Bill Moyers Journal tonight: Controversial Endorsement

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030508U.shtml

Controversial Endorsement
Bill Moyers Journal
t r u t h o u t | Programming Note

PBS Airtime: Friday March 7, 2008, at 9 p.m. EST on PBS (check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/about/airdates.html).

John McCain has won the GOP nomination. Can he win the hearts and minds of the Christian right? Bill Moyers Journal reports on popular conservative evangelist John Hagee and his controversial endorsement of McCain. Hagee, leader of the politically powerful group Christians United for Israel (CUFI), has been criticized for controversial remarks about Catholics and about America's role in the Middle East. Some say his message is dangerous: "It is time for America to ... consider a military preemptive strike against Iran to prevent a nuclear holocaust in Israel and a nuclear attack in America," says Hagee in the profile of CUFI in this week's Bill Moyers Journal.

[classof56]

1. Thanks for the heads up.

Hagee is scary indeed. He wants to bring about the end of the world, Christ's return, Armageddon, that whole scene. His interpretation of scripture is a real head-shaker for me, but he has many-many followers who gobble up what he says, swallow it whole and leave everybody else to deal with the indigestion. Hagee and his groupies are one of the reasons I, this born-again lifelong evangelical fundie, no longer attend church, accept what's been shoved down my throat since birth, and in fact barely believe in God these days. If God is there and has the power I was taught he does, he has some serious smiting to do to get my attention.

Or...maybe he's actually going to bring on the end times and it'll all be over anyhow. And nothing. Will. Matter. Anymore.

Boy, not only am I old and tired and cynical I'm pretty danged depressed right now. Will watch Moyers, though. He's got his head on straighter than just about any Christian I know of and he helps keep me balanced.

Thanks again!

[babylonsister]

2. Hey, sorry you're depressed.

I don't know that this show will make you laugh, but he might have a good guest or two to show how dangerous Hagee is and delusional McCain is to think this endorsement doesn't matter. :hug:

[SpiralHawk]

3. republicons like to feed their fear -- and spread it

Hagee and Bush and Rush the rest of their CHICKENHAWK ilk are fear-mongers...and that's why republicons like them.

[JuniperLea]

5. Yep...

They have a charismatic power over the weak and feeble minded.

[JuniperLea]

6. delete

'puter hiccup!

[JuniperLea]

4. I'm a "recovering" Fundie too, classof56...

I understand completely. The hypocrisy I found in church has left me Agnostic... only because they couldn't completely kill the positive thinker in me... she's bruised and battered, but she is hanging in there!

The one thing JC said that these nutjobs seem to forget, is that no man knows the day or hour. Could be next week, could be 100 years from now, could be after lunch tomorrow... no one knows. That to me always spoke to the need to take care of business as if you have all the time in the world. To attempt to bring on the end will only leave the world in far more pain for a lot longer than necessary.

I watched a show about Johnny Cash on PBS last night, and they spoke of his days traveling with the Billy Graham Crusades. I think Graham is the only evangelist I've ever seen who didn't have a lot of hypocrisy following him around. Maybe he walked the talk?

Jesus may have been the son of God, or he may have been a very wise man, or he may have been a complete myth. Regardless, if people really followed what we think of as his teachings, this world would be a better place.

Smiting... yes, indeed. There just isn't enough of it these days.

Sorry you're depressed. I get that way from time to time. I had my 50th birthday last summer, so I'm feeling the old and tired a bit too. But I don't think any human being can actually bring on the end... if there really is an end... religion has been so bastardized, who really knows?

[classof56]

14. Juniperx, , I thank you!

Your words of encouragement mean more than you can know. Sometimes, when I think about my past, and my sister who left me way too soon, and the world as it is comes crushing in on me, I do have moments of "what the hell is this all about??" So I am grateful that you have similar feelings, that I'm not the only ex-fundie who's now an Agnostic (ever read Bart Ehrman? I like him!), and your counsel about being bruised and battered but hanging in there speaks volumes to me. I have tried hard to follow the teachings of Jesus, and some part of me really-really wants to believe God is there and cares. I am reminded of the man who said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief!" It's a struggle and I have just marked my 70th birthday, so maybe the struggle won't last too much longer. I do like, respect and hold Billy Graham in high regard, mainly because he has stuck to the message and not gotten off topic, preaching the word as he believes it, the saving grace of Jesus. I concur with you that no man knows the day and the hour of the end of time, and no one can bring it about, if indeed that part of the gospel is true.

It's late, and this old lady on the west coast is headed off to watch Bil Moyers and then get some rest and perhaps dream of better times. Bless you for being who you are, and whatever the future holds, may you find peace and contentment in the days ahead.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. Listen.

What you feel is not what you are.

Of course, you feel depressed. Most of us feel depressed by the aweful garbage we witness.

How we feel is not indicative of what and who we are, though.

Religion aside, WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE LOT seeking understanding and stuck on advancing the BEST of humanity, rather than engaging in scum-bucket power grabs. So, we will move forward in spite of the normal feelings attached to being strong in our compassion and understanding.

If "end times" arrive, you and I will be the last ones to scurry. Of course, "end times" is a fiction that must be defeated, once and for all.

[crimsonblue]

7. It's ironic that the only mainstream media network

willing to go to task on BushCo and his little buddy, McSame, is the one that is public financed...

[and-justice-for-all]

8. FUCK HAGEE!!

I can not stand that fat piece of shit!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

9. Is he and his still getting exempt status? Are he and his being investigated?

Who is this "Hagee"? Is he REALLY considered a 'voice' for Christians or just another power-sucking evangelist getting far more attention THAN HE DESERVES?

How is he any different from the other "religious fanatics" that Booosh inserts into America?

[babylonsister]

12. Here:

Lots more at the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hagee


Hagee denounces abortion and stopped giving money to Israel's Hadassah hospital when they began performing abortions <8>. He has also spoken out against homosexuality.

In his book Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World, Hagee interprets the Bible to predict Russia and the Islamic states will invade Israel and be destroyed by God. This will cause the anti-Christ, the head of the European Union, to create a confrontation over Israel between China and the West. A final battle between East and West at Armageddon will then precipitate the Second Coming of Christ.<9> In a discussion concerning Muhammad, he claims Muhammad was a man of war and this influence on Islam is the cause of the troubles of Jerusalem.

Theologically, Hagee believes in the "baptism of the Holy Spirit", the "absolute authority of the scripture", miraculous healing, anointing with oil, baptism by immersion, the importance of evangelism, and the "worship of the Lord through singing, clapping, and the lifting of hands."<10>.

Hagee has come under fire in his latest book In Defense of Israel for truly abandoning historic Christianity. Besides the selective quotes of Patristic anti-Semiticism and outlandish and revisionistic references of history, namely the Crusades and the Holocaust, Hagee alienated himself outside the pale of theological orthodoxy by claiming Jesus refused to be the Messiah to the Jews and their rejection of him was no fault of their own. Christian apologist Hank Hannegraff of the Christian Research Institute has written a book called The Apocalypse Code that addresses many of Hagee's heresies.

snip//

Hagee has used hate speech against Catholics.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue issued the following remarks regarding Sen. John McCain’s ties to Pastor John Hagee: “Now that he has secured the Republican nomination for president, and has received the endorsement of President Bush, McCain will now embark on a series of fundraising events. When he meets with Catholics, he is going to be asked about his ties to Hagee. He should also be asked whether he approves of comments like this: ‘A Godless theology of hate that no one dared try to stop for a thousand years produced a harvest of hate.’ “That quote is proudly cited by David Brog in his recent book, Standing with Israel. Both Brog and Hagee clearly identify the Roman Catholic Church as spawning a ‘theology of hate.’ “This is nothing if not hate speech.

more...

[malaise]

11. Kick

Great start. Here comes Hagee!!

These people look crazier than the Florida bunch during the Terry Schiavo saga.

add.

[malaise]

13. This is one of Moyers best programs ever

They're tearing McCain a new one.