I’m wondering what right the right have to hijack a religion that was started by and based on the teachings of a lefty. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no evangelist and there’s really not much love lost between god and I, especially when I look around at the state of the world he’s supposed to have created. Let’s face it, if this was what he wanted all along - and it seems to me that an omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient god would have to have known from the very beginning and planned it that way – then he’s probably not a very nice bloke.

But Jesus was a serious lefty who pandered to the minority. In fact, he was the minority. The very embodiment of the underdog. Preaching love, peace and happiness, right under the noses of both the Pharisees and the Romans whom I might add, don’t seem to have been very happy about it, if what the bible says is any guide. I know it’s not much of a guide, but it really is the only document from that time, well almost that time (actually, the first books about him weren’t written until about 70 years after he’s supposed to have died – Luke was first) that mentions the man himself, so I guess we’ll just have to go with it for the moment.

So how did the neo-conservatives and the ultra rich of this world, who seem to have some serious representation in  the “religious right” and don’t seem to be at all averse to the idea of a bit of a war or some killing and destruction to protect their financial interests, ever come to think that they understood what Jesus is supposed to have said and stood for in the first place? It seems a tad hypocritical to me. You only have to listen to George for a minute or two and you’ll almost certainly hear about god and how fantastic and important Jesus is. I know the poor boy had an upbringing that indoctrinated him at an early age, but if he wants us to believe that he’s intelligent enough to be the president of the U.S., then that’s really no excuse.

9:05 AM - 2/2/2007 - post comment

Power of Nightmares

Covers it very well. Neocons don't necessarily believe in religion. They just think that it is desirable that the sheeple do so that they can be manipulated by the neocons.

snowy - 7:37 PM - 2/2/2007

Yep...

I think you're pretty much on the money there Snowy. Just an ideal to keep the masses happy.

But then there's the Hill$ong "let's get rich for Jesus" crowd. These are the ones that really get my goat....

It just so happens that there's a few evangelists handing out tracts and evangelising out the front of work tonight. I might go and have a little chat with them later...:)

plonka - 8:10 PM - 2/2/2007

Shepple

mmm... I've never considered myself one of the 'shepple'...My personal rule about religion, is generally something like: "Do not follow, for I may not lead. Do not lead, for I may not follow. Just go over there somewhere, please?" LOL Dee

deena - 9:16 AM - 3/2/2007

Lol

Nice one Dee...:) We're all the sheeple though, whether we like to admit it or not, I think. Someof us are just more cynical than others, that's all...:)

plonka - 9:56 AM - 3/2/2007

Souls for sale

Religion. The lazy man's way of dealing with reality.

Ya gotta hand it to the Evangelists. They saw the sucker market and realised it's just too easy.

Some years back a Sydney businessman went tits up financially and did a runner. He holed up in a religious property outside Sydney one of those communes that people drift into.

He wasn't discovered for a month or so but eventually he resurfaced to be dealt with by the law. The clincher was an item in the Fin Rev where they interviewed the owner of the commune. His comment was "I thought he was a bit brighter than my usual members."

I assumed his current "clients" were happy enough with the comment.

petermcc - 4:48 PM - 3/2/2007

Sheeple

Speak for yourself, Plonka. And give my regards to the fundies. Maybe you could refer them to Dee as a soul that really needs saving.... ;o)

snowy - 4:55 PM - 3/2/2007

Not surprised

Strange thing is Pete that I'm not surprised. Either by the fact the leader thought he was smarter than his average member or that the average member didn;t mind being called stupid.

Yep, they've certainly done a number with it, spun it around and run with it all the way...

plonka - 5:15 PM - 3/2/2007

Come on

Snowy. I'm sure you've voted with the majority in the past then six months later, wondered what the hell ever posessed you to do it...

I did say "to an extent" and I think that you and I are probably some of the most cynical I know. But I also think that's a good and healthy thing...:)

As to the evangelicals, we got as far as:

Him: "Evening friend, how are you tonight?"

Me: "Better than you, I think."

He turned his back on me. I waited until I finished my smoke for him to deliver his next line but alas, I could wait no longer...:(

Edited by plonka on 3/2/2007 at 12:35 AM

plonka - 5:43 PM - 3/2/2007

Checked out the site

GIFS. What a little gem.

Love the GSHF. God still hates Florida line.

petermcc - 6:10 PM - 3/2/2007

Maybe I have, Plonka

But I'm not going to admit it to you. ;o)

I don't know that we really should call ourselves "cynics". We have taken the trouble to think about a lot of things that are taken for granted by many. That we have come out the other end with a different perspective doesn't make us cynics. I like to think "enlightened". Well, that's what I like to think, anyway...

Can you let me know next time you are going to enlighten the fundies. It would be worth the trip to Melbourne just to eavesdrop.

Did you ever get to watch "The Power of Nightmares"? I think you'd enjoy it. Peter also.

snowy - 6:19 PM - 3/2/2007

GIFS

Yes Pete, they are a gem. There's a link for the 2% company down the righthand side somewhere that's worth having a poke around in too. Serious sceptics and excellent fun...:)

plonka - 7:29 PM - 3/2/2007

Fair enough

Snowy, I don't like to admit it either...:)

Yes, I did have a look at that Snowy and fascinating it was.

The Jehovah's made the mistake of knocking on the door today. A pity it was nearly lunch time and I hadn't slept after night shift yet. I kept losing my train of thought and had to leave it be. I got the "Watchtower" and "Awake" though, so there's another post or two coming about those lads...:)

Apparently we can live forever, perish the thought...

Edited by plonka on 3/2/2007 at 2:32 AM

plonka - 7:34 PM - 3/2/2007

RE conservatism

I was thinking about this the other day too. I came to the conclusion that the fundie conservative christians have more in common with the god of the old testament and the more liberal, moderate christians have more in common with jesus in the new testament.

The old testament god is a bully and a control freak and the new testament version is more hippy -like, peave, love and all that stuff.

BTW, you're tagged. :)

beepbeepitsme - 10:17 PM - 3/2/2007

I saw...:)

You make a good point Beep, with the old vs. new testament gods. It only just struck me that Jesus was a lefty when I read that quote at GIFS. You're spot on about the old testament god though, control freak and a half...:)

As to the tag, I saw... Thanks for putting me in such good company...:) I'll post a comment on yours when I'm done...

plonka - 10:31 PM - 3/2/2007

RE songs

Some great choices mate. I was pleased to see that an aussie song got in the list too. ;)

beepbeepitsme - 3:08 PM - 4/2/2007

Had to

There are some great Aussie songs Beep, but that one is a particular favorite of mine. You have to do the dance though...

Thanks for the tag...:)

plonka - 3:22 PM - 4/2/2007

Ah. Old vs New Testaments

My Favourite observation.

My pet question to God Botherers who say they are guided by the Bible is "Which part? The eye for an eye or the peace and love? You can't have it both ways."

But, you know what? They can. Just keep on snoozing and ignore the question. Hell thats what they signed up for. Less thinking.

petermcc - 3:43 PM - 4/2/2007

Old vs. New

Yep, they can alright. They reconsile it as a new covenant.

I had some Jehovah's around yesterday. They got a bit upset with me when I said that I didn't like god very much, if what we have is what he wanted. Of course, it wasn't god's fault that things are as bad as they are, that's the devil. But there'll be more about that in another post...:)

plonka - 5:54 PM - 4/2/2007