Blowing the Lid off the Bizarre (and Frighteningly Powerful) Members of The Family

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/141456/blowing_the_lid_off_the_bizarre_(and_frighteningly_powerful)_members_of_the_family/

Posted by tristero, Hullabaloo at 6:30 AM on July 21, 2009.

These people are seriously demented, un-Democratic, and fanatical. Most importantly, they are in positions of great power.

Jeff Sharlet continues his brilliant reporting on the bizarre christo-fascist cult called "the Family" which counts among its members some of the most powerful people holding elected office in the United States. How bizarre and extreme is the Family?

Attempting to explain what it means to be chosen for leadership like King David was -- or Mark Sanford, according to his own estimate -- asked a young man who'd put himself, body and soul, under the Family's authority, "Let's say I hear you raped three little girls. What would I think of you?" The man guessed that Coe would probably think that he was a monster. "No," answered Coe, "I wouldn't." Why? Because, as a member of the Family, he's among what Family leaders refer to as the "new chosen." If you're chosen, the normal rules don't apply.

And just who are known to be members of the Family?

Men under the Family's religio-political counsel include, in addition to Ensign, Coburn and Pickering, Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, both R-S.C.; James Inhofe, R-Okla., John Thune, R-S.D., and recent senators and high officials such as John Ashcroft, Ed Meese, Pete Domenici and Don Nickles. Over in the House there's Joe Pitts, R-Penn., Frank Wolf, R-Va., Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., and John R. Carter, R-Texas. Historically, the Family has been strongly Republican, but it includes Democrats, too. There's Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, for instance, a vocal defender of putting the Ten Commandments in public places, and Sen. Mark Pryor, the pro-war Arkansas Democrat responsible for scuttling Obama's labor agenda. Sen. Pryor explained to me the meaning of bipartisanship he'd learned through the Family: "Jesus didn't come to take sides. He came to take over." And by Jesus, the Family means the Family...

The Family sponsors missions overseas

the Family missionaries aren't representing the United States. They're representing "Jesus plus nothing," as Doug Coe puts it, the "totalitarianism of God," in the words of an early Family leader, a vision that encompasses not just social issues but also the kind of free-market fundamentalism that is the real object of devotion for Ensign, Coburn, Pickering, Wamp and Sanford, along with Family insiders such as Sens. DeMint, Sam Brownback and Chuck Grassley...


When they arrive in other countries, on trips paid for by the Family, at the behest of the Family, they are still traveling under official government auspices, on official business, with the pomp and circumstance -- and access -- of their taxpayer-funded, elected positions. Here's how a former National Security Council official who traveled with Family leader Doug Coe on a tour of Pacific nations described the Family effect in small nations where a visitor like John Ensign is a major event: "It reminded me of the story in World War II, where the British sent an OSS type into Borneo ... And this guy parachuted out of the sky and they had never seen anything like this so they looked on him as -- he had blonde hair and white skin and he was a white god who had come out of the sky to mobilize them. Obviously his side was going to win so they had no trouble aligning themselves."

And their megalomania knows no bounds:

Counseling Rep. Tiahrt, Doug Coe offered Pol Pot and Osama bin Laden as men whose commitment to their causes is to be emulated. Preaching on the meaning of Christ's words, he says, "You know Jesus said 'You got to put Him before mother-father-brother sister? Hitler, Lenin, Mao, that's what they taught the kids. Mao even had the kids killing their own mother and father. But it wasn't murder. It was for building the new nation. The new kingdom."


Every once in a while, someone tries to make a case that American democracy does not face any real threat from christianists and theocrats, that it's all overblown.


Thanks to Jeff Sharlet, among others, we know that that is just whistling in the dark. These people are seriously demented, seriously un-Democratic, and seriously fanatical. Most importantly, they are not seeking positions of great power. They are in positions of great power.

[livetohike]

1. "The new kingdom" - I hope this story stays alive

They are a dangerous cult. I think Joe Scarborough has to be among those names as well.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. When Scarborogh was on with Bill Maher last Friday, Maher asked him about C-Street

and Scarborough was totally dodgy about it.

[livetohike]

6. I have a feeling there are a lot ot things Scarborough

has to hide. He just looks smarmy.

[goclark]

52. I would not turn my back on Joe, we know what can happen nt

Edit to add: How did he get his job and keep it this long?

[PRETZEL]

14. I don't think that's suprising,

I can't see where anyone is going to willingly come forward.

It would be of some curiosity to see how many Newtite's have some association with the Family.

[Kalyke]

38. I do, too.

Zach Wamp is running for governor of Tennessee and the more creepy things people hear about him, the less of a chance that nut gets elected to ruin the state even more.

[fascisthunter]

3. The Family... another Nazi-Like Cult

time to lock them up and get them out of power and fast!

[live love laugh]

94. It's important to separate common religion from this type. DU and

many progressives have hammered the Christian Right for years and made fun of religion. The beliefs that most people hold have little to do with the twisted agenda of The Family and common religious people are not plotting to overtake the government and other countries' governments.

[mr blur]

103. The "beliefs that most people hold" are part of the problem -

they enable these loonies to be seen as just "extreme" believers in what can be seen as essentially a "harmless" belief system. But it's not - delusion is delusion whether you're trying to take over the country or just going to a church once a week to "communicate" with a non-existent, mythological figure. "Common religious people" are still suffering from the same irrational view of the Universe. Anyone who makes decisions based on acceptance that a fantasy is actually real is part of the problem.

[rucognizant]

133. Word!

[valerief]

146. Well said. I wish more people understood this point. nt

[JerseygirlCT]

111. Absolutely. And if they see Christianity as totalitarian

they've managed to completely miss the point.

[fascisthunter]

123. Sorry, the The Family sounds like a cult

religion aside... I could care less about religion. This isn't about religion but about a fanatical elite using god as a way to justify their elitism and disdain for democracy itself.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

178. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a cult.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

181. ....

[JNelson6563]

182. Seems to me "common religious people"

may want to work on getting more effective at reigning in their over-zealous brethern. Or at least denouncing those efforts. Or anything really.

Julie--who thinks too many mainstream Christians turn a blind eye to the zealots in their flod

[ensho]

4. as this proves - the religiously insane are dangerous

and need to be barred from any and all power

removed from society

and never re elected

[rucognizant]

134. Nothing new.......

religiously insane are dangerous/ has been true for centuries!

[blm]

5. Don't ignore Hillary Clinton's role. In her 2003 book she praised Coe and his ability as a mentor.

Coe had been mentoring her since 1993.

[redqueen]

7. For some reason that fact seems to be scarcely mentioned...

lots of threads ignoring the Dems who are involved in this sickness.

[blm]

11. They can't admit that the 90s 'battles' with the RW were dogandpony shows meant to divert attention

from all the watercarrying the Clintons were doing for BushInc and the fascist agenda.

[Echo In Light]

13. Which speaks volumes, or should, re so called "electable" Dem candidates, and who establishes that..

...prevailing pov within the public mind.

[Maru Kitteh]

32. 1. Only MEN can be in the family. 2. Sharlett said that "Hillary’s no stealth fundamentalist by any

"Hillary’s no stealth fundamentalist by any means." and that she was essentially trying to get the Christian right off her back.

Is that admirable? No.

But give me Hillary Clinton an damn day of the week before any of these whack-jobs. It's important to keep an eye on associations. It's even more important to retain one's sense of discernment.

I.E. Dennis Kucinich is a devout Catholic but I do not believe that one can color his intentions as pro-Catholic. Obama spent 20 years in the church of J. Wright who has obvious anti-Semitic leanings, but I do not believe one can construe from this that Obama is anti-Semitic. Kucinich has used his Catholicism to gain votes and take some heat out of his opposition's arguments. Obama used his church to get votes and take some heat out of his opposition's arguments. It looks like Hillary was also trying to take some heat out of her opposition's arguments against her.

[blm]

44. Hey Maru - HRC praised Coe - she didn't HAVE to. She certainly had NOTHING to say in her book

about John Kerry, did she? Nothing about IranContra matters, nothing about BCCI, nothing about CIA drugrunning, nothing about Iraqgate. NO PRAISE for any of Kerry's TRULY ADMIRABLE contributions, but, she managed to praise Coe.

But then, neither Clinton WANTED a John Kerry to win 2004 did they?

They sure do love the Bushes and the Family, though, eh?

[defendandprotect]

58. HRC is leadership for corporate-DLC . . . corporate fascism, that is . . .

[Obama2012]

121. Good post

[kenfrequed]

127. Whether you agree or not

I think you should probably address this with more than a staccatto subject line.

Personally I don't know about the Clinton connectivness to the family, there are certainly a lot of DLC sorts that have decent relations with the organization.

If you want to make a counter argument, list a few reasoning points in this magic white block called "the message" section.

[Obama2012]

131. I've responded on this topic with more words elsewhere in the thread

nt

:)

[kenfrequed]

139. Right in your other responses...

You wrote three or four words here.
---

You pointed out hillary is a middle of the road methodist. This is fine. That is something closer to an argument, though not a very detailed one. And Bush was definitely a Methodist as well so it really isn't much of a defense.

What would be nice now would be Hillary publically distancing herself from this group. You know, the way all the conservadems here were screaming for Obama to renounce his Reverend Wright.

But what will happen is that they will play this off and hope that it drops from public consciousness which sadly lets this Christo-facist group continue to screw over America and a progressive agenda.

[Obama2012]

140. Other responses also are just as short, why are you only telling me to write longer ones?

I'll just take it as a compliment on my brilliance that you want to hear me expound upon my brilliant ideas, because you clearly would not be singling me out because I'm new. That would be against the rules.

:)

[AspenRose]

156. Marsha Blackburn was listed in the article as a member

And Jo Ann Emerson. Maybe they've changed their requirements :shrug:

[Obama2012]

120. Why that is a soundproof conspiracy theory!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. Someone had a thread about that last week and it was slammed by many because (GASP) it was

a negative aspect about Hillary.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. Link to thread about Hillary's connection to Coe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=6046260

[JTFrog]

102. Sharlet did a Mother Jones article about Hillary's involvement with The Family:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics

Hillary's Prayer: Hillary Clinton's Religion and Politics

For 15 years, Hillary Clinton has been part of a secretive religious group that seeks to bring Jesus back to Capitol Hill. Is she triangulating—or living her faith?

It was an elegant example of the Clinton style, a rhetorical maneuver subtle, bold, and banal all at once. During a Democratic candidate forum in June, hosted by the liberal evangelical group Sojourners, Hillary Clinton fielded a softball query about Bill's infidelity: How had her faith gotten her through the Lewinsky scandal?
After a glancing shot at Republican "pharisees," Clinton explained that, of course, her "very serious" grounding in faith had helped her weather the affair. But she had also relied on the "extended faith family" that came to her aid, "people whom I knew who were literally praying for me in prayer chains, who were prayer warriors for me."

..........

When Clinton first came to Washington in 1993, one of her first steps was to join a Bible study group. For the next eight years, she regularly met with a Christian "cell" whose members included Susan Baker, wife of Bush consigliere James Baker; Joanne Kemp, wife of conservative icon Jack Kemp; Eileen Bakke, wife of Dennis Bakke, a leader in the anti-union Christian management movement; and Grace Nelson, the wife of Senator Bill Nelson, a conservative Florida Democrat.

Clinton's prayer group was part of the Fellowship (or "the Family"), a network of sex-segregated cells of political, business, and military leaders dedicated to "spiritual war" on behalf of Christ, many of them recruited at the Fellowship's only public event, the annual National Prayer Breakfast. (Aside from the breakfast, the group has "made a fetish of being invisible," former Republican Senator William Armstrong has said.) The Fellowship believes that the elite win power by the will of God, who uses them for his purposes. Its mission is to help the powerful understand their role in God's plan.

..........

These days, Clinton has graduated from the political wives' group into what may be Coe's most elite cell, the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. Though weighted Republican, the breakfast—regularly attended by about 40 members—is a bipartisan opportunity for politicians to burnish their reputations, giving Clinton the chance to profess her faith with men such as Brownback as well as the twin terrors of Oklahoma, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn, and, until recently, former Senator George Allen (R-Va.). Democrats in the group include Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, who told us that the separation of church and state has gone too far; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is also a regular.

..........

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

104. Thank you for this must read article! :)

[BolivarianHero]

20. I know...

I even know professors I hold in high esteem who selectively ignore all this out of their slavish love for this two-faced neocon lawyer.

[PainPerdu]

80. "Christian Mafia"

EXPOSÉ: THE “CHRISTIAN” MAFIA
The term “Christian Mafia” is what several Washington politicians have termed the major conspirators and it is not intended to debase Christians or infer ...
www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia.htm - Cached - Similar

This was written long before Sharlet's book and is a primer on The Family.

Very long,but indispensible for the history of Christian Capitalism.
A MUST,imho.

LOTS of names named-including Hillary.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

118. I posted this link below after a fellow DUer posted that this article had been deleted by the Mods

when it came out. You know, those darn conspiracy theorists..... :sarcasm:

[Obama2012]

119. She's Methodist, which is pretty much non-nutty, middle-of-the-road type stuff

And only men are allowed in "The Family."

[blm]

128. She's WITH them and has PRAISED Coe. Whether sincere or opportunistic makes no difference.

.

[Obama2012]

129. There is a difference

[valerief]

147. No, there isn't. When the foundation is crazy, the whole building is crazy. nt

[blm]

153. No - there is NOT a difference. ACCEPTING their place as an integral component of power is NOT smart

or conducive to honest and accountable governance.

[JTFrog]

142. Wrong.

Maybe she's the only woman in the elite circle (I haven't seen any others named), but nonetheless, Hillary has been part of The Family for over fifteen years.

From the link in my post above:

These days, Clinton has graduated from the political wives' group into what may be Coe's most elite cell, the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. Though weighted Republican, the breakfast—regularly attended by about 40 members—is a bipartisan opportunity for politicians to burnish their reputations, giving Clinton the chance to profess her faith with men such as Brownback as well as the twin terrors of Oklahoma, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn, and, until recently, former Senator George Allen (R-Va.). Democrats in the group include Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, who told us that the separation of church and state has gone too far; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is also a regular.

Read some of the information provided here on this page before you start professing how distanced Hillary supposedly is from this group.

[Obama2012]

144. I've read this all before. Read it when it was in Mother Jones actually

I just think it's crap that's been blown out of proportion. She clearly doesn't have the voting record of a fundamentalist.

I'm not professing anything. I'm sharing my opinion. I thought that's what this place was for.

[JTFrog]

150. Putting your fingers in your ears is not going to change anything.

Unlikely partnerships have become a Clinton trademark. Some are symbolic, such as her support for a ban on flag burning with Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and funding for research on the dangers of video games with Brownback and Santorum. But Clinton has also joined the gop on legislation that redefines social justice issues in terms of conservative morality, such as an anti-human-trafficking law that withheld funding from groups working on the sex trade if they didn't condemn prostitution in the proper terms. With Santorum, Clinton co-sponsored the Workplace Religious Freedom Act; she didn't back off even after Republican senators such as Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter pulled their names from the bill citing concerns that the measure would protect those refusing to perform key aspects of their jobs—say, pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions, or police officers who won't guard abortion clinics.

Clinton has championed federal funding of faith-based social services, which she embraced years before George W. Bush did; Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel, says that the Clintons' approach to faith-based initiatives "set the stage for Bush." Clinton has also long supported the Defense of Marriage Act, a measure that has become a purity test for any candidate wishing to avoid war with the Christian right.

She has also been a neocon's wet dream with her votes for war (including pushing Senator Byrd off the Senate floor during his anti-war speech so she could lay out the blueprint for using force against Saddam) and kyl-lieberman, voting against banning cluster bombs, and her support of NAFTA. Yea, no sign of conservative fundy influence in her voting and actions :eyes:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but you aren't allowed to your own "facts".

[Obama2012]

151. How do any of those votes have anything to do with fundamentalism?

And plenty of other Dems voted with her on those. Where's the outrage over that?

[JTFrog]

152. Did you resurrect strictly to come here and defend Hillary?

What do any of those votes have to do with fundamentalism???!!!??

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[Obama2012]

169. Huh?

I'm just not seeing the link between those votes and fundamentalism.

I don't agree with them, but I don't see the religion link.

[JTFrog]

171. How can you miss the multiple "religion links" (as you put it) just in those two paragraphs alone?

Unlikely partnerships have become a Clinton trademark. Some are symbolic, such as her support for a ban on flag burning with Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and funding for research on the dangers of video games with Brownback and Santorum. But Clinton has also joined the gop on legislation that redefines social justice issues in terms of conservative morality, such as an anti-human-trafficking law that withheld funding from groups working on the sex trade if they didn't condemn prostitution in the proper terms. With Santorum, Clinton co-sponsored the Workplace Religious Freedom Act; she didn't back off even after Republican senators such as Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter pulled their names from the bill citing concerns that the measure would protect those refusing to perform key aspects of their jobs—say, pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions, or police officers who won't guard abortion clinics.

Clinton has championed federal funding of faith-based social services, which she embraced years before George W. Bush did; Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel, says that the Clintons' approach to faith-based initiatives "set the stage for Bush." Clinton has also long supported the Defense of Marriage Act, a measure that has become a purity test for any candidate wishing to avoid war with the Christian right.

Seriously? No religious links? :eyes:

Can you hear me now?

Cognitive dissonance at it's finest. :crazy:

[Obama2012]

172. If I recall, she supported repealing most of DOMA

And she can't be too much of a homophobe because she's certainly marched in enough gay pride parades.

[JTFrog]

173. Spin spin spin little one. I know you just can't help it.

Oh, and welcome back :hi:

[MadHound]

154. Umm, Bush boy is Methodist

And he's another evangelical nut also.:shrug:

[AspenRose]

160. But there is also a movement to infiltrate mainstream denominations

with the express purpose of hijacking and splitting the traditional protestant groups, making them more fundamentalist and conservative, and placing those people in church leadership and giving them a voice in government. It's called the Confessing Movement.

They have umbrella groups funded with conservative money

http://www.theird.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

and spread lies, like how liberal missionaries spread marxism, for example. It's affected all the mainstream denominations: Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican/Episcopalian, etc. I'm not sure but wouldn't be surprised if perhaps Opus Dei is the equivalent in the Catholic Church.

There is just as much a fight in the churches and seminaries as there is in government. For someone to say they belong to a certain denomination isn't enough anymore. Nuance is needed.

[rucognizant]

135. I kept saying that..........

to the Clinton supporters during the election. Mosty, fell on deaf ears!

[Echo In Light]

8. This data must really anger those who routinely and smugly denounce "tinfoil."

The "Family" threads have been showing up here a lot lately, yet from what I've seen the usual naysayers haven't chimed in too heavily as they usually would. Hell, one would at least expect a deluge of attempts at trivialization, and to ' not read too much into it' sort of dismissals. Interesting.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. You are 100% right about this. Where is the contingency here at DU that say that

Conspiracies don't exist? This is a real life Conspiracy meant to subvert our Government at the highest levels.

[riderinthestorm]

27. There was an insider-magazine.com article about the "Christian Mafia" in 2005!

I can't remember who the author was, but that article was roundly denounced. From what I remember it contained much of this exact same info.

That was ROUNDLY criticized if I can recall. Deleted by mods too if I remember correctly.

I'm very grateful this story's out there now and being allowed to stay "out there". That's a huge step forward.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

40. I found it. There's a link to it here. Wayne Madsen wrote it.

http://www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia.htm

[defendandprotect]

59. Thank you -- saved it --

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

113. YW!

:hi:

[grasswire]

9. Coe is a link to Chuck Colson

It was Coe that brought religion to Colson during Watergate and shaped his life after. And Frank Wolf is very close to Colson.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. I remember reading that a little while ago on another DU thread.

The layers of this Cult keep piling up.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. Palin's Cult is also linked to "The Family""

http://tinyurl.com/ljz5td

(if you go to the link, there's a video)

Huffington Post
Bruce Wilson
Bruce Wilson
Posted: July 16, 2009 03:38 PM

As I described in a June 11, 2009 story Ensign's "C Street House" Owned By Group Touting Plans For Christian World Control, founder of Youth With a Mission Loren Cunningham, whose organization owns the house where GOP Senators John Ensign and Tom Coburn enjoy cheap rent, espouses a doctrine known as the "Seven Mountains Mandate" in which believers seek to gain world control, by gaining influence over seven key sectors of society: religion, government, media, education, arts and entertainment, family, and business.

But the Seven Mountains idea is not unique to Loren Cunningham, and it is likely that Sarah Palin embraces the 7M Mandate's theocratic agenda:

In a 2005 religious ceremony (link to video footage) held as Palin was preparing to run for the Alaska governor's seat, two pastors publicly blessed and anointed Palin and in a short speech prior to the anointing, Kenyan religious leader Thomas Muthee gave an opening speech in which he clearly espoused, with Sarah Palin in the audience, the 7 Mountains Mandate.

The 7M Mandate is being promoted by a newly formed global Christian relational network, coalescing out of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement, which represents a radically different new form of Christianity, whose leaders Palin is extensively linked to, that most Americans do not even know exists: The New Apostolic Reformation.

The Seven Mountains Mandate, also known as the "7M Mandate" as well as "Reclaiming the Seven Mountains," is being promoted widely in a multilevel marketing campaign which includes websites with dowloadable Powerpoint presentations, affiliate programs, Teleseminars, professionally produced videos, inspirational posters and other dedicated graphic arts branding images, yearly conferences (1, 2, 3), and traveling motivational speakers such as Lance Wallnau.

[defendandprotect]

63. I do think Palin seems to be suggesting she has a "calling" . . .

and we should also not forget that the Vatican is moving to Evangelicalism!

That's where the money is, evidently!

[timeforpeace]

16. Rejoice. As long as they cling to this crap, they will be out of power. It's not mainstream.

[MindPilot]

28. Sorry, but they ARE the mainstream.

They have been steadily weaving their web for decades and absent an almost complete purge of the world's power structure, will continue to do so. This is the reason we are so fucked.

There are those of us who have been sounding the alarm about the Fellowship literally for years, but until the past few days we were either conspiracy nuts or "evangelical atheists" who dared to disrespect peoples' religious beliefs.

I hope it's not too late.

[timeforpeace]

33. Then why do Democrats control the presidency and both houses of Congress?

[Individualist]

41. ...

"The Democratic Leadership Council's agenda is indistinguishable from the Republican Neoconservative agenda," - Dennis Kucinich

[Echo In Light]

49. After 8 yrs of bushco, a friendlier face was applied by Shadow govt as required PR

[defendandprotect]

65. "The DLC's agenda is indistinguishable from the Republican Neoconservative" --

Thank you, Individualist --

Is anyone unaware that the Democratic Party has been eaten away from within and without?

[BeHereNow]

72. Brilliant move on their part, you must admit.

These are not stupid people by any means.
That is why they are so very dangerous.
BHN

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

106. Opposames

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. You probably missed this, but Democrats ARE ALSO members of the Family

Oy

[PassingFair]

136. Why do so many Democrats vote like Republicans?

THAT'S the question you should be pondering.....

[Echo In Light]

48. Precisely. Many simply don't want to realize the dark elements behind/within

....as it goes against the Conspiracies Are Non-Existent, Inc propaganda they've been indoctrinated into.

[Shallah Kali]

51. They are in the Pentagon & military, they run groups for interns up to Senators & Reps

In other words with fingers in every pie they don't need to be totally in charge to change the way our government operates. They don't even need to be a majority to throw a wrench in the works blocking or slowing down legislation. As Bruce Wilson pointed out over 80% of Dems associated with The Family voted for FISA

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/875-of-family-dlc-affilia_b_112878.html

So unfortunately i agree that with so many embedded in the US and other governments we are in trouble.

[defendandprotect]

66. Gen. Edwin G. Walker * was fired by JFK for trying to spread rw propaganda in military . . .

Coincidentally, that's the guy that Oswald supposed shot at thru a window in his home!

It's also the guy who led the racist riot at Ole Miss!

Walker was arrested and the judge recommended psychiatric care!

Look it up - interesting story.

And, then there's Ollie North -- another religious fanatic -- who by the way was leading

the rescue mission for President Carter to rescue those who had been taken hostage in Iran.

Recall this was in the desert but the helicopters just didn't happen to have the necessary

accessory attached to keep sand out of the engines! There were at least two accidents --

and finally the third mission was called off. Secord was second in command.

[AspenRose]

159. Remember....?

Remember when they found those bible verses on memos from Rumsfeld re: Iraq intelligence?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/05/18/2009-05-18_rummys_memos_suggest_a_crusade_after_all_used_scripture_to_prod_w_in_iraq_war.html

And remember the soldiers who tried to convert Afghani citizens?

http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/press-releases/tpr_entangled.html

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/6/the_crusade_for_a_christian_military

It's pretty obvious that this influence is pervasive in ALL areas of government, coming from the top down, including the military. How many more moles are there in places like the State Department, or the Department of Education, or in other areas (media)?

I suspect they're EVERYWHERE, like you suggest.

[defendandprotect]

64. It's also been eating into the Democratic Party . . . huge numbers of

Catholics, for one, in Congress --

And, now a Catholic "pro-life" group . . . !!!

Seems like everyone is organized except citizens!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

86. Have you missed how many of these people ARE in positions of power RIGHT NOW?

I recommend you read the book and educate yourself on dominionism.

I will make the case that at this point we have the beginnings of a theocracy, on and not limited to the US either.

Scary the reach of this organization world wide

[elehhhhna]

17. Sleaze attractor -- their "doctrine" is a big "get out of jail free" card

"...as a member of the Family, he's among what Family leaders refer to as the "new chosen." If you're chosen, the normal rules don't apply."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. There is another thread about the Family right now and the artcle is in Salon. It mentions that if a

member rapes 3 little girls, it's ok because they are "chosen"

:puke:

[defendandprotect]

69. It certainly looks to me as if patriarchal religion is mainly about abuse of women and children --

[nadinbrzezinski]

89. They have managed to turn Calvinism on its head

which is impressive. I am readying the book right now... SCARY... but taking notes, furiously, for my next novel

[dgibby]

18. I sent this to Rachel, along with this e-mail.

Nothing more dangerous than religous zealots, especially when they're in position of power. Wonder how many "blue dog Democrats" are involved in this mess. I truly believe the blue dogs are the "black ops" of the religious right sent to subvert the Democratic Party, working hand in hand with the DLC.


I've been thinking for a long time that the Blue Dogs and the DLC are doing the same thing to the Democratic Party that the Fundies did when they infiltrated the Republican Party. I believe that, if left unchallenged, they will destroy the Democratic Party, too.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. Excellent. I'm going to follow suit later.

[dgibby]

26. Thanks.

I'm much more afraid of them (and others like them) than I am of any foreign "terrorist". Pogo was right, "We have met the enemy and we is him".

I'm forwarding all of these threads to Rachel, as she's reporting on this on a daily basis. Don't know if she's actually using them or other sources, but she's reporting the same things, so it can't hurt to send them to her. I'm hoping she keeps this out there. I find it frightening to the nth degree. Last thing I want is to have to live in a Theocracy.

[redqueen]

25. I know Rachel has been talking about this group.

Has she mentioned Clinton's connection to them? Just curious.

[dgibby]

29. I can't remember for sure, but she's had Jeff Sharlett on several times,

and I believe he may have mentioned it in passing early on, but I can't be sure. If not, I'd bet she'll get around to it. Her focus has been on the men involved, she hasn't delved into the women's programs much (yet).

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. I've watched 3 of her reports about C-Street and don't recall her mentioning Hillary.

There are videos up at the political video forum.

[redqueen]

31. That strikes me as odd.

She seems more than willing to cut most politicians no slack at all. Perhaps it's an oversight.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

36. In fact, just doing a simple search on the net, there are comments at a few sites about

the omission of Hillary on the reports. I'm hoping that it was an oversight and not buried.

[KoKo]

42. There's a video on You Tube where Andrea Mitchell reported C-Street Hillary Connection during the

Campaign when all the hooplah over Obama's connection with Reverend Wright came out. Andrea is there acting as if Hillary was totally involved.But according to Jeff Sharlat, in reality Hillary used them to make connections to powerful people she needed to know in DC.. It helped her with her Senate campaign, also to thave those connections.

[FatDave]

53. I'm going to step away from the C-street stuff for a moment in response to what you just said.

Pretend for a moment you're Karl Rove. I know, it's a disgusting thought, but please bear with me. You're the brains of the republican party (or at least a significant segment of it), and no tactic--no matter how sleazy, dirty, underhanded, or illegal--is off limits if it gets results. Now, is there some reason you would *not* try to get ringers elected into the other party?

Also consider that you don't really give a fuck about the conservative social issues. What you really care about is consolidating wealth and power. The social issues are just handy for getting the zealots to vote for you, so you use them in your pandering. Now how neat would it be if there were democrats who could pander to the left's social issues but still wanted to consolidate wealth and power?

[glitch]

157. Bingo. Moles are standard practice in coups. Have been since the dawn of power. nt

[madfloridian]

19. Don't forget Bill Nelson of FL whose wife, Grace is on the board of directors

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1474

And Hillary is part of it as well.

[defendandprotect]

70. And, Americans take for granted that everyone supports democracy and equality . . .

No -- they don't!!

We all have to wake up to that --

Thanks to everyone trying to make us aware of this threat to democracy.

[flyarm]

138. absolutely..Bill Nelson is one of them!! K&R..eom

[laststeamtrain]

34. K & R.

Good read: Sara Diamond's: Roads To Dominion

http://books.google.com/books?id=w1bqY-DxHMEC&dq=sara+diamond+dominionism&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=1JLiwXDMRD&sig=8mtO2n5Y7jJKeygdyhgQlm7VKWw&hl=en&ei=8vRlSunKH6Oltgf8r8jvDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2

[dgibby]

35. Wow!

You must have read my mind. I was just wondering if anyone had connected the dots with all theses covert religious movements. Thanks! I'm placing an order now, and I'm going to forward a review of the book to Rachel with the suggestion that she bring the author on the show for a discussion.

[laststeamtrain]

39. Great.

Ms. Diamond has a page, biblio & some articles at PublicEye: http://www.publiceye.org/diamond/index.html

:hi:

[dgibby]

43. Thanks, I'll check it out.

:hi:

[defendandprotect]

71. Also made note of the book for my library --

:)

[PRETZEL]

37. That looks like an interesting read,

going to have to add that to the list.

[graywarrior]

45. I remember reading the Harper's piece back in 2003(?)

Freaky deaky.

[JTFrog]

108. Link to that article here:

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525

Jesus plus nothing:
Undercover among America's secret theocrats
By Jeff Sharlet

....

Todd Tiahrt, (R-Kansas)wanted to know the best way “for the Christian to win the race with the Muslim.” The Muslim, he said, has too many babies, while Americans kill too many of theirs.

Doug agreed this could be a problem. But he was more concerned that the focus on labels like “Christian” might get in the way of the congressman's prayers. “People separate it out,” he warned Tiahrt. Religion distracts people from Jesus, Doug said, and allows them to isolate Christ's will from their work in the world. “'Oh, okay, I got religion, that's private.' As if Jesus doesn't know anything about building highways, or Social Security. We gotta take Jesus out of the religious wrapping.”

“All right, how do we do that?” Tiahrt asked.

“A covenant,” Doug answered. The congressman half-smiled, as if caught between confessing his ignorance and pretending he knew what Doug was talking about. “Like the Mafia,” Doug clarified. “Look at the strength of their bonds.” He made a fist and held it before Tiahrt's face. Tiahrt nodded, squinting. “See, for them it's honor,” Doug said. “For us, it's Jesus.”

Coe listed other men who had changed the world through the strength of the covenants they had forged with their “brothers”: “Look at Hitler,” he said. “Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, Bin Laden.” The Family, of course, possessed a weapon those leaders lacked: the “total Jesus” of a brotherhood in Christ.

“That's what you get with a covenant,” said Coe. “Jesus plus nothing.”

....

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Get the book, read the book

[juno jones]

47. They kick and scream about communism.

I got to see a 'discussion' (elsewhere) last nite where two three of 'em kept the fear up about Mao and Stalin.

We can't have nice things because then we will all be poor and ruled by Stalin. Or Mao.


But they tell their followers to emulate these people and be as single-minded in the cause as they were.


Holy Ravening Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, Batman!

[earth mom]

50. Just like cockroaches-they never die & multiply until they are crawling out of the woodwork.

:puke:

[Piewhacket]

54. dup.

[Piewhacket]

55. A secret cult of religious zealots... oh, my. Yet this theme seems a refrain.

[defendandprotect]

56. Obviously, Christianity has not entirely given up its militancy . . .

it certainly does look like we have a new Christian Crusade in the ME --

and decades ago there was talk of secret war on Muslims by RCC.

I guess it's not much different if we attack Iraq for the oil industry or the Pope?

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. This is HOW FUCKED UP they are in their theology

they are NOT christians, I repeat they are NOT christians. That means an organized religion which has all that baggage. They are Soldiers of Christ who desire to reestablish the Dominion, before the Church.

So the first step is to understand what the heck these guys are.

[riderinthestorm]

170. You know what, I am sick of people claiming self proclaimed "christians" are not real christians.

Sorry but that's bullshit.

If these people say they are Christians, then dammit, they are part of that flock. It pisses me off when people try to flog these shits off as "not real Christians" when clearly these people are operating under the Christian flag. Couldn't be more obvious about it.

Own it. Accept it. These guys are Christians. Their behavior isn't Christ-like. I agree but they certainly see themselves as Christian - uber-Christian in fact. More Christian than anyone else actually. God's chosen.

[defendandprotect]

57. Thank you for the information ... keep at it ... we do need to know -- !!

[mzmolly]

60. Just checked out the book from the library.

Scary sh*t. Thank goodness they're being exposed.

[JerseygirlCT]

61. These guys are insane. And insane with power

(And that can be read both ways, and is meant so).

Their version of Christianity is so warped, but unfortunately, not entirely new. Reminds me of the early Calvinists and their "elected" being used to empower themselves and enslave others. It's sick, it's twisted, and it very conveniently turns inside out anything that Jesus had to teach.

[defendandprotect]

76. And much of their threat is in the secrecy . . .IMO.

[JerseygirlCT]

79. Yeah, which hopefully is now cracking

and cracking enough...

[defendandprotect]

81. Thanks to a lot of work by posters and some journalists creating some cracks . . .

[santamargarita]

62. People immigrated from Europe to this country to get away from...

christian fascists like this bunch!

[fascisthunter]

68. yup... they were mainly oppressed by religious monarchies

the melding between dictators and churches. That's why there was no religious freedom.... the right wing preachers whine about oppression, while creating oppression.

[santamargarita]

74. This time, the christian fascist must go

~

[Obama2012]

122. Yep, those Puritans were all about freedom from religion!

[fascisthunter]

148. freedom from others religions... yes they were

because others religions held power in Europe so no one was allowed to practice other religions without being prosecuted...

Those puritans, were oppressive themselves, which is one of the most ironic part of history.

This country was not founded upon religion but freedom itself. More than just religious people fled from the old world to start over.

[hedgehog]

67. You want cults? I'll give you cults. Just Google "Opus Dei"

Crazier and more secretive than the Family and with international connections in governments and banks!

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. Actually the Opus Dei can take lessons from the Family

there are no books, no money tract and an international reach that equals or surpasses the Dei.

[Solomon]

73. Thanks for the link.

Another good book to go along with this one is "The Eliminationists".

http://www.amazon.com/Eliminationists-Hate-Radicalized-American-Right/dp/0981576982/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248225455&sr=1-1

[BeHereNow]

75. Oh come on guys, this is just more CT crap, don't ya know?

Every one knows the Family is just a nice bunch of x-tians
who pray together to decide who lives and dies.
:sarcasm:

Don't ignore the Trilateral Commission and the number of Family members
who are also TC and CFR.

BHN

[defendandprotect]

77. K&R --

[nankerphelge]

78. sharlet=hero

nt

[winyanstaz]

82. The religious far right also totally controls the Air Force at this time.

[MelissaB]

83. Robert Aderholt from Alabama?

WTF? I guess it kind of makes sense. No exactly smart (OK, I'm being kind.), but always wanted to be with the rich and powerful.

[CoffeeCat]

84. These people are nothing more than thugs...

Please remember that these people are primarily liars, greedmongers, criminals, pedophiles, murderers,
warmongers, psychopaths and sociopaths.

They're all cowardly dysfunctional people.

Religion is only a cloak. It's a device that's used to rationalize their sickness. They figure--if they identify
themselves as "religious"--then everything they're doing is blessed. Even if they're raping little girls or lying
us into a war that will kill untold numbers of innocent people.

Religion is only a defense mechanism--used to layer thick walls of denial that are intended to cover up the sick
truth about who these people are. They don't use religion to fool other people. That's why this group is so covert.
They use religion to fool themselves.

When you spend your life engaging in heinous, selfish, sick, predatory actions--you need to be able to live with yourself.
Most people would crumble in shame and regret. Not these people.

They've got their religion. So, their pathology is justified. Their sickness is reinforced through other
members--who make them feel ok (even holy and moral) about the untold damage they do to innocent people.

These people are SICK.

[Odin2005]

85. Christo-Fascists enemies of the Republic.

They need to be destroyed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

88. Readying book and so far here are some things that strike me

as to their power.

They engage in foreign affairs, never mind it is against the law to go around the Department of State...

Oh and not only are they related to Colson, but Mr. Coe convinced one Mr. Ford to give a pardon to one Mr. Nixon.

Now I will not call them fascist... they are not. Theocrats, on the other hand, absolutely. And anybody who can subvert Calvinism, which is pretty fucked up, my hat is off to them.

By the way, remember King David? The TV Serial... that is an approximation of what these guys want. That was a coded message.

Oh and Reagan's City on the HIll speech, ditto, to quote one of my favorite white trash that I am sure is used by them.

Oh and they do despise Fundies, as they see them as white trash....

And these guys have a GLOBAL reach... in some ways actually worst than the Opus Dei...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

107. Thanks for your insight. I'm going to try and get a copy of the book today!

:hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

110. I just reserved a copy at my local Barnes and Noble.

[nadinbrzezinski]

165. You will either enjoy it, or be scared

I am up to chapter two, and taking furious notes as I go now.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

166. Thank you for the heads up. I've been aware of these "organiazations" for years and will

probably be really pissed and enjoying it at the same time!

[nadinbrzezinski]

167. The history or source of this goes a long way, well beyond the Family

The connections to colonial America... well the claim this is a Christian nation now makes perfect sense... in a certain' group reality that is the case. We are the city on the hill, the new Jerusalem..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

174. Thank you again Nadine! That really is enlightening. I can't wait to get the book. It sounds like

it will be a parallel history to the one we've been taught.

[DesertDiamond]

92. My wonderful dad turned me on to a web site that addresses this

it's called theocracywatch.org. If I recall correctly it was originally based at Columbia University. It has some wonderful downloadable videos and audio files; although they were made a few years ago I think there is a lot that can be learned from them, and they encourage people to burn them to CDs and pass them to anyone who will take one. That's what my dad and I did, and it looks like I need to take up that practice again.

I notice there's been nothing posted there since November of 2008. I hope they are okay. I'm happy to see anyway that the site is still up.

[WatchWhatISay]

93. Where is Tom Delay in all this?

I know he has got to be in there somewhere.

[Douglas Carpenter]

95. 2 links to Rachel Maddow interviews with Jeff Sharlet who infilitrated "the family" for one year

links:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=338358

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x340387

.

[Douglas Carpenter]

96. Jeff Sharlet's book, "The Family" is now # 4 on Amazon's nonfiction bestseller list

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f20PR6UKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060560053?tag=saloncom08-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0060560053&adid=1FY7GN0VDJCCM87AZ6DY&

========================================================
--------------------------------------------------------

Some more links to consider if interested in purchasing the book - Thanks to Shallah Kali who posted these links today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8539211&mesg_id=8541096


.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

125. I just ordered a copy from my B&N and they told me that they had just ordered 7 for the store.

It looks like the book is going "viral"! Fantastic!

[valerief]

145. I got my copy a few days ago. He really is a beautiful writer. And his words really

do scare the bejesus out of me.

[Douglas Carpenter]

176. now # 7 and # 8 on Amazon - and in the top 100 for 23 days straight

[BobTheSubgenius]

97. Relax! It's just a theocracy. What could go wrong?

[Canuckistanian]

98. This is scary stuff

We laugh at the antics of Palin, Bachman and Sanford - but these freaks are truly dangerous.

They're on a mission and they've got loooong-range plans for YOU.

It's good at least to see them exposed for what they are, BEFORE they can do even worse damage.

[bjobotts]

99. They use God to justify their every action. We are their Karma.No more human sacrifices

[bjobotts]

100. Their claim that God makes them above the law of men replaces the constitution

[Swagman]

101. these people are for real..they're in Thailand and putting the hard word on non-aligned

NGOs who work with street kids and ex-prostitutes with AIDs.There is the most wonderful French doctor who works with orphan Thai kids and he won't take money from big organisations because of the strings attached. The Christian Right are there in force offering him all the money he wants as long as he helps convert the kids from Buddhism to "Christianity". In other words..it's their way or the highway and stuff the suffering children.

What would Jesus do ?.

[Odin2005]

124. That's disgusting.

Religion is evil.

[mwb970]

105. I can't say I was surprised to find Marsha Blackburn on the list of participants.

She's like an understudy for Michele Bachmann. If Michy gets itchy to leave the crazy train behind, we'll always have Marsha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx74XFhWC08

[Subdivisions]

179. Two of the most dispicable women in politics. n/t

[conscious evolution]

109. k&r

[bluescribbler]

112. It's funny

Whenever I hear about The Family, I think, that's what the Mafia used to call itself. Of course, the similarities don't stop there.

[2Design]

114. This is the reaction I had to the 'Promise Keepers' when that

was being built - the mindset is negative for women - these power hunger crazed fundamentalists of any cult are the danger to the world

[gauguin57]

115. I sent this story to the campaign staff of a Democrat running next year against a Family member.

What did the Family know about the Ensign affair (and possible payoffs) and when did they know it?

[66 dmhlt]

116. View IRS Form 990 records from some of the front groups

The Family - C Street - The Fellowship Foundation - Three Swallows Foundation ... these are all related "Christian Mafia" organizations that have more than a passing familiarity with tax law.

Thanks to Citizen92 commenting at the http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/06/26/wapo-discovers-c-street/">EmptyWheel on a report detailing how WaPo finally discovers "C Street," you can view some of their IRS tax records.

Citizen92 June 26th, 2009:

You can see The Fellowship’s IRS 990 tax returns here:

http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php">Foundation Center 990 Finder

Enter 530204604 in the EIN field. It will bring up ‘Fellowship Foundation Inc. T/A International Foundation’.

You’ll note the 133 C ("C Street Center") is listed as affiliated but exempt... Which means they are claiming that house as their "church" and, since churches are exempt from filing tax returns, well...

The search (just put 530204604 in the EIN field, and then click "Find") will produce IRS Form 990 records for the years 2002 through 2007.

They're very long (about 40 pages each) and very detailed - but with a good deal of information.

[mod mom]

117. thanks for posting.

I'm tending to a family health concern but hope someone is delving into these-I wish it was the IRS but fear they have some top level cultist telling minion not to touch these. :mad:

[japple]

126. Charles Manson had nothing on this group. n/t

[BlancheSplanchnik]

130. reading this gave me a very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach n/t

[tekisui]

132. knr!~

[florida08]

137. thank you for this Sweet

Followed the link that led to other links and disturbing videos of Global Apostalic Prayer Network..formerly called the Spiritual Warfare Network. The tentacles on these zealots just keeps growing. Quite a discovery you have uncovered here.

"God is preparing a people to displace the ones whose sin is rising so that then they tip over and the church goes in-one is removed and the church moves in and takes the territory." (Mary Glazier from Alaska believes non believers should be removed. Sarah Palin was part of her teachings.)

7 Mountain Mandate or 7M Mandate

2 People visited by God to deliver a message. This was the message.
"There are 7 world kingdoms..he who could take those kingdoms could take the harvest of nations"

They are: Church..Education..Family..Government..Media..Arts..Business

He who occupies the top of these mountains can literally shape the agenda that forms nations. They're using Mathew 28: 19-20. They want christian(their version)supremacy.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

161. Your welcome and thank you

for going through all of the posts and finding that link. I did have it up on its own thread last week and neglected to kick it. It became archived.

[florida08]

163. I can't believe how big this is

One link leads to several more..on and on. Had to make a new folder for it under my favorites. Watched a video of Lance Wallnau at Wasilla assembly of God last month..teaching this stuff. It seems Sarah has an army behind her. Am now a bit more worried about 2012
now. My head is spinning :) :crazy:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

164. These are not comforting thoughts but I cannot be happier that this has

emerged from the "conspiracy" realm and is seeing the direct sunlight. The book The Family is number 4 on Amazon for non-fiction and that is Huge! My only concern is that these people are so well connected and so well entrenched that nothing can make a difference in their modus operandi.

And as to batsh*t crazy Palin and her belief that she's going to become another Queen Esther does scare the beejezus out of me and I'm working in my own way to combat her. She uses Twitter all the time and there are many people disputing her tweets and drawing attention to her as often was she posts there. I even had one of her blind followers stalk me and I wound up shutting him up by asking if she turned him on. lol!

I am using the same medium to neutralize her that she is using to communicate to "the masses".

And here's a big hug about 2012 :hug:
My personal belief is that it will bring a time of enlightenment. Well that, or the Mayans ran out of room for their calendar!

:rofl:

Peace. :)

[jeremyfive]

141. Why are they allowed to LIVE IN a tax advantaged "church"?

Since the designated "church" receives tax advantaged benefits, presumably, aren't the GOP congressmen committing a crime by accepting residency there?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

162. There is a form at the IRS site where whistleblowers can dispute

a church's tax exempt status without having to divulge their name. I have to look it up. A caller of Randi Rhodes last week mentioned it.

The tax exempt status has to be taken away from them.

[valerief]

143. These people want an excuse for bad behavior. Hence, the "if I want it, god wants me to have it"

belief works perfectly for them. Damaged right temporal lobers.

[florida08]

149. we need a new thread on this

the more I read the scarier it gets.

Fighting Demons, Raising the Dead, Taking Over the World
April 1 2009

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/religiousright/1273/fighting_demons%2C_raising_the_dead%2C_taking_over_the_world?page=entire

Is this still Christianity? Bruce Wilson offers a primer on what has been called “Third Wave Christianity,” a global movement now almost 300 million-strong whose adherents believe they can abolish evil from the world by hunting witches, chasing demons from city limits, and getting Sarah Palin elected.

[Octafish]

155. The Fellowship are just a group of whacky, fun-loving, red-white-and-blue NAZIs.

Know your BFEE: The Fellowship ‘Preys’ for America

[blogslut]

158. Douglas Coe is now mapped on Muckety

http://www.muckety.com/Douglas-Coe/144431.muckety

[ControlledDemolition]

168. Religious zealotry is a fairly inexpensive form of mind control. n/t

[Echo In Light]

175. Glad this thread remains active here

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

177. Same here.

It's important that it is read by as many people as possible. I really do believe in the 100 Monkeys Theory.

[Subdivisions]

180. Jesus H. Christ. n/t