Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion Religion

[Syrinx]

What is going on?

I can't pick up a "news" magazine or watch a "news" broadcast on the TV without hearing "What Would Jesus Do?" or being asked "Are religious
Americans being ignored?"

I mean, the answer to at least one of those questions is self-evident is it not?

Recently, Jesus made the covers of both Newsweek and Time simultaneously.

What do corporations care about religion anyway?

Nothing, of course, is the answer.

Unless they are whoring it up for the right wing, because they know the real agenda of the "religious" right is deregulation and tax elimination (not cuts) for the corporations and the wealthy that own them, and the subjugation of everyone else.

Have you noticed how much Jesus has been in the news lately? (I can't conceive that you haven't.)

And if you have, is there a less sinister explanation than one that I suggest?

[housewolf]

1. The Religious Right is in control

(or thinks that they are) and they care about it, so the rest of us must be subject to it too.

Another way of looking at it: it's an appeasement to the religious right.

Or: blatent marketing to the religious right

[charlyvi]

2. In a perverse way, I think this is a good thing.

I think most Americans were not aware of the right wing fundamentalists who have so much sway over the Republican party. Now they might be more aware of it; the Schiavo fiasco showed them how intrusive this "new" republican party really is; the party of small hands-off government has radically changed. Most people, I think, don't go along with being told what their morals should be or that fellow citizens who do not follow the rw doctrine are "unAmerican". Most Americans truly believe in freedom of or from religion--now they know how that principle is threatened.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

5. I think you are on the money here

The Schiavo debacle may have done some real damage to the GOP and that is a good thing for America.

[Gin]

14. I agree.....when Roberston ran for the white house,,,it all became

obvious about the christian agenda..they lost.....so...they licked their wounds...went underground..got elected locally...got power...and now feel a sense of tremendous power since Delay and "Retro" George are on their side.

Now...they can't hold it it much longer. Good...Bring it on wing nuts!

[hexola]

3. I have noticed it too...

They are really spinning religion into a lot of stories.

This morning was great though - the runaway brides family was already on TV - proclaiming how thier faith had led them through the crisis. The media was eating it up.

BZZZZZTTTTTT!

A half hour later - it turns out she was likely running from the Masons faith...

Not sure whats up - maybe just the marketplace. Jesus sells.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. A lot of it right now is the marketplace

Publication publish what people will buy, and right now, JC is hot.

[ragin_acadian]

10. you are definately on to something -

i don't know if it is as easy as jesus sells. the hardcore christ-opaths aren't a large enough group to justify target marketing, and they ususally have bizarre trends that advertisers cannot even contemplate (the devil=pepsi type stuff) so jesus saturation of the media doesn't make sense from an advertising perspective, because the market is small and inflexible - so therefore not worth contracts from big corporations aimed at making sales from ad exposure associated with stories designed to appeal to jesus-freaks.

so perhaps this could be one of two things:

1. the moonies - using repetition to aid indoctrination.

2. using the REAL effect of religion to distract and sedate the increasingly unstable american populace into having something else to do other than possibly killing the robber-barons taking over this country.

i dunno, just my perspective :think:

[Freedom_from_Chains]

4. What do corporations care about religion anyway?

Nothing, of course, is the answer.

I would vigorously disagree with you on that, religion is very useful to corporations and in a big way.

It has to do with religion teaches a moral value system which teaches the adherent that he\she is responsible for everything bad that happens to them. It instills a belief that when corporations rape you with their predatory practices it is the consumers fault when something goes wrong and the consumer should bear all of the blame.

Example: Let's say you get yourself in debt and over extended and are being hounded by debt collectors. It of course is your entire fault that you did not manage your money well, and live within your means, and you should make whatever sacrifices are necessary to right this wrong.

It has nothing to do with the predatory marketing practices that corporations use to market their credit cards to people who should not have them, or the aggressive marketing they do, once they give you a card, to load it up with purchases. It also has nothing to do with the usuries rates they charge, or the outrageous fees they charge if you happen to miss a payment or are a couple of days late.

No, that is your entire fault, and religion teaches that if you are a good moral person, you bear the blame for everything, and would never in your wildest dreams think about standing up for yourself in the face of such predatory practices.

[Syrinx]

7. let me clarify

Corporations care about religion. And they manipulate it as much as they are able. But they don't agree with it.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

17. Well of course not

That has always been true about the aristocracy. They don't adhere, or believe, the same thing as the little people. Of course, religion to them, is a joke.

But my point is, and I think you got it, is that religion is a tool for them, so of course they are going to support a regime that implements that tool on the rest of us.

[AndyTiedye]

15. Many Reasons for Some Corporations to Support the Theocracy

This brand of "Christianity" is made-to-order for them.

It teaches people to meekly accept exploitation, as you said.

Fewer programs on TV means they get higher ratings. The more they
can force people to be the same, the easier for big media (and all
other big companies) to sell stuff to them.

There is that Crusade thing. Highly profitable if you are in the
arms business. Or the oil business.

Big concern for unborn people, which evaporates after they are born
and need food, shelter, health care and all that expensive stuff.
Concern for brain-dead ones (but only if their relatives can be
milked for the medical bills, otherwise forgetaboutit).

References to helping the poor, loving thy neighbor, and all that are
conveniently ignored, despite numberous references to such in the New Testament.

No theocracy has ever been overthrown by its own people, in all of
recorded history. I'd love to be proven wrong on this one, because
this is The Big One. Despots usually end up hanging from lampposts
eventually, unless they do it under color of religion, in which case
they can even fuck our kids and get away with it.

[Why Syzygy]

16. No theocracy has ever been overthrown by its own people ?

Isn't that how we got to be the U.S.of A.? Didn't we overthrow the Church of England? In our own way . like on another continent.

Can you elaborate on that statement? I'm somewhat history deficient.

[cornermouse]

23. Actually, we did not overthrow the Church of England.

We ran away from it by moving to another continent. The problem is that at this point, I'm not aware of any new continents to move to.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

18. You got it. n/t

[autorank]

8. I will sleep in Sunday (today) as I have done since I was 13...

...that's when I got the message...THE DAY OF REST MEANS JUST THAT, REST, RELAX, DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING.

Bombastic, corporatist, show-biz-like faith is not going to last. It's come in waves in this country throughout our history and it undoes itself. This will probably be the last wave. When people get a load of what science can do for them, they'll incorporate it into their religion and then the churches won't be much more than a social club.

[Syrinx]

11. I thank you for that

And hope that you are correct!

[dbt]

9. Thank GOD I'm a Heathen!

Having said that, I do believe there was a real person named Jesus who walked this Earth a couple thousand years ago. He was a Master Teacher, an extremely evolved being, and he probably did perform acts that were viewed as miracles.

What he is reported to have said makes all the sense in the world--but what has been foisted on Humanity in his name is SUCH a load of bullshit.

dbt
Baptist-free since 1967

[Syrinx]

12. I agree n/t

[Freedom_from_Chains]

20. I doubt it, and history would seem to indicate otherwise

Most of the story figures that come down to us in mythology are thought to be composites of several people and stories. Even Shakespeare is thought to be the works of several people and not one man.

It is most probable that the stories about JC are like all the others, and the miracles, well they make a good story.

[blogbear]

13. "Religion is the opium of the people" and we live amongst..

addicts..

[Freedom_from_Chains]

19. There are many similarities between religiosity

and drug addiction.

[blogbear]

21. amen!

[MontageOfFreedom]

22. A total insane Fox News run world.

Never been better they say

[unsavedtrash]

24. WWJJD?

What Would Joan Jett Do?

[Kindigger]

25. I was switching from C Span looking for CSI last night

I must have basic cable. I have no antenna. CSPAN comes with my basic cable, but last night I ran by a newly added channel...PAX. I got a glimpse of Deepak Chopra, and stopped. (He's one of my favs).

Then the horror began. The show was called "Faith Under Fire". There was a moderator, and the question was "can all religions be right?" On one side, Mr. Chopra, on the other, a Dumbfuckistanian.

Chopra maintained his position of becoming closer to God through love, good works, and meditation. He was so calm, and never raised his voice.

The other guy was a stark raving loon. "Of course the Evangelical faith is right. Only through Jesus can you know the truth. I am 100% certain because the gospels say so." He went on to say the writers of the gospels were alive shortly after the death of Jesus....they were giving the closest thing to "first hand accounts, and after all, there were people that SAW Jesus had been raised from the dead!"

Chopra, and everyone like him were going to Hell if they didn't wake up. He sometimes turned up the corner of his mouth in amusement. He asked about the "other gospels". The freaky guy dismissed them, as they weren't in HIS Bible.

I need to figure out my remote. I don't even want to surf by that channel again. I'm also calling my cable company to find out who decided this channel should be added, and put in the request for a replacement of Discovery, History, etc.

[OneBlueSky]

26. a pet peeve of mine is when pro athletes thank "my Lord and Savior . . .

Jesus Christ" for helping them hit that home run, pitch that one-hitter, score that touchdown, or make that three-pointer . . .

I doubt very much that Jesus follows professional sports, or favors one team over another . . .

[devinsgram]

27. It will die off, remember

people have short attention spans and will tire of this too. After awhile they will realize this second coming thing is just a sham, just like it was back when we went from 999 to 1000.Then it's on to the next big thing. Personally, I got rid of religion a few years ago and have never felt freer in my whole life.